Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6, Psalm 98:1-6, John 1:1-18

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

DAILY LECTIONARY

Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6, Psalm 98:1-6, John 1:1-18

Isaiah 52:7-10

My Beloved, throughout the course of salvation history God sent messengers to herald the Good News of Your coming.  When our first parents sinned and the gates of heaven were closed to us, the tender, compassionate and loving heart of our Father God wanted us to be saved and so He sent You, His only Son into the world as a Man.  But how could we have hope if we did not know this marvel that the Father intended to do for us unless He sent messengers and prophets to tell us?  Hope is the light that gives courage no matter how dim that light.  From the very first pages of Sacred Scripture we are promised salvation and deliverance.  We are a people of hope and our hope is You who are our joy and peace.  "Love came down at Christmas,"  Love became incarnate and Love saved and redeemed us.

Hebrews 1:1-6

In the Old Testament, God sent messeners and prophets who had a dim awareness of what was in the mind and heart of God.  God permitted this hint of promises to be faintly perceptible to different people and situations which was a foreshadow of what was to come.  The old and the barren bringing forth life where it was humanly impossible to call forth new life.  The son of David, King Solomon, wiser than any rules was hinted at this perfect King and Ruler who was to come.  And when You did come,y Beloved, the whole world was awestruck and dumbfounded at the length which the Father was prepared to go to reveal His passionate love for His sinful children who are the work of His hands.

You are Alpha and the Omega, You are the 'Yes' and 'Amen' of God.  In the beginning God spoke a Word, the Eternal Word and this same Word came into the world taking on flesh in the womb of a Virgin Mother.  He took centre stage in the human drama and crushed sin and destroyed death.  More radiant than a thousand suns and all powerful whose mighty word sustains all that is, was and ever shall be, the only Son of God, came into the world as a helpless little Baby dependent on His Mother for nourishment, shivering in cold winter wind, crying when hungry, feeling the roughness of the clothes that swaddled Him and the hay on which He, the King of Kings lay.

What love is this for unworthy sinners enslaved to sin that it was prepared to go to such extraordinary lengths to reveal to us the passion with which He loves us?  It is no wonder then that He commands that we love, adore and worship Him and no other in return for He is our Lord and our God.

Psalm 98:1-6

Verse 3

3 He has not forgotten his love nor his faithfulness to Israel. The farthest ends of the earth all have seen God’s saving power.

Rejoice in the love of the invisible God who was made visible to us in the image of His Son the Beloved.

John 1:1-18

My Beloved, we can spend several lifetimes contemplating and meditating on these verses and we would still be unable to plumb its beauty and wisdom.  Truth and mystery are entwined.  John the Evangelist was given a glimpse of divine truth through the Holy Spirit and since he was the beloved disciple who lay on Your breast, to him was given understanding as far as it is possible for the finite mind to understand the infinite God. But he does a great job since it is the Holy Spirit who reveals these divine truths and without Him it would be impossible to know and even less possible to grasp its meaning.  It is a multifaceted diamond, the beauty and radiance of its light shifts and shimmers as it reveals different aspects of the same Truth, "God is Love, the Word of God is the Son of God begotten by the Father from all eternity.  Through Him all that is came to be and nothing exists without Him for His Word sustains all things.  All life comes fromt he One who is Life.  All light is but a reflection of the One who is Light.  On His coming into the world, darkness was vanquished and it vanished leaving behind no trace for the Light as cause the darkness to cease.

John the Baptist, was the herald chosen by God to prepare the Way for the Light so all who hear may believe and believing be saved.  Without the Light we cannot understand divine wisdom which is often paradoxical.  The Creator of the world,the universe, the firmament and the galaxies visible and invisible to us came in the world and was subject to all the vagaries of being human.  So humble that many did not believe He was who He said He was.  The people that God chose for Himself, painstaking preparing them to receive His Beloved Son rejected Him and so we, the gentiles and pagans were given the opportunity to know Him and receive Him and salvation is now ours as well.  The Son of God was born of God eternally and conceived in the womb of His Virgin Mother in time.  We are born in time and through baptism born of God.

God became flesh and made His home with us.  He became Emmanuel .  We receive of the fullness of His life in the worthy reception of the Sacraments.  We know the Father as Abouna because You, the Beloved, has revealed Him to us.  We are blessed for He chose us and made us children of His Father and coheirs with Him to His Kingdom.

