As we celebrate everything Mary today on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, it is important to remind ourselves why this day is important. The feast itself speaks to the dogma that Mary was redeemed from the moment of her conception. It is based on the fact that God had a special mission for Mary. God of course knew what would become of Mary and so it makes sense that he would preserve her for what was to come. It also reassures us that God has a plan for each of us. We should allow God to guide us toward Hise plan and Mary provides the perfect example of that adherence. So why was Mary chosen as Jesus's birth mother? After all, couldn't God have merely come to earth as a man without all of the usual pregnancy issues? Remember that Jesus was fully man and fully god. Mary's part in this birth then becomes very important. Jesus was born just as you and I were born. Our kinship is formed by this human birth, in the same way that Joachim and Anne formed Mary. So why honor Mary? Isn't it obvious? God chose her to carry Jesus. What a fantastic honor. What would you have done if approached by an angel telling you that God has chosen you to bear his son? Would you have submitted like Mary? Remember that Biblical scholars put her age at about 14. What kind of Christian were you are 14? Mary not only said yes to God but had to endure many obstacles. The first was telling her fiance that she was with child and it was not his. The second was facing her family and community as a pregnant betrothed woman. The hurdles go on and on. Think of what she thought when her son became a lightening rod for criticism by the Jewish leaders. This was her own faith and something she relied on to become the person she was. Think of how she felt when Jesus was beaten and nailed to a cross. How helpless she must have felt as Jesus cried out from the cross. Even then she knew that she must follow God's lead. She is the perfect example of the type of person we must become. She is the perfect example of what so many people in this time should aspire to be. Her belief in God's promises allowed her to be Jesus's mother. She was and is our example of what a follower of Jesus should be. Perhaps she was the first Christian and if for no other reason, you should celebrate this day for that reason. Because of the way God chose to bring his son into the world, we are forever grateful to Mary for saying yes. So take a moment today to think about our mother Mary and you will draw her son Jesus closer to your heart.