Numbers 11:25-29, James 5:1-6, Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14, 19, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

M--- Mine, if you seek Me you will find Me if you seek me with all your heart.  I long to reveal Myself and make my love known.  Love me in return this is your purpose in life, the reason for which you were created – to know Me, love Me and serve Me, your God.

Numbers 11:25-29, James 5:1-6, Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14, 19, 

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Numbers 11:25-29

My Beloved,  it is God alone who calls us to serve Him and when He does, He equips us for the service that we are required to offer,  here we are reminded that we must not be jealous or restrain anyone who is doing Your work. You call whomsoever You wish and we are called to accept, support and encourage  those who are called.  We must work together in harmony united in our mission to work for the Kingdom and to spread the Good News of salvation.

James 5:1-6

My Beloved, it is so easy to crush and take advantage of those who are poor.  The rich and powerful of this world and those in authority do it all the time.  The poor are squeezed and squeezed some more.  Their cry is muffled and silenced.  But You hear them, every sigh reaches Your ears, every tear is collected by You and when the day of Your judgment dawns the poor will receive justice and victory.  They will be vindicated and those who took advantage of them will receive their punishment.  Often Your silence is misunderstood and the wicked believe You are asleep. 

Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14, 19

To obey Your law of love is joy.  To listen to Your Word and meditate on it brings consolation and wisdom.  Those who love You need not be afraid of Your judgment for You temper it with compassion and mercy.  Forgive me Lord for the times when I have strayed and fallen guard me from willful sin. Stay with me all my days as You have promised and give me life and strength at every Eucharist.

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

So often my Beloved we are so narrow is our vision, so jealous of the gifts that we presume are only for us.  We attribute favoritism to You and we consider ourselves Your favorites even though Your Word is clear when it says, “God has no favorites.” 

To all has been given the mission to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations.  All have received the call and we have no right to restrict anyone because they do not fit our idea of who ought to be doing Your work.  Truth, goodness, beauty and love are attributes that are found in all human beings for we are all created in Your image and likeness and when we find these attributes we ought to celebrate it and allow them to unite us rather than create division.

Keep us sensitive and aware of the things that take us away from You and grant us the grace to do whatever is necessary to keep from going astray.  Give me a conscience that is sensitive to sin and when I fall from grace, inspire me to run back to You and beg forgiveness so You can restore, heal and preserve me from committing the same sins over again.  Stay with me Lord all day, every day. 

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

M--- Mine, it is not enough for you to ask me to give you your heart’s desire, once you’ve asked you must trust, you must believe that you have received all that you have asked the Father in My Name.

I believe Lord and if I do not believe as completely as I ought help me to believe.

Remember M--- my own, you can never ask for more than God’s desire to give you more.  God’s concept of more is infinitely greater than yours so trust that you have received all that you have sked for and infinitely more for God cannot be outdone in generosity.

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

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

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

This is God and the Son of God and His Holy Spirit is a blazing fire from whom rivers of fire flow and this is the God who loves me and desires that I love Him as well. He draws me gently to Himself, all the while inviting me into an ever deeper relationship with Him.  He wants my puny little love and it is His all His to the fullest extent that I am able to love I do love Him.

My Beloved, draw me into the blazing heart of Your divine love in order that I may love You with my own little love united with Yours.

Psalm 138:1-5

Verses 1-3 

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.

John 1:47-51

My Beloved, I know that when my life here is over I will come home to You and there I will behold Your glory.  Together with the archangels, angels and saints I will worship and adore You for all eternity.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22, Psalm 144:1-4, Luke 9:18-22

M… Mine, do not let your weaknesses discourage you many as they are.  They keep you humble and aware that without me and my help you can do nothing.  Let your faith in Me sustain you, let your hope in Me keep your faith alive and let your love for Me unite with my unending love for you to keep it from dying out.  Let my love for you fuel your love for Me.  Trust in My promises and dare to believe everything I have said for it is true.

