Advent Moment - Short Reflection for December 8th, Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Good morning and welcome to today’s Advent Moment on Monday 8th December 2025, Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. Thanks to Kirk Jacob for today's reflection on the Gospel, Luke 1:26-38 "I am the handmaid of the Lord." Today's a special feast day of Mary Immaculate, the patroness of our oblate family, and under whose tender guidance we seek to be missionary disciples. So what does it mean to be a servant in Mary's time? Mary, a Jewish woman growing up in Nazareth in first century Palestine, experienced many challenges and opportunities through living in a small village community where everyone knew each other and almost too much, with the added risk of gossip and scandal always being around the corner. Her engagement to Joseph would have been put at serious risk, with her choosing to say yes to God to carry Jesus in her womb with the help of the Holy Spirit. For her to take full ownership of the Angel Gabriel's message and to let God shape her life, no doubt would have involved much loving sacrifice. Today's Nazareth is an Arab town in Israel. We think of all those who bear the name of Mary, Maria or Miriam, be it the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions and how they aspired to follow in her apostolic footsteps. The courage she took and the same invitation, is for each of us to dare to ‘leave nothing undared for the gospel’. We pray; Mary, help me to model your way and to follow your “Let it be” for God's Kingdom. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen. Thank you for joining us today. #advent #adventmoment #feast #immaculateconception #marianfeast #ourlady #mary