James 5:9-12, Psalm 103 :1-4, 8-9, 11-12, Mark 10:1-12

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

James 5:9-12, Psalm 103 :1-4, 8-9, 11-12, Mark 10:1-12

James 5:9-12

Beloved, it seems the older we get the crankier we get and we justify our lack of patience with all kinds of lame excuses.  The opposite ought to be true of us who call ourselves Christians.  As I live my life in total surrender to the Father's will knowing that You have total control over my life.  Help me to be serene always.  Pride constantly gets in the way Lord teach me humility and let my prayer always be, "Jesus meek and humble of heart make my heart like unto Thine."

Psalm 103 :1-4, 8-9, 11-12

I bless You, I adore You, I worship You for You are worthy of all my praise, love and worship.  You have looked upon this sinful creature, You have looked upon my nothingness and Your heart is moved to pity, mercy and compassion because I am helpless without You.

You heal my infirmities, You forgive my sins.  You quench my thirst and satisfy my hunger. I have turned away from You often, deliberately putting my own selfish will before Your divine will and plan for me but You have not rejected me in anger.  You have come looking for me and having found me, You ministered to me and remembered my sins no more.  Help me Lord to forgive myself as You have forgiven me.

Mark 10:1-12

Verse 2

My Beloved truth is hard to swallow especially when it reveals unpalatable truths about ourselves.  Our lives are a sham, we put up this beautiful facade of being Your followers and we make an outward show of piety.  Just like the Pharisee we stride right up the middle of the temple, stand before You and dare to boast about our miserable good works and religious observances. In truth we are are miserable sinners and You are not deceived.

The Father sent You to be our Savior and Redeemer.  He sent You to show us the way back to His house.  Unless we face the truth of how much we need You we cannot be saved.  

Save me my Beloved lest I perish in my sins. 

JAMES 3:13-18, PSALM 8-10, 15, MARK 9:14-29

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

JAMES 3:13-18, PSALM 8-10, 15, MARK 9:14-29

JAMES 3:13-18

My Beloved, help me to truly understand these verses and live my life accordingly.  If I believe that I am wise and learned then my life must reflect all that I believe to be right, true, good, noble and beautiful.  

Humility in all things is the hallmark of all who walk in Your ways.  

My thought must always be pure, free from malice, merciful and gentle.  I must be understanding and open to advice.  I must be compassionate and actively involved in doing good.  I am called to be impartial and a peace maker only then can I reap a harvest of virtue.

PSALM 8-10 & 15

My Beloved, Your law of love is life giving and perfect, Your world is wise and true and we can walk in to without fear.  If I live my life governed by Your will and commandments I am assured of joy and good judgement in all I do.

Scripture tell me that fear the Lord who is all good and all love is the beginning of wisdom.  I must be in awe of Him who is perfect in every way and who sustains all by His Word and His power.  Help me Lord!  Enlighten my mind and govern my thoughts and give me a right understanding according to Your Word.

MARK 9:14-29

My Beloved, I am ineffective as a disciple and Your follower the reason is clear - I am not praying enough.  If I am not in constant union with You, if I am not linked with You despite being occupied with the daily business of life then sin and selfishness become insurmountable barriers and I become powerless.  It is only when I am in You and with You even though I am weak, I am strong.

You want people to discover You individually, each must have a personal revelation.  This is possible only when like the father of the poor boy possessed by a demon, we too plead, :If You can do anything have pity and help me."  And You will unfailingly respond, "Why do you say 'if' just believe for anything is possible for those who believe."  My Beloved, I do believe but help the little, puny, flickering, faith with which I do.

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18, Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13, 1 Corinthians 3;16-23, Matthew 5:38-48

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18, Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13, 1 Corinthians 3;16-23, Matthew 5:38-48

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18

"Be holy for I, the Lord Your God am holy."  Holiness is not optional for those whom God has called from darkness into His own marvelous light.  We are called to live with each other in peace and not tolerate evil by being complacent about it.  We are called to love the sinner but rebuke the sin.  We are called to live in harmony and love because we are the people of God.

Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13

My Beloved, grant me a holy fear so I shall never offend You my God by my sins.  You have loved me with an unfailing love grant that I love You with all my heart and soul.

1 Corinthians 3;16-23

My Beloved, we are called to treat ourselves as well as each other with respect for God dwells in us and makes of us a living temple.  If I desecrate the temple of my body with sin or encourage another to do so, I will be held accountable.

Grant me the grace to recognize sin and not sugar coat it or deceive myself.  Sin is sin and I must carefully avoid it if I am to be pleasing to You.  Keep me humble and obedient.  Keep me close to You.  Watch over me Lord, guard me against my own weaknesses lest I fall.

Matthew 5:38-48

My Beloved, Verse 48 reminds me that I am called to be righteous and perfect like God whom I am privileged to call Father.  You have taught me how to love.  I am called to be unfailingly kind.  I am called to stop evil and violence in its tracks by kindness.  I am called to love all not selectively.  I must pray for all that God may bless everyone so we may live in peace with God and in harmony with each other.