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22, Psalm 144:1-4, Luke 9:18-22

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Verse 11 He made everything fitting in its time, but he also set eternity in their hearts, although man is not able to embrace the work of God from the beginning to the end.

Lord God, my Beloved, You have housed eternity within our temporary bodies and that is the reason for our constant hunger and yearning.  There is that within us that is always hungry, always empty no matter how much it is filled with love for You and we strive to make that love visible in serving others, in whatever way You ask us and in accordance with our vocation and ability.  The hunger is eased for a while at every Eucharist when we encounter You, receive You and are one with You, but the hunger and the yearning return.  Only when we see You Face to face, when faith comes to an end, our hope is realized and love unites us for all eternity in heaven will we be completely satisfied.

There is a time and there is an order to which we must yield trustfully and with docility to Your Spirit.  Led by Him we must obey and act according to Your will always.  There is a time to do and a time to be still allowing You to do and be in us.  This is when we are refreshed, renewed and energized to pick up our cross again and do and be for Your glory.

Psalm 144:1-4

 I am deeply grateful my Beloved that You created me to know You, love You, serve You;  to long for and desire You and to appreciate all that Your love has made possible for me.  Your love has lifted me up and embraced me.  Your love has never let go of me even during the time of my rebellion, and my stubborn hard heart.  You kept Your gaze unwaveringly on me and Your arms around me.  You continued to be my Rock, my Fortress, my Protector and my Deliverer until the time I returned to my senses and began to comprehend that You my God love me despite the fact that I am unworthy. 

Beloved, help me and show me how to let Your love within me kindle a fire in the hearts of those I meet each day.  Together may we all burn with love for You and thus fulfill the purpose for which we were created.  Our destiny is Love and to remain in Love forever.

Luke 9:18-22

Love calls for death to self.  Love calls us to forget ourselves and to find its meaning and purpose in the Beloved.  Love calls us to deny ourselves those things that kill love and extinguish its flame.  That dampens its embers and dulls its glow.

You ask me today, “M--- Mine, who do you say I AM?” 

I recognize and know the answer from the question that You have framed -  I AM.

Yes Lord, I believe and believing I am saved.  Because You who are the I AM, the Alpha and Omega, God’s perfect sacrifice for me, I too am in You, through You and with You.  Continue to teach me, lead me, guide me, lift me and strengthen me in my journey to You and to the Kingdom.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11, Psalms 90:3-6, 12-14 & 17, Luke9:7-9

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11, Psalms 90:3-6, 12-14 & 17, Luke9:7-9

“Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air”

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

Verse 11

If they say to you, “See, it’s new!” know that it has already been centuries earlier.

True my Beloved, there is nothing new under the sun but everything is new with the SON – all that is old is seen once more and experienced once more with fresh new eyes when we see it through the lens of the Incarnation -and through Your birth, life, suffering, death and glorious Resurrection and Ascension into heaven.  The life of the Holy Spirit hast has been poured into our hearts.  United with You we are moved by Your Holy Spirit to appreciate the awesome truth that God is Love and that He has revealed and manifested that love to us through You.  You do make all things new.  Thank You.

Psalms 90:3-6, 12-14 & 17

My Lord, I am so glad that our life span here is limited for we  hope to spend eternity with You.  How quickly time passes.  The years flash by so fast and before we realize it we find that our youth is far behind and old age is fast approaching.  We see so many missed opportunities.  Thank You for the truth that it is never too late.  With You we can always begin anew.  As long as this little field daisy blooms my Beloved, may she bloom for You.  Even though she is unseen because she is so small, ordinary and insignificant and although her fragrance is faint – yet she pours out her fragrance and her bloom with all the fervor and passion she is capable of – even though that fervor and passion is so small because she is truly nothing without You.  You have taught her well by example how to love generously, whole heartedly, totally.  You know her, You see her, You breathe her fragrance, You delight in her bloom although no one else does.  This is all that matters my Beloved.  When the evening of my life arrives and I fade I know You will come for me and You will receive me with immense tenderness and love.  Planted in You I will bloom forever. 

