Good Morning My Friends,

I hope you are not being blown away by these huge winds that woke me at ridiculous O’clock this morning. Everything seemed to be rattling, but that was probably just the thoughts in my head tumbling around.

Lots to talk about today. The big feats here in Spain of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or as rather less excitingly described in the C of E Lectionary The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Lesser Festival) 
Either way it is a great day. 
It is not for us to know if Mary was sinless in her conception although of course we are free to believe it. But what we do know is that of all the women in History, Mary was the one chosen by God to bear his son. An honour and a choice greater than any other.

Mary is such a powerhouse of inspiration for us, and it is no surprise that countless folk throughout history have asked her to pray for them.

The wonderful Hail Mary puts our devotion very simply but beautifully

Hail Mary full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And Blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, 
pray for us sinners now, 
and at the hour of death. 

This lovely prayer gives honour to Mary, acknowledges the Grace given to her by God, affirms her role as Mother of Jesus and importantly asks for her prayers.

We all long to be prayed for by Holy People, and this particular prayer makes the strong point of asking the Saints who have gone before to pray for us. It helps us realise we are in communionwith them all and registers our belief in the resurrection.

The story of Mary also inspires so deeply as she says Yes to God when confronted with such a huge undertaking. Wondering how Joseph, her family, her friends and the community would react, being unable to fathom the depth of the responsibility of bearing and nurturing the Son of God, and giving no thought for herself she said ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ 

This is an indicator of the  grace-filled response each of us is called to make to God, both personally and communally, as the Church, the body of Christ. 
It prompts an image of the Church, her arms uplifted in prayer and praise, her hands open in receptivity and availability to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that we are one with Mary as she magnifies the Lord. “Surely,” Mary declares in her song we know as The Magnificat recorded in the Gospel of Luke, “from this day all generations will call me blessed.”

There is that beautiful song from Graham Kendrick that we know so well
Let it be to me according to your word

Let it be to me according to your word

I am your servant,

No rights shall I demand,

Let it be to me, Let it be to me

Let it be to me according to your word

But today is also another big day. Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week was the first person not in clinical trials who received the Pfizer Covid 19 vaccine, and heralded the beginning of a process of change which will have a huge impact in restoring the freedoms we are so missing.
Up to 4 Million doses are hoped to be rolled out by the end of this month.

As you know Advent is a time of hope and the psalm we said at Morning Prayer this morning was so fitting, as was the refrain and adjoining Christian prayer.

Psalm 56

Refrain:In God I trust, and will not fear.

1Have mercy on me, O God, for they trample over me; ♦
all day long they assault and oppress me.

2My adversaries trample over me all the day long; ♦
many are they that make proud war against me.

3In the day of my fear I put my trust in you, ♦
in God whose word I praise.

4In God I trust, and will not fear, ♦
for what can flesh do to me? R

5All day long they wound me with words; ♦
their every thought is to do me evil.

6They stir up trouble; they lie in wait; ♦
marking my steps, they seek my life.

7Shall they escape for all their wickedness? ♦
In anger, O God, cast the peoples down.

8You have counted up my groaning;
put my tears into your bottle; ♦
are they not written in your book? R

9Then shall my enemies turn back
on the day when I call upon you; ♦
this I know, for God is on my side.

10In God whose word I praise,
in the Lord whose word I praise, ♦
in God I trust and will not fear:
what can flesh do to me?

11To you, O God, will I fulfil my vows; ♦
to you will I present my offerings of thanks,

12For you will deliver my soul from death
and my feet from falling, ♦
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

Refrain:In God I trust, and will not fear.

Faithful God,
your deliverance is nearer than we know;
free us from fear
and help us to find courage in your Word,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

I think it is so amazing that the old scriptures remain so completely relevant to us every day.

We have much to be hopeful for, much to be thankful for, and we do well to give thanks for thos Holy Souls who hold us in their prayers.

Bless you, Bless you, Bless you.

As ever,

Fr Marcus