Monday, December 7, 2009

Fiat!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Sorrowful Mysteries
(Although you may want to say the Glorious Mysteries in honor of the
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Ephesian 1:3-6, 11-12
Luke 1:26-38

We should not and must not underestimate the significance of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in salvation history! The simple and yet profound "fiat" of the Blessed Virgin Mary reversed the course of the eternal destinies for millions of people. So, what meaning can we take from this solemnity, for ourselves, today, as we near the end of 2009?

We might start with the question God put to Adam in the Garden of Eden. He asked Adam: "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9) We are still somewhat early in the Advent season and we might ask ourselves that same question in regard to our life in Christ. The Second Reading reminds us that we were destined before the world came into being, for the "praise of His glory...." (Ephesians 1:12) What an awesome honor and responsibility! How are we doing as a person born to live a life praising God?

Sacred artwork pertinent to this season is robust with images of the Blessed Virgin lovingly holding and carrying a swaddled infant. We are like that baby, born into our Christian heritage through Baptism and standing naked and helpless, like Adam, before the very eyes of God, our loving Father.

Let us take hope from Mary, the mother given us at the foot of the cross, a mother who was strong enough to say "Fiat" -- a simple word that changed the face of time and eternity!

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"I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it.

I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor:
the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third — by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy.

Many souls ... are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul.

If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy".