Solemnity

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.

We’d like to think that following Jesus, taking up the cross, just means “being good” and giving up things that are sinful. But there’s a bigger cross, a deeper invitation, to love your enemies and do good to those who annoy you. To love both those who deserve your love as well as those who don’t deserve it. Ask the Lord to show you the undeserving person in your life that you’ve been avoiding or who you’ve failed to love, and pray for the grace to do something concrete for them - to love them, do good for them, for the sake of Christ.

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."

Ultimately, all the changes, conversions, reversions, and transfigurations we encounter in this pilgrimage of life are practices for the final transfiguration of our lives when we die to this world and pass into the next. Christ's Transfiguration was intended as preview of things to come for His faithful - of the destiny He desires for all of us.

Jesus wants to be your strength; to enter and redeem all the hurting places in your life. There is a powerful, healing strength in the Eucharist, if our hearts are open to receive Him. The next time you attend Mass, pay attention as you approach for Communion. Remember who it is that you're receiving, and then invite Him very specifically into the broken or lonely or hurting places in your life. Don't just consume a host; receive the strength, and the power, and the healing of the Lord.

Theologian G.K. Beale wrote about how we become like what we worship. By worshiping God, who is love, we are conformed into being the loving person God wants us to be. To love as God love forces us to examine how we deal with our relationships and the quality of our love in those relationships. Examine your conscience for where God is in your life. Based on that, reorient that which is blocking His love or increase that which is drawing you closer to Him.

The Bible lists nine “fruits of the Holy Spirit” (Gal 5:22-23): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These “fruits” are the result of the presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our behaviors change and our lives change as a result, regardless of the situations we find ourselves in. If you desire to have that Spirit more alive and active or just want to go deeper and be renewed, try praying the following:
Come Holy Spirit. Come into my heart. Open my mind. Clear away my distractions. Renew my life. Renew my faith. Renew my passion. Renew my behavior. Turn my pride into humility. Change my anxiety into peace. Change my sorrow to joy. Move my heart to love as you love. Come Holy Spirit. Set my heart on fire for love of you. Enkindle my desire for Christ. Move my heart for needs of others. Open my mind to your Scriptures. Inspire me to serve others. Come Holy Spirit. Sanctify me. Strengthen my will. Purify my conscience. Transform my mind. Come Holy Spirit and make me new. Amen.