Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Exodus 34:29-33, Psalm 99:5-7, 9, Matthew 13:44-46

FEAST OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Exodus 34:29-33, Psalm 99:5-7, 9, Matthew 13:44-46

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


Exodus 34:29-33

My Beloved, every time a Catholic receives You worthily in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist we ought to positively glow with a radiance far great than the radiance on the face and skin of Moses.

We have after all not just seen the Lord but we have received Him into our very bodies.  People we encounter ought to be blinded by the divine light emanating from us and they should in awe of what God has made possible.  As if the incarnation was not enough when the Son of God became Man, as if You Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection were not enough, the Father goes so much further in desiring to offer You to us as Food and Drink.

We are creatures we need to see, touch and taste, together with faith which is also the Father's gift to us it is possible to truly be in heaven here on earth for a while in this most wonderful of Sacraments.

Thank You!  Thank You!  Thank You!


Psalm 99:5-7, 9

Grant my Beloved that with every breath I breathe here on earth I will praise You, adore You and glorify You for You are holy, glorious, mighty and worthy. Through the ages all those who have called out to You have been heard and answered and You continue to make Yourself present and available to us.  Attentive to our cry, You always hear and answer. 

Your Word is my command.  I yield to it in obedience and joyful submission knowing that in this is my life, my joy, my peace.  May Your Word rule my life always.  

Matthew 13:44-46

My Beloved, through the ages we have seen many men and women who gave up everything to follow You.  Family, friends, wealth, position it was all meaningless once they encountered You.  They believed that nothing was more desirable than giving up anything, anyone and everything that would hinder them from a total commitment to You.  To them the world was well lost in order to have this Great Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price.

Give me that kind of desire for You Lord.  I still cling to the world, its trinkets, its fancy baubles, its playthings and empty pastimes.  Free me Lord from people and things that have become attachments I cling to and which keep me from loving You with the generous, wholehearted abandon, passionate love that I desire to give You.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Exodus 33:7-11, 34:5b-9, 38, Psalm 106:6-13, Matthew 13:36-43

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Exodus 33:7-11, 34:5b-9, 38, Psalm 106:6-13, Matthew 13:36-43

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


Exodus 33:7-11, 34:5b-9, 38

Verse 11
11 Then Yahweh would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. 

My Beloved, just as Yahweh made Himself present in the cloud to Moses in the Tent of Meeting, You too are present to us in the tabernacle on our altars. We do not see You with our mortal eyes but with the eyes of faith and we know that You are present though hidden in the form of Bread.  You are truly present Body, Soul and Divinity and You speak to us as Moses spoke to God Face to face as one speaks to a friend.

We too cry out Your Name, it is a Name that saves,Jesus! All our experience of You through salvation history and up to the present times have shown us that you are, “Yahweh, Yah­weh is a God full of pity and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in truth and loving-kindness. He shows loving-kindness to the thousandth generation and forgives wickedness, rebellion and sin; yet he does not leave the guilty without punishment, even punishing the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

We are called to worship and adore Your Eucharistic Presnce and we make the prayer of Moses our own, “If you really look kindly on me, my Lord, please come and walk in our midst and even though we are a stiff-necked peo­ple, pardon our wickedness and our sin and make us yours.”

Psalm 106:6-13

My Beloved, we are as fickle as the Israelites who were saved so powerfully from the bonds of slavery.  God worked visibly and mightily in their favor and yet they grew sullen and slack, forgetful of all the Lord had done for them.  We too are prone to whining, grumbling and complaining when life gets difficult.  You are our Savior and You came to show us the way to the Father.  You have warned us that life on earth will be hard for those who desire to by Your disciples.  You have warned us that we too are to expect persecution and opposition and even bodily harm in this life, if we take the Gospel and our mission seriously, but the reward which is perfect union with You eternally, is so worth it!

Matthew 13:36-43

My Beloved, those who are Your disciples, committed to following You all the way no matter what the cost, can enter with You in the place where You make Your home. With all the confidence, faith, trust and love we have as a member of the family we can ask You to explain divine truths, grant us insights to the word and through Your Holy Spirit at work in us we will understand heavenly things.

