DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62, Psalm 23:1-6, John 8:12-20
Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62
My Beloved, from this beautiful story of Susanna we know that God will always come to the rescue of the innocent, those who place all their trust in Him and refuse to compromise no matter what the consequences will be even death. If we do not live with the confidence that comes from knowing that we are God’s children then we will be tossed about by every anxiety and will not have a moment’s peace. The evil judges used their position to take advantage of the weak who look to them for justice and they got away with their evil deeds because those whom they harassed felt trapped and helpless.
The people believed the accusations hurled against Susanna by the Judges without any investigation or proof and were prepared to put Susanna to death on their false testimony because of their status as elders, old men whom they believed were guided by truth. How many innocent people have lost their reputation, their possessions and even their lives by those with power, status and position in the world. You identify completely with them for You too my Beloved were falsely accused, tried by a kangaroo court and sentenced to the most terrifying death by Crucifixion which was so gruesome that such a death was reserved for the most hardened criminals. There was no Daniel to speak on Your behalf. Your closest friends and companions ran away at the first scent of danger. The most favored denied You not once but three times and the other who broke bread with You, ate with You, journeyed with You for three years, betrayed You for 30 pieces of silver, the price for a slave, blood money which in the end he had no desire for when he realized the crime he had committed in betraying innocent blood.
It is never too late to repent. If nothing else this was one lesson that Judas could have taken away from all that You taught, preached and did – God’s mercy is always greater than our most hideous sins. Susanna was saved from the clutches of evil because she trusted in God even when it seemed hopeless. From this beautiful story we learn that God is always faithful and evil does not have the last word. We learn that no harm can come to us unless God permits it in order to bring about a greater good. That truth always prevails and God always hears the cry of the innocent and righteous. We have no reason to fear for perfect love knows no fear.
Psalm 23:1-6
This Psalm sums up beautifully the life of the sheep with the Good Shepherd. You, my Beloved are my Shepherd I want for nothing for You satisfy every need, every hunger, every thirst, every longing of my parched and famished soul. Thank You.
John 8:12-20
My Beloved if we take You at Your Word and listen to You as the Father asks and as the psalmist testifies we will walk in the Light of Truth and Life and the darkness will never overcome nor overpower us. Not once but several times in this passage the words, ‘I am.’ remind us in no uncertain terms of who You are. You are the Great I AM, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. First, last and forever. You are and always will be. The world will come to an end. Life as we know it on earth will come to an end but those who walk in the Light that shines forth from You will live forever.
We tend to think that if we lived during the years when You walked the earth we would not have acted like the Pharisees, the temple authorities, the Scribes and all those who felt threatened by You and Your revelation of God and Your relationship with Him. But we betray You all the time in little ways by our disobedience, by deliberately closing our ears to the sound of Your Voice, by refusing to see You in those around us who cry out to us to look at them with the same love, mercy and tender compassion that You show us.
In knowing You my Lord, we get to know Your Father and Your Holy Spirit for You are One God, born of the Father before time began, You are God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God. Begotten not made consubstanial with the Father in whom all things are made. He sent You from heaven for me. To save me. To give me a future and a hope. To give me eternity with You in the Kingdom that You came to establish on earth. Thank You Lord.
Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62, Psalm 23:1-6, John 8:12-20
Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62
My Beloved, from this beautiful story of Susanna we know that God will always come to the rescue of the innocent, those who place all their trust in Him and refuse to compromise no matter what the consequences will be even death. If we do not live with the confidence that comes from knowing that we are God’s children then we will be tossed about by every anxiety and will not have a moment’s peace. The evil judges used their position to take advantage of the weak who look to them for justice and they got away with their evil deeds because those whom they harassed felt trapped and helpless.
The people believed the accusations hurled against Susanna by the Judges without any investigation or proof and were prepared to put Susanna to death on their false testimony because of their status as elders, old men whom they believed were guided by truth. How many innocent people have lost their reputation, their possessions and even their lives by those with power, status and position in the world. You identify completely with them for You too my Beloved were falsely accused, tried by a kangaroo court and sentenced to the most terrifying death by Crucifixion which was so gruesome that such a death was reserved for the most hardened criminals. There was no Daniel to speak on Your behalf. Your closest friends and companions ran away at the first scent of danger. The most favored denied You not once but three times and the other who broke bread with You, ate with You, journeyed with You for three years, betrayed You for 30 pieces of silver, the price for a slave, blood money which in the end he had no desire for when he realized the crime he had committed in betraying innocent blood.
It is never too late to repent. If nothing else this was one lesson that Judas could have taken away from all that You taught, preached and did – God’s mercy is always greater than our most hideous sins. Susanna was saved from the clutches of evil because she trusted in God even when it seemed hopeless. From this beautiful story we learn that God is always faithful and evil does not have the last word. We learn that no harm can come to us unless God permits it in order to bring about a greater good. That truth always prevails and God always hears the cry of the innocent and righteous. We have no reason to fear for perfect love knows no fear.
Psalm 23:1-6
This Psalm sums up beautifully the life of the sheep with the Good Shepherd. You, my Beloved are my Shepherd I want for nothing for You satisfy every need, every hunger, every thirst, every longing of my parched and famished soul. Thank You.
John 8:12-20
My Beloved if we take You at Your Word and listen to You as the Father asks and as the psalmist testifies we will walk in the Light of Truth and Life and the darkness will never overcome nor overpower us. Not once but several times in this passage the words, ‘I am.’ remind us in no uncertain terms of who You are. You are the Great I AM, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. First, last and forever. You are and always will be. The world will come to an end. Life as we know it on earth will come to an end but those who walk in the Light that shines forth from You will live forever.
We tend to think that if we lived during the years when You walked the earth we would not have acted like the Pharisees, the temple authorities, the Scribes and all those who felt threatened by You and