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a & 16, Psalm 89:2-5, 27 & 29, Luke 1:67 - 79

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a & 16, Psalm 89:2-5, 27 & 29, Luke 1:67 - 79

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a & 16

My Beloved, God reminds David that all possesses and all the victories he has won are because God was with him.  He can give God nothing for everything belongs to God.  It is God who chooses to walk among His people and make His home in the Arc of the Covenant in order to abide with them.  At a time of His choosing God will raise David's son who will build a temple for the Lord.  God assures David that his son's reign will last forever and his throne, rule and kingship will be eternal. We do know however that Solomon's reign although glorious came to an end and so did his rule and kingship.

However, these promises were fulfilled perfectly in You who are God only Son whom He sent into the world to establish His eternal Kingdom among us.  From here You rule and reign forever.

Psalm 89:2-5, 27 & 29

My Beloved, no matter how difficult our circumstances are and how dim the hope that God's promises will be fulfilled, we must always hold on with firm conviction that God is always faithful.  In the end God's love will triumph for He is a God who keeps His promises.

Weeping may come in the night but with the dawn hope rises like the sun.  In the fullness of time God sent You, His only Son into the world to be our Savior and Redeemer.  He is Your Abba and You are His Beloved, He urges us to listen to. In You, God has established His Covenant of Love with the people of every nation, every tribe and language.  Your love takes us up and unites us with Your love for Him and His for You.

Luke 1:67 - 79

My Beloved, Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit sings this beautiful Canticle of praise and prophecy concerning his son John and of You as Savior and Redeemer of the whole world in whom every promise made by God is fulfilled.  Salvation comes from You.  Mercy flows from Your throne, the enemy is routed and flees.  You establish an eternal Covenant of Love with those who acknowledge You as Lord and come to You seeking pardon for all their sins.

John his son, will prepare the way for You boldly and fearlessly.  He will  not hesitate to take on the mighty and show them up for sinners, weak men who need to give up sin and begin to walk in righteousness.  You have come into the world and we are set free from the slavery and bonds of sin.  You reign and Your Light has caused the night to flee and the terror of death to give way to hope in eternal life with You. 

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24, Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-10,&14, Luke 1:57-66

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24, Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-10,&14, Luke 1:57-66

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24

My Beloved, before Your coming, before the day of the Lord, You sent prophets to prepare the way and the people to receive You.  They preached repentance and turning away from sinful ways. They make us aware of sin and the need for conversion so when You arrive we can stand before You with clean hands and a pure heart.  

We know that nothing unclean can come into Your Presence my Lord and my God.  Thank You for the Sacrament of Reconciliation which enables us to start anew and walk once more in intimacy with You. You reconcile us to God and to each other.  You are the Prince of Peace.

Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-10,&14

Here I am Lord, teach me Your ways, help me to walk in the way of righteousness.  Guide me with the help of Your Holy Spirit.  Let Truth be the lamp that lights my path in the ways of holiness.  Instruct me for You are my Teacher, my Lord , my God, my Savior and my Deliverer.  The humble of heart are pleasing to You for they recognize that they are nothing. They know that all they have received is from the hands of a loving and generous God.  Hide us in Your love and grant us the grace to be obedient to Your law of Love to God and neighbor, only then will we experience Your faithfulness despite the fact that we are weak.  You O Lord have a made a Covenant with us, You will never forget that You are our God and we are Your chosen people  the sheep of Your flock who know Your voice and come when You call.

Luke 1:57-66

In time, in God's appointed time, Your plan unfolds and the glory of God is revealed.  People who witness the marvels You have done praise You and exult in Your goodness and mercy.  You took away Elizabeth's public shame and blessed her with a son.  A long line of prophets through salvation history would prepare the way of holiness and righteousness so Your people could be waiting in readiness for Your coming.

During the nine long months of silence Zechariah communed with You and was granted wisdom and insight into the mind and heart of God.  When his son John was born and the name chosen for him by the Lord was given to him, Zechariah's tongue was freed for everything concerning his son was fulfilled.

You too my Beloved will loosen the bonds that hold us as slaves to sin and You will redeem us.  Open our ears so we may hear You, loosen our tongues so we may speak of Your wonders and praise You in the assembly of Your people.

Thank You Jesus!!

