Jeremiah 13:1-11, Deuteronomy 32:18-21, Matthew 13:31-35

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Jeremiah 13:1-11, Deuteronomy 32:18-21, Matthew 13:31-35

Jeremiah 13:1-11

My Beloved, in Baptism we are bound to God just like the white linen belt that bound Jeremiah to God.  As long as we remain grafted to You no harm can come to us.  Through sin I withdrew from You and in sin, I was lost and hidden in its filth, but You did not abandon me.  You sought me, You found me, You gave me the beautiful Sacrament of reconciliation.  I am no longer useless and good for nothing, but I am restored and I am a new creation in You.  Thank You Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:18-21

My God, You fathered me.  I am Your creation, fashioned by Your hand.  I am redeemed and ransomed by the most precious Life and Blood of Your Son and I am co-heir with Christ to all the riches of heaven where thieves cannot break in and steal nor rust destroy.  May I never be envious of what others have, rather, may I rejoice that I belong completely, without any reservations to You my Lord and my God.

 Matthew 13:31-35

Verse 35:  ".... I will proclaim things kept secret since the beginning of the World."

This is exactly what You have done.  The mustard seed of Your Word and the Yeast of Your Life You entrusted to the Apostles and to the Church.  For over 2000 years men and women, filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit have pondered it, nurtured it and carefully watched it grow until today she is a mighty tree.  She is universal because everyone can shelter in her branches and be fed by her.  Such is the Church You have established - she bears Your life and she transmits this life to her children, fathered by God Himself, through the Sacraments that You have instituted.  Thank You.

2 Kings 4:42-44, Psalm 145:10-11, 15-18, Ephesians 4:1-6, John 6:1-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

2 Kings 4:42-44, Psalm 145:10-11, 15-18, Ephesians 4:1-6, John 6:1-15

2 Kings 4:42-44

Verse 43:  They shall eat and have some left over.

My Beloved, when I give may I always give first to You - may I give You the best so when You use what I have offered and multiply and distribute it, it will be all of the very best, not the left overs, not the stale but the best.

God always ensures that all who sup at His Table will be fed by the King.  They will feast on the finest wheat and the best of wine and there will be enough for all and some left over.  When my God gives, He gives pressed down and running over.

Psalm 145:10-11, 15-18

Verse 16:  With open hand You satisfy the living according to their needs.

I shall never want my Beloved because You will feed me and I will be satisfied.

Ephesians 4:1-6

My vocation, my mission is to be Christ to everyone I encounter each day.  I must have all the virtues of Christ - humility, patience, kindness and love that bears all things gladly.  Peace flows from the Prince of Peace into me and must flow out of me as well.  No division - that is the work of evil.  God who is love unites all things and reconciles us all in Himself.  We are one body in Christ each has a dignity and a worth that is immeasurable.

John 6:1-15

My Beloved, may I not be one of the crowd who follows You because of what I can get from You; rather may I be a disciple who stays with You because I could not bear to live anywhere else but close to You.  Philip was overwhelmed by the crowd.  He had no money and even in his imagination he could conceive of  having nothing more than 200 silver coins which he knew would be insufficient to provide each person in the crowd with even a small piece of bread.  Andrew on the other hand was practical.  He located the boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fish and brought the boy to You but remained sceptical.  He probably thought the boy would gladly share his lunch with You while the rest would go hungry.

But that is not Your way and both Andrew and Philip should have known You a lot better than their words and actions demonstrated that day.  It is no wonder that You often chided them with the words, "O you of little faith."  When You are present my Lord there is always an abundance of everything.  You satisfy and more than satisfy and to top it all there is always a great deal left over.

Jeremiah 7:1-11, Psalm 84:2-8 & 11, Matthew 13:24-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Jeremiah 7:1-11, Psalm 84:2-8 & 11, Matthew 13:24-30

Jeremiah 7:1-11

Verse 11 Is this house on which rests My NAME a den of thieves?

My Beloved, my heart is Your sanctuary, it is Your haven, it is Your tabernacle, it is Your home.  This most sinful, weak body enfolds and holds in the most intimate of intimacies my Lord and my God; yet, how forgetful I am of this great privilege that my God confers on me.  He in all humility stoops low to enter into my heart.  Forgive me my Lord and help me always to radiate Your divine light.  May it burn and flame from the very centre of my being.

