Holy Day

Jesus invites us to reject worldly standards and take on Godly standards with the Beatitudes. They are a kind of roadmap to sainthood, God's standards for leading a joyful, fulfilling life that also prepares us for our reward in heaven. Sainthood is not far from us, but is happening here and now: when we mourn, when we experience tribulations that cause us hunger and thirst for righteousness, when we show mercy, when we are peacemakers, when we are mistreated for the sake of peace for others.
 
Readings at this Mass:  Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 | 1 Jn 3:1-3 | Mt 5:1-12a

The Assumption of Mary is not only a celebration of her glorious destiny but also a powerful reminder of our own future hope of eternal life with Christ. Mary's Assumption encourages us to live our lives trusting in God, in His blessings and promises that prepare us for our own destiny, which Mary has reached: eternal life with Christ.
 
Readings at this Mass: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab | 1 Cor 15:20-27 | Lk 1:39-56

Giving and receiving valentines (or, in Charlie Brown's case, not receiving valentines) is an example of the consequences of conditional love: if (fill in the blank), then I will love you/give you a valentine/etc. We are not called to practice conditional love, however, but unconditional love - because that is how Christ loved us. We live out that unconditional love through the three pillars of Lent - praying, fasting, and almsgiving - doing it not for the sake of being seen, but in order to show unconditional love to others for their benefit.

There is only one person in Jesus who has two natures: fully God and fully Man. This is why we honor Mary as the Mother of God, and doing so leads us to her Son, our Lord. As he was born under the law to ransom those under the law, we now are the adopted sons and daughters of God. So glorify, praise, and give thanks to God always that He, through Christ, has intimately opened for us a way to be His children, made possible through the cooperation of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.

The power of Christ in our hearts can transform all our insecurities and fears if we let go and let the "good news of great joy" steep in our hearts. The Good News of Christmas proclaims that the birth of Christ ushered in a new beginning where sin and death no longer have to dominate us. Remember how much God was and is willing to do for you. He loves you and is with you all the way, in the good times and the bad.

While Mary is full of God's grace, since her immaculate conception, she is also obedient and faithful to the Father and eventually to her Son. Mary's humility and willingness to accept God's plan for her is an example for us to imitate in our own lives. May the Immaculate Virgin Mary intercede for us as we aspire to live an immaculate life: a life of total abandonment to the will of God.

As a saint in the works, it is a response of our faith to go out and help others. We each have a calling to do something, each day, to respond in faith to some need. Ask yourself: "What is that one need? Lord, help me to be aware and sensitive to the need when it presents itself to me." Then press into that need and give of yourself; you won't regret it.

Mary not only helps us to contemplate the events and mysteries of Christ’s life, but she is also a mediator and intercessor for us. She gives us the greatest example of surrendering to God, and her words to the angel Gabriel are words that we need to meditate on: “Let it be done to me according to your word."