Baruch 1:15-22, Luke 10:13-16, Psalm 79:1-5, 8-9

Daily Mass Readings:  Baruch 1:15-22, Luke 10:13-16, Psalm 79:1-5, 8-9

Luke 10:13-16

My Beloved, You are being rejected left, right and center by nations, by peoples and by Your own who call themselves Catholic and Christian.  We have perverted Your laws, Your commandment to love selflessly in imitation of You and it will be right and fitting if, in Your righteous anger, You sweep  us off the face of the earth.

Your faithful remnant are considered a curse and they are hated with a virulent hatred.

 

Psalm 79:1-5, 8-9

I pray this Psalm with the Psalmist, "Have pity O Lord, have compassion and save Your people.  Send Your Holy Spirit anew and renew us once more in Your love.

Matthew 25:34-40

Daily Meditation:  Matthew 25:34-40

Matthew 25:34-40

My Beloved, I thank You and Your Holy Spirit for leading me to this Scripture passage for my meditation today.  I am grateful to You for speaking to me through them and for the inspiration that illumines my mind and empowers me with the grace and sight that I need today. 

You are a most tender and loving God.  To those on Your right, at the last judgment, when You come again as King to pronounce eternal judgment, You have this to say to those who have labored in Your vineyard in order to establish Your Kingdom on earth, "Come home to the place My Father has prepared for you from the beginning of the world.  You saw Me in Your brothers and sisters You loved Me in them.  In feeding those hungry for My Word, in quenching their thirst from the streams of life giving water which is channeled through My Holy Spirit and flows from Me You welcome the brothers and sisters who stood outside the Church.  As a stranger, you helped Me to find my place as a member of God's family. Robed in baptismal garments I was no longer naked for you played a part in clothing Me.  I was sick and diseased through sin and in the Sacrament of Confession, for which You prepared these little ones entrusted to you, I am healed and whole again.  In these little ones locked in the prison of ignorance and alone, you had pity on Me and came to visit Me. Always remember that all who labor in My Vineyard tending my little one glorify Me for I consider it all done personally to me. 

---- Mine, you are anxious because your focus is on yourself.  You know your weakness.  Teaching my little ones is not about  you nor is about the impression you create on your peers.  It is about impressing little minds with the knowledge of the goodness, kindness, mercy, compassion and above all the all encompassing love of God.  As you help to prepare them for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of Holy Communion, you will be feeding their hunger for Me and quenching their thirst with My love, poured out through My Holy Spirit.  You will make them feel welcome in the Kingdom as children of God and as my brothers and sisters.  You will teach them how they can get well when they sin and how they will once again be arrayed in their baptismal garments.  When they feel trapped in prison, you will visit them and instruct them with the power of My Word and they will be set free.

Truly ---- Mine, remember always that all you do for these little ones of Mine I will consider it done to Me.

O Holy One, Glorious God, how can I thank You enough for giving me exactly what I needed today.  You use this poor, shallow self absorbed, weak instrument to do Your work despite my frailties.  It is always about You never ever about me.  Thank You for reminding me so powerfully about the true nature of my mission.

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, John 1:47-51, Psalm 138:1-5

Daily Mass Readings:  Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, John 1:47-51, Psalm 138:1-5

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

I looked and saw the following:

Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, his hair white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. 10 A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him.

Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book.

13 I continued watching the nocturnal vision:

One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence.

14 Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed.

 
My Beloved, thank You for this glimpse of God and of the eternal.  I am created for heaven.  Grant me all I need my Lord so I will fly home to You when my life here is done.  Now, as St. Paul says, I see dimly then I will see You my glorious God face to face.
 

John 1:47-51

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, he said of him, “Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him.” 48 Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” And Jesus said to him, “Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree and I saw you.”

49 Nathanael answered, “Master, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 But Jesus replied, “You believe because I said: ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ But you will see greater things than that.

51 Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Beloved, You know me like You knew Nathaniel even before he ever saw You or knew You.  I have an eternal destiny  with You.  I already have a foretaste of heaven at every Eucharist when I receive You my God. There is no union as perfect as ours  YOU IN ME AND I IN YOU  it will be no different in heaven except there I will behold Your glory.  Now I believe what I know to be true with the eyes of faith.  Thank You.