We say to You, "Explain to us," confident that You will.

Your Word is a Living Word and has within it the potential to transform the whole world.  The enemy knows this and he and his minions are feverishly at work to slyly and stealthily sow seeds of darkness, lies, confusion and deception.  They twist a word here, explain away something there, they make lies seem not only plausible but positively attractive and many gullible, weak and ignorant souls are lost.

But You know that the enemy is at work and You are patient lest the good are lost with the wicked should Your wrath fall upon the world.  In Your infinite goodness, mercy and compassion, until the appointed time, You will permit the wicked to grow and perhaps even thrive with the good.  But the day of reckoning will come and when it does, woe to those who chose the broad, easy and narrow road.  But those who remained faithful will be rewarded with a vision of Your glory and we will finally see You our God Face to face.

Monday, July 29, 2013

1 John 4:7-16, Psalm 34:1-6, 8-10, John 11:19-27

FEAST OF ST. MARTHA
(SISTER OF MARY & LAZARUS)


DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

1 John 4:7-16,  Psalm 34:1-6, 8-10, John 11:19-27

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


1 John 4:7-16

The origin of love is God Himself.  We are made in His image and likeness and so we partake in His Love which is made visible in His beloved Son.  To love is to have knowledge of the Creator who is Love that became tangible when He became Incarnate and lived among us.  Grafted on to Jesus in baptism we receive divine life which animated by His Holy Spirit and we taken up in to the life of the Trinity.  

We can do nothing to merit the love that God has for His creatures. When we sinned He could easily have wiped us off the face of the earth and begun over again or not at all.  He does not need us for He is complete in Himself.  But He is love and He loves us with a love as ferociously protective and as tender as any loving parent for his child. 

He wants to save us at all costs even at the cost of the life of His only Son whom He sent into the world to take on our miserable, weak, sin filled human condition upon Himself, absorbing in Himself the filth of our sins and the punishments that they deserve in accordance with divine justice. He paid the price that would free us from the slavery of sin and its consequence, eternal punishment.

We must never forget that what binds us one to the other is the love of Christ and just as He loves us, we in turn must love each other.  The only proof which indicates that we love God is the love we have for each other.  If we do not love the man,woman and child that we can see we dare not say we love God whom we cannot see.  It is precisely because of our love fore each other that we are perfected in the love of God.

It is only because Jesus sent His own Spirit to make His home in us do we know beyond every shadow of a doubt that God abides in us and we in Him. There is only one thing to remember if we are to be happy here on earth and eternally happy in heaven.  " 16 We have known the love of God and have believed in it. God is love. The one who lives in love, lives in God and God in him."

Psalm 34:1-6, 8-10

MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME - Psalm 34


 Let’s magnify the Lord together,
Come join me as we glorify His Name,
In distress I called to Him to save me,
He came in haste and took away my shame.

Let’s  celebrate His never ending mercy,
We’ll clap and sing aloud in grateful praise,
Reflecting the radiance of  His beauty
Our joyful hearts will stream abundant grace.

He commands His angels to surround us,
They guard us so we never need know fear,
God stoops low so we can taste His goodness,
He shelters in His heart those He holds dear.

Seek the Lord and You will lack for nothing,
He alone can satisfy your soul,
He is the Living Bread that comes from heaven,
To  sanctify, to nourish and make whole.

If you desire life in all its fullness,
Seal your lips from falsehood and deceit,
Turn away from every form of evil,
Take refuge in His love and pursue peace.

Myra D’Souza / 27th June 2012

John 11:19-27

Poor, much maligned Martha, who will always be remembered as the sister who was distracted by the mundane,grumbled and made her annoyance known by her querulous complaint to the Lord. Of course she who too longed to sit at His feet but was left to do all the work that is involved in being hospitable hostess to a well loved, important Guest and His friends.

Today however when the Church celebrates her feast, let us bear in mind that the words of Jesus found a home in her heart. She took His gentle rebuke to her in the right spirit - a spirit of humility.  She loved Jesus just as much as Mary and Lazarus did and she understood who Jesus was as we see from the Gospel reading of today.