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a, Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17, Luke 1:5:25

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a, Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17, Luke 1:5:25

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a

My Beloved, God can make fruitful that which is barren as He did with the wife of Manoah, Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth and then wonder of all wonders, a Virgin is chosen by God to become a Mother and not only a Mother but the Mother of God no less through divine intervention.  The power, the overshadowing, the humility and above all the love of God and the 'fiat' of the Virgin made it possible for the God of Love to become Emmanuel, God with us.  No mother ever bore a son like the Son of Man and the Son of God.

Samson was consecrated by God to liberate God's people from the oppression of the Philistines.  You my Beloved, are the very Word of God who became Incarnate of the Virgin Mary who came to free people of all time from the first to the last, the greatest to the least from the oppression and slavery of sin and death.

You my Beloved became the Son of Man from the womb of Your Mother while remaining the Son of God eternally begotten by the Father.

My Beloved, in the visit of the Angel, the conception and birth of Samson and the promises of God we see a foreshadow and a promise of what was to come centuries later.  Hidden and veiled we see dimly the awesome plan God would eventually unfold to the world in order to save His poor, sinful creatures.

Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17

My Beloved, my Rock, my Stronghold, my Deliverer, my Refuge, my Help, my Strength, my Life and my Love, You are the God of Love who came into the world to save us from the jaws of death and the vile and deadly snares of the enemy.  You rescue us from the slavery of sin.  You are our hope.  We place all our trust in You for we know that You never fail or disappoint.   Endless songs of praise, adoration, worship and thanksgiving are due to You always and in every circumstance.

To You I run.  In You I hide.  You lift me up and shelter me.  No harm will come to me.  No evil can touch me.  No one can snatch me away from You.  I nestle against Your breast just at the beloved disciple once did and I am content.  May my life witness the greatness of Your love and the marvels of Your work.

Luke 1:5:25

My Beloved, like all young people both Zechariah and Elizabeth expected to have children who are the fruit of love in marriage. But as year succeeded year and they remained childless they continued to hope, dream, pray and conceal their fears and disappointment until at last hope slowly dimmed as Zechariah got old and she herself grew past the child bearing age and the last vestiges of hope was extinguished.

She had to carry the weight of being barren as well as the public humiliation to which she was exposed at being unable to give her husband a son and heir.  Both she and her husband were good and God fearing and they bore their sorrow with grace.  

And then God moved.  He knew the plans He had for them as He watched over them tenderly as they bravely faced life with courage despite the sorrow they each carried in their heart. When the time is right God moves, He takes charge and wonderful things start to happen.  

The Angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah while he is serving in the temple and he receives an extraordinary message that his wife will conceive in her old age and bear a son.  The name he is to give him is John and he will be given a mission to fulfill. Zechariah who is a priest and knows Scripture well is well aware that this has happened in the past as well.  Barren women have conceived and have borne children and yet he dared to point out to the Angel that they were both old and his wife was past her child-bearing years.  He, who better than anyone else ought to have known that with God all things are possible.  Rightly his lips were sealed until the promise was fulfilled and the child was born.  Only when he indicated that the baby's name was John was his tongue loosed and by then a thoroughly chastened and grateful old man he sang a most beautiful canticle of prophecy an grateful praise to God.

As for Elizabeth, she was able to shake off her burden of sorrow and rejoice at the great thing God had done for her.

No matter what our circumstances may be, no matter how hopeless a situation may appear, we must know that God, our God is One who saves.

Genesis 49:2, 8-10, Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8, 17, Matthew 1:1-17

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Genesis 49:2, 8-10, Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8, 17, Matthew 1:1-17

Genesis 49:2, 8-10

My Beloved, from the First Book in Sacred Scripture we see prophecies referring to You.  The Lion of Judah.  The Babe of Bethlehem who will come to rule the world with a Shepherd's staff.  A King who rules with justice and who routs the enemy through humility, obedience, and suffering.  He will conquer all nations by laying down His life and taking upon Himself our guilt and shame and setting us free from the slavery of sin.  Such is our God who in stopping conquered and won for us all a place in His Father's House.

Thank You, Lord!!!!

Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8, 17

My Beloved, early rulers no matter how gracious and good, will always fall short of the ideal.  You are the Blueprint of all that a good leader and a good king ought to be.  Your rule is just, You champion the rights of the lowly, the forgotten, the voiceless, the marginalized.  The proud, the haughty, the boastful, the rich who amassed wealth by exploiting the poor and using their power to rob them of what is rightfully theirs, these You will crush and destroy.

