To carry out her mission, the Blessed Mother was immaculately conceived. She was born in a state of grace and after Adam’s sin, only Mary was born without sin. God created human beings in his own image and called them to enter a loving relationship with him. God also blessed us with the gift of free will. But when tempted by the devil, we failed to trust God and chose to disobey him and sin entered the world. Today’s first reading teaches us about the disobedience of Adam and Eve, who lost the grace to enjoy paradise. The ‘yes’ of Mary at the annunciation overcame the disobedience at Eden and made paradise a possibility once again. Just as the Blessed Mother was called to be the mother of the Son of God, and Jesus was called to sacrifice his life, we who are baptized have a calling from God. Our first calling is to and within our family: as spouses to love and raise each other to holiness, as parents to raise saints in this world and as children to be obedient and loving.

PRAYER: Abba Father, give us the grace to follow you in obedience and trust like Mary our Mother. Amen.