Their only brother Lazarus is dying, the sisters send word to Jesus to come and He takes 3 days to arrive in the meantime their beloved brother dies. When word was brought to them that Jesus was coming it was Martha and not Mary who went to meet Hi.  Her first words to Him are a sad, "IF ONLY."  These two words are often the plague of our own lives as well. But she did believe that despite the fact that her brother was dead that Jesus could restore him to life again.

It is here that Jesus speaks clearly to us who He is, "26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” And we have Martha's response which vindicates her forever from her first grumbling and murmuring recorded in the Gospel Every Christian now echoes her words, "27 ..........“Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”

Genesis 18:20-32, Colossians 2:12-14, Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8, Luke 11:1-13

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Genesis 18:20-32, Colossians 2:12-14, Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8, Luke 11:1-13

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




Genesis 18:20-32


My Beloved, grant that I may have the spirit of boldness when it comes to interceding for those in need of my prayers.  God is a gracious, loving compassionate Father who desires that we come to Him and see Him as Abouna.  He will deny His children nothing for He enjoys giving us all the good things that are necessary for us to help us grow and mature in body, mind, heart, soul, and spirit.

Let me not be bashful in walking right up to the Holy of Holies, leaning on my Abba's breast as I make known to Him the needs of those I love and pray for every single day.

You, my Beloved, ripped the curtain in two that separates me from God our Father and now I can approach Him at any time and at any hour.  Thank You.

Colossians 2:12-14

In baptism I plunged into Your death, the death necessary to render sin powerless and which You nailed to the Cross and I rose gloriously with You in Your Resurrection.  I am grafted into Your Body.  Divine life courses through me.  I am alive with the Life of Your Holy Spirit.  Every sin I have ever committed is not only forgiven in the Sacrament Of Reconciliation but is all forgotten.  Satan, the accuser has nothing to hold against me in Your Presence. You obtained my pardon and remission of my sins and guilt.

I shall not whip myself with old transgressions but I will live in the freedom won for me at so high a price on the Cross at Calvary.

Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8

My Beloved, Jesus my Lord and my Saviour, my Redeemer, I come before You with a heart overflowing with praise and thanksgiving for You have heard my prayers and You have answered my every time I called. I believe that in God's perfect time everything I have asked for will be granted.

Thank You for the grace, help, strength, and peace I receive each day when I receive You in Holy Communion.  Thank You for my sure knowledge that You walk beside me, You live in me, You are above and below me.  You surround me and You imbue me.  I am filled with You and I never walk alone.   No harm can come to me for Your mighty protection covers me as a shield.

Luke 11:1-13

So often my Beloved we give up after having prayed a short while and not seeing immediate results.  Persistence in prayer purifies us, it purifies our intentions it makes us strong and it teaches us that we are dependent on You.  It teaches us to trust You and to have faith.  Persistence in prayer grows sweeter as it makes us see ourselves as we are - helpless without You.  

Answered prayers bring us joyfully to You in praise, thanksgiving, and adoration.  We are Your children Father and it pleases You to give us all we need as we journey to You and to the Kingdom.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Exodus 24:3-8, Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 15-16, Matthew 13:24-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Exodus 24:3-8, Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 15-16, Matthew 13:24-30

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


Exodus 24:3-8

Moses revealed to the people the words of the Lord and they said, "Everything that Yahweh has said, we shall do.  Moses then recorded God's word and built an altar to God at the foot of the mountain with twelve stones.

The Lord Jesus has now built an altar on top of the mountain. He is our Cornerstone and its foundation are the 12 apostles.  From here we offer everyday a sacrifice pleasing to God, the eternal Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are washed in the Blood of the Lamb and restored to our former glory through His merits, won for us on the Hill of Calvary.  With grateful and loving hearts we too say, "All that the Lord our God says we will do."

Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 15-16

The God of gods has spoken a Word, His Eternal Word and through the Rising of His Son He summons us, all the living from sunrise to sunset.  Beauty, Truth and Life are the Light that shine from from Him and illumine the heavens and the earth.

Keep all who have been baptized into Your Body faithful O Lord and bring back those who have strayed we beg You.

You are our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer, we call on You always for You are a God who saves.