Psalm 138:1-5

1 I thank you, O Lord, with all my heart,

for you have heard the word of my lips.

I sing your praise in the presence of the gods.

2 I bow down towards your holy temple

and give thanks to your name,

for your love and faithfulness,

for your word which exceeds everything.

3 You answered me when I called;

you restored my soul and made me strong.

4 O Lord, all kings on earth will give you praise,

when they have heard your words.

5 They will celebrate the ways of the Lord,

“great is the glory of the Lord!”

My Beloved, my God, I praise You and adore You.  I fall on my face and I worship You O God of infinite goodness and majesty. 

Luke 16:10-13

Daily Meditation: Luke 16:10-13

Luke 16:10-13

10 Whoever can be trusted in little things can also be trusted in great ones; whoever is dishonest in slight matters will also be dishonest in greater ones. 11 So if you have not been trust­worthy in handling filthy money, who could ­entrust you with true wealth? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with things that are not really yours, who will give you the wealth which is your own?

• 13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he does not like the one and is fond of the other, or he regards one highly and the other with contempt. You cannot give yourself both to God and to Money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and sneered at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You do your best to be considered righteous by people. But God knows the heart, and what rises high among humans is loathed by God.

Beloved, these verses are packed with wisdom and You  have much to say to me through them.  I can be judged by the way I accomplish my duty in the very small tasks assigned to me.  If I am slipshod, hasty, uncaring, careless about fulfilling the little that is entrusted to me, it is a clear indication that I will fail miserably when I am entrusted with greater responsibility.

Money is the means by which every filthy and dishonest transaction is conducted in the world.  There are any number of persons who worship this idol and are prepared to go to any lengths and are willing to sacrifice every shred of decency they may have to possess it.  Nothing is considered too shameful, no perversion too great.  Good name, self respect, love of God, self and neighbor, the fear of the Lord and eventually the eternal loss of the soul are considered well lost in order to gain it.  If this is true of anyone, how can they be trusted with  the invaluable and priceless treasures of the Kingdom which are  goodness, purity, patience, kindness, humility, charity etc.  These will be trampled underfoot and they will be soiled and neglected.  How can the Holy Spirit pour His treasured gifts on one who cannot comprehend their value?

Beloved, You are very clear in Your teaching.  I have to make a choice - either for You or against You.  I cannot straddle the fence.  It is not in our nature to give ourselves fully and equally to both God and the world.  We have only to look at the world we live in today to know how absolutely impossible it is to serve both God and man.  Those who love You hate the world and those who are in love with the world wish to obliterate even the mention of Your Most Holy Name.

There are many modern day Pharisees who sneer at You because they cannot bear the truth of Your judgment which sees right through their hypocrisy and reveals their evil intent for all to see.  There are many rich, powerful men and women who are feted wherever they go despite the fact that they are given over to evil.  But verse 15 is a solemn reminder and a warning to all who would try to deceive the Almighty that God is all knowing and all seeing and He knows how to bless as well as to punish.

---- Mine, whatever task I entrust to you no matter how small, or insignificant, it must be undertaken as a labor of love.  No cutting corners.  All that is done is done for Me - keep that always in mind.  All you do must  be done because you love Me and you wish to glorify Me.  Even if no one will see or acknowledge what you do, I see and I will acknowledge.  Forget self, forget striving to pander to your ego or wanting to make a good impression on others.  All that is ephemeral and carries no true or eternal value.  Please Me.  Love Me.  Work for Me and for My glory in this alone is true and lasting happiness.  I AM YOUR TREASURE. 

Yes You are Beloved.  I want more of You in my life always.  My heart is with You, my life is Yours.  You are my reward.  Grant me Your grace to keep these truths ever before me.

Thank You.

Nehemiah 2:1-8, Luke 9:57-562, Psalm 137:1-6

Daily Mass Readings:  Nehemiah 2:1-8, Luke 9:57-562, Psalm 137:1-6

Nehemiah 2:1-8

1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Arta­xerxes, I was doing my duty as cupbearer. I took up the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad be­fore the king in the past. 2 So, the king said to me, “Why do you look sad? You don’t look sick. Is there something that bothers you?”

