UPSIDE-DOWN
“Those whom He foreknew He predestined to share the image of His Son.” –Romans 8:29
Mass Readings: September 8
First: Micah 5:1-4; Resp: Psalm 13:6; Gospel: Matthew 1:1-16,18-23
It’s not surprising when children look like their parents; after all, children inherit their genetic makeup from their parents. However, Mary looked like Jesus. Although she was Jesus’ mother, she was made in the image of her Son (Rm 8:29). This is because those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rm 8:29).
Mary was conformed to the image of God. Her birth prefigures our new birth in Christ. All who are in Christ Jesus have become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15). All who are reborn in Jesus are born again, begotten from above, remade in the image of God’s Son (Jn 3:3; Rm 8:29). At our Baptism, we were born into new life, born into the kingdom of God, adopted into His family (Rm 8:14). He gave us new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Pt 1:3).
Nicodemus learned from Jesus that birth into the kingdom of God is a reversal of human thinking (Jn 3:4ff). So it is with God’s genetics. We are literally remade. It’s as if our DNA is completely remade into a new person, though we have the same body. God’s new creation turns man’s order upside-down (see Acts 17:6 in the Greek).
PRAYER: Father, turn my lifestyle right-side-up. Transform me by the renewal of my mind (Rm 12:2).
PROMISE: “[Jesus] shall be peace.” –Mi 5:4
PRAISE: Mary rejoiced, praising God and saying: “I am the handmaiden of the Lord, let it be done unto me according to Your will” (see Lk 1:38).
God Blessed our service thru Web by reaching ~5 Million views in 5 years. Pray along with us. www.mygreatmaster.com .
Sep 8th, We share our joy with the blessings of Jesus, Mother Mary, all saints and Blessed people.
