1 John 2:15-17, Acts 20:28-38, John 17:11-19, Psalm 68:29-30, 33-36

Daily Meditation:  1 John 2:15-17

1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or what is in it. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For everything in the world—

the craving of the flesh,

the greed of eyes

and people boasting of their superiority—

all this belongs to the world, not to the Father.

17 The world passes away with all its craving but those who do the will of God remain for ever.

My Beloved, grant that I may always remain in Your love.  The world and all that is in it are to be used for Your glorify.  The minute anything in the world robs You of Your rightful place in our hearts, then it separates us from You.  How easy it is to let the lure of the world and all it offers to tempt us away from You.  Time that is rightfully Yours is often frittered away on amusing ourselves with baubles.  There is much we can place before our eyes than can lead us to false worship.  All worship begins and ends with worship of God.  The beauty of the world must draw us and lead us to worship You.

Greedy eyes are insatiable - and addiction leads to enslavement resulting in loss of freedom.   Greedy eyes are feverish eyes, restless eyes and lead to exhaustion.  There is no peace, no beauty, no center when our eyes are not fixed on God.  For He is all that is truly beautiful.

Anyone boasting about themselves suffers from the sin of pride, for all that we have and all our opportunities, talents and successes are gifts that we receive from You and must be used in Your service.  If we run after the world, then we are not children of God.  Verse 17 is a sober reminder that the world and all it in it passing.  Grant that like You I too consider doing God's will as food and drink.  Living in You I will live forever.

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Daily Mass Readings:  Acts 20:28-38, John 17:11-19,

                                      Psalm 68:29-30, 33-36

Acts 20:28-38

Beloved, true Christian friendships do not cling.  The love though deep, understands that one has to let go when God calls us to go wherever He desires us to work for His Kingdom.  In today's Liturgy we have two farewell addresses one of St. Paul to his fellow Christian workers and friends and in the Gospel the farewell prayer of Jesus to His Apostles.  

St. Paul knows that he will not see his friends again in this life.  His friends grieve at this knowledge.  While their sorrow is understandable, they all know that doing God's work is more important than clinging to human relationships and affection.    He gives the Church some last words of advice which is very relevant for our day too.  We are called to be vigilant not only for yourselves but over those entrusted to us.  The Church will guard her flock with all her power and strength which she receives through the shedding of Your Blood.  As St. Paul predicted, ruthless wolves constantly arise to attack God's Church - we see it everywhere in the world.  The Catholic Church is hated and feared and her enemies seek her destruction, for she stands aloft as a beacon on hilltop shedding her light that will never be put out, on a world that has become depraved with sin.

Verse 32

Keep me ever close to Your grace-filled Word, may I seek nourishment from it in order to form my mind, my heart and my spirit and conform it to Your Own.

St. Paul's prophecy in verse 30 has come to pass for many in the Church, Bishops, priests, religious sisters and laity are watering down the truth and corrupting it.

Beloved, give ________ the opportunity to work in order that he might continue to provide for his family without any anxiety for he has been faithful in serving Your flock in Your vineyard.

 

John 17:11-19

St. Paul's goodbye address is so like Your own Beloved.  Your greatest concern was for Your flock and Your prayer to the Father was one of intercession for those whom You were going to leave behind.  We know that God always hears Your prayers and so evil will never prevail against Your Church and Your flock, for You have overcome the world.  Thank You for Your Holy Word that is our strength and our comfort.  We are a consecrated people in You and so we have every reason to rejoice.

Psalm 68:36

36 Awesome in his sanctuary is the God of Israel. He gives his peo­ple power and strength.

Blessed be God!