Obedience has a special place in the Christian life. It is not merely doing what is asked, but we obey because we see God in our superiors. All authority descends from God.

The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us a dual lesson. First, the imagery of Christ’s compassion. The second, of mankind being graciously wounded since the Fall. Yet the Good Samaritan is a symbol of Our Lord to provide the man afflicted on the side of the road with the greatness of grace.

God wants us to be better. This demands that we look at ourselves, including our interior disposition. We are likely to discover darkness in our souls. It may disturb us to uncover this darkness. We must not be afraid of this experience, as it ultimately brings us closer to God.

We do not see as God sees, nor do we judge as Him. Too often we judge by what we see. The external. It is not for us to see the hearts of others. We must approach them with charity as Our Lord has commanded.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the great feasts we celebrate in the Catholic Church. At the end of her earthly life, she was taken to heaven. It is a belief the Church has held dear since the beginning. There are no relics of her precious body. There are not even forgeries. The Church teaches and the faithful have always believed in this truth, which remains a sign of her unique calling in salvation history. 

The most dangerous temptation is discouragement. Throughout our lives we will meet obstacles, small and large. Even when we do good and what God calls us to do, we will ask at times, “Have I failed? Is God disappointed in me?” This temptation is a barrier to perseverance. It leads you to believe you are far from Our Lord. And ultimately, it compels us to give up unless we remember, through prayer, that God is always with us. That reality overcomes every temptation.

The parable of the Publican and Pharisee presents an opportunity to reflect on our own hypocrisy when we exalt ourselves at the expense of others. It is altogether easy to point to the faults of others without reflecting prayerfully on our own. We must humble ourselves before God. In every endeavor in our lives, there is a the reality that have sinned. For that, we need to seek Our Lord’s forgiveness. We must also remain vigilant to restrain from judging others who are seeking the same grace.

In this world, we encounter people whose souls are in different states. Some are indifferent to the things of God. Others are fervent. We also meet those who find spiritual fruit in everything. Whether it is a trial or a grace, they find an opportunity for spiritual growth during every stage on life’s way. They do this by accepting the trials that are placed in front of them. It is no easy thing, but it is a necessary step on the path to holiness.