At every dawn when I set at Your feet, when I kneel before Your awesome Presence in the Adoration Chapel, and when I feast at Your Banquet of Love in the Eucharist, I am filled with Your goodness and I rejoice.  You make me glad and I am joyful all  day every day.  Thank You.

Luke 9:7-9

Poor Herod.  He could so easily have come to You, seen You, witnessed Your miracles and experienced Your love if only he stopped asking questions and moved from curiosity to a face to face encounter with You.  His life could have been transformed if only he had a genuine desire to know who You were.

You are gloriously alive – the same yesterday, today and eternally.  You are God and the Son of the Most High, the Eternal Word whom God has given to us in order that  He may bring meaning and purpose into our lives.

To his question, “Who is this?” if Herod truly wanted to know the answer, he would have received it from Your Father, “This is My Son, the Beloved, listen to Him.” 

Proverbs 30:5-9, Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163, Luke 9:1-6

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

M--- Mine, I have anointed you with the oil of gladness and I have called you to labour in my vineyard,  The fruit you produce will be good and your reward will be the Kingdom.

Proverbs  30:5-9,  Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163, Luke 9:1-6

Proverbs  30:5-9

Not only is Your Word true, You are the Word, the incarnate Word, the Eternal Word.  The only Word of the Father who was with Him before all ages.  When God uttered the Word that was in Him and with Him, all created things came to be.  The Word is Grace, Truth, Light, Life and above all Love.

Keep all falsehood away from me and give me neither poverty nor riches in this way I shall be happy, my ear will be attuned to Your voice and attentive to Your Word; I will lean on You for support and I will draw on Your strength.  I want to be close to You always.

Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163 (105)

Verse 89

O Lord Your Word stands forever firmly fixed in the heavens.

Verse 101

You help me Lord to keep away from sin and in step with Your Word.

Verse 105

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Luke 9:1-6

It is You who calls,  You who empowers and gives authority.  It is You who sends, it is You who commissions, it is You who instructs.  It is You who gives the words we need to speak, from You comes the power to heal, the touch that helps to lighten another’s burden, the love that conquers evil, hatred and fear.  Every good and perfect gift is given by You to enable us work effectively in Your vineyard and for Your glory.

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13, Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44, Luke 8:19-21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

M--- Mine, listen, open your ears and be attentive to My Word and yield to the prompting of My Spirit.  My Word is Spirit, full of grace, truth and light.  Be filled.

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13, Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44, Luke8:19-21

Proverbs 21:1 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13

My Beloved, You are the Heart of God, the Word of God, the Love of God, the power of God and You who are King are poured upon us and into us in torrents of grace received through the Sacraments.  The Holy Spirit makes this possible – the same Spirit that binds You and the Father in love binds us to You in love as well.  

We must judge our actions as You do and not as men who make excuses for their sins, weaknesses and lapses.

Give me a heart for those whom the world looks down on and often despises and more often than not ignores. 

If I am to have a deep and committed relationship with You, I must be prepared to work faithfully and diligently, I cannot be a dilettante in matters concerning my faith. Help me Lord! 

An impoverished soul is the lot of those who have no time to contemplate Your Word and gaze on Your countenance. 

Your Name is Truth, Satan is a liar and the father of lies.  Keep me away from deceit and falsehood and preserve me from deceiving myself.  Enable me to be sensitive and compassionate to the cry of anyone in need and impoverished either in body or soul.  Grant me Your wisdom and the desire to know You better in order that I may grow in my understanding  of Your goodness and love.

Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44

My Love, I want to be counted by You as one who is blessed because my ways are sincere and honest and I follow Your law of love.  I desire Your Spirit who will lead me in to the knowledge of Truth in order that I may love You and serve You with all that I am.  You are the Way of Truth and Life and I long for nothing more than to walk in the Way of Truth and Life.