Psalm 84:2-8 & 11

My Beloved, the psalmist expresses so well all that my heart wishes to say.  You are my dwelling place.  I am completely Yours without reserve.  I want to hunger, thirst, pant and yearn for You every moment that I am alive.  The more I receive the greater may my longing for more be.  Never let my hunger for You be satisfied or my thirst for You  quenched but may it increase ever more with each passing day.  Only in heaven, one with You eternally, only then will I find that I have all of You as You have always had this little nothing You call Your own.  May this little nothing be taken up into Your infinity and finally be sated and satisfied. 

Matthew 13:24-30

The good seed of Your Word was freely given to me and planted in me but I have fallen asleep so often when I should have been alert and watchful of danger.  I have allowed myself to be a victim of my own lethargy and given the enemy room to enter and sabotage the good that God has desires for me.  Thank You for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and for giving me the means to uproot the evil in order that the good may have room to flourish and grow.

Jeremiah 3:14-17, Jeremiah 31:10-13, Matthew 13:18-23

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Jeremiah 3:14-17, Jeremiah 31:10-13, Matthew 13:18-23

Jeremiah 3:14-17

My Beloved, we are faithless You know it and we know it yet You do not abandon us.  You know that without Your compassion and mercy we would be doomed.  It is You who choose our shepherds who will lead us and guide us in Your way of light, life and truth.  Thank You for calling us without getting weary of our stupidity and foolishness.

My Beloved, You have pitched Your tent among Your people and we have access to You always.  We need nothing because we have You and You will patiently and lovingly form us in Your image and likeness and make us all that the Father longs for us to be.

Jeremiah 31:10-13

My Beloved, You have indeed turned my mourning into gladness and my sorrow to joy.  You have drawn me into union with Yourself, You have made me one with You and You Yourself have fed me on the finest wheat, the sweetest honey and the purest oil.  You intoxicate me with the wine of joy and I am glad always.  Thank You for the Church and its Shepherds who are constantly awake and alert and who keep me safe within the boundaries of Your Covenant love.

Matthew 13:18-23

My Beloved, I thank You for drawing me through the course of my life from darkness, sin and sorrow to light. Thank You for never abandoning me.  Thank You for carefully preparing the soil of my heart and not giving up on me.  Thank You that the seed of Your Word has finally taken root in the soil You have prepared so patiently and for so long.  I love You.

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13, Psalm 36:6-11, Matthew 13:10-17

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13, Psalm 36:6-11, Matthew 13:10-17

I am Your little field daisy hidden in the shelter of the Rock and in the shadow of Your wings which are always spread protectively over me.

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13

My Beloved, may I never forget Your kindness to me.  May I never cease to be grateful for the mercy shown to me since my earliest days.  You have brought me to the streams of living water and You have refreshed my soul.  May I never stray.  May I never desire anything but You for You alone my Lord can satisfy each one of my deepest longings.

Psalm 36:6-11

My Beloved how good You are to Your little nothing.  You reach down to me and You enfold me in Your love.  You are faithful and I know that I can always depend on You to care for me and provide me with all I will ever need to sustain me both spiritually and temporally.  How precious is You love for me it makes me feel cherished. I am Your little field daisy hidden in the shelter of the Rock and in the shadow of Your wings which are always spread protectively over me.  I eat and drink daily at the Eucharistic Banquet You prepare for me each day.  I live beside the Fountain of Life and in the Light of Your Most Holy Presence.  Thank You for all the favors You grant me in return accept my ardent love for You and through the grace and help received from Your Holy Spirit may it increase daily more and more.

Matthew 13:10-17

My Beloved, truly this is a day for rejoicing.  You say to me today that it has been given to me to know the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven.  You have blessed me with the abundance of Your blessings - these I am called to use to glorify You and when I do, You will bless me even more generously.  I will receive from You treasures pressed down and shaken over as You have said so beautifully elsewhere in the Gospel.  This is the sign You give me today, this is the reason You call me blessed, for You have given me eyes to see You and ears to hear and understand all You wish to reveal to me. Truly I am blessed.

2 Corinthians 4:7-15, 18-20, Psalm 85:2-8, Matthew 12:46-50

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

2 Corinthians 4:7-15, 18-20, Psalm 85:2-8, Matthew 12:46-50

2 Corinthians 4:7-15, 18-20

"---- Mine, today I ask you to give me a joyful heart and a cheerful disposition.  This will be most pleasing to Me."  I will Lord.

