White and blue shirt: white for today's memorial, plus "Blessed Mother blue"
Angelus: Luke tells us that on the way to Jerusalem a man asks Jesus whether only a few will be saved. Jesus takes the discussion to another level, and at first the disciples don’t understand him: "Enter through the narrow door; many will seek to enter but won't succeed." It's not a question of numbers, but it's important everyone knows the door leading to salvation. Jesus himself is the door. He leads us in communion with the Father, where we find love, understanding, and protection. It's narrow because it asks us to restrict our pride and fear, to open ourselves to him in humility and trust, as sinners needing forgiveness. The door of God's mercy is narrow but always wide open for everyone! His salvation is an unceasing flow of mercy that breaks down barriers and opens up perspectives of light and peace. Narrow door, but always open.
Today Jesus invites us to go to him, to cross the threshold of life, reconciled and happy. He waits, no matter what sin we have committed, to embrace us, forgive us, transform us, give meaning to our existence, give us joy. Upon entering the door of Jesus, faith, and the gospel, we leave behind worldly attitudes, bad habits, selfishness, and closing ourselves off. When we contact God's love and mercy, there's real change, and the Holy Spirit illumines us.
What prevents you from passing over the threshold: pride, arrogance, sin? Think about the door open to God’s mercy, and God waiting to forgive you. Seize the opportunities the Lord offers to enter through the door of salvation; don't waste them. Don't make salvation an academic discourse like the man did. Life is serious, not a video game or soap opera; its goal, eternal salvation. May we seize the opportunities he gives us to cross the threshold and enter the path of salvation, open to all who let themselves love and be loved. Love saves; love is a source of happiness to those who, forgetting themselves, give themselves to others, especially the weakest.
For National Liturgical Week: The Week's theme is "Liturgy as a place of Mercy." When we live each liturgical event "with eyes fixed on Jesus and his merciful face we can see the Trinity's love.... Everything about Jesus speaks of mercy. " "What was tangible our redeemer has passed in the sacraments" (Leo the Great). This approach helps distinguish the liturgy as a place where mercy is given and encountered, where the mystery of reconciliation is made present, announced, celebrated, and communicated.
The gift of Mercy particularly shines in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Father's compassion can't be locked up; it renews people and enables them to offer the same gift, arousing in them a desire and capacity for forgiveness. We're called to this, especially in face of resentment, to unlock the joy of inner peace.
Think of the rite of Penance as an expression of a "Church in output," as "door" to re-enter and "threshold" open to all in need of compassion. It recreates the encounter with God's mercy from which come new people to preach the Gospel through a life reconciled and reconciling. May the reflections and celebrations of this Week mature understanding of liturgy as source and summit of ecclesial and personal life full of mercy and compassion.
Creighton: What gives value to a gift is the content, not the wrapping. What gave value to the gold was the temple. When we make externals more important, we risk religious fetishism. May we look beyond externals to the deeper reality. What gave Mary value and made her blessed among women was the One she was carrying, the Content.
How big a crown? Check out Yvonne Huitron's guest post, where she recalls the City of Los Angeles, "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles" ("the town of Our Lady Queen of the Angels"), wears Mary's crown.