Forgive me while I step away from stitching for a moment to reflect on the Immaculate Conception, one of my favorite solemnities.
For me the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is always a good reminder that our ideas of God's omnipotence are extremely limited by our linear experience of time. In His wisdom He allowed Mary to be conceived without the stain of original sin by her Son's redeeming work on the Cross many years before it happened. Then He revealed this Truth through The Church so we could have some idea just how limited our minds are when it comes to understanding Him, or much of anything really.
The older I get, the more experiences I have, the more knowledge I gain, the more I realize how much I still have to learn, and how much more I will never have time to learn. Much like standing on the shore of a roaring ocean today's celebration reminds me just how small and weak I am with the balance of comfort in the complete strength and love of God through Our Lady.
Immaculate Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.