When Simeon prophesied as he held You in his arms at Your presentation in the temple, inspired by the Holy Spirit he said that You would be a sign of contradiction.  St Paul confirms that this is so in the Christian life.  Trials will come but we are not discouraged, we may not always understand why things happen but we do not despair.  We may be persecuted on every side but we will never feel abandoned because You will remain with us.  We may be thrown off our feet and may fall with a mighty crash however we will not be crushed.  Our faith and our witness to You may bring us physical death but Your life is always at work in us.  

Another thing to remember always is that all things work together for good (without qualification) for those who love You.  You have the power to draw abundant grace from every situation in our lives - the good, the bad and the ugly.  Once we understand this, we will offer You thanksgiving all the time as we glorify Your Name. 

Psalm 85:2-8

May I always recognize the good things You do for me and be glad.  May I offer You thanksgiving and praise always.  Grant me the grace to see how powerfully You are at work in my life and instead of complaining and whining at perceived injustices, may I always have a generous spirit, a cheerful disposition and a loving heart.

Matthew 12:46-50

My Beloved, the mother of James and John was no different from mothers all over the world and in every age who desire that their children be recognized and given their due always.  She knelt before You in humility and made her plea, yet we must realize that not all we ask for our children may be good for them, nor would it be in accordance with God's will.  When we pray for those we love, we must first align our will with the will of the Father and then make our prayers of petition for our children.

What is most important is to live lives of loving service always in imitation of You.

Micah 6:1-4, 6-8, Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21 & 23, Matthew 12:38-42

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:  


Micah 6:1-4, 6-8, Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21 & 23, Matthew 12:38-42

Micah 6:1-4, 6-8

My Beloved, it shames me to think how small and halfhearted my response is to God's love for me.  Verse 3  “O my people, what have I done to you? In what way have I been a burden to you? Answer me," reveals to me the tender, sorrowful love of the Father for me. God has held me through all the difficultites that I have had to face in life.  From true suffering, to the times that I walked with sin, through heartbreak and finally into the glory of knowing God's passionate love for me.  So complete is His love that when all hope of heaven was lost, He made a way.  You are the door through which I enter into life.  You laid down Your life for me. Verse 7 says, 7 Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, with an overabundance of oil libations? Should I offer my firstborn for my sins, the fruit of my body for my wrongdoing?”

You are the firstborn Son of God and the offering of Your life was the only acceptable and pleasing Sacrifice that was acceptable and pleasing to God in expiation for my sins.  You died in order that I may have life.  Thank You Father, thank You Son, thank You Holy Spirit.

Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21 & 23


Verse 23
Those who give thanks offerings honor Me, but the one who walks blamelessly I will show the salvation of God.

Father God, the Eucharist is a thanksgiving offering pleasing to You.  We offer You the once for all Sacrifice made on Calvary by the Lamb without blemish or stain.  It is an offering that is acceptable to You always.  Jesus the Beloved is the Way - if we walk in the Light of His Truth and in His Way, salvation will be shown to me for when I walk in the Way of My God  I will walk blamelessly.

Matthew 12:38-42

My Beloved, You said to Thomas after Your Resurrection, "Blessed are those who haven not seen and yet believe."  Here the Scribes and Pharisees are asking for signs in order that they may believe.  Despite all the signs and wonders You had already performed which they either witnessed themselves or had heard of  they were yet, clamoring for more of the spectacular.

But that wasn not the purpose of Your Incarnation.  you came to die so that we may live.  You came to crush death under Your heel and to nail sin to the Cross.  You came to take upon Yourself our human condition which means every ugly, filthy, sinful aspect of our miserable lives You absorbed it all into Your Body and gave us an opportunity to start over in You, with You and through You.  Thank You my Lord and my God.

Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8, Isaiah 38:10-12, 16, Matthew 12:1-8

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:


Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8, Isaiah 38:10-12, 16, Matthew 12:1-8

Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8

M--- Mine, nothing is beyond my ability control.  Life, death, nature all these I command.  I hear every sincere prayer.  i see every tear and when anyone calls Me no mater what the hour, if the prayer is made with faith, I will act readily.  But remember this, no matter how many years I can add to your life, in the end life must end, death will come, so be prepared.  For some death will come like a thief in the night, for some it will strike suddenly and perhaps tragically without any warning, for still others it may be a long, lingering, painful death.  Death is real and eternal life is certain.  The choice though of where you wish to spend eternity is yours.  Choose life and you will live eternally.  Choose sin and you will dive a living death eternally.

