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Marie Granieri
God’s promises to Abraham brought trials too. When called to take his family to an unknown land, Abraham had no time to prepare or dwell on all that might happen on the long journey ahead. An enduring friendship was at the heart of his relationship with God. He shared everything in his heart – all his hopes, fears and doubts. Time and again, God assures Abraham that He would keep his promises. And in every place where God came to him, Abraham built an altar of remembrance. When great fear of an enemy threatens, God said “Do not be afraid, I am your shield.” God’s promises do not come without setting the table with his commands. He tells Abraham that “I am God – walk before Me and be blameless.” Then Abraham falls to the ground covering his face. God makes it known that in order for his promises to…
Do Whatever He Tells You to Do These are Mary’s last recorded words in Scripture. At the wedding feast at Cana, she is the first to notice that the wine has run out. Rather than turn to the family, Mary brings the problem to her son, Jesus. No one knows that Mary is working behind the scenes to ensure that the joy of the feast continues without interruption. Blessed Mary knows that by drawing the love of her Son, she will, in essence, be letting Him go. If the miracle happens, Christ’s work to carry out the will of God begins. The appointed hour Christ speaks of comes into their being. The hour of his Crucifixion. Old Simeon’s warning of the sorrow that would pierce her heart re-enters Mary’s mind. Knowing this, Mary turns to the waiters and says “Do whatever He…
Advent brings the wonder that is to come in the Incarnation. Christ’s unsurpassed love for humanity enters the world to restore the grace that has been lost. It is the sent Christ who carries out the will of the Father By laying down his life as the suffering Lamb, Christ overcomes the divine dilemma. How would God who is Love allow his beautiful creation to perish? We are made in his image – are we not? Yet, with mercy comes justice. God made known the consequence of sin – “Ye shall surely die.” Jesus enters – Immanuel By the love of the Son – Salvation comes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoPCdfMDUs0&ab_channel=SingAlongOpera Christ breaks into the darkness to save us. He willingly offers Himself in our place, as the sacrificial Lamb to reconcile the world with the Father. Healing begins from Mary’s womb at the moment of…
Of the seven expressions Christ spoke while dying on the Cross, his cry “Eli, Eli, lema, sabachthani” (Mk 27:46) which means “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” grip us to the bone. Love to the end is poured out by the Son of God, redeeming all of humanity from sin. Fulfilling God’s divine plan with perfect obedience, Christ weeps the pain of feeling separated from God. Our Savior hears the brokenness of Mary his Mother and the apostle John at the foot of the Cross. All others have abandoned Him. Despite the darkness, it is the hour when Christ gloriously accomplishes all that He promised. The suffering Lamb of God unites with all of humanity, experiencing Himself the sorrow of rejection and abandonment with complete acceptance. Receiving his Father’s momentary silence, he commends his Spirit and breathes his last (Mk 15:37). Christ does…
Imagine a world searching for a different kind of horizon. One that has nothing to do with politics, wealth or status – only Christ. A world only searching for God. Wanting to know above all, the day of Christ’s return. God’s grace would surely overflow, filling the ends of the earth. Turning to the Old Testament, we have numerous prophetic events that prefigured Christ’s entry into the world. Unfortunately, the world did not heed their prophetic significance. Instead, they rejected the one whom God sent – Christ. In the New Testament, Christ reveals the meaning of Old Testament prophecy. And, the only begotten Son of God fulfills all that was foretold with exacting precision. Jesus reveals Himself as the key to understanding the Old Testament. Three Significant Old Testament Events Foretelling the Coming of Christ Foretelling 1: The Bronze Serpent Moses “Lifted Up” to Heal…
