Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more. – Romans 5:20

          I am scared of the dark. But what’s even more frightening for me is the thought of being trapped in that darkness, not knowing how to get out to see light again.

       This is exactly what happens when we allow sin to paralyze us. When we let our guilt reign over our faith. When we give in to temptations because we think there’s no way out, and we feel unworthy of God’s forgiveness and love.

       But God’s love is far beyond our guilt and weaknesses. God has given us the gift of Himself — the gift of grace. It’s a pure gift, an undeserved yet overflowing favor from the Lord not to justify our sinful behavior and encourage us to keep on sinning many times over, but rather, to give us hope for our salvation. It’s God’s assurance that no matter what, His love and forgiveness will always be far greater than our worst offense.

       Sin may ruin us but with faith, God’s grace can mend our brokenness and put us back together again — reformed, renewed, restored — even better than before. Jane Gonzales-Rauch (mgr516@gmail.com)

Reflection: Are you drifting away from God because of sin? Do not be overcome by guilt. No sin is so great that it cannot be conquered by God’s grace.

Lord, I need You now more than ever. I ask that You cleanse and protect me. Help me to fight the things that pull me away from You and grant me the strength that I may live by Your grace each day. Amen.

St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop, pray for us.

12 Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned. 15 If by that one person’s transgression 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. 17 For if, by the transgression of one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. 18 In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one the many will be made righteous. 20 Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

R: Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; 7 [8] then said I, “Behold I come.” (R) “In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, 8 [9] to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” (R) 9 [10] I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. (R) 16 [17] May all who seek you exult and be glad in you, and may those who love your salvation say ever, “The Lord be glorified.” (R)

We never know when the Lord will ask us to do something for Him. The Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared!” should be our mindset as disciples. If God asks us to do something for the work of the Gospel, we should always be ready to say yes to Him. We need to take the call to discipleship seriously and work hard to deepen our faith and grow in holiness. Then we will experience more and more the wonders that God works through His people.

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

35 Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps 36 and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. 38 And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

Read the Bible in one year Isaiah 5-8

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

OUR SPIRITUAL FAMILY TREE

A child asked her mother one morning: “When I asked Dad where humans come from, he said we came from apes. When I asked you, you said we came from Adam and Eve. Who’s telling the truth?”

       The mother replied, “Dad was talking about his side of your ancestry. I was talking about my side of your ancestry.”

        In today’s First Reading, Paul contrasts the different fruits on the human race of Adam and the New Adam, Jesus Christ. As descendants of Adam, we all share in the malice of the original sin. Through Adam, sin entered the world. Through the New Adam, grace, justice and salvation penetrated the world.

       We are all biological descendants of Adam insofar as we share the same humanity. But we don’t necessarily have to endow the same patrimony to the later generations. As adopted sons of the Father, made possible through Jesus Christ, the New Adam, we are called by vocation and participation to make grace, justice and salvation our little contributions to the world.

          Biologically, we cannot break away from our identification with Adam. We are all his descendants. We all share from the fruit of the tree of sinfulness. But with the New Adam’s grace, we can break the chain of sinfulness. From the grace of the tree of salvation, we can infuse the world again and again with the blessings of goodness and holiness. Adam is our biological ancestor. The New Adam, Jesus, is the proud side of our spiritual ancestry. Fr. Joel Jason

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

What are you blessing the world, your immediate community and family with? The

patrimony of Adam or of the New Adam?

Lord Jesus, in You we have become children of the Father. Bind us to You always and make Your patrimony to the world ours as well. Amen.