Isaiah 38:10-12, 16

My Life, if I am doomed to die in grave sin and my soul is destined to burn eternally in hell, then I would have reason to beg You to add a few years to my life for in such a death, I would be eternally deprived of seeing You. Alive on earth there is always hope for contrition, repentance and forgiveness.  May I so live each day my Beloved that You can call me whether I am asleep or awake, whether healthy or sick.  You may call me me through sudden, unforeseen and tragic circumstance.  How You call me will be irrelevant because whenever You call and however You call I will see You and I will be with You eternally.

Matthew 12:1-8

My Beloved, there are so many things that are revealed in these verses.  Your disciples who were walking through the wheat fields with You are aware it is the Sabbath, they are all Jews so they know the laws concerning the Sabbath.  Having been with You a while they have now understood to some degree at least that You are the Son of God and have authority over every law even the law of the Sabbath.  They know that You never lose sight of the person in order to fulfil a law at the cost of doing good.  Everything that we do must be done in wisdom, mercy, compassion and above all love.

So often we are so busy about being right and making sure that all the rules are rigidly obeyed that we forget that due to the exact accounting we demand of others in measuring up to our standards of what we believe to be right or wrong, we  end up being judgmental, critical, severe, hard hearted and lacking compassion.  In the end we do a great deal more damage than if like You, we never lost sight of the person and the need.  

Give me a heart like Yours my Lord.

Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19, Psalm 102:13-21, Matthew 11:28-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19, Psalm 102:13-21, Matthew 11:28-30

Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19

My Beloved, I choose to walk with You and with You beside me the way will be smooth for I will walk in Your righteousness, in Your peace and in Your love.  I wish to only glorify You with every breath I breathe. You are all I long for.  To possess You and to be possessed by You completely is the goal of my life.  Yes my Love, even at night, especially at night, my whole being yearns to be one with You and through the night my soul and my spirit pray Your Name.

You have called me to go out into the world. You have entrusted me with a mission and You will empower me with peace of heart, mind and spirit so my soul will never be troubled or disturbed.  All my hopes, my dreams and my desires are centred around glorifying You alone.  Grant me the grace to let it be so.  Thank You for the assurance that those whom we have loved and who have lived lives pleasing to You will live.

Let Your grace like dew fall upon the earth and refresh us. 

Psalm 102:13-21

Verses 18-19

 18 For he will answer the prayer of the needy and will not despise their plea.

19 Let this be written for future ages, “the Lord will be praised by a peo­ple he will form.”

I know You have heard all the prayers I have made to You today and You will answer me because You love me.  You will form all those who love You more and more in the image of Your beloved Son as we yield each day more more completely to Your most Holy Spirit.

 Matthew 11:28-30

Here I am my Beloved Jesus.  I come to You with all that troubles me, I bring every anxiety and distress to You my Lord.  I want to be yoked to You. Please place the sweet yoke of Your love on me and I will be united with You and the way to heaven will be easy. You will bear my sorrows with me, You will wipe my tears, You will comfort me and You will refresh me when I grow weary in body and spirit.  I want to stay with You Lord from now and through eternity.

Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16, Psalm 94:5-10, 14-15, Matthew 11:25-27

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16, Psalm 94:5-10, 14-15, Matthew 11:25-27

Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16

My Beloved how foolish we are if when we are successful we imagine that it is because of our own intelligence and ability.  When we are given power, we believe it is because we are superior to those over whom we have authority.  We become proud arrogant and boastful forgetting that all things are planned by You, guided by You and directed by You.  It is You who uses all things to bring about Your purposes in the lives of all people.  Guard us against the danger of relying on the strength of men instead of running to You to lift us up and protect us.

Forgive me for the many times I have put my trust in the power of men rather in You.  Lord, teach me Your ways and may I allow myself to be led only by You always so I will never stray.

Psalm 94:5-10, 14-15

My Beloved, Catholics are persecuted all the time and so are Christians as well.  Yet, no matter how difficult things might be let us never lose sight of the fact that if it were not necessary You would not have permitted it.  If we did not give witness under difficult and grave circumstances how could we touch hearts of stone by our steadfast faith, hope and trust in Your love?  No one can touch a hair of  our head if You did not permit it.

I believe, I hope and I trust You my Beloved grant that I may do so all the days of my life. 