I became hesitant. 3 And I said, “May the king live forever! How could I afford not to be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates are burned down?” 4 The king said to me, “What do you want, then?” I asked help of God from heaven and 5 said to the king, “If it seems good to the king and if he is pleased with my work, then may he send me to the land of Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, that I may rebuild it.”

6 The queen was sitting beside the king, and the king asked me, “How long will you be gone? When will you be back?” I told him the date and he allowed me to leave. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, may you give me letters for the governors of the province at the other side of the River that I may travel to Judah, 8 and also a letter to Asaph, the caretaker of the king’s forest, for I will need wood for the gates of the Citadel near the Tem­ple, for the walls of the city and for the house where I shall live.”

The good hand of God was sup-porting me, so that the king gave me what I asked.

Beloved, we do what You want us to do.  When we are obedient to Your call to serve, we can count on everyone to help us to accomplish all that You will.  You move the hearts of those in authority to enable us do all You desire.  We are after all only instruments.

Use me Beloved for Your glory alone.

Luke 9:57-62

57 As they went on their way, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

59 To another Jesus said, “Follow me.” But he answered, “Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

61 Another said to him, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” 62 And Jesus said to him, “Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”

Beloved, we are all called to mission.  What is my response?  Do I make excuses or am I total yielded to You and Your will?

 Psalm 137:1-6

My Beloved, as long as there are those who have not yet heard the Good News, as long as there are people who do not yet belong to the Kingdom, we ought to have a great sadness, hunger and zeal to preach the Good News so all will come to know You and love You.

John 13:16-20

Daily Meditation:  John  13:16-20

John 13:16-20

16 Truly, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his master, nor is the messenger greater than he who sent him. 17 Understand this, and blessed are you if you put it into practice.

18 I am not speaking of you all, because I know the ones I have chosen and the Scripture has to be fulfilled that says, The one who shared my table has risen against me. 19 I tell you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may know that I am He.

20 Truly, I say to you, whoever welcomes the one I send, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, wel­comes the One who sent me.”

My Beloved, You use the word ,'truly,' twice in these verses.  This indicates that I have to pay keen attention to the teaching that follows. You are the Master and You have entrusted Your message of salvation to those whom You have chosen.  I am Your servant Beloved, I am also Your messenger.  I am indeed blessed that You have entrusted me not only to serve but to carry the message as well as to witness to it in my life.  The messae is the Good News that all are saved in You and through You.  I am called to be faithful to this mission and You will bless me if I put Your message into practice in my own life first.  That is the most powerful witness of all, for actions speak louder than words.

You have chosen me even before creation to belong to You, to be Your follower and disciple.  I know my destiny.  I am created in love, I am called to love You with all that I am - with my heart, my soul, body and spirit.  Every breath I breathe must glorify You and give You praise, worship,  adoration, thanksgiving and honor.  My lvoe for my neighbor must flow from this love - this is the way I am called to serve and bear witness to the Good news.

Beloved, after this short life here on earth, You will come for me and You will take me home to Yourself for all eternity.  My life with You on earth will be consummated with You in heaven.

Once again You says, 'truly,' if I welcome those You send, I welcome You my Lord and if I welcome You, I welcome God Himself - the Triune God. 

May I always treat Your priests with great respect and love.  in doing so, I prepare myself for the welcome that is awaiting me by You, the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Alleluia!!!!

---- Mine, listen, there are many who are ready to criticize but there are few who are prepared to love.  Remember, I chose people not angels from heaven and everyone has their share of faults and weaknesses and I love them inspite and despite their faults.  You are not called to bludgeon people into a bloody pulp with verbal bashing, You are called to be faithful to My message.  You are called to deliver it in the same Spirit in which I gave it - through My Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection which was all motivated by love.

Thank You my Beloved for choosing me.  Thank You for reminding me that all of us are frail, weak sinners and that You use us despite all this so that all the glory rebounds to You alone who are all deserving of the glory and honor we bestow on You.

Zechariah 8:20-23, Luke 9:51-56, Psalm 87:1-7

Daily Mass Readings:  Zechariah 8:20-23, Luke 9:51-56, Psalm 87:1-7

Zechariah 8:20-23

23 The Lord, the God of hosts assures you, “In those days ten men of different languages spoken in various lands, will take hold of a Jew by the hem of his garment and say: We, too, want to go with you for we have heard that God is with you.”

