1 John 5:5-13, Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20, Luke 5:12-16

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

1 John 5:5-13, Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20, Luke 5:12-16

http://www.bibleclaret.org/bibles/english.htm

1 John 5:5-13

Who has overcome the world?  Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and believing fall on their knees in humble worship and adoration; like the shepherds and the Magi.  I believe my Beloved and with Your Holy Spirit abiding in me I will be able to overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil.  With Your help all is possible to those who believe.  

The Sacraments of initiation when received by those who believe are a testimony to our faith in You.  In Your Baptism in the river Jordan You identified with sinners and so You plunged into our death and You raised us to new life in You.  Through Your Blood shed during Your Passion and crucifixion, You broke Your Body and You fed us in order that we may not perish but have life in abundance.  And finally, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, You made manifest God's love for us and You went even further by sending this same Holy Sprit upon us to animate us, guide us, counsel us, teach us and console us in the Sacrament of Confirmation.  We are bountifully blessed when we believe all that God desires to reveal to us through these Sacraments.

Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20

My Beloved, all of us who are baptized into Your Body are children of God.  You strengthen Holy Mother Church and empower her with Your Body, Blood and Holy Spirit so all her children are blessed by You enendingly.  You keep us in perfect peace for we abide in You and You feed us with the finest grain in the Living Bread that comes down from heaven at each Eucharist.  Your command is the command of love - to love and to live in love with God and neighbor.  TheWord of God is the Love of God, the Love of God is the only begotten Son of God and this Word abides in us.  Every one who declares that he or she is a child of God is able to witness to the extraordinary way in which the Life of God becomes manifest in His children so they become the light of His Son in the world.

Luke 5:12-16

My Beloved, the leprosy of sin renders our soul hideous in Your sight.  It is no wonder that You had a special tenderness and compassion for lepers as this terribly disfiguring illness most represents sin and its effects on our soul.  If the sinner (like the leper in the Gospel,) realises that he is covered in sin, all he needs to do is approach You in faith in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, bow low in humility and sorrow and say, "Lord, if You want to, You can make me clean." Nothing can move You more swiftly to mercy and compassion than a truly repentant sinner who wishes to be free from the burden of his sins.  No sin no matter how ugly and grave is beyond God's ability to forgive.  For You there are no taboos.  You are not afraid to reach out and touch the stinking, oozing mass of our leprous souls tenderly and lovingly and we will hear those blessed words, "Yes, I want it.  Be clean." The one demand You make is that we show ourselves to a priest.  This humility is a necessary requirement, because You ask it and we must obey.  

Sin wounds our relationship with God, ourselves and our neighbor and so we need to hear the words that come from Your mouth through the voice of the priest who represents You, "Go in peace, your sins are forgiven."  If I am prepared to listen to You and obey You, I will be healed.,  And if I am to rise with You and remain in You, then I must find time to spend alone with You in order that You may reveal Yourself and Your will for my life to me.  Increasing my knowledge of You will increase my love for You - this is possible if I spend time alone with You everyday.  Thank You!!