"Ever-living God, in Baptism, the sacrament of our faith, you restore us to life. Accept the prayers and gifts of your people; forgive our sins and fulfill our hopes and desires…." (Prayers at Mass)
Through Baptism, we are given new life. The bread and wine we offer in the offertory symbolize the gifts of ourselves to God.
Inspite of Baptism restoring us to new life, sins continue to dog our footsteps.
"The Jewish Passover was drawing near….." (John 11: 55)
Times and seasons are ordained by God. In 1999, I confided the following on the above scripture to my journal:
"It was ordained that Jesus, the Lamb of God would be sacrificed during the Jewish Passover. The sacrifice of Jesus marked the end of the old covenant and the beginning of a new one. Our God uses the symbolisms of timings to teach us about His plans. Now I know that my prayers for the Vital Information Systems this year, my Jubilee year will have the sympathetic ears of God."
Reflecting on the above today in June of 2008, I am amazed to see how God answered the prayer: Seekfirstweb.Com.
"I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console and gladden them after their sorrows." (Jeremiah 31: 13)
Those who sow in tears shall laugh when they reap. This is the word of the Lord.
"I shall save them from the acts of infidelity which they have committed and shall cleanse them; they will be my people and I shall be their God." (Ezekiel 37: 23)
God our Father is continually working to save us. The sacraments are the means through which God is saving us, cleansing us of our acts of infidelity.
"God our Father, you always work to save us, and now we rejoice in the great love you give to your chosen people. Protect all who are about to become your children, and continue to bless those who are already baptized." (Prayer at Mass in the Period of Lent)
God our Father is always working to save us. What a consoling thought! As Easter approaches, the Church intensifies its preparation and prayer for those who will be received into the Church at Easter. These catechumens and candidates need the prayers of the Church to be steadfast in their determination to join the Chosen People. The Church is aware that this is the period of greatest temptation to some of them. We help them with our prayers to overcome the obstacles of the evil one.
"Lord, may we always receive the protection of this sacrifice. May it keep us safe from all harm." (Prayer at Mass)
The Eucharist confers sanctifying grace to us. It protects us from what harms our soul. As it nourishes our soul with the best of spiritual food, it starves our carnal appetite. How do we receive the fullest blessings of the Eucharist? By coming to the Eucharist in a state of grace, we show our desire for the blessings. Then we ask for the blessings we desire.
"Jesus carried our sins in his own body on the cross so that we could die to sin and live in holiness; by his wounds we have been healed." (1 Peter 2: 24)
By his wounds, we have been healed of our enslavement to sin and all consequences of sin. We become free as sons. We enjoy the perquisites of sons. We understand and accept God's sovereignty and plan for our lives. Physical healing becomes secondary.
Commenting on the above scripture, St. Bernard wrote: "I have come to see that true wisdom lies in meditating on these things […]. Some have provided me with wholesome, if bitter, drink, and I have used others as gentle and soothing unction. This gives me strength in adversity and helps me to be humble in prosperity; it allows me to walk with a sure step on the royal road of salvation, through the good things and the evil things of this present life, free from the dangers which threaten to right and left." (Sermons on the Song of Songs, 43, 4).