My Beloved, if only this was true of every Catholic.  If only we all lived such holy lives witnessing to our faith in You that people from all nations would approach to touch the  hem of our garments because they were filled with awe at our faith and love of You and our love for each other.  

Grant O Lord that I may so live my faith that I may glorify You always and give witness to Your glory and majesty.

Luke 9:51-56

51 As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. 52 He had sent ahead of him some messengers who entered a Samaritan village to prepare a lodging for him. 53 But the people would not receive him because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 Seeing this, James and John, his disciples said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to ashes?” 55 Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went on to another village.

Like the Samaritans, I to have deep seated prejudices that result in lost opportunities.  I fail to experience Your joy because my narrow vision renders me blind.  We reject people for the wrong reasons and we in turn have also experienced rejection.  I have the same knee jerk reaction of James and John.  A petty desire for revenge motivates my desire to retaliate with venom against those who refuse to accept me.  Everybody loses when I fail to obey the commandment to love God first and then neighbor.

Beloved, give me a heart like Yours and Mary's to love always as I ought to love.

 

Psalm 87:1-7

5 But of Zion it shall be said,

“More and more are being born in her.”

For the Most High himself has founded her.

How comforting verse 5 if of the Psalm.  Thank You for the Church and may You grant that my witness will count for something to some who will return to the fold on account of my witness and together we will rejoice with all Your children.

Romans 7:21-25

Daily Meditation:  Romans 7:21-25

Romans 7:21-25

21 I discover, then, this reality: though I wish to do what is right, the evil with­in me asserts itself first. 22 My inmost self agrees and rejoices with the law of God, 23 but I notice in my body another law challenging the law of the spirit, and delivering me as a slave to the law of sin written in my members. 24 Alas, for me! Who will free me from this being which is only death? 25 Let us give thanks to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

My Beloved, it is true that I long to be all that God wants me to be.  From the moment I wake up in the morning I offer You my day, I ask to  be led by Your Holy Spirit in all the choices I make but by the close of the day on examining my conscience, I see that I have sinned over and over again.  My heart, my soul and my inmost being rejoices in all that is right, good, holy, pure and beautiful but I am weak and my flesh craves to be indulged in so many ways.  I fall so many times a day despite all my good intentions and resolutions.  There is a constant struggle within me and quite often sin prevails and end up with the taste of ashes in my mouth.  Even though I know that only You can satisfy and that my greatest joy comes from pleasing You and doing Your will, often I am tempted to do just the opposite of what I ought to do and must do.  But I need not despair as St. Paul tells me that You my Beloved will save me, You will help me to overcome by desire to indulge my senses and my flesh.  Thank You my Beloved for the graces You make available to me always.

---- Mine, do you know why you fail so often?  Why you fail to tap into the vast reservoirs of grace available to you to help you overcome temptation?  It is because you make half hearted attempts to fight temptation.  Just when you would have won the fight with help from My Spirit, you give up and fail.  Put up a more determined resistance in your fight and you will win with My help.  Always have great confidence in my help.  Trust Me.

How true Beloved.  So often I just put up a token resistance and then I am so unhappy that I did not succeed in doing what I know was right.  I set myself up to fall and then I wring my hands when I do.  Thank You for this insight.  Help me to face temptation more determinedly, armed with Your grace, strength and Spirit.  I know that You do not lay on our shoulders burdens that are beyond our ability to endure.  Thank You.

Ephesians 1:3-8

Daily Meditation:  Ephesians 1:3-8

Ephesians 1:3-8

 3 Blessed be God, the Father of Christ Jesus our Lord,

who in Christ has blessed us from heaven with every spiritual blessing.

4 God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world

to be holy and without sin in his presence.

5 From eternity he destined us in love

to be his adopted sons and daughters through Christ Jesus,

thus fulfilling his free and generous will.

This goal suited him:

6 that his loving-kindness which he granted us in his Beloved

might finally receive all glory and praise.

7 For in Christ we obtain freedom, sealed by his blood,

and have the forgiveness of sins.

