I call myself the Theme Park Priest, so I suppose it’s fitting for me to talk about rides at least once in a while in my homilies. If you have been to Valleyfair, there is a ride there called The Wave. It’s a shoot-the-shoot ride, which means you go up a lift hill in a boat, turn around, and then go down a big drop into a pool of water. If you think you will stay dry or only get a sprinkle of water on you, you’re in for a rude awakening! Everybody gets soaked (even those who are just watching)! You will get soaked…unless you are protected with a plastic bubble around you.
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. When God created Mary, God placed a bubble (so to speak) around her that preserved her from getting soaked. The rest of us got soaked, though. We come into existence with Original Sin on our soul. This is because of what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. But Mary was created without Original Sin. This means that she was in communion with God from the very beginning of her existence. This enabled her to say “Yes” when God asked her to be the mother of Jesus (and therefore the Mother of God). Mary wasn’t just sinless up to this point of her life; God also preserved her from sin throughout her whole life. She was “full of grace” her whole life. God desired the Immaculate Conception as an honor of the Mother of God. It also means that Jesus was born from a pure mother. Mary is the Mother of Jesus, which also means that she is the Mother of God (as we pray in the Hail Mary prayer) even though she is just a creature like us. So what does Mary’s Immaculate Conception means for us? We who are born “soaked” must have some other way to get “dry.” As our 2nd reading mentioned, God chose us to “be holy and without blemish.” Going back to the example of The Wave at ValleyFair, there is a Family Dryer there where you can pay like $5 to get the whole family dried-off. We come into communion with God (or “get dry”) through our Baptism (okay it’s not a perfect analogy, because we actually get wet at Baptism, but hear me out!). When we sin, we get a little wet. When we commit a big sin (called a mortal sin), we get soaked. We then lose our communion with God. Confession dries us off again and makes us without blemish. We celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Conception today (December 8th), because it is a reminder that we are full of grace when we are without sin. In Heaven we will be pure forever like our Blessed Mother Mary. Even though Mary was without sin, she has a great love for all of us who sin. That’s why we say during the Hail Mary, “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” We praise God for the gift of Mary, and we pray to be “full of grace” like her.
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The Nativity Manger Train
Bible: Matthew 1:1-25, Luke 2:1-20 The Nativity Manger Train at Gospel-Land in Miracle Kingdom replaces Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This means that the birth of Jesus will be shown in a family-style coaster with some Audio Animatronic scenes. The queue is similar to the current one. It starts outside with an awning, using a mixture of old-looking stonework and woodwork (perhaps things that Joseph could have constructed if they had stayed there a longer time). There are posters indicating that the census is being taken in Bethlehem. When guests go inside, there is a sign indicating that they are entering a stable. The trains are similar ones that rock as they move (to add the ride sensation). They have the appearance of round, stone mangers (so no added “wheels” to the appearance). The ride follows the same layout as the current one. Thus, it starts with an outdoor section with some turns before reaching a lift hill. Guests can see Joseph with a very pregnant Mary riding on a donkey. Guests can hear the donkey making the noise “hee-haw.” In the indoor portion of the ride, guests hear “O LIttle Town of Bethlehem.” They see Joseph knocking on doors as Mary waits on the donkey and other people fill the streets. On the second lift hill (also inside), guests hear “Silent Night” as stars twinkle in the night sky with one particularly big and constant. There are also shepherds in view. Once again, there is an outdoor roller coaster section with some turns. When the trains brake before entering the station, they can see the typical nativity scene (Jesus in the manger surrounded by Mary, Joseph, angels, animals, and shepherds) off to the right. “Away in a Manger” (sung by children) is heard, too. Nativity Manger Train will be a family ride that is fun the whole year round, although it will be particularly popular at Christmas time. Merry Christmas! |
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