As we do each Advent, we interrupt our regular sequence of readings to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The first reading, from Genesis (3:9-15, 2o), gives us the aftermath of The Fall in which God confronts Adam and Eve beginning with the question above and ending with the Protoevangelium (v. 15), the foretelling of the woman (Mary) and the man (Jesus) whose obedience, as opposed to the disobedience of our first parents, will vanquish the sin and death the latter brought to the world..

God’s question is meant to elicit from them their states of mind and hopefully some self-realization of their sinfulness.  So, where are you in this whole mess, God asks the couple?  Well, Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the serpent.  The sin of pride “you will be like gods” (Gen 3:5) leads to excuse making and passing the buck.  No contrition is detected.

The good news is that a savior is coming.  We also anticipate His arrival during this solemn and holy season of Advent.  So, we also can imagine God asking us: “Where are you” in your relationship with Me?  Will we be making excuses and blaming persons and circumstances for a less than peaceful and prayerful run-up to Christmas?  Or will we avoid sin and unnecessary distractions in order to better welcome the Lord?  Advent is not halfway done — let us make the most of the rest of it!