Matthew 13:24-30

My Beloved, the Seed of Your Word has been sown by Your Apostles, disciples and followers through the ages.  It is good seed but the enemy has sown the weeds of confusion, greed and lies.  We live in a world that is being rent asunder by the forces of evil but good will prevail.  The wicked will be gathered and thrown into the furnace where the flames will never die while the good will receive a welcome in the Kingdom of God.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Sirach 44:1, 10-15, Psalm 132:11, 13-14, 17-18, Matthew 13:16-17

FEAST OF SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANNE


DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

Sirach 44:1, 10-15, Psalm 132:11, 13-14, 17-18, Matthew 13:16-17




Sirach 44:1, 10-15

Beloved, today the Church celebrates the feast of Your grandparents Sts. Joachim and Anne.  Nothing is an accident - everyone of us is called to fulfill the plan of God each according to his or her vocation.

From the creation of the first man and woman and after the fall God was preparing a particular race chosen by Him to receive You into the world in order to redeem it and bring it back to Him.  He chose Joachim and Anne to bring forth the flower of His creation, Mary, into the world.  They were entrusted to raise this rarest and fairest of all jewels among the sons and daughters of man.  Without the ugly stain of original sin, redeemed by the merits of the Son of God, who being outside time and for whom nothing is impossible.  She became the sanctuary, the Arc of the Covenant that clothed Divinity with her flesh and nourished, strengthened and fed Him through her body.

She belonged to God eternally.  She is the blueprint of what every man and woman ought to be and should aspire to.  

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit honor her for she is the Mother of God - can we do less?

Psalm 132:11, 13-14, 17-18

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling:
14 “This is my resting place forever; this I prefer, here will I dwell.

The Lord chose a daughter of Zion in whom He desired to make  His dwelling. Of whom He became Incarnate.  In whom His Holy Spirit made a resting place and in whom the Triune God prefers to any other dwelling.

Matthew 13:16-17

My Beloved, not many of us have the wisdom to see God's hand at work before their eyes, this is Your lament.  God was with them in a most ordinary way.  You were born of a woman as all of us are.  You were fed at her breasts as all babies are. You were educated, You learned a trade, You lived among men and because they saw You in the daily humdrum routine of their lives they refused to look beyond despite the signs, the wisdom of Your words, the authority with which You taught. Your power over, life  death and nature.  Your union with God, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in You. They were spiritually blind because they were mired in the flesh and the senses and they bound by their prejudices as I often am.  Forgive me Lord and set me free so I may  soar to the heavens on the wings of the Eagle.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Psalm 126:1-6, Matthew 20:-20-28

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Psalm 126:1-6, Matthew 20:-20-28

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



2 Corinthians 4:7-15

My Beloved, today the Church celebrates the feast of St. James, Apostle and martyr.  In fact he was the first of the apostles to lay down his life for You and for the Gospel.  Faith in You impels and compels us to speak about You and witness to You by our lives.  Death of the body holds no fear for one who is a disciple but the death of the soul does and this is why there must be a burning desire in those who believe to do all that is in their power through grace to ensure that not one of God's little ones are lost.  Too great a price was paid for our redemption.  God became Man to lay down His life for us sinners.

He makes His home in us, we carry within us poor, sinful, weak creatures the Pearl of great Price and all is well lost in order to have and to hold You all our days on earth and forever in heaven.

Psalm 126:1-6

Beloved, every true disciple on fire with love for You and burning with zeal to preach the Good News to the world must have our mouths filled with laughter and our tongues singing songs of great joy because of what You have done for us.  No human mind could conceive it, no one could execute it but God alone. The Father conceived it,Perfect Love executed it and Perfect Obedience and Humility yielded to to it.  

Truly the Lord has done great things for us and we are exultant with joy.  You pour streams of living water over us.  We live in the valley of tears and we sow the Seeds of Life despite the dangers and persecution we may face; but the reward is eternal for You are our reward my Beloved.

Matthew 20:-20-28

My Beloved, every mother wants the best for their children and the mother of James and John was no different.  She came to You, knelt before You, our God, and made her prayer to You.  Every mother's prayer for her children ought to be the same as hers, "to grant that their children may sit with You on Your right and on Your left in the Kingdom."