In this appears the greatness of his grace,

8 which he lavished on us.

In all wisdom and understanding,

My Beloved Jesus, it is amazing to see the Holy Spirit at work in St. Paul.  He  once killed Christians, he once terrorized Your people but after his encounter with you his conversion is total.  In those few moments , when he encountered You he was completely transformed.  In his temporary physical blindness where the world was shut out, in a spirit of prayer and fasting, he surrendered himself to You.  In the course of his life he grasped the truth of divine mysteries and he has shared these divine truths with us so we too can comprehend what God the Father has done for us through You.

With the gift of understanding given to us by Your Holy Spirit, we being to marvel at the Father's love us us and it is right, just and fitting that we bless God who is Your Father and our Father through You.  In You we are blessed with every spiritual blessing from heaven.  Nothing is held back.  You are eternally One with the Father and in You we have been chosen before the dawn of creation to share in the life of grace which helps strive to be holy and sinless in God's Presence.

We have done nothing to merit such love.  It is hard to comprehend such generous and selfless love.  The Father knew that this most wondrous gift of  our free will would eventually lead us to disobedience for the world, the flesh and the devil are constantly tempting us.  With His foreknowledge of our fall, He asked You to be the Saving Victim whereby we will all be saved.  Even though we fall due to concupiscence, we can always return to You.  We are sealed in Your Blood through the Sacraments.

It was not necessary for You to die in the way that God asked of You.  But by yielding to the Father You were able to demonstrate the sheer magnitude of the Father's love by not withholding His Only Son but He gave You up to be the Perfect Lamb of sacrifice, the Lamb without blemish, the only acceptable sacrifice in order that we might live and give You all the glory.

The Father raised You up Beloved and has given You a Name that is above every other name.  All that the Father desired has been perfectly accomplished in You.  We are created in love.  God knew us intimately even before creation, He made provision for our salvation by Your Holy Sacrifice so that  we would never be separated from Him.  He grafted us to You so that through You we become His adopted sons and daughters.  He lavishes every grace and blessing on us.  Bathed in Your most Precious Blood we are able to stand holy and sinless in His Presence for we have been washed clean and are made whole again in You.

.......................................................

---- Mine, understand the Father's love for you and praise and glorify Him always.  He did not permit Abraham to kill his son Isaac although Abraham was prepared obey God's command.  The Father did what He would not let Abraham do. The measure of the Father's love is perceived in the horror of my Passion and Death.  The Father and I both knew even before the first lash fell on my back exactly what I would have to go through and neither of us flinched because we love you.

......................................................

Child glorify My Son. Speak of what He has done.  My joy is to see My Son's sacrifice acknowledged, appreciated and praised so He may be glorified by every man, woman and child ever created together with all creation.  It is in this way that my joy is made complete - to see My Son worshipped, adored, loved, praised, honored and glorified.

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My Beloved grant this little nothing a full measure of Your Holy Spirit in order that I may grasp to the fullest extent my finite being can comprehend, the wonder of God's love for me.

John 14:21

Daily Meditation:  John 14:21

John 14:21

21 Whoever keeps my commandments is the one who loves me. If he loves me, he will also be loved by my Father; I too shall love him and show myself clearly to him.”

My Beloved, here You make a sweeping statement when You say,  "Whoever keeps my commandments is the one who love Me." It does not matter who the person is anyone who keeps Your commandments of self giving love to God first and to neighbor next,  such a person will be loved in return by One no less than Your Father.  The God of all the heavens and the universe, all that was, is and ever shall be, this all powerful, eternal, majestic, awesome God who sustains all things with His Word, will in return, love His poor sinful creatures. And You my Beloved, will love this 'whoever', right back with a love that is uniquely Your own.  It is a love that is a blend of total tenderness, compassion, passion and sweetness.  It is a love that pours enables You to pour out Yourself on the beloved.  Through Your Spirit, You will reveal Yourself clearly to the one who, prompted by love, keeps Your commandments.

---- Mine, do not let Your service to Me be tainted by inhibition, desire for human respect or fear.  You do not have to impress Me or any one else.  You have answered the call to give in love, all that matters now is that you do all that is required in simplicity, in humility and with generosity.  Be open to the Voice of My Spirit.  He will teach, lead and guide you.  He will accomplish all using you as His instrument.