These two things I ask You today.  Grant me a greater understanding of all spiritual things that I may obey You with all the fervor of my soul in perfect trust and confidence.

Grant me a full measure of Your Holy Spirit, pressed down and running over in order that He may lead me and guide me into the Truth.

May I keep Your Eternal Word alive and aflame in my life as long as I live.

Luke 8:19-21

My Beloved, on the surface these verses may seem like a rejection of Your Mama and Your relatives – brothers and sisters.  But a deeper reflection reveals truths that are much more significant.

There will always be crowds pressing around You.  Everyone clamoring to receive something.  Their wants, and needs are what is of paramount importance to them.  You are only a means to an end.  Lord, Lord, give me, touch me, heal me, I need, I want – these are the cries that are heard endlessly. 

The crowd of people around You is so great that there is hardly any room to move and there is scarcely any air to breathe.  It is stifling.  They are not there because they love You and they know You have the words of eternal life that will draw them into a deeper union with God.  They do not want to receive the Word and allow it to gestate in their heart and soul so it becomes incarnate within them making it possible to eventually give birth to You in the world.

Your Mama did exactly that both physically and figuratively and we who are Your brothers and sisters too must be prepared o receive You, the Eternal Word into the womb of our hearts.  We must allow our blood to pass through Your heart that You may purify it and let it flow back to us.  We must ponder and reflect on everything You said and did in order that we may be reliable witnesses in the world.  Baptized and grafted into You as members of Your Body we will become both hearers and doers of the Word.

The crowds will come and go but Your Mama and Your brothers and sisters will always be found with You, following You all the way even to the foot of the Cross.

Proverbs 3:27-34, Psalm 15:2-5, Luke 8:16-18

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Remember you belong to Me.  Do you know what belong means?  It means that all of you is Mine M--- Mine.

Proverbs 3:27-34, Psalm 15:2-5,Luke 8:16-18

Proverbs 3:27-34

My Beloved, how easy it is to put off until tomorrow that which we can and must do today.  The excuses we make to ourselves are flimsy.  Why wait for a time when I am in a better mood instead of wiping the tears of one in sorrow today, spending time with one who is lonely today, listening to someone who is hurting today, grieving today, sorrowing today?  Tomorrow he may not need me now is the  time he does and I must not  fail to hear his cry for help today just as You have never failed to respond to my own cries for help time and time again. 

The Father, You and the Holy Spirit are moved by the heart that is aware that it is nothing except for the love and power of God that enables it to do all things in His power, might and strength.

Psalm 15:2-5

Here are a list of virtues which when exercised please God.

Walk blamelessly

Do what is right

Speak the truth in sincerity

Be cautious when you speak and control your words

Do not harm or slander your neighbor or your neighbors’  friends

Have nothing to do with those who do evil.

Have great respect for those who are in the service of the Lord.

Stand by your promises.

Do not take interest on the money you lend.

Do not accept a bribe that would injure one who is innocent.

Do this and God will stand by you and sustain you and be your tower of strength always.

Luke 8:16-18

My Beloved, it will serve us well if we remember that every secret thought, word and deed will be uncovered and laid bare and this will be to our good or to our damnation.

I shine with the light of One whose Name is Light and this is the light that must help to shed the darkness.  It matters not if the light I cast is sufficient to see only one step ahead clearly – that is all that matters.  He will provide the light required to take the next.  God’s word in Scripture and His Teaching deposited in the treasury of the Church is the truth by which I must live.  I must listen to it attentively and I must obey and practice it in every area of my life with no exceptions.  I must use the gifts I have been given to labor effectively in His vineyard if I do this I will be fruitful, if I don’t I will lose even that which I have received and I will become barren.  I must keep in mind that God does not speak idly.