Help me Lord when I am tempted to be rude and unkind.  Help me check myself and do violence to my will.  Help me to speak and act gently.  I cannot walk blamelessly without Your grace and help.

James 2:1-9, Psalm, 34:2-7, Mark 8:27-33

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

James 2:1-9, Psalm, 34:2-7, Mark 8:27-33

James 2:1-9

My Beloved, how often I am guilty of judging people based on appearances.  There is no justification for the way I sometimes react to people - they may have used a tone of voice that I found offensive and annoying which made my hackles rise.  Perhaps I recoiled from the smell or I was unkind and indifferent because of the person's appearance.  I am ashamed to admit that I have been guilty in many instances of behaving in a manner not pleasing to God.  I am guilty of being pleasing and helpful to those who have a great deal of what this world affirms as desirable and carry clout as opposed to those who don't.  

The Church is called to have a preferential love for the poor and I as a member of the church am called to do the same.  The Law of the Kingdom is one I must set before me always, "Love your neighbor as yourself." You have warned that I will be judged in the same measure as I judge other.  

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

Psalm, 34:2-7  

MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME

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.

http://bridegroomofmysoul.blogspot.com/2012/06/magnify-lord-with-me-psalm-34.html

Myra D’Souza / 27^th June 2012

Mark 8:27-33

My Beloved, today You ask me, "Who do You say that I am?"

James 1:19-27, Psalm 15:2-5, Mark 8:22-26

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

James 1:19-27, Psalm 15:2-5, Mark 8:22-26

James 1:19-27

My Beloved, verse 20 is a reminder that, "Human anger does not fulfill the justice of God." St. James also urges us in verse 19 to be quick to hear but slow to speak and slow to anger.  When we are upset it is so easy to say all the wrong things in the heat of the moment. This is when we sin.  

Often we tend to talk too much but do little.  It is in getting into the trenches and doing violence to our will that we will be able to overcome the desires of the will that are constantly at war with the will of God. 

Lord I know that through fasting, prayer and good works You will help me to gain mastery over my natural propensity towards laziness, self-will and self-indulgence. 

Psalm 15:2-5

 1 O Lord, who will dwell in your tent
and reside on your holy mount?
2 Those who walk blamelessly
and do what is right,
who speak truth from their heart
3 and control their words,
who do no harm to their neighbors
and cast no discredit on their companions,
4 who look down on evildoers
but highly esteem God’s servants;
who at all cost stand by a pledged word,

Help me Lord to put Your word into action.  Thank You!

Mark 8:22-26

Touch me my Beloved as You touched the blind man at Bethsaida and grant that I may see.

James 1:12-18, Psalm 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19, Mark 8:14-21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

James 1:12-18, Psalm 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19, Mark 8:14-21

James 1:12-18

My Beloved, temptation is our constant companion as St. James rightly says, "God tempts no one."  Each time we give into temptation we become weak and more easily prone to sin and before we know it we sink into the quagmire of iniquity.  Resisting temptation is often a struggle but if we do, God will provide the necessary grace to overcome it. If we do not make an effort to nip the temptation in the bud, we will find ourselves sliding into the willing arms of the enemy.  We cannot allow ourselves to be enticed by flirting with sin, if we do, we have no one to blame but ourselves when we fall, crash and burn.

Save me Lord from the honeyed traps of the world, the flesh and the devil I confess I cannot do it on my own.

Psalm 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19

My Lord, if I am sincere in my cry for help to resist evil You will rush to my aid and help me.

 

18 No sooner did I say, “My foot is slip­ping,” 

your kindness, O Lord, held me up.

19 The more worries and trouble assailed me, 

the more you consoled me.

Help me Lord!!!

 

Mark 8:14-21

"Do you still not understand?"

This is still Your lament today even among the faithful who fail to grasp the enormity of being a member of Your Body and the abundant graces available to us to help us live lives pleasing to You.

Forgive me Lord and help me to do better.

Thank You!

James 1:1-11, Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76, Mark 8:11-13

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

James 1:1-11, Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76, Mark 8:11-13

James 1:1-11

My Beloved, so often our reaction to trials is moaning, groaning and complaining, "Why me Lord?" Yet we know that if we are honest we will agree that it is precisely when we face difficulties with courage and purpose that we emerge the stronger and better for it.  Challenges met head on enable us to grow in confidence.  Our character shaped and formed by them, help us to become the person God desires us to be.

We are created for a purpose, we have an eternal destiny and all of life must help us to realize and work towards that goal which is ultimately to see God Face to Face. God gives generously all we need and more to be victorious.  Grace upon grace is poured upon us in the Sacraments and with the help of  the Holy Spirit who abides in us we can battle with the enemy and rout him.  Victory is ours already as we help one another striving together and encouraging each other on this journey through life to our eternal destiny.

Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.

My Beloved I remember many occasions in the past when I willfully chose to sin and do what I knew was displeasing in Your sight but sorrow brought me to my knees and wisdom came through a great outpouring of tears.  You were not afraid to lay me low in order to raise me up. Now I can say with the Psalmist, "It is good for me to have been afflicted, for I have deeply learned your statutes." 