Yes, Lord, I must learn to remove my focus on myself and train my gaze on You.  It is You alone that I must glorify.  It is You that I must make known and loved .  This is my goal nothing else.  Thank You.

Haggai 1:1-8, Luke 9:7-9, Psalm 149:1-6 & 9

Daily Mass Readings:  

Haggai 1:1-8, Luke 9:7-9, Psalm 149:1-6 & 9

Haggai 1:1-8

My Beloved, Your House, Your Church is in ruins, Your people are spiritually sick and are dying.  All that the world has to offer only serves to make them more sick and dissatisfied.  Their cravings and their thirsts are insatiable and unsated.  They desperately seek healing in all the wrong places, they have a great deal of everything and possess nothing of value.  It is time to climb the Mountain, find the Cross of suffering and redemption, and restore Your House, Your Church.  Only by renewing and reliving the Paschal Mystery will we find meaning and fulfillment in the Church, in the world, and in our lives.

Luke 9:7-9

There are so many like Herod in the world today even among the faithless faithful who have heard about the wonders and signs You have accomplished.  Their ears are tickled with curiosity but they do not take that initial interest to its logical conclusion.  They remain at the level of desultory interest and so they perish.

Have mercy on us O Lord, have mercy on us.

Psalm 149:6 & 9 

6 Let the praise of God be on their lips,

and in their hands two-edged swords,

9 to execute on them the written sentence:

this is the glory of all his saints. Alleluia!

Mark 9:30-32

Daily Meditation:  Mark 9:30-32

Mark 9:30-32

30 After leaving that place, they made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was 31 because he was teaching his disciples. And he told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him, but three days after he has been killed, he will rise.” 32 The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

My Beloved, You had passed through Galilee many times in the past and You preached, taught and healed all who came to You.  This time though it is different.  The hour of Your death is approaching and You want to gather Your disciples around You and speak to them intimately about the events that are to take place.  These are the ones who will entrusted with the mission of spreading the Good News.  You wish to reinforce the message of our salvation once again, "The Son of man will be delivered into human hands."  Beloved this was true at the moment of Your conception.  "They will kill Him."  Plots were hatched since Your birth to kill You so that incarnate evil could thwart God's plan by putting to death Incarnate Good.  "But three days after he has been killed, he will rise."  My Beloved, evil unaware assisted to bring about and fulfill the Divine Plan, for this is why You came into the world.

You came to die in order that I might live.  This is the Good News of our salvation.  Verse 32 is typical of so many who are called Christians.  "The disciples did not understand these words and were afraid to ask Him what He meant." 

My Beloved, those who ought to have understood were unable to grasp the mystery and were too afraid to ask for an explanation.  They were not sure if they could handle the truth  so they remained in the dark until after the Resurrection.  If they had the courage to ask You what You meant they would have stood steadfastly with Mother Mary and would have accompanied You through Your Passion.  They would have stood with her at the foot of the Cross.  Instead, overcome with cowardice, they scattered to the four winds and hid because they were afraid of dying with You and for You.

Beloved, today You have many disciples.  Help us to stand with You, die for You and rise again to share in Your glory eternally.

---- Mine, let your passion be ruled by compassion.  Listen with compassion and then let your passion become engaged.  If you do not listen first with compassion and act only with passion, you will be like a loose cannon ball and do a great deal of damage.  Your passion must be imbued with compassion to be effective.

Beloved, thank You for these wonderful words of wisdom and thank You for Your intimate knowledge of me.

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Matthew 9:9-13, Psalm 19:2-5

Daily Mass Readings:  Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Matthew 9:9-13,

                                       Psalm 19:2-5

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of Christ, invite you to live the vocation you have received. 2 Be humble, kind, patient, and bear with one another in love.

3 Make every effort to keep among you the unity of Spirit through bonds of peace. 4 Let there be one body and one spirit, for God, in calling you, gave the same Spirit to all. 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. 6 One God, the Father of all, who is above all and works through all and is in all.