Matthew 11:25-27

My Beloved, anytime I am tempted to believe that You have chosen me over others because I am intelligent and talented and that because I am so darn special that Your favor rests on me, then I am truly more stupid than I normally give myself credit for.

It is precisely because I am nothing that You picked me.  Clearly it is always Your grace, Your strength and Your power that is at work in me.  You picked me up, You washed me and strengthened me.  You filled oil in my lamp,  You trimmed the little wick and You set it on fire with Your Holy Spirit.  I am only the little clay vessel that holds the oil.  I am the flickering wick which I pray will burn itself out in time in loving service.  I am all that You make of me through Your great mercy and love.  Thank You.

Isaiah 7:1-9, Psalm 48:2-8, Matthew 11:20-24

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Isaiah 7:1-9, Psalm 48:2-8, Matthew 11:20-24

Isaiah 7:1-9

Sometimes my Beloved, real troubles surround us and sometimes we allow ourselves to be troubled by life's trifles.  We can make mountains out of worthless and insignificant things.  We can give these trivialities greater importance than they deserve and we can allow ourselves to become bogged down and paralyzed by fear.  We allow these things to control us and forget that it is You who are always in control.

You say to me as You said to Ahaz, "Stay calm and fear not, do not lose courage."  No earthy power is invincible before You.  No plan against those who belong to You will ever succeed.  I can trust You because I am all Your now and eternally.

Psalm 48:2-8

You my Beloved God are great.  You dwell on Your holy mountain and all who make the ascent to You will find joy, peace and the assurance that no enemy can touch those who belong to You.  Every plan against those who dwell in You shall fail and the enemy will flee in terror.  We are Yours and we will praise You and tell of Your goodness and kindess to everyone we meet.

Matthew 11:20-24

Ingratitude and a closed heart despite knowing that all the good we   receive comes from You, our generous and beloved God, is a terrible thing.  When we recognize Your goodness to us and praise, thank and glorify You for all the graces and gifts received, both temporal and spiritual and when we respond in like manner with heartfelt praise, we are transformed.  We become humble, we become grateful, we become more open to Your life and Your work in us.  Failure to recognize and acknowledge the daily small and big miracles we experience is a sure sign that we are hard, prideful and indifferent to Your goodness and love.  Pride leads to death.

My Beloved, may my life be one of constant praise to You recognizing that it is You who sustains me from moment to moment and that I live, move and breathe only because You live, move and breathe in me.

Thank You my Lord.

Isaiah 1:10-17, Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21 & 23, Matthew 10:34-11:1

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS: 

Isaiah 1:10-17, Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21 & 23, Matthew 10:34-11:1

Isaiah 1:10-17

My Beloved, sin is most displeasing to You because it shuts us from the love and grace You desire to pour upon us.  Sin, especially grave, deliberate, repeated sin leads to even more grave sins and the death of the soul.  If we dare to make a mockery of You and act like all is well, if we make a pretence of having clean hands, holy hearts and a humble disposition when in fact the opposite is true,Your wrath will be so roused against us, that there will be no place to hide and take refuge from Your just and terrible anger.

But there is a way - there is always a way.  If we are truly contrite and repentant we can make a new beginning, we can be raised from the dead.  Our wounded spirit can be made whole again and the stench of our iniquity like the dreaded disease of leprosy can be restored to the skin of a baby in the holy Sacrament of Reconciliation.  There we can wash our sins in Your Blood, we can bathe in the cleansing streams of water that pours from Your pierced side and we can make reparation and restitution for our sins.  You will forgive us once more and restore to us in double measure all that we thought lost.  Thank You.  

 Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21 & 23

Hypocrisy and lies and making an outward show of piety when we know perfectly well that all is not ok with our soul is what is truly hateful to You.  Verse 23 gives us a glimpse of how we can please You again.  The Holy Eucharist is our thanksgiving offering and if we offer this Sacrifice of Praise with a clean and contrite heart, it will never fail to please You and open to us once more the floodgates of Your mercy, compassion and love.

Matthew 10:34-11:1

My Beloved, You are the Prince of Peace and yet You say You have come with a sword to cause division even among those with whom we enjoy a close and loving relationship.  We know that it is the devil who sows division, dissension and discord, You don't, You unite.  What then are You saying to me in these verses?

It means that those who truly wish to follow You and walk in Your ways of justice, love and true humility, filled with the Holy Spirit will always be ridiculed, mocked and rejected by the world because we stand firm, unmoved and unchanging in our obedience to Your commandment of Love towards God and neighbor.  This attitude is a slap in the face of those in the world whose conscience will not be at peace as long as those who witness to You continue to show them up as sinners who would rather be seen as saints. 

