CHOOSING JOY AND GRATITUDE

CHOOSING JOY AND GRATITUDE


Today=we read about
GOD CHOOSING Mary
To be the MOTHER
Of his only son


Mary expresses GRATITUDE
In her response
“........my spirit REJOICES
In God my savior


For he has looked upon
His handmaid's lowliness” Luke 1:47-48


But Mary's JOY AND GRATITUDE
Didn't end
With her earthly life


They continued to GROW
And expand in her
NEW LIFE=which will
NEVER come to an end


Her new life=THE ASSUMPTION
Is what we
CELEBRATE today


Today's celebration REMINDS US
That we too
Have been CHOSEN
For a special PURPSE=like Mary


Let us choose to RESPOND
With JOY and GRATITUDE=
Just like Mary did


“God has ascended
Amid shouts of JOY


The Lord amid
The sounding of trumpets” Psalm 47:5


“Her neighbors and relatives
HEARD that the Lord


Had shown her great mercy
And they SHARED
HER JOY” Luke 1:58


“That JOY is mine
And it is now=COMPLETE


He must become greater
I must become less” John 3:29-30


CHOOSING JOY AND GRATITUDE


JOY and gratitude are
The fruits
Of a life=WELL-LIVED


And the joy that BEGINS
Here for us=will CONTINUE
To EXPAND in us
Throughout eternity


Let us always REMEMBER
That just as
The Father chose MARY


He chooses us too=
May we respond in GRATITUDE
Just as Mary did


And always be
THANKFUL=that we
Have been CHOSEN


“Let the peace of Christ
RULE in your hearts


Since as members
Of one body
You were called to peace=
And be THANKFUL” Colossians 3:15


“Therefore=since we are receiving
A kingdom
That cannot be shaken


Let us BE THANKFUL
And so worship God=
Acceptably=with reverence and awe
For our God is
A consuming fire” Hebrews 12:28


Dear Lord=like MARY=
HELP us to always live
With JOY AND GRATITUDE=
In this life and THE NEXT


Robert P. Wallman
8-14-18




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Fr. Kenneth E. Grabner, C.S.C.








Today is the CATHOLIC FEAST DAY of the ASSUMPTION of Mary into HEAVEN