"I shall be with you and you will crush Midian as though it were one man." (Judges 6: 16)
Yahweh was with Gideon. Is Yahweh with me, yes or no? Yes, Yahweh is certainly with me. He promised not to abandon nor forsake me. If Yahweh is with me, it is accomplished.
"If you will be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." (Matthew 19: 21)
Jesus said these tough words to a rich young man. The rich young man turned and walked away. But the truth remains. If you wish to follow Christ more closely, you must be totally detached from material things, conditions and circumstances. Just as it was not easy for the rich young man, so it is not easy for many who today are followers of Christ. When Jesus Christ enables us, we can do anything.
"Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtorth, the anger of the Lord flowed up against Israel, and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them. He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies whom they were no longer able to withstand." (Judges 2: 13 – 14)
The gods they worshipped took advantage of them. The instrument of sin became the instrument of punishment.
"Our freedom is weakened because of original sin. This weakness is intensified because of successive sins. Christ, however, set us free 'so that we should remain free' (Galatians 5:1). With his grace, the Holy Spirit leads us to spiritual freedom to make us free co-workers with him in the Church and in the world."
"The Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name." (Luke 1:49)
Mary in her Magnificat recalls all that God has done for her and sings in praise of God. God has done great things in my life and I believe He will do more. May I imitate Mary in praising His holy name every day.
"For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the first fruit; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ." (From 1 Corinthians 15: 20 – 27)
In heaven, there is a hierarchy of merits. There is also a "proper order" in the resurrection of the body:
It is God's plan and wisdom that Mary will be raised body and soul into heaven before the general resurrection of the body. The Church has made this teaching a doctrine of faith. As it is bound on earth, so it is in heaven.
(Insight from the Mass of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
