Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In today’s gospel, Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who told her that she would be the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And as incredibly unbelievable as this story was, she said yes to our Lord when she said, “May it be done according to your word.” Basically, she said, Here I am, Lord. I surrender myself to your will. This seems to me to be one of the most difficult things for us to do on our journey in this life.

We are all seeking to know, love, and strive for eternal salvation through, with, and in Jesus Christ. We gain our strength through the Eucharist to allow us to give ourselves to Christ, just like Mary humbly. Saint Eymard tells us that we receive the virtue of strength in the fruit of eucharistic contemplation and of Communion.

God chose Saint Peter Julian Eymard to serve Him in a unique way through the Eucharist, and as such, Saint Eymard said, quoting Saint Paul, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. He believed that by surrendering himself and his life to God, he could become a vessel for God’s grace for others. He felt God’s presence strongly through the Blessed Sacrament, which he saw as the central point of his spiritual life and the source of his strength and purpose.

Let us follow these examples in our lives, surrender ourselves to our Lord, and ask Him to use us according to His perfect will for the special purposes He created for each of us. Today is the perfect day to surrender to the holy purpose that was given only to you.

Prayer:

Lord, please constantly remind us to seek your love and grace in the sacraments of holy communion and say YES HERE I AM, USE ME, so that we may become worthy of the kingdom you have prepared for us.