Mark 16:17-18, Leviticus 25:1, 8-17, Matthew 14 :1-12, Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8

Daily Meditation:  Mark 16:17-18

Mark 16:17-18

17 Signs like these will accompany those who have believed: in my Name they will cast out demons and speak new langu­ages; 18 they will pick up snakes and, if they drink anything poisonous, they will be unharmed. They will lay their hands on the sick and they will be healed.”

My Beloved, You promise that anyone who believes in Your Holy Name, the Name of Jesus which means one who saves, the following signs will be manifest in them.  They will cast out demons, they will speak new languages, they will pick up snakes and if they drink anything poisonous they will not be harmed.  You also promise that in imitation of You they will lay hands on the sick and they will be healed.

This promise holds true for anyone who has faith in You.  Is this true of me Beloved?  I profess to believe with all the fervor of my soul in Your most Holy Name - surely then these signs should be manifest me.  If not then do I really believe or is my faith and belief weak and shallow?  Do I have such great confidence in Your Word that I am prepared to step out in faith and act on Your Word believing it to be true?

Daily Mass Readings:  Leviticus 25:1, 8-17, Matthew 14:1-12, 

                                       Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8

Leviticus 25:14,17

14 When you sell something to your neighbor or buy something from him, do not wrong one another. 

17 So you shall not wrong one another but you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord, your God.

The world is constantly buying, selling and advertising making boasts based on lies for we buy and sell inferior products and all the advertisements promise more than they deliver.  We live in a world of lies - lies are sold in all forms of the media, the news, in government, in politics, in entertainment and our lives reflect the culture of the day.  We are constantly wronging each other.  Grant us O Lord a holy fear of You and bring us back to the Truth.

Matthew 14:1-12

Today's Gospel speaks of how parents misguide their children setting them up to live immoral lies by the shoddy examples that they give them.  We school our children in ways displeasing to God and innocent minds are corrupted by the way we allow them to dress, dance and speak. Herodias dances in order to arouse which leads Herod to making rash and foolish promises.  He swore oaths and then when common sense prevailed and he had to deliver, he discovered it was too late for he is more concerned about human respect than in pleasing God. So he went ahead and committed murder even though he did not want to do it because he cared too much about public opinion.  We too are prepared to sell the Kingdom of God in order to gain the world which is passing.  In this paltry exchange we lose our soul.

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8

2 May God be gracious and bless us;

may he let his face shine upon us,

3 that your way be known on earth

and your salvation among the nations.

5 May the countries be glad and sing for joy,

for you rule the peoples with justice

and guide the nations of the world.

7 The land has given its harvest;

God, our God, has blessed us.

8 May God bless us and be revered,

to the very ends of the earth.