You are God's work of art

Monday, August 15, 2016

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On this feast day, it is appropriate to reflect on the wonderful mystery of God’s grace. Grace is a total gift given to us out of love. It is a sharing in God’s overpowering and gratuitous love. It doesn’t need to be earned; it doesn’t need to be merited; there isn’t anything we can or should do in order to obtain it. It just is and it is a part of us from the very beginning. Consider this: it was by God’s grace that we were born. Consider that and realize that at the time you were totally helpless and unable to do anything. The grace did what it needed to do for you. And now, if you can, apply that concept to every aspect of your life: Consider how much His grace has done, is doing, and wants to do for you.

Consider this passage from Ephesians (2:8-10)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

There are several translations of the last phrase of this passage which really strike close to home. I give ti you here and suggest that you reflect on it until it is inscribed in your heart and your mind. It is already inscribed in your soul, but most of the time we have blockages which prevent us from having access to it. But here it is now:

You are God’s work of art.

Yes, even you, even now with all your infirmities and weaknesses and memories of sin and temptations to sin, with all of your guilt and shame and regrets and secrets. You are still God’s work of art, and His grace and His love transcends anything within you that mars that art.

Rest in this, today, and reflect on how the Virgin’s very life demonstrated that art right from the beginning and until her earthly time was over and there was nothing to prevent that work of art to take its rightful place in heaven.

Reflect that this you destiny as well. And, knowing that you are God’s work of art, what might you be inspired to do----not to deserve or become more worthy of that grace, but rather to express that grace into your own world.

These would be good things to reflect on today.

God bless you!