Rightly, you reminded her of the price that is involved. We must be prepared to walk the way of the Cross that leads to the death of the flesh and the world and to give a fearless witness to the Good News despite the dangers. If we are, then our reward will indeed be great.  We must seek to live the beatitudes and make them our way of life.  We must be ready and willing to do all that God desires us to do even to laying down our lives and to yield to His will joyfully in all things, then indeed every good mother's prayer will be answered when every son and daughter will behold the vision of Your Face in eternity.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15, Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28, Matthew 13:9-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15, Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28, Matthew 13:9-15

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



Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15

My Beloved, how often when we are denied our creature comforts we whine and complain like the Israelites in the desert.  In this journey towards the Kingdom we must learn to deny ourselves and yet we are so used to self indulgence that the denial of the flesh becomes doubly hard.  As in all things we must train ourselves and choose the narrow road.  You love us and You will give us all we need to make the journey without falling by the wayside.  You give us strength sufficient for each day.

In our sojourn in the desert of our life, if we turn our gaze away from ourselves and look for You we will find You. 

You give us food to sustain for the journey.  You supply all we need if only we call on You for aid.

Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28

My Beloved, ever since we committed the first sin against Divine Love, we have continued to heap sin upon sin, to grumble, complain and we have not hesitated to blaspheme even.  We have denied Your power and instead of leaning on You in time of trouble, we have grumbled at our lot.

But You are a God of mercy, pity, compassion and love. You created us and You make allowances for our weaknesses and help us through the frequent reception of the Sacrament to overcome them. You know we are frail and so You give us Your Own Holy Spirit to strengthen, empower and help us.  You feed us with Yourself until our souls are satisfied.  Thank You. 

Matthew 13:9-15

My Beloved, the boat represents Your Church, the crowds on the shore are men and women of all nations who are invited to hear Your Word  Your Saving Word and to choose Life.

The Seed in this parable is Your Word, the Sower is God - You are His Eternal Unchanging Word.  He has spoken His Word and some who heard it took it lightly, twisted it through misinterpretation oftentimes deliberate, robbed of its Truth it was lost.

Sometimes Your Word falls on hearts that are so hard it is impossible for it to put down any roots and so it withers and dies as soon as it is heard for there is nothing in such a heart that is conducive to growth.

Sometimes our life is so chock full with worthless occupations and pastimes that the Word is choked out, there is no opportunity for growth because the soul is hostile.  

But when the rain of sorrow, heartache, heartbreak and disappointments soften the heart and awakens the soul to desire You.  Such a soul is ready to receive God's Word there it can put down roots and in time will yield a plentiful harvest.

My soul continues to have areas which represents these different types of soil my Beloved, Your Holy Spirit continues to help and train me to receive the Eternal Word of God made Incarnate of the Virgin Mary in a heart that is always ready and willing to yield to His will. 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Exodus 14:21----15:1, Exodus 15:8-10, 12 & 17, Matthew 14:46-50

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Exodus 14:21----15:1, Exodus 15:8-10, 12 & 17, Matthew 14:46-50

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



Exodus 14:21----15:1

My Beloved, You are a faithful God and You will never forsake those who are Yours.  We are the sheep of Your flock. You did it all to save us even to becoming incarnate and .  Beloved and we praise the Father for giving us such a Redeemer, Savior, Messiah and Lord such as You - His only beloved Son.

You broke the chains of slavery to sin my Lord and You paid our ransom.  We now belong to You and we exult in Your possession of us.

Exodus 15:8-10, 12 & 17

My Beloved, whatever it takes to safeguard Your own from the enemy You will not hesitate to do so great is Your love for us.  You know we are weak and on our own we can accomplish nothing.  You give us Your own Holy Spirit, You pour grace upon us through the Sacraments. You feed us with Your own Body and Blood.  You desire us to be the adopted children of Your Father and we call Him Father too.  You gave us Your Mama to pray for us, to plead for us and to make our needs known to You, to hasten to You and tell You that we have run out of wine and to us she repeats the words she said to the servants at the wedding feast at Cana, "Do whatever He tells you." In this is our joy and our peace.

Verse 17 You have lifted us up and have planted us on the Mountain of the Lord, the Place where God dwells..

