Nahum 2:1 & 3, 3:1-3, 6-7, Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39 & 41, Matthew 16:24-28

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Nahum 2:1 & 3, 3:1-3, 6-7, Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39 & 41, Matthew 16:24-28

Nahum 2:1 & 3, 3:1-3, 6-7

My Beloved,You will hear the cries of the poor and You will restore their dignity.  You will take away the boot of the oppressor that has long ground them into the dust and You will be their Avenger.  You will see that justice is done and all they they have lost You will return seven fold. Whereas those who stood by in silence doing nothing because they were too busy at the flesh pots will receive a punishment such that never has been meted out before.  When that day of wrath arrives it will be too late as it will take them by surprise for they did not heed any of the warning signs You sent.

Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39 & 41

Wow! Beloved, no one can put it as well as You have in the verses below of today's Scripture reading.  All I have said above You repeat in these verses but You do it with such great clarity.  Let us be warned - You will not stand by silent too much longer while Your little ones suffer.

35 Vengeance and recompense is mine.

Their feet will slip in due time,

their day of calamity is at hand,

and swiftly their doom will come.

36 The Lord will give justice to his peo­ple

and have mercy on his servants,

when he sees their strength failing

and both slave and free disappearing.

39 Learn this now – that I alone am He; there is no god besides me.

It is I who give both death and life;

it is I who wound and heal as well

and out of my hand no one can deliver.

41 when I sharpen my glittering sword and my hand takes hold of judgment,

I will deal out vengeance upon my foes

and retribution upon those who hate me.

Matthew 16:24-28

My Beloved, here are words of advise, warning and instruction for any one who desires to be Your disciple.   You let us know upfront that it is no easy road that leads to life.  A true disciple is an icon of the Master.  You carried the Cross bearing the weight of the sins of the world - we are called to do the same.  We have to pick our cross every day, live a life of self sacrifice and denial of the things that lead to death and follow You wherever You lead trusting You implicitly.

A life with You my Beloved is a life of paradox, all conventional and worldly wisdom is turned on its head .  Those who want to save their life must lose  it, in loss is gain, in giving we receive, in lying down we are raised up, in losing the world we win the Kingdom.

We can spend every waking moment looking after our body ensuring it stays young, strong and healthy but when death comes there is nothing we can do to halt its progress.  Besides my Beloved, when You come again in glory as the Son of Man robed in the might, power, and glory of the Father along with the angels, each of us will receive what we deserve.  Any good done to help those less fortunate will not be forgotten and a special reward is reserved for those who give a cup of cold water to anyone who belongs to You.

Let this serve as a reminder to us today as so many who bear Your Name are be purposefully and deliberately obliterated from their home and their countries while the rest of the world goes about doing business as usual oblivious to the cries of their sisters and brothers.