"Lord receive our offering, and may this sacrifice of praise purify us in mind and heart and make us always eager to serve you….." (Prayer over the Gifts)
The Eucharist is a sacrifice of praise par excellence. It purifies our hearts and minds from sin. The Eucharist renews the life of grace within us.
"Therefore do not be afraid of them…So do not be afraid" (Matthew 10: 26, 31)
Do not fear your persecutor.
Those not to fear:
Circumstances not to fear:
"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27: 1-2)
Fear cripples the mind. The fruit of the First Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary is freedom from fear of suffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ prayed and overcame the fear of suffering. We can do the same in intimidating circumstances and overcome the fear of suffering.
"The Spirit of truth will testify to me, and you also will testify." (John 15: 26, 27)
Yes Lord, I will testify to you. Lead me, guide me and use me.
When we bear witness to the truth, we expose ourselves to persecution. The spirit of the world hates the truth and resists it at all cost. Deliberate and transparent falsehood should not be permitted in the Household of God. The end never justifies the means. Falsehood and lies are the tools of the devil which we must reject vigorously.
"But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many." (Romans 5: 2 – 15)
Adam sinned. Christ redeemed.
The gift of redemption surpasses the transgression. O felix culpa!
The restoration of man to God's favor accomplished through Christ's redemptive work went beyond the attributes of the old man. The new man is now an adopted child of God.
"Lord, in your great love, answer me….. I pray to you, O Lord, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. Answer me, O Lord, for bounteous is your kindness; in your great mercy turn toward me." (Psalm 69 …)
This is the cry of a desperate man. This is the cry of a man who knows the God whose favor he is seeking. Look at how he appeals to God: great love, great kindness, bounteous kindness, great mercy. Our problem is that we are like children who do not know their father. If we know God as our Father who has great love, great kindness, bounteous kindness and great mercy for us, what a difference that would make in our prayer. We approach Him with greater confidence.
"For the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph." (Jeremiah 20: 10 – 13)
How will you feel if you know for certain that the Lord is with you in that special project? First, you will not be afraid of the outcome. Then you will be certain that you will succeed. Rejoice for God is indeed with you.