Matthew 14:46-50

My Beloved, many have struggled to understand these verses and the way You spoke within earshot of Your Mama and Your relatives.  They are open to much misinterpretation if one does not have the Magisterium to guide us in right understanding so there is no cause for division. Many use these verses to play down Your Mama's role and her place in the Christian life.  But Your Bride the Church has kept her gaze fixed steadily on You for over 2000 years, her ears have been attuned to the sound of Your voice and she knows every nuance in the meaning of the worlds of her Beloved for she is enlivened, animated and taught by Your Holy Spirit who fills her with wisdom and truth. 

If there could have been even a hint that Your words would wound Your Mama's heart you would not have spoken so bluntly.  But her heart and Yours beat as one.  Your mission is her mission and she understood and she did not feel in the least that she was slighted.  She knew that You are a teacher par excellence and this was a great teaching moment for the crowd following You and it was not to be missed. You wanted us to know that there was a right place for all relationships and that God's will must be put over all else.

Anyone who does the will of the Father as Mary did so perfectly has claims upon You as mother, brother and sister.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Song of Songs 3:1-4b, Psalm 63:2-9, John 20:1-12, 11-18

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Song of Songs 3:1-4b, Psalm 63:2-9, John 20:1-12, 11-18

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


I FOUND THE LOVE OF MY HEART I HELD HIM AND WOULD NOT LET HIM GO 

Song of Songs 3:1-4b

Verse 3,  4


“Have you seen the love of my heart?”

As soon as I left them,
I found the love of my heart.

I held him and would not let him go


I have found You my Beloved, the Love of my heart and I shall not let You go.  Cling to me as I cling to You lest I should sin and separate myself from You.  Separation from You is death.  Do not let me die Beloved.  I desire to live for You and if I must die want to die of love for You.

Psalm 63:2-9

My Beloved, my Lord and my God You are my heart's desire and delight, my soul thirsts for You my heart pines for You.  I kneel before You in Your sanctuary and I behold You hidden in the Sacred Host - we are Face to face.  I see Your Beauty with the eyes of faith. You fill my mouth with the sweetest praise and my heart is overwhelmed with the joy of knowing You, loving You and tasting Your goodness and mercy.

Your holy and most precious and beloved Name is the last on my lips as I close my eyes at night, it is the first when I awake, through the night my heart and my soul unite and my pulse throbs in rhythm with my heartbeat to the sweet music of Your Name all through the night. In the daylight hours  You walk with me and I with You.  No harm can come to me, the enemy dare not approach.  I cling to You Beloved and You let me for You love me and You know if You let me go I would not be strong enough to make it on my own.

I am Your poor little nothing who would die without Your help and strength. Too weak even to love if Your Spirit did not help me and heaven did not intercede for me.

John 20:1-12, 11-18

Love will always find Love, as Mary Magdalene found out to her joy.  The others left after they saw the empty tomb.  Not Mary, she stayed there, bereft, weeping, mourning the loss of Love.  But Love never dies and constancy in love is rewarded by a vision of angels and then with the appearance of ETERNAL LOVE HIMSELF.  "Woman, why are you weeping?" 

My Beloved, having encountered You we are not to cling to You selfishly but we are to go out and tell the Good News to the world and the beauty of it is that we are not alone, Your very own Spirit lives, moves, animates and has His Being in us.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Exodus 1:8-14, 22, Psalm 124:1b-8, Matthew 10:34--11:1

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Exodus 1:8-14, 22, Psalm 124:1b-8, Matthew 10:34--11:1


THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE
http://www.bibleclaret.org/bibles/english.htman

Exodus 1:8-14, 22


My Beloved, the lot of the Israelites under the Egyptians after the death of Joseph and under the rule of a new pharaoh is reminiscent of the persecution Christians face today.  All those who follow You and make Your teaching a way of life are anathema to many.  Why do they feel threatened by us Lord - we who follow You follow the way of love and forgiveness so whey do they desire to kill us? They hope to sponge out our faith from the world  but the more they try the more blood they spill, they will find as Pharaoh and the Egyptians did that the greater the persecution the greater will be the numbers of followers and the quicker will Christianity spread for as it rightly said, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians."

