Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

• Genesis 3:9-15, 20
• Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
• Luke 1:26-38

“Family!” Mom called out.  “It’s time for our Gospel reading for this morning!”

Feet came scampering down the stairs and into the living room.  All of a sudden, everyone stopped.  The walls were decorated with five humungous letter “G’s.”  The entire room sparkled with dazzling cut-out letters.  There was a “G” on the sofa, a “G” on the desk, a “G” on the curtains, a “G” on the recliner, and a “G” taped to the wall.  What were Mom and Dad up to this weekend?

Dad and Mom acted as if nothing was unusual.  Dad calmly directed everyone to sit down and then began to read the Gospel from Luke, chapter 1.  Today was the feast day of the Immaculate Conception.  We firmly hear that “nothing will be impossible for God!”  (Luke 1:37)

“Okay, Dad, I can’t wait any longer!” Vincent spoke up.  “What’s going on with all the cut-out letters everywhere?”

“And why is it all the letter ‘G’?” Hillary asked, determined to get an answer.

Dad and Mom were laughing.  “Oh, so you noticed!” Dad said.  “Well, your mother and I thought it would be a good idea to link today’s Gospel reading with some of it’s themes!”

“And all the themes seem to begin with the letter ‘G’!” Mom exclaimed, as she nodded to Dad.  “Is everyone ready to begin?”

Dad reached over to the wall and took down the first letter “G” and handed it to Vincent.  “This first letter ‘G’ stands for the GREETING the Angel Gabriel gave to Mary.  Vincent, can you remember what it was?”

“Sure, Dad,” Vincent answered.  “Gabriel says to Mary, ‘Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you!’ (Luke  1:28)  It’s just like the beginning of the Hail Mary prayer!”

“Excellent!” Dad told his son.  Then he handed the next letter “G” over to Lucy and said, “This letter ‘G’ stands for ‘GOD.’  Do you remember what the angel told Mary about God, Lucy?”

Lucy thought for a second and then said, “I think it was that Mary found favor with God!  Is that right?”

Dad and Mom both beamed.  The kids were getting it!

Dad reached over and grabbed the third and fourth letter “G’s” and gave them to Mary Clare.  “These are for you!” he told her with a smile.  “You get the double play!”

Mary Clare could only wonder what HER question could be!

Then Dad said, “Our Gospel tells us about two births.  Each is important, but one is even more significant than the other.  They are the births of John the Baptist and Jesus.”

Mary Clare nodded.  She remembered this part of the Gospel.  Now, for the question!

Dad continued.  “So, Mary Clare, Gabriel tells Mary that the birth of John will be GREAT! but the birth of Jesus will be even … what?”

Mary Clare started to laugh.  “Well, if the first ‘G’ stands for GREAT, then the second ‘G’ must stand for GREATER!”

“You got it!” Dad chuckled.  “I know it was a trick question, but in the words of Tony Tiger, you did a GRRRRREAT job!”

“Oh, Daddy!” little Hillary sighed, as she giggled out loud.

“So we have one more ‘G’ word left to think about,” Dad continued.  “This word sums up our Gospel reading on the Immaculate Conception.  God gave Mary a special gift that He gives freely to all of us through His love and in the sacraments.”

“In fact, we use this word in the opening line of the Hail Mary prayer,” Mom offered.  “God gives this gift to us, and we gratefully receive it.  Anyone think they know the word?”

Mom and Dad looked around at their room of kids, still holding their letter “G” signs.  You could tell they were thinking hard about the answer. 

Vincent finally broke the silence.  “Well, if it is in the first line of the Hail Mary prayer, the word has to be GRACE!”

“That’s exactly right, Vincent!” Dad said.  “Mary is proclaimed as being ‘full of grace!’  In fact, the idea of grace is one of the scriptural foundations that prove the Immaculate Conception.”

“How’s that, Dad?” Mary Clare asked him.

 “You see, Mary Clare,” Dad said, “the angel Gabriel used the term ‘full’ of grace when greeting her.  Back then the term ‘full’ was used in the past tense.  Mary was protected by the effects of original sin from the beginning of time!”
 “That’s right!” Mom agreed, “and Mary responded to what was being asked of her in grace.  She gave her answer or ‘fiat’ in the fullness of generosity and service.  She said she was ‘the handmaid of the Lord’ and placed all her trust in God!”

“Gee!” Vincent exclaimed.  Then, realizing that he uttered the “letter of the day” he saw all around him, he added, “ … and GREETING!, and GREAT!, and GREATER!, and GRACE!, and of course, GOD!”

“Good job, Vincent” Dad said in all good humor.

Then Dad added, “And truly, Son, when I think about this reading myself, I also can’t help but exclaim, ‘GEE!’ “

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