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20, James 3:16---4:3, Psalm 54:3-6, 8, Mark 9:30-37

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20, James 3:16---4:3, Psalm 54:3-6, 8, Mark9:30-37

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20

My Beloved, it has always been so and there is no better example than Yourself.  The good are like a pebble in the shoe of the sinner – a pebble that they wish to get rid of but cannot.  It bothers them and causes discomfort.  Their lives of integrity show up the sinner’s faults and sins and often the wicked are prepared to do them bodily harm as we have seen in the course of history.

James 3:16---4:3

My Beloved, if only the world took seriously the Word revealed in Scripture and most especially the New Testament.  St. James has detailed all the ills that plague our world perfectly.  He tells us the cause of our troubles and he gives us the remedy if only we would listen and obey!

Psalm 54:3-6, 8

Verse 6 God is my Helper, He upholds my life.

The Helper the Holy Spirit will lead me to the Truth.

Mark 9:30-37

My Beloved, in a world where selfishness and self indulgence have reached heights seemingly unheard of in any age, in a world where children are viewed either as a hindrance to a life of hedonism or where they become mere accessories and a fashion statement, it would do us well to pause and reflect on what You teach us today.  We too ought to take time to come away with You.  To retreat with You and to listen to You as You teach and instruct us on the values of the Kingdom.  To become like children in their openness, their trust, their littleness, their innocence – for the Kingdom belongs to such as these.

1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49, Psalm 56:10c-14, Luke 8:4-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

M--- Mine, remember that I created you in love to love.  Don’t fail Me.

1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49, Psalm 56:10c-14, Luke 8:4-15

1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49

My Beloved, St. Paul did not mince words neither did he suffer fools gladly.  None could be more tender than he and yet when he needed to hit hard he had no qualms in doing so.  Too often we are too timid, too intimidated, too soft to what needs to be said in clear, succinct and in no uncertain terms.  Here is a truth taught by You, “What You sow cannot sprout unless it dies.”  Dying a physical death is certain but dying to self is far more difficult and You call us to die to ourselves daily.  One would rather live a self-indulgent life than mortify the natural instinct to pander to oneself.  If however we are prepared to sow our pride, , cold nature, narrow mindedness, selfishness, conceit and everything else that reeks of self and our constant pandering to the ego then what You raise up through grace will be quite unrecognizable from what was sown.  We will be a new creation with no resemblance whatsoever to what was buried and allowed to die. 

So it is with our physical bodies.  They must die, they must be buried in the earth, they must decay and turn to dust.  This happens in the natural order of things.  But what You will raise up to life is totally different from the old body that was subject to every kind of limitation and weakness, to old age and sickness.  What You will give us is glorified new, immortal bodies that will image and reflect You.  We have a wonderful ever after awaiting us thanks to You.

Psalm 56:10c-14

Verse 10c:  I know that God is for me.

 Verse 14:    

14 For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling, that I might walk in God’s presence in the light of the living.

By Beloved, I belong to You and I am bound to You by a covenant of love.  You will never abandon me.

The truth is that Your right hand holds mine and keeps me from stumbling.  Your mighty protection encompasses me always and Your light is the beacon that lights my path.  Darkness will never hide the way of truth for Your Spirit abides in me and makes His home in my heart.

 

Luke 8:4-15

My Beloved, we all receive the good seed of Your Word but so often it falls on hard on hard, rocky ground.  The devil has us convinced that Your way is incompatible with the lifestyle and culture that marks this century and so we remain barren. 

There are some who are stirred by the beauty and majesty of Your Word and they are fired by with zeal to convert and come home.  They are full of fervor and good intentions but at the first real challenge that calls for giving up old habits that are an occasion for sin, they give up with very little fight and go back to their old ways.

But there are those who persevere.  They make the necessary changes that are required to live a good Christian life.  They learn to serve in love.  They overcome the initial hurdles and temptations and they form new habits and soon they will begin to experience the joy of living a life deeply rooted in You.  As they mature they are nourished by Your Spirit and they begin to bear fruit that will last eternally.