7 But to each of us divine grace is given ac­cording to the measure of Christ’s gift.

11As for his gifts, to some he gave to be apostles, to others prophets, or even evangelists, or pastors and teachers. 12 So he prepared those who belong to him for the ministry, in order to build up the Body of Christ, 13 until we are all united in the same faith and knowledge of the Son of God. Thus we shall become the perfect Man, upon reaching maturity and sharing the fullness of Christ.

My Beloved in these verses, the Apostle Paul gives us a blueprint of Your Body the Church.  To each is given a gift or gifts to help us become effective in our calling.  No matter what our vocation may be, we are called to serve in love, kindness, patience and humility.  At the end of our earthly journey, we will become all  that God intends for each of His children. The goal of the Father for each of His children is to become the perfect Man as we reach the fullness of spiritual maturity which is found only in You, His Son.

Matthew 9:9-13

10 Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?”

12 When Jesus heard this he said, “Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. 13 Go and find out what this means: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

My Beloved, You will always be found at table with sinners for You care for us, You invite us constantly to intimate fellowship with You.

Psalm 19:2-5

2 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.

3 Day talks it over with day;

night hands on the knowledge to night.

4 No speech, no words, no voice is heard –

5 but the call goes on throughout the universe,

the message is felt to the ends of the earth.

God is alive in His creation which is alive and beautiful and speaks of the glory of the Creator all the time.

Psalm 36:8-10

Daily Meditation:  Psalm 36:8-10

Psalm 36:8-10

8 How precious, O God, is your constant love! Mortals take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

9 In your house they find rich food and they  drink  from your  spring of de­light.

10 For with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light.

My Beloved Spouse these 3 verses throw light on the nature of each Person in the Holy Trinity - the Triune God.  The first verse speaks of the Father whose love is precious and it is constant.  It is not dependent on whether I am worthy or not.  He whose nature is love, loves me all the time.  I can run to Him, I can stay within the shadow of His love and under the mighty protection of His wings no harm will ever come to me.

In the Father's House which is Your Church, You make Yourself available to us as our Food and Drink.  We eat Your Body and drink Your Blood in the celebration of every Eucharist.  In consuming You my Lord, we are assumed in You and we become one Flesh in You.  Can anything bring more perfect bliss than this.  You are the Spring from which flows eternal joy.

From You flows Your Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that You have given us in full measure in Baptism and confirmation and at every Sacrament.  This Pure Spirit is the perennial Fountain of Life and He gives life to those who are grafted into  Your Body.  He is the Life and Love of the Father and You the Son and He takes us up into the Eternal Dance of Divine Love.  It is the Holy Spirit who opens up our minds and hearts with the Light of the Wisdom of God.  In the Divine Light of the Holly Spirit we see God, we recognize the Divine and we are able to walk firmly and with confidence in the Light of God's own Light.  Thank You Beloved.

---- Mine, Lift up your eyes to seek My gaze which is always on you.  Let My Life be your life, My Love be your love.  Be committed in your walk with me.

Esther 15:1-16

Daily Meditation:  Esther 15:1-16

Esther 15:1-16

 1 Ending her prayer on the third day, Esther took off her penitential garments and put on her royal attire. 2 Radiant in appearance after invoking the all-seeing God and Savior, she took her two maids with her, 3 and leaned gently on one of them for support, 4 while the other followed carrying her train. 5 Although her heart was frozen with fear, she looked radiant in her perfect beauty, her face depicting love and joy.

6 After passing through all the doors, she found herself face to face with the king seated on his throne, awe-inspiring in the full array of his majesty, his robes all covered with gold and precious stones. 7 As he looked up, his face flushed with majestic anger, the queen faltered, turned pale and leaned weakly upon the shoulder of the maid in front of her.

8 Then God changed the king’s anger to gentleness. Alarmed, he sprang from his throne, took Esther in his arms until she had recovered and comforted her with soothing words. 9 “What is it, Esther?” he said. “I am your brother. Take heart. 10 You will not die, because our decree applies only to ordinary peo­ple. 11 Come, speak to me.” 12 He rais­ed the golden scepter, touched her neck with it, then embraced her saying, “Speak to me.”

13 Esther spoke: “My lord, I saw you like an angel of God, and I trembled with fear before your majesty. 14 For you are admirable, my Lord, and your appearance is awesome although you are full of kindness.” 15 But she fell fainting as she spoke. 16 The king was deeply distressed, and his attendants tried to revive her.

