Good News Reflection
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: August 15, 2010
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA:
For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection,
please go to Catholic Digital Resources:
http://catholicdr.com/calendar/August/20thC.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:
Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16
1 Cor 15:20-27
Luke 1:39-56
http://www.usccb.org/nab/081510a.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_08_15.mp3
Next Sunday's scripture readings can help us understand how the Blessed Virgin Mary's holiness affected her physically, revealing why her body never experienced the corruption of death.
Like a second Eve, Mary was the only human born after the Original Sin who was conceived without it. This condition was a special grace from the Father, so that his divine Son could reside within her human body during pregnancy. Adam and Eve had been given the same grace of holiness, but when faced with temptation, they opted to ignore the gift. Mary, when faced with temptation, chose to use the gift; this is how she remained full of God's grace throughout her life.
We were freed from the curse of original sin in our baptisms, but grace alone does not guarantee that we'll behave as holy people, because it doesn't over-ride our free will. We cooperate with God's grace by saying no to temptation. To do that, we rely on the holiness that he's placed within us.
Because of our baptisms, we have the divine presence of God's Holy Spirit within our human hearts. We have God's own holiness within us. Sinning makes us miserable because our God-given nature desires to do what is good. To follow Mary's example, we have to discipline our free will so that we do what the holiness within us wants us to do.
Mary knows who you are. As Christ's number one assistant, she cares about your struggle to be holy. God has given her a ministry, an eternal vocation of helping all of us say yes to grace and no to sin.
Like Mary, through the grace of God, we can be holy. We can magnifying his Holy Spirit so that the world is transformed. The Rosary is a powerful tool for this. It opens our spirits to the Holy Spirit as we meditate on the mysteries of Christ's life. Our souls join Mary in magnifying the Lord. When so magnified, his love draws others to conversion, and thus we join Mary in her ministry of giving Jesus to the world.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
When was the last time you benefited from the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Think of a sin you're currently struggling with. Which do you enjoy more: continuing in this sin or living free from it? Do you need divine help to overcome it?
Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
How is the Sacrament of Reconciliation a special time of grace? How has this grace helped you overcome a stubborn sin? Why are some people reluctant to avail themselves of this? How would you explain to them the value of going to confession?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org
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© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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