Psalm 124:1b-8

You my Lord are always at the side of Your people so no harm will come to us.  You will not permit us to be tried beyond our capacity to endure and You will provide the grace and strength we need to overcome.  You free us from the traps set for us by the enemy.  You keep guard overs us, You are our constant help in times of trouble.

Matthew 10:34--11:1

My Beloved, if one in a family endeavors to take the Gospel and discipleship seriously it is possible that he or she may find they are alienated from friends and family members who prefer to live sinful or lukewarm lives.  Who do not wish for conversion  who prefer the muddy shallows to the deep.  Therefore we ought not to be surprises if our enemies are to be found within our own families or circle of friends.  No human love or attachment must be greater than our love for You if it is, the it is idolatry .


Being a disciple requires courage, faith, hope, love and discipline.  It means surrendering our will and accepting God's will for us joyfully in all things.  It is only by picking up life's daily crosses and following You will we find peace. 

We must never fail to offer a generous welcome to those who have consecrated their lives to God and aid we offer will be rewarded in this life and in the life to come.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Deuteronomy 30-10-14, Colossians 1:15-29, Psalm 65:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37, Luke 10:25-36

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Deuteronomy 30-10-14, Colossians 1:15-29, 
Psalm 65:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37, Luke 10:25-36

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



Deuteronomy 30-10-14


My Beloved, indeed the Eternal Word of my God  which is Love and which is never far from us.  It is in us, in our heart where Your Spirit makes His home. It is in our mouth when we speak Your Holy Name.  It is on our tongue when we receive the Bread of Life. It resides in our whole being for God makes our body His sanctuary.

Colossians 1:15-29

Nothing was every created or existed that was not created or exists in order to glorify You my Beloved Lord, this is the will of the Father that everything that breathes must praise You.

It is You O Eternal Word of the Father that holds every created thing united in Yourself and through You to the Triune God.  You are the Head of Your Body the Church, You are the Bridegroom and she is Your Bride.  You did everything that was required to ensure our salvation and You even tasted death so we may not fear it.

You are the First Born of the Father and Heir to everything in heaven, on earth and in the netherworld and You graciously share all things with Your bride and spouse.  It pleases You to pour upon us every imaginable grace and blessing to ensure that someday we will see You Face to face.

You lay down Your life for us and You desire us to lay down our lives for each other You showed us how in losing our life we gain it.

Psalm 65:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37

You always hear me when I pray because every time I come before You is a favorable time.  Help me Lord to speak with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit so I will always have an answer that has its origin in Truth.  I LOVE YOU LORD!!!

Luke 10:25-36

My Beloved how often I behave like the teacher of the law.  I know the answer but I pretend I don't in order to excuse myself from doing that which You desire me to. I am selfish, I do not want to be challenged.  I take refuge in silly justifications for my cowardly actions.  I test Your love and in doing so reveal my own sinfulness.  Forgive me my Lord and thank You for taking the time to stop beside me and putting oil and wine on my wounded spirit.  Thank You for the Sacraments of Healing.  Thank You for paying the price for my redemption.  AMEN!!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Isaiah 66:10-14, Galatians 6:14-18, Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20, Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Isaiah 66:10-14, Galatians 6:14-18, Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20, Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

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

 

Isaiah 66:10-14

My Beloved, the Church belongs to You - she in Your Bride.  You have claimed her for Yourself   True she has had unhappy days, there are those within her who have given scandal and made her other members hang their heads in shame at the sins of those who were Your anointed.  But we rejoice because despite the many weakness of her sinful members, You continue to abide with her and have vowed to remain faithful to her until the end of time.

In Your Church, her members are satisfied because they are suckled at her bountiful breasts from which flow an abundance of grace and mercy through the Holy Spirit. Your Church rests in light, in peace, in plenty, in grace in a world that is fast darkening by sin, war, terror and fear.  Your Church is the Light set on a hill top and all who desire her can climb the mountain and find comfort in her bosom.