With Your coming justice has arrived.  The lame walk, the blind see, the dumb speak, the dead are raised to life

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a, Psalm 25:4-9, Matthew 21:23-27

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a, Psalm 25:4-9, Matthew 21:23-27

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a

My Beloved, from the moment man sinned God ordained that You would come into the world to save us.  He did not desire that the work of His hands should be lost forever, but raised up for us a Savior, who although He was God, walked among us as a Man.  You were like us in all things save sin.  

Light always announces the coming of God.  From the utter darkness of sin God sends You to be a Light among the nations.  A beacon of hope that draws and invites sinners to come home.

Thank You my Lord and my God for saving me. 

Psalm 25:4-9

My Beloved, my besetting sin is a distinct lack of humility in some situations which causes me to stumble and fall headlong into the dangerous waters of pride.

Humility, that priceless virtue, is most pleasing to God.  He Himself stoops over His creatures in love and is not ashamed to pursue sinners and plead lovingly that they return home.  He was not above asking You, who are not only His only Son but God as well, to become a Man in order to save us.  The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of gentleness who never forces Himself on anyone but waits in patient humility to be invited.

Teach me Your ways O Lord and let me walk in the  paths You desire I should go.  Guide me my Savior.  Keep me close beside You and never let me stray from Your side.  I know I am weak and I sin all the time.  In Your tender compassion forgive my offenses and grant me the grace I need to overcome my weaknesses.  Be my Teacher, Friend, Lord, Master and Guide. 

Matthew 21:23-27

My Beloved, we claim ignorance even when we know the truth either to get out of a sticky situation or in order not to commit ourselves unequivocally on the side of Truth.

The entire hierarchy of the Jewish religious body came en masse to intimidate You with questions.  Their authority came from God in order to serve the people,.  But You are the Author of Divine Law and all authority is given to You by the Father.  You were willing to engage with them and answer their questions, provided there were honest.  However their motives were anything but honest and You were quite aware of this fact.  They ducked the question with that great answer that we use to deny responsibility for our actions, "I do not know."

God does not play our silly games.  We have to take a stand for what we know to be the truth if not, we stand a very good chance of damning ourselves eternally.

Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.

Isaiah 35:1-6, 10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:6-10, Matthew 11:2-11

GAUDETE SUNDAY

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 Isaiah 35:1-6, 10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:6-10, Matthew 11:2-11

Isaiah 35:1-6, 10

My Beloved, You bring hope where there was none.  Life where was only death.  Abounding joy where there was once only sorrow and emptiness.  Your love touches and flowers bloom full of beauty and fragrance.  Everything You touch flourishes and becomes bountiful and fruitful.

How true my Beloved, no matter how weary the body may be and all strength seems depleted Your touch has the power to renew with hope and fill with strength and courage.  All who place their trust in You will never be disappointed.  You are a God who saves.

More than the physical healing O Lord is that You revive spirits that were once dead to sin.  You open eyes that were spiritually blind and ears that were deaf to the Voice of Truth and Wisdom.  Spirits darkened with the fog of hate and bodies paralyzed by the sheer weight of their sins are set free.  You came into the world riding on the wings of dawn and brought joy, singing, laughter and health and took away our sadness and mourning.

We look to You my Beloved and now we are radiant with joy because God now lives and reigns among the people He has redeemed. 

James 5:7-10

My Beloved, patience is the fruit of humility.  Grant O Lord that while we wait for Your coming in glory that we wait in a spirit of obedience.  Each day granted to us is an opportunity to work out our salvation with fear and trembling as we wait for the day of the Lord.  As we wait let us be alert, awake and watchful for we know neither the day nor the hour when the Lord will appear to claim those who have been faithful.

Help us not to indlulge in the works of darkness but remain clothed in the light and life of Your Holy Spirit, so we shall not be ashamed nor caught unawares when You do come again.

Psalm 146:6-10

My Beloved, those who put their trust and hope in You are never disappointed.  This is reason enough to exult all day long.  You are faithful and loving, merciful and kind, just and full of tenderness and compassion for Your little ones.

Matthew 11:2-11

11 I tell you this: no one greater than John the Baptist has come forward among the sons of women, and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

The paradox of the Kingdom of God.

