Second Week of Advent and the Immaculate Conception

Luke 3:1-6 and Luke 1:26-38

The second week of Advent brings together two key figures of the season: John the Baptist and Mary, the Mother of the Savior. John is featured during the second Sunday of Advent as the one “crying out in the desert”; Mary, of course, has a special day honoring her Immaculate Conception. What do they have in common? Both said “yes” to their respective callings to serve God; in fact, they completely surrender their wills to the Father. This is why John is free to make his controversial proclamations in preparing for “the way of the Lord” and why Mary could willingly embrace the responsibilities of pregnancy before she is actually married. Contrast their “yes” with the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the first reading for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. In the end, both John and Mary were obedient to God. Can we allow our Advent journey to lead us to a renewed sense of obedience to God’s invitation? What keeps us from saying “Yes”? This Advent season, may we find our voice and the courage to say “yes” to our calling.