My Beloved, in this beautiful story of Esther, we see Your Mother as she intercedes for her sinful children before her Beloved Son.  We also see ourselves in Esther, we who are baptized and belong to the Father through You.

If we are persistent in our prayers, if we are truly sorry for our sins recognizing that we are sinners and trying always to make amends, then You absolve us of our sins in  the Sacrament of Penance and once more we are made beautiful.  Our soul is made radiant before God with our love, peace and joy.  We approach You through the outer doors of our prayers of meditation and contemplation until we reach the sanctum sanctorum and we find You there.  However we must always be accompanied by the twin handmaids of obedience and humility, always aware that we are dependent on You for every breath.

You are awesome in Your glory, majesty, splendor and power.  No creature can look at You and live for You are God.  But You take pity on us when we make bold to come before You, bathed in the grace of the Holy Spirit and adorned with His gifts.  You see us approach You and You take all the remaining steps to hasten to our side when our own strength fails at the sight of Your glory.  You encourage us, assuring us that in You we will always find an attentive ear.  You lift us up and let us lean on Your strength and be comforted in You.  You give us all we desire to ensure we remain faithful because You love us.  Thank You my Lord and my King.

---- Mine, love alone can unlock every door of resistance that keeps You from Me.  Strive to love always and prayer daily for an increase of love.

Acts 2:33

Daily Meditation:  Acts 2:33

Acts 2:33

33 He has been exalted at God’s right side and the Father has entrusted the Holy Spirit to him; this Spirit he has just poured upon us as you now see and hear.

St. Peter tells us in no uncertain terms what God has done for You in response to Your perfect surrender, response and obedience to His will.  You lay down Your life in joyful obedience to the Father's will in order to save all mankind.  This is what the Father has now down for You.  My Beloved, God has exalted You and You are seated in all splendor glory,majesty and power at Your Father's right hand.  All creation praises You and acknowledges that You are the Beloved, the only Son of the Almighty, all powerful, Awesome God.

The Father has entrusted the Holy Spirit to You and You in turn pour out this same Spirit to all who believe in You and acknowledge that all the work of salvation that God has wrought in us through You.  My Beloved Jesus, You have poured out Your Holy Spirit on me knowing that this is true help me to walk with confidence n the knowledge of this truth that the Holy Spirit is at work in me to help me be and do all that God asks of me.

---- Mine, believed that all that You have asked for in faith has been given to You.  All the gifts of the Spirit are yours.  Use the gifts and the fruit of these gifts will be visible.  You have to believe and believing, ACT.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Daily Meditation:  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, given by God? You belong no longer to yourselves. 20 Remember at what price you have been bought and make your body serve the glory of God.

Beloved, I do know that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  He lives within me and He is God's gift to me.  He is holy, He is love, He is my Guide, He is my Counselor, my  Paraclete.  He inspires me.  He speaks softly so I must be silent if I wish to hear Him speak for He does not shout or raise His voice.  He is a flame, He sets on fire.  He is the mighty wind of God and He it is who reveals Your to me.  He draws me deep into the Divine Mystery.  He makes me holy - He makes my body holy.  God dwells in me.  He possesses me.  He claims me for Himself.  He teaches me how to be pleasing to God.

Beloved, I need only raise my eyes to a crucifix and see Your Body stretched out and nailed to the Cross, to recall the debt I owe You.  It is a debt of unparalleled love, infinite love.  I am only finite which makes it impossible to give You back love for love.  The way to pleasing You Beloved, is to make my body the instrument by which I serve You for Your glory. This is a daily, uphill battle that I cannot fight on my own.  It is made up of tiny victories and many setbacks.  It is a battle in which I have to rely on the same Holy Spirit whom God has placed within me.  The battle I am called to fight has already been won the Cross, all I need to do is to claim this victory everyday.  My body must glorify God by serving Him in my neighbor.

Help me Lord and grant me grace sufficient for each day.  May I rely on You alone to help me.

---- Mine, remember you are never alone.  You don't fight your battles alone I am with you always and the battle is already won.  Remain in my love.