Solemnity

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

When God asks us to change, we tend to resist or ignore it and lose ourselves in worldly distractions. The tension that's created is an indicator of where God is pressing on us, where He wants to work. Fr. Bill has a phrase he likes to use: "Mine (as in, 'dig') for conflict". Search your heart for those places of conflict and tension and dig into them. Invite the Lord into those places and ask for what you need: the grace to forgive, the humility to ask for help, whatever it may be.

Remember the acronym Fr. Anthony gave us, FAMILY: Forget About Me. I Love You. Ask God to help you to stop fixating on your own wants. Seek out those around you and ask them how they are doing. Don't take yourselves so seriously, but rather lose yourself in the loving service of others, loving as God loves. In that exercise, we learn compassion. Then, you will be imitating and giving glory to the Most Holy Trinity, and your life will be full of a communion of love.

A mosaic is composed of multiple individual pieces that together creates a beautiful image. Similarly, we are each crafted unique and distinct with our own gifts, and unite as one Body sharing God’s love to the world. Consider attending a different Mass time or sitting somewhere different and introduce yourself to those around you whom you do not know. Get to know them and the gift they bring to this diverse and unified Body of Christ called Holy Trinity Parish.

None of us goes through this life without our share of disappointment and frustration. It’s our belief in the life to come that allows us to be okay with this. Recall this quote that Fr. Dave introduced a few years ago, from Fr. James Martin, S.J.:
"This isn’t heaven. You’re not God. Don’t be a jerk."
Repeat this to yourself when feeling frustrated or discouraged, to reframe your perspective and help you bear the day's burdens as we await the Great Day to come.

This weekend's homily title is meant to be playful, but there is a point here. To be desirable, attractive, special - that's one of those deep desires of the human heart we all experience. In the end, the more we try to manufacture our own acceptance and attractiveness, the more we’re bound to be frustrated. Conversely, the more we open our hearts to God and His embrace, the more attractive we become. True loveliness isn’t found in how we look; it comes from loving God and letting Him love us.

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.