The Collect for Monday of the Second Week of Easter is:
“Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who have been renewed by paschal remedies, transcending the likeness of our earthly parentage, may be transformed in the image of our heavenly maker. 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
This whole Easter season (the longest one except Ordinary Time) will focus on heavenly things, baptism, and renewal. So, we pray to make the renewal complete by “transcending… our earthly parentage.” This is a reference to Adam and Eve – the “Old Adam” or “Old Man” according to St. Paul – from whom we inherit death and sin. Jesus – the “New Adam” – is someone we take after by grace instead of nature. That means we can’t count on our biology and genes to do it for us. Although it is a gift in baptism, the full effect of redemption and transformation (eternal life!) is something that has to be applied over time in our lives. This takes work, but we pray for and trust that we receive the grace needed to succeed.
So, for your daily contribution to the Church’s collection of prayer,
take a moment to reflect on your family tree, your ancestors. Think about the traits you’ve inherited genetically. Reflect on the fact that, by Baptism, you now have a set of “spiritual genes” that are meant to make you like Christ. Just as your siblings and cousins share genes with you but are unique, so your particular way of looking like Christ is unique. Pray to grow fully into that unique reflection of Jesus in the world. 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.