Unless we die we cannot live.  Unless we give up we cannot gain.  Unless we forget self we cannot find ourselves. Unless we are humble we cannot be raised up.  Unless we become little children we cannot enter the Kingdom of God.  Unless we become poor for the sake of the Kingdom we cannot become rich.  Unless we are hungry we cannot be filled.  Unless we are thirsty we cannot drink from the streams of Living Water.  Unless we are born again of fire and the Holy Spirit we will have no life.

Isaiah 48:17-19, Psalm 1:1-4 & 6, Matthew 11:16-19

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Isaiah 48:17-19, Psalm 1:1-4 & 6, Matthew 11:16-19

Isaiah 48:17-19

"_____ My own do not be afraid, I the Lord am Your God.  I lead you in ways that you must go.  I am Your Teacher and Your Guide.  Walk in My ways, I will lead you on pats that will bring you peace.  I will deliver you from all your iniquities.  I will cleanse you from all your sins because you are Mine.  I will never abandon you.  All who love Me keep My commandments.  Remain in my love and you will always know peace."

Psalm 1:1-4 & 6

"Always keep always from temptation.  Never flirt with it and never believer that you are capable of withstanding its allure on your own strength. Temptation is pleasing to look at and presents itself as good but it brings death.  If one has a tendency or an inclination towards a certain weakness one can almost always rationalize it until it appears not only good but very desirable. 

The Way of the Lord is straight, its path is narrow.  The doorway to heaven is low one stoops in humility to enter.  Just as God stooped low to enter the world to become One like us, so too must we stoop to enter the Kingdom.

Those who walk with God will lack no good thing.  The who walk with God will live forever.  The Lord knows His own, their names are written on the palms of His hands."

Matthew 11:16-19

Why is it my Beloved that people in all ages have called truth a lie and lie the truth? All that is good, true, noble, beautiful, wise and sacred is treated with contempt and disrespect.  It is mocked at and scorned.  It is sullied and dragged through the mire of evil and ignorant minds.  Every attempt is made and more often than not succeeds in distorting the truth.  Everything that is transitory, impure and goes against both natural and divine reason is said to be desirable and necessary for the common good.  We are told that the old mores no longer apply to the age we live in. So many are led to believe the clever lies which are made to sound good, humane and reasonable by the standards upheld by the world.

Just as You lamented about the people of the day, we too lament the fact that when  is appropriate to mourn the death of Truth the world celebrates while burying the Truth.  And when it is appropriate to celebrate the fact that Truth can never die, never lose its beauty for it is eternal, the world does its best to mourn the death of that which is immortal.

You my Beloved, are our only hope even though the world is striving furiously and unceasingly to sweep Your away from our public discourse in order to relegate and confine You to the past so they can drown out and silence Your Voice. But Truth will prevail and as You have said so well, "Yet the outcome will prove Wisdom to be right.”

Zechariah 2:14-17, Judith 13:18-19, Luke 1:39-47

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Zechariah 2:14-17, Judith 13:18-19, Luke 1:39-47

Zechariah 2:14-17

My Beloved, You ask us to sing and rejoice for the day of the Lord is at hand.  You are coming to dwell among a people You have chosen for Yourself.  To us, You have given the mission to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth so all nations will come to know You and be saved.  Salvation comes only from You my Beloved and You desire that all are saved.  When You come again in glory my Lord, may we not be ashamed because we have not done what You asked us to. 

Grant me the grace and courage, the wisdom and knowledge to speak of You boldly, may my life witness to all You have done for me.

Judith 13:18-19

Dearest Mother of God and our Mother, we thank You for your 'fiat' to the will of the Father.  You were chosen by Him before all ages, God created You to bring His Son into the world.  You were to give Him His Body and your body would nourish Him and give Him His Blood.  It is this same Body that was offered as a sacrifice of atonement for our sins and the sins of the world.

You are highly favored Mother mine and greatly blessed above all creatures.  We will sing with wonder your praises for God, our God has fashioned you as He fashioned no other.  You are the Mystical Rose with virtues that exude a heavenly and wonderfully intoxicating fragrance O Beauty of Carmel.

Luke 1:39-47

Beloved, Your Mama shows us by her actions how we too can be pleasing to God.  She could have stayed home and exulted to herself at being the chosen one to bring for the the world's Savior and Messiah.  She chose rather to go and be of service to her old cousin Elizabeth who was with child.  She knew that she could be of help for she was young and strong and her generous loving herat was filled with joy at the wonderful thing God had done for her once barren cousin.

