Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God. They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled: "This man was born there." And all shall sing, in their festive dance: "My home is within you."

Our ultimate home is in the City of God. It is the one and only place where we will find eternal peace and happiness. The worldly homes we live in pass away, but our Heavenly Home will never disappear. If we prepare ourselves to live in Paradise with God, then we shall be rewarded with a home that will never perish. A home filled with love and mercy and grace. A home where we can see the Beatific Vision every day for all eternity and experience everlasting bliss.

Are we preparing ourselves to live with the Holy Trinity in the City of God? What are we doing to make sure we get to Heaven? Do we truly appreciate what the Beatific Vision means and how important it is to bend our lives towards experiencing it for all eternity?

O Lord, help us to be worthy of living with you in the City of God.

Amen.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

Each of our souls is a city. We build them up over the course of our lives. Some of us have straight and narrow roads. Others wide and winding streets. Some place God in the center of their souls. Others put money, fame, passions, and others things in the center of their lives. Still others never settle on a center and their cities are chaotic with no rhyme or reason to them. Hopefully, we are the ones who found ourselves on God... and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Holy Lamb. If we do this, then our lives will shine for all to see and give glory to God for everything He has done for us.

Where is God in our lives? Is He in the center of our souls or on the outskirts begging to come in? What can we do to build up a holy dwelling place for God within our hearts?

O Lord, enter into the cities of our souls.

Amen.