Proverbs 16:7, Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Matthew 16:24-28, Psalm 77:12-16, 21

Daily Meditation:  Proverbs 16:7

Proverbs 16:7

7 When the Lord is pleased with a man’s conduct, he reconciles even his enemies with him.

Beloved, how often it happens that those who belong to You are despised by the world.  How sweet is the consolation provided in this proverb.  You have the power to reconcile Your own even with those who mean to harm them.

Daily Mass Readings: Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Matthew 16:24-28, 

                                      Psalm 77:12-16, 21

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

Beloved, here Moses is speaking to the people of Israel.  He is reminding them of how powerfully the Lord worked in order to set them free from slavery to the Egyptians, through the difficulties of their roaming for 40 years in the wilderness and then bringing them into the promised land.  He pleads with them as indicated in verse 39  39 Therefore, try to be convinced that the Lord is the only God of heaven and earth, and that there is no other. 

My Beloved, God worked in truly awesome ways to lead the people from slavery to freedom.  All of this is but a dim rehearsal of what the Father would do to save us from the real evil of slavery to sin that destroys eternally.  He sent You, true God and True man, to be born in a humble stable, You lived a hidden life for 30 years and then You revealed Yourself first the the chosen people, our older brothers, the Jews and then to the Gentiles, verses 34-38 expresses it beautifully.  We have received the Kingdom of God which is You Beloved Jesus, You are our inheritance.  Thank You, Father.

Matthew 16:24-28

In this age of wanton self indulgence, in this age where there are those who rot and die and have their very life squeezed out of them because we refuse to see them like Lazarus lying at the gate, covered in flies too weary to even shoo them away.  Where the Cross is a foul word and suffering is to be avoided as one would avoid the black plague.  We all stand in very real danger of losing our immortal souls. Our fat, sleek, smooth skinned, wrinkle free, complacent  self-centered egoistic bodies will putrefy and we will most deservedly burn in the fire of regret, bitterness and self-loathing for all eternity, unless we wake up to the Truth.  That Truth that came into the world and we turned our back on Him.  Have mercy on us Lord!!!