Sirach 6:5-17, Psalm 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34-35m Mark 10:1-12

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth. Jn 17:17


Sirach 6:5-17, Psalm 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34-35, Mark 10:1-12

Sirach 6:5-17

My soul's beloved, it is such a great pity that there are groups of Christians who reject the book of Sirach and know nothing about it. They would profit much from it had they read it mediated on it, and been inspired by it. Everything the writer says about friendship is true. A true friend is a great gift, often it is a rare gift as well and therefore must be appreciated for it is one You bestow. I have learned that it is important to speak kindly, to resist the haughty word and look for there is neither grace nor merit in treating another as less than they are - for we are all equal in Your sight.

Thank You for my friend. Thank You for the years of laughter, tears, sadness, silence, wisdom, truth, kindness, understanding, compassion, pain we have share through the years. My friend as been a blessing for which I am not only humbled but truly grateful for I know that such a gift is rare and not many receive it. 

A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter;

he who finds one finds a treasure.

A faithful friend is beyond price,

no sum can balance his worth.

A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy,

such as he who fears God finds;

For he who fears God behaves accordingly,

and his friend will be like himself.

Psalm 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34-35

My soul's beloved, as today's liturgy reminds us, Your Word is truth and we are consecrated in the truth. Thank You for the Gift of Your Holy Spirit who guides us into the way of truth. Who enlightens us and who teaches us that Your commands are light and life to those who obey Your Word. It is the Holy Spirit alone who can expand our knowledge in the things of God. He grants us understanding when we like Mama Mary keep Your Word in our heart and ponder on it. He grants us the grace to obey You even when our flesh recoils from discipline, suffering and sacrifice. He also grants us discernment if we wait on Him rather than impetuously follow our own inclinations. Continue to pour grace on me so I may always delight in yielding and submitting graciously and in all circumstances to His will.

Mark 10:1-12

My soul's beloved, crowds always followed You wherever You went and You never turned them away. Filled with compassion and tenderness for each one of them You taught them; revealing the truths about the Kingdom of God and how we to receive what God so longs to give. Until You came people muddled along and the the law was tailored to suit the temper of the people although it was not what God truly desired. 

Divorce is wrong - that is the simple unvarnished truth. The world refuses to accept it because the world does not have the mind of God. While Moses may have permitted divorce, You tell the Pharisees that God, from the beginning of creation, in making us male and female, desired that once we are joined together in Holy Matrimony, making a covenant with each other, they are no longer two but one flesh. How then can one divorce oneself? Because we are sinners and we enter into this union lightly we demand divorce  for we are selfish and have not truly understood what true love is. You said it and there is no way around it and You will grant the grace to be faithful, loving, and committed to the end. Divorce is always wrong for one cannot divorce oneself:

"Therefore what God has joined together,

no human being must separate."