Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary December 8, 2003 Scripture: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1: 26-38 Reflection: We live in a time when the reality of the fighting in the Holy Land is in stark contrast to the beauty we feel about scripture when we read it today. We sit quietly in a church, chapel or our room reflecting about Adam and Eve, and Mary and Gabriel, and Jesus' conception. Do we ever wonder how these times in Nazareth and Jerusalem are for the "ordinary" people who live there today? The fall of Eve to the trickery of the serpent in the first reading is in stark contrast to the response of Mary to the angel Gabriel in the gospel reading. Both were troubled and afraid and both survived. Eve became the mother of all the living and Mary became the Mother of Jesus who gave us all a welcome into the Kingdom of God. Suggested Action: Study a map of Jerusalem and where the bombings in the city have primarily been. Pray for all those in the three great religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity and ask Mary to intercede with her son for a miracle to bring peace to this land of our religious heritage. Sr. Loretta Mulry, IHM Loxahatchee, Florida

Mary became the Mother of Jesus who gave us all a welcome into the Kingdom of God. Graphic: Sr. Holly Marino, IHM