When Elizabeth saw Mary she was filled with the same Holy Spirit who enabled her recognize Mary as His most chaste spouse.  She greeted her with the same greeting we say when we pray the 'Hail Mary,'  'Blessed are you among women and blessed is the Fruit of your womb.'  She addressed Mary as the Mother of the Lord and she confirmed that the son in her womb also recognized that he was in God's presence when Mary approached for He was present in the tabernacle of her womb.

Isaiah 40:25-31, Psalm 103:1-4, 8 & 10, Matthew 11:28-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 Isaiah 40:25-31, Psalm 103:1-4, 8 & 10, Matthew 11:28-30

 Isaiah 40:25-31

My Beloved, truly You are the Holy One of God, You are God and there is none like You.  To You belong glory, power and authority in the heavens and on earth.  By Your Word, You uphold and sustain all things.  We see how vast is the heavens, the galaxies, the Universe and the stars.  You created each star, named them and gave each a place in the firmament.

Your breath gives life, withdraw it and all will be chaos and death.  You know all things including the destiny of all men.  Nothing is hidden from Your sight.  No one can hide from You.  You are God from everlasting to everlasting and You never tire or weary.  You never stop loving, You never give up, You seek the lost tirelessly.  You are never short tempered or impatient but are unfailingly love, merciful, compassionate and tender.

You give strength to the weary.  You give hope where there was none.  You carry the weak in Your arms.  You give food, drink and rest to all who put their hope and trust in You.  in You we are renewed in every possible way.  With You we soar to the highest heavens and You reveal to us the Face of God.  

Psalm 103:1-4, 8 & 10

My Beloved, I fall on  m knees and worship You.  God of mercy, pity, compassion and love I bless You with every breath I breathe.  In You is forgiveness of sin and healing of every sickness.  You offered Yourself in our place and became the atoning sacrifice acceptable by God for our sins.

You are our gracious God merciful and kind You do not punish us as we deserve.  You never forsake us no matter how gravely we sin.  You seek and save the lost and You assure us that heaven rejoices when the sinner comes home.  Please hear and answer my prayers for m family to stay close to You.  Seek the lost my Beloved and carry them home.

Matthew 11:28-30

My Beloved, often this life becomes too much for us and we are crushed by the weight of our burdens.  The light at the end of the tunnel grows increasingly dim, sorrow crushes the breath out of us and hope is steadily extinguished.  It is in this moment that Your words bring renewed strength and courage.  You assure us that You walk beside us.  Yoked to us our burden is eased and lightened.  Knowing You are present rekindles our hope, increase our faith and fills us with courage to go on.  Yes, You are always gentle, more gently and tender than we deserve.  The greater our sin, the greater the love and mercy You extend to us.  Thank You my Beloved for yoking Yourself to us with  the yoke of love.

Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13, Matthew 18:12-14

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13, Matthew 18:12-14

Isaiah 40:1-11

My Beloved, You say to me today, "Here is your God. If I am for you ____ mine who can be against you?  Do not be troubled rather be comforted for I Your God strengthen you, walk with you, live in you.  Walk in My ways.  Keep My commands to love God and neighbor.  Fulfill the law of love in all things and I will remain with you always for I am Emmanuel.  I am the God who says, this is the Good News that God, your God walks among His people and delivers them from all their difficulties, fears, sickness and anxieties.  I am the God who saves.  Be not afraid!  When your strength fails, lean on Me for I am strong.  Fear not I will carry you in my arms and i will take you safely into the sheepfold."

Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13

My Beloved, because Your mercy and blessings are new every morning, we sing a new song of praise and thanksgiving to You each day.  We raise our voice in blessings to Your most Holy Name.  Salvation comes from You.  All that is good comes from You and as we recall all You have done, we shall raise our hearts and minds in adoration and worship.  heaven, earth and all creation rejoices because of Your goodness, kindness and mercy to all.  You are the Just Judge, the Son of justice, the Prince of Peace, Savior and Redeemer of all.

Matthew 18:12-14

My Beloved, here You give us a glimpse into the heart and mind of God who does not think and reason as man does.  According to the reasoning of men, which astute shepherd would leave 99 sheep exposed to danger and go looking for one stupid, silly, sheep who did not have the good sense to stay with the shepherd and the rest of the flock?  What if the hillside is full of dangers and on returning in triumph with the lost one lying across his shoulders, he finds half his sheep attacked by wolves and the rest scattered - what then?  It would surely be a most foolish, stupid and sentimental shepherd that did that.

