The Collect for Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter is:
“O God, who restore human nature to yet greater dignity than at its beginnings, look upon the amazing mystery of your loving kindness, and in those you have chosen to make new through the wonder of rebirth may you preserve the gifts of your enduring grace and blessing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”
Reflection
God not only overcame the Original Sin of Adam, but made us even more than Adam would be if he had never sinned. That is why the Easter Exsultet sings “O Happy Fault.” This powerful act of God’s love is the mystery of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. So, we ask God to look upon that mystery, e.g. upon Christ. God calls us to grace and conversion, to baptism. Thus, we ask God to look upon those he has called to baptism and to continue to pour out his grace in the form of protection and preservation. The prayer is not asking because we deserve it, but because the Son of God desires it for us.
So, for your daily contribution to the Church’s collection of prayer,
Consider your own dignity. God himself became man and died for your sake. You are an adopted child of God, precious in His eyes. If some fault or shortcoming of yours comes to mind, realize that God pulled good even out of Original Sin, so he can pull good our of your weakness too. Pray for confidence in God’s love for you and that you might never despair! Then spiritually unite that prayer to all the Masses throughout the world today. That way, when the priest says “Let us pray,” you can be a part of that “us” even if you don’t get to attend Mass.