We often have thoughts, words and deeds, which we consider to be wrong. We hide them. We are ashamed of them. We feel guilty. We ask forgiveness from God and people. We pray with the Psalmist :
"Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness, with the greatness of your mercy, blot out my iniquity…
For I recognize my iniquity "
(Ps 50, 3. 7).
We realize, that our sins separate us from God. Therefore, at the beginning of the Eucharistic Assembly, the priest invites the assembled people to repentance with the following words :
“Let us apologize to God for our sins, that we may worthily celebrate the Holy Sacrifice ". After a short silence, everyone will confess their sins :
“I confess to Almighty God and to you, brothers and sisters, that I have sinned very much in thought, speech, by deed and neglect ".
With these words, everyone is waiting for God's forgiveness. Everyone wants him, who has sinned. Will God have mercy and forgive me ? Will he bring back to fellowship and save ? How do we know about it ?
The hope of salvation
God answers the question that torments sinners in the biblical account of paradise : God said to the serpent: I am introducing enmity between you and the woman ; between your offspring and her offspring ; it will crush your head, and you will crush his heel " (Gen. 3, 15).
These words are the first "Good News" about our salvation. It applies to all people. God foretells a fight with Satan and a final victory over him. In this fight, Satan (shown as a snake) it will hurt people. His victories, however, will be small, because it will only hurt the "heel". Ultimately, mankind will prevail. This is expressed in the Scriptures. with the words "crush the head" - Satan. Ultimate triumph, then, belongs to man.
St.. Paul explains the full meaning of the first "Good News". Man will only win through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ as the Head of mankind was victorious over Satan. Paul calls Christ "the second Adam", for as "the first Adam" brought disobedience to earth, sin, death and punishment, so the "second Adam" brought grace, obedience, justice and life (by. 1 Disease 15, 20-22. 45-49). He fixed it, what that broke. He accomplished this work through perfect obedience to God. Christ teaches us, how to do God's will, not yours, how to relate to the world and to other people. Thus, St.. Paul calls Jesus Christ "New Man", and his work is the restoration of all (Ef 1, 10), or "new creation" (2 Disease 5, 17).
Thus, the foretelling given in Paradise contains the promise of a Savior's coming. That is why it is called the first "Gospel", that is, the first "Good News" about redemption. This "Good News" was passed down from generation to generation, until it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Mary is the Mother of the Savior
The Book of Genesis mentions the woman in the promise of salvation. Like St.. Paul pointed us to Christ as the promised Savior, this is how the Church sees Mary in the Woman, The Mother of the Savior. The church believes, that Mary is free from original sin from the very first moment of her existence, that is, the Immaculate Conception. She has never committed any sin and has never been under the power of Satan. God gave her the highest friendship, that is, the life of God and the highest dignity of the Mother of God.
The first "Good News" about our salvation came to us through the faith of the Israelites. God announces this first "Good News" about salvation to us, when we read in the Scriptures. about the promise made in Paradise. This is done primarily in 10 Sunday ordinary (year B) during the Eucharistic Assembly. Then God solemnly reminds the gathered people of the first Good News of salvation. It enlivens faith and hope in our final victory with Christ over Satan and sin.
How will I answer God ?
Like all people, I feel the need for God's forgiveness and salvation. I can turn to God with confidence, as the people do after hearing the first "Good News" of salvation :
“I trust in the Lord, my soul nourishes…
For with the Lord there is kindness and with him plentiful redemption "
(Ps 129, 5a-7b).
On Saturday evening, preparing to participate in the Sunday Mass. I'll do an examination of conscience for the whole week. I will think, for which I should apologize to God.
■ Think:
1. What the priest calls us to do at the beginning of the Eucharistic Assembly ? - For what purpose he does it ?
2. What is the first "Good News" about ?
3. Like St.. Paul explains the first "Good News" ?
4. Why St.. We call the Virgin Mary the Immaculate Conception ?
■ Remember:
27. What God foretold people in the first "Good News" ?
God foretold people in the first "Good News" to fight Satan and win over him.
28. Who has triumphed over Satan ? Jesus Christ was victorious over Satan, "Second Adam".
■ Task :
1. find out, when we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of. Virgin Mary.
2. What you should remember, when you become discouraged in the fight against evil ?