Those who are willing to walk in Your ways will image and reflect You and they can be certain that they will receive every blessing reserved for the sons and daughters of our Father God.

Amos 7:12-15, Psalm 85:9-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:7-13

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS: 

Amos 7:12-15, Psalm 85:9-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:7-13

Amos 7:12-15

My Beloved, when you assign a task to me, please grant me the grace to step up to the plate boldly and accept whatever it is You ask of me, no matter how challenging.  May I go forth in faith, knowing that You will ask nothing of me without equipping me with all I need.  You ask me to be obedient and to do all that is required with integrity and to the best of my ability.  Help me to be open to Your call and to respond to it in the same spirit as Mama Mary.  May I say yes to all Your plans for me always.

Psalm 85:9-14

The Father is love and faithfulness and You my Beloved are righteousness and peace.  The Father stoops over the earth, reaching down to embrace His Beloved Son whom He sent to be our righteousness and peace.  We are drawn into this divine embrace and made holy and fruitful through the Holy Spirit who binds all in perfect harmony with God.

 

Ephesians 1:3-14

Father, my Abba, I will not understand fully even in heaven love such as Yours for me.  That You love Jesus who is Your Beloved and mine with a love that is perfect is clear - I may not be able to grasp the measure of it because it has no measure.  But I know that You and Your Son Jesus are bound in an eternal circle of love through the Holy Spirit.  What is beyond my grasp is that You have chosen to create me in Christ Jesus before the creation of the world so that I too may be drawn into this perfect symphony of divine love.   I am most unworthy of love such as Yours for me and because I am a sinner I could not lay claim to the inheritance that You had prepared for me in eternity.  In order to restore our relationship, You sent Jesus into the world to become the means by which He would make expiation for my sins by shedding His most precious Blood for me and offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for my salvation.  Despite the fact that I had deliberately chosen to sin and walk away from You, You wanted to bring me back to life in Your Son again.  You gave me the opportunity to start over and to ensure that I would have help always, You even sealed me in Christ with Your Holy Spirit.  Why?  Only You know dear Father, Son and Holy Spirit - to me it is a mystery that You would want to pay such a price in order to save me.

Mark 6:7-13

When I am called to serve You all I need is You Beloved nothing else.  I must throw myself with complete confidence on divine providence knowing that You will meet all my needs.  You will prepare the way for me and You will sustain me.  I need nothing when I have You.

Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 93:1-2, 5, Matthew 10:24-33

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 93:1-2, 5, Matthew 10:24-33

Isaiah 6:1-8

Verse 8:  Here I am,  send me!

M--- Mine I have indeed sent you to be my light among the nations.  I have empowered you with my own Holy Spirit.  Be rooted in Me M--- My own,  send your roots deep into me so that nothing will shake you.  Should the earth tremble and fall, you will remain unmoved for you are anchored to me.  Be not afraid M--- throw off the cloak of fear just as Bartimaeus threw off his tattered garment.  I have robed you in the garments of my righteousness and Truth.  Remain in My love.

Psalm 93:1-2, 5

Thank You Beloved for the echo of Your message to me today in these verses.  It strengthens my faith, increases my hope and confirm me in Your love.

Matthew 10:24-33

M--- Mine, you belong to me, therefore expect to be persecuted.  I am Your master and Your Teacher, I have set the example that you are invited to imitate.  Don't let passion of any kind rule your life.  Passions of the wrong kind burn to destroy and leave only ashes and a bitter, rancid taste in the mouth. 

All that I have taught you in the time You have spent alone with me in prayer, make known to those you meet.  Carry my love as a light and shed its radiance in the dark places and by its light others will be saved from stumbling and falling.

Fear has no place in love.  Rid yourself of fear.  When you walk with me why be afraid?  Have I not taken an oath and made a covenant with you, a covenant of faithful, enduring, everlasting love?  Speak of Me all the days of your life on earth and I will speak of You to my Father when I take you home to heaven.

