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.