Galatians 6:14-1

My Beloved, if we must boast St.  Paul advises us that we must boast about You.  If we must have pride about anything it must lie in You and all that Your passion and death have obtained for us.  Like St. Paul we too must bear the marks of Your crucifixion as we allow ourselves to be crucified to the world through You.  We are no longer slaves to the world but slaves of love to You and servants to one another.  There must be no division among us for we have been united in Your Body.

Help us to walk in the light and become Your light in the world.

Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20

Verses 16 & 20

My Beloved thank You for Your constant reassurance that You have not rejected my prayer and that Your love for me is constant and will never be withheld from me.

I adore You my Lord and my God.

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

My Beloved, 72 is only a number among these I too am called along with my spouse, my children and my fellow Christians and fellow catechists.  I must go out into the world and make known to them the Good News of our salvation - that God did not hold back His only Son but sent Him into the world to be the means by which we are redeemed and sanctified.  We have a place in heaven for all who accept You as their Savior and Lord.

As Your laborers we are called to be humble, accepting  the hospitality of those who welcome us without being arrogant, demanding and obnoxious.  We are called to reveal the truth about Your love and living out that love ourselves as we minister to them making no distinctions between people.

You do not send us without equipping us.  We go in the power of God and His Holy Spirit.  We set out to do all that You Yourself did and You have promised that since You are with the Father, that we will do even greater things.  Give us the confidence to step out in faith and believe in Your promises.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29, Psalm 135;1b-6, Matthew 9:14-17

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29, Psalm 135;1b-6, Matthew 9:14-17

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



Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29

My Beloved, each time You call me may my response be, "Here I am."  And when I come before You may I bring before You the fragrance of my love for You and may it be pleasing and dispose You to bless not only me but those I love as well.

Psalm 135;1b-6

My Beloved, Isaac intended to give his blessing to his son Esay but God intended otherwise.  Jacob was the one destined to receive Isaac's blessing.  God's plans can never be thwarted.  As He desires so it shall be this is what verse 6 reminds us of.

Praise the Lord!!!

Matthew 9:14-17


My Beloved, how often I am guilty of comparing myself favorably to others. I do so in the secret places of my mind where none but You can see me. I am given to boasting in secret like the self-righteous Pharisees and think myself better than others when in fact the truth is they are fare more pleasing in Your sight that I.  This sin of self-righteous condemns me.


Help me to be always aware of the fact that if there is any good in me  it is there because Your inspire it and You make it possible through the endless supply of grace You pour upon me.  Every good thought, word and deed is inspired by the Holy Spirit.  On my own I am less than nothing.

You are my Bridegroom thank You for loving me as well as You do even though I do not deserve such love.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17, Psalm 25:2-9, Mark 12:18-27

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17, Psalm 25:2-9, Mark 12:18-27

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


Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17

When we are asked to bear a cross of any kind let us bear it with grace and patience.  May we praise You as Tobit praised You. He did not complain.  You are a just God and You do not lay a heavy hand on us unless it is to strengthen and purify us. To walk before You in Truth is to walk with Jesus Your Son who is Truth.  Like Tobit I too implore You my Lord to do with me as You will simply because I am Yours and You have the right to do so.  Except Lord do not turn away from me in anger, if You do I will die for I am too weak to make it on my own.  

You hear every sincere pray.  It flies like an arrow to Your heart and You pour upon us help and grace.  Thank You.

Psalm 25:2-9

This day my Beloved, hear my prayer and answer me.  Grant me a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit in order that I may be pleasing to You.  Let Your Truth guide me.  Let Wisdom walk beside me and prompt all my actions.  Give me a heart that is good, kind and compassionate. Mindful of my own weaknesses which are legion grant me patience when others stumble. Amen!

Mark 12:18-27

The Sadducees  thought they had trapped You when they put this absurd riddle to You asking for an answer?  Because they had a certain belief they were unable to look beyond their prejudice with a fresh vision.  They looked at the spiritual with the eyes of the world and the flesh.  You set them right. Verse 24 upbraids them for their ignorance of Scripture and God.  We are called to reflect on Scripture and meditate on the Word and with the help of Your Holy Spirit, You will help us to grasp eternal truths and give us insights into the heart of and mind of God.

Grant me Lord not to walk in the flesh but in the Light of Your Spirit. Amen!