Thank you for comforting me and offering me Your unfailing help.  Thank You for yoking Yourself to me through all the difficult circumstances in my life and helping me come through it all victorious through grace.

Mark 8:11-13

My Beloved, only the faithless ask for signs.  For those who know and love You no sign is necessary whereas no sign is spectacular enough for those who refuse to believe.  So often people flocked to You in order to see the extraordinary miracles You performed, perhaps the were even  the recipient of the healings but there not interested in conversion.  

The Signs we have today of Your Presence with us are the Sacraments and there are many who partake of them but are left unmoved and untouched despite the fact that we have the greatest sign of all that God truly dwells among His people more fully and tangibly than You did when You walked among men 2000 years ago.

God never forces Himself on anyone and if we reject Him then He will not stay but we must remember that He will always be found waiting for us in the Bark of St. Peter but we must be prepared to cross the Tiber in order to meet Him.

Sirach 15:15-20, Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, Matthew 5:17:37

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Sirach 15:15-20, Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, Matthew 5:17:37

Sirach 15:15-20

My Beloved, the meaning of these verses are clear, the choice to sin or not is my own.  I am free to decide if I will walk on the path that leads to life or death.  Even if I am coerced I still remain  free to take the narrow way of obedience, humility, submission, yielding to the true, good and beautiful by choosing to walk in the Light of the Word.

Everything that I need to know is revealed to me in the pages of Holy Scripture, Apostolic Tradition and the Teaching Authority of the Church.  If I yield to temptation it is because I want to.  God causes no man to sin but Your eyes are always on those who desire to belong to You, those who fear sin because it means separation from You.

Help me Lord God for I am a sinner and I am weak.  Grant me Your strength, let me walk with You and lean on You.  never may I be parted from You through grave sin.

1 Kings 11:4-13, Psalm 106:3-4, 35-37 & 40, Mark 7:24-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

1 Kings 11:4-13, Psalm 106:3-4, 35-37 & 40, Mark 7:24-30

1 Kings 11:4-13

My Beloved, how many of us like Solomon begin well but end up badly.  We stop walking in the way of wisdom, light and truth and take the easier path of foolishness and giddiness and drift further and further away from or eternal destiny.

We are made for You alone my God but we are tempted and give way to temptation yet You are faithful, merciful, tender, full of compassion.  Slow to anger and quick to forgive.  Thank You for Your prodigal love for Your people even though we sin over and over again.

Psalm 106:3-4, 35-37 & 40

My Beloved, we were created for God.  To those who obey Your just and righteous laws You look with kindness and bless mightily.  You are generous and give freely to those who walk in the light of Your love but to those who deliberately set their faces against You for short term gain, earthly riches, momentary pleasures and power, to those who indulge in sinful practices You set Your heart against them like flint.  To those who deliberately choose darkness over light You give them up to their own folly and destruction.

Mark 7:24-30

My Beloved, evil spares no one and so we must be givilant and on our guard always.  Our enemy prowls all over the world seeing the ruin of souls.

The Syro-Phoenician woman, a pagan, teaches us how to pray.  She knew that You could help her, she had heard of how You helped everyone in need and she was certain that You would not be deaf to the sound of her cry. Her little girl had an evil spirit and her mother was ready to brave difficulty for the sake of her child.  When she pleased with You to heal her daughter and You made it clear to her that You had only come for the people of Israel it did not deter her.  She did not pout and turn away in wounded pride, hurt, anger and dismay instead she stood her ground and claimed the crumbs that fell from the table of the children of God.

You not only granted her what she desired, but You applauded her faith and we we continue to speak of her to this day.  This pagan is held us to us as a model for intercessory prayer.  We do not give up at the first refusal but continue to ask with childlike trust and confidence knowing that God our Father will give every good and perfect gift to those who ask.

1 Kings 10:1-0, Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40, Mark 7:14-23

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

1 Kings 10:1-0, Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40, Mark 7:14-23

Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40

5 Commit your way to the Lord; put your trust in him and let him act.

My Beloved, I surrender my life to Your will.  I yield my whole being to You and put all my trust in You.  My ear is attuned to Your Voice.  I will listen to Your Word and with Your help my Beloved, act on it.  You have written Your law of love on my heart I shall not stumble or fall so long as I obey Your commands.

I am made righteous in You and You have saved me from the jaws of death and from the wiles of the enemy.  When I called You answered, in my distress I said, "Come Lord and save me!" You hastened to my side and lifted me and hid me under Your wings.  In You I have found refuge from the snares of the Enemy.

Thank You!

Mark 7:14-23

My Beloved, people pride themselves and set themselves up to be better than others on the basis of what they eat or do not eat.  Certain foods are considered unclean and wars are fought when it is perceived that these taboos are ignored.  Here You put the notion of being unclean to rest once and for all.  You spoke clearly of the things that can and do make us unclean.  Evil or good comes from within, from the fullness of a person's heart.

“What comes out of a person is what defiles, 21 for evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, 22 adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly. 23 All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean.”