 

Hosea 14:2-10, Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9 & 17, Matthew 10:16-23

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Hosea 14:2-10, Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9 & 17, Matthew 10:16-23

Hosea 14:2-10

My Beloved, God never tires of calling us until we hear His voice and return to Him.  You were right in calling us sheep.  So often we are as clueless as they are.  We wander further away from You unaware that we are walking right into the snare set for us by the enemy.  But God is always watching over us.  He understands that we are weak and need His strength.  When we are contrite, He hastens to forgive us and restore to us in double measure all the grace we have squandered.  Praise is the gift and the sacrifice most pleasing to the Almighty as the acknowledgment of all He has done for us.  He went to the lengths of asking You to lay down Your life in order to redeem us.  

Verses 7-10 

 His fragrance, like a Lebanon cedar.

8 They will dwell in my shade again,
they will flourish like the grain,
they will blossom like a vine,
and their fame will be like Lebanon wine.
9 I am like an ever-green cypress tree;
all your fruitfulness comes from me.
10 Straight are the ways of Yahweh:
the just walk in them, but the sinners stumble.

These verses reveal to us how much God loves us and how He longs to - healthy in mind, body and spirit.  The fragrance of God's presence in our soul emanates from us as we flourish and blossom as we walk in His ways. Even though stumble because we are sinners, He will not abandon us for He created us in love.

Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9 & 17

My Beloved, if You grant me the grace of a willing spirit then I will always be at Your disposal and You can do with me as You will.  This is what I plead with You to grant me this day.  

Give me a willing spirit that desires to walk in Truth that I may have wisdom as a light in my heart, permitting me to walk without stumbling.  Lord, that I have been a great sinner is no secret, You know it and I know it and there is no shame in acknowledging it because had I not sinned, You would not have come looking for me, saved me and lavished Your love on me.  I know what it means to grope in the dark and to live in the light of Your overwhelming love which is more tender than a mother's for her baby and more powerful and strong than that of an earthly father for his children.  I am Yours my Lord, always only Yours. 

Matthew 10:16-23

M---  Mine, never forget that You belong to me.  You are my sheep, You are part of my flock, I am Your Good Shepherd who has laid down His life for you and raised you to new live.  Be not afraid.  With Me beside You, My Holy Spirit within You and my Father overshadowing You, You will always walk in the freedom of the children of the Most High.  It is true that there is much evil in the world but this is evil's last days and while it may seem that evil is invincible, it is a lie, for the devil is a liar and the father of lies.

I own the victory and I have won the victory as well. I have overcome and I have conquered and You are saved.  Fear must have no place in Your life for perfect love casts out fear.  Remember this, true love does not seek to possess the other, it seeks to cherish the other as I cherish You.  

WOW!!! Thank You my Beloved.

Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9, Psalm 8-:2-3, 15-16, Matthew 10:7-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:  


Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9, Psalm 8-:2-3, 15-16, Matthew 10:7-15

FOR HOW LONG MUST I PUT UP WITH YOUR FOLLY - LION OF JUDAH

Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9

My Beloved, time and time again we read in Your Holy Word how tender and compassionate You are.  While we were yet sinners, You came to save us.  The Father has called His children tenderly ever since we first went astray.  He has a special name for each of us and He calls us untiringly.  He follows us when we stray and He has no rest until we return to Him.  He takes us under His wing, He lets us rest close to His heart, He stoops down from heaven and He feeds us with Himself.  He yokes Himself to us so He can share our burdens whatever they may be - sorrow, fear, anxiety, trials, distress, anything.  He wants to be there beside us and He is prepared to carry us when we have no strength of our own.

You my Beloved became man so You can understand completely how we feel - You weep with us, laugh with us, love with us and hurt when we hurt.  You came to bandage our wounds and to wipe away our tears.  You are so tender and compassionate and there are times we deliberately move away from You; choosing instead to sin willfully and place barriers between us.  At times like these when we act like stubborn, spoiled children You still follow us and with a mighty and powerful roar the Lion of Judah will bring us quietly and obediently into the shelter of His love and protection.  Thank You my Love for being my haven and harbor.

These verses are not part of today's Gospel reading but I love the imagery.

Verse 10-11  10 You will follow Yahweh when he roars like a lion. When he roars his sons will come trembling from the west; 11 they will come with fear like sparrows from Egypt, like doves from As­syria. For I will bring them to their homes again.

Psalm 8-:2-3, 15-16

Good Shepherd, come and tend the flock that belong to You.  There are ravenous wolves and roaring beasts who seek to devour and kill us. We are too silly, too weak and too stupid to help ourselves.  God of love come and save us.  Come down Beloved, leave Your throne beside Your Father and save Your people whom You have redeemed with Your Blood and Your Life.  We are now Your possession.  You paid our ransom.  Come and claim Your Own, place Your seal of ownership upon us.  Keep us always under Your watchful gaze so we will never wander from Your side again.