But the law of love and the reason, wisdom and ways of God are so far removed from the the coldhearted and cruel way men think.  God will not permit even one of His little ones to be lost but will ensure that all His sheep are safe, the 99 on the hillside and the sinful one who has strayed, all are precious in His sight.

Genesis 3:9-15, 20, Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12, Psalm 98:1-4, Luke 1:26-38

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Genesis 3:9-15, 20, Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12, Psalm 98:1-4, Luke 1:26-38

Genesis 3:9-15, 20

My Beloved, God is always in search of man.  Mindful of the divine destination God has for him with the Triune God in eternity, He would not permit the destruction of man even after the awful sin of disobedience which would cost us the inheritance God always intended man to have.

The Father so loved His poor, sinful creatures even when they betrayed His love, His anguish is almost palpable as He comes looking for Adam with whom He walked every evening in Paradise.  On that fateful day after he had sinned and God could not find him, He called, "Where are you?" and man betrayed his awareness of his sin by confessing to fear where once there was only love and filial obedience.  Man looked at himself and discovered to his shame that he was naked having lost the garb of his innocence. He had stripped himself of God's love and he found himself unable to come into the Presence of Love and God knew that His creatures had sinned against His love.  He said to Adam, "Who told You that you were naked?" and Adam glibly blamed God for the woman he had been given and whom he had praised as bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh just a short while before.  He said, "The woman whom You gave me bid me eat the fruit and I ate."  What a coward!  He would not stand by her like a man as her protector but threw the same woman he had earlier delighted in, under the bus.

Looking at the woman in sorrow God said to her, "What have you done?"  

But God our Father would untie the knot of our first parent's disobedience.  He would fashion a new Eve and the God of Love would draw all mankind once more to Himself through His Son the new Adam to whom she would give a Body to be slain, sacrificed and offered in expiation for our sins.


Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

My Beloved, here St. Paul speaks with clarity divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit as he reveals to us what God our Father has accomplished for us through His Beloved Son.  In Verses 3-6 we see that God has indeed made us His adopted children and heirs to the Kingdom through His generous love and will.  He has blessed and equipped us with every grace and blessing in the heavenly places so that we wait in joyful hope for the coming of His Son, our Messiah who will come again in glory to take us with Him to heaven and there to remain the God's glorious Presence eternally.

Psalm 98:1-4

My Beloved, we have every reason to rejoice, be glad, exult and sing joyful praises to our God.  You have redeemed us.  You have snatched us from the very jaws of death, You have sanctified us, You give us Your own Holy Spirit to help us.  Your Father as accepted us as His adopted children and co-heirs with You to the Kingdom through our baptism.  we have a glorious destiny with You.  Our Father spared no effort, even sending You into the world to lay down Your life to save us.  Thank You Abouna, thank You Beloved, thank You Holy Spirit.  Thank You Mama for Your 'fiat' that made it possible for God's plan to come into effect and made it possible for Him to save us. 

ALLELUIA!!!  HAPPY FEAST MAMA!!!

Luke 1:26-38

My Beloved, in the simplest most direct way we read in this passage how God pierced through the curtain of time and history and made manifest to a young girl through an angel what You desired of her.

Mary saw herself as no more than another young Jewish girl living her simple life under Roman occupation, going about the daily business of living, betrothed to a young man and making plans for the future as all young people do.  Yet, her heart belonged undividedly to God.  She longed ardently for the Messiah to come and save her people.  She prayed for His coming and believed He would come.  She bloomed unaware under the ever watchful, protective gaze of the Father.  She was His most fragrant and immaculate blossom adorned lavishly with every grace, blessing and virtue that the Holy Spirit delighted in showering on her.  She lived and walked each day unbeknownst to herself in the Light of Heaven.  She was God's secret garden which He embellished with love and grace making her the fairest and most beautiful of all His creation. .

When the Angel greeted her with the words, "Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you," he was only acknowledging what was true.

As this most wonderful, divine drama unfolded before her and she was told of her principle role in it, she whose whole life until this moment had always been a wholehearted 'yes' and 'amen' to God, said what she always said to him, " I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." In that instant Heaven came down to earth and nestled in the heart and womb of God's priceless, immaculate pearl, the Holy Spirit came upon His most chaste spouse and the power of the Most High God overshadowed her and You my Beloved Jesus, became a little Babe in that beautiful, secret Garden that God had prepared for You.