Matthew 10:7-15

My Beloved, this is the mission that You have entrusted to Your Church and since I am a member of this Church it is my mission as well.  The mandate is clear.  I am to imitate You.  All I have seen You do I too must do as well.  I have to spend myself as You did, relying on God's power alone for all my needs.  No hoarding, no accumulating, no worry, no anxiety.  All I need is to step out in faith and with Your assurance that You will meet all my needs.  I must always carry Your peace with me.  No division, no strife, no disturbance of any kind only the peace granted by the Prince of Peace, only serenity always, trusting that my God will care for me.  May I always remember that judgment belongs to God alone.  If I am rejected I must trust You to render justice on my behalf as You alone know best how to do so.  My mission is to know Christ first and in turn to  make Him known.  To possess Christ first in order to be able to give Him to others.

Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12, Psalm 105:2-7, Matthew 10:1-7

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:  

Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12, Psalm 105:2-7, Matthew 10:1-7

Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

My Beloved why is human nature the way it is?  When there is peace, prosperity and plenty, why is there a tendency to get complacent and lazy and attribute all the good things that happen to us as a the results of our own merits instead of knowing that it is God's benevolence that has smiled on us?  It is in the time of trouble and calamity, when no help seems at hand and we are alone that we remember You.  What are we too think headed to realize that every good and perfect gift come from You and so give You the honor and glory for all the blessing that You have poured on us?  No wonder the saints would rather embrace poverty and want and cling to You in trust and expectant faith rather than face the temptation of putting their trust in possessions.

Satan's ace is to divide and rule.  A divided heart is doomed to fall prey to every kind of sin.  you are a jealous God only because You know that if we did not give You the love due to You we would be in danger of giving our love to worthless things that would probably destroy us.

When we are fat and sleek on prosperity, our senses are sated and we are unable to desire You and long for You with an all consuming passion.  When sin comes home to roost we become fodder fit only to be thrown into the everlasting flames - it is then that we realize our guilt and shame and we desire to hide from Your sight like Adam and Eve.

 12 Plow new ground, sow for yourselves justice and reap the harvest of kindness. It is the time to go seeking Yahweh until he comes to rain salvation on you.

Verse 12 above tells us to begin anew, to rid ourselves of all that is sinful and to prepare our hearts to yield a harvest of good fruit by  sowing the seeds of justice and kindness.  When we seek God with all the fervor of our hearts, God who loves us will come to us and bless us abundantly.

Psalm 105:2-7

Verse 4 reminds us to 4 Look to the Lord and be strong; seek his face always.

This has been and is my daily experience Beloved.  I seek Your face every morning as we spend time together.  I am privileged to come to look upon Your Face in the Adoration Chapel and then my Beloved comes the highlight of my entire day, I get to receive You in the Eucharist and I am strong in Your strength and ready to face any challenges that the day may bring.  Thank You Lord.

Matthew 10:1-7

My Beloved, You chose the most unlikely bunch of men to mission.  They were last people people that the world would have chosen for such an important task.  The world and God look at things from totally opposite angles.  In God there is always contradiction.  St. Paul says, "When I am weak then I am strong."  The Beatitudes that You preached on the Sermon on the Mount are also full of contradictions when compared with the world view.  The little ones will be made great, the humble shall be exalted.  I must lose my life in order to gain it.  I the eyes of the world, and before Pentecost, it would seem that You made a grave error in judgement, for every one of the 12 failed You in the most crucial hours of Your life when in Your humanity, You needed their consolation the most.  They failed You horribly.  One betrayed You, Poor Peter denied You not once but thrice exactly as You predicted he would and each one of them ran away and hid in fear.  

What a transformation came over them after Your Resurrection, Your Ascension and Pentecost and look at Your Church today.  Your Gospel has reached the ends of the earth because of the 12 that You chose, and You formed and You empowered with Your Own Holy Spirit.  Truly the ways of God are quite different from the ways of men!

Verses 7 - 10  

7 Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift. 9 Do not carry any gold, silver or copper in your purses. 10 Do not carry a traveler’s bag, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or walking-stick: workers deserve their living.

These verses teach me to trust wholly in Your providence.  I am still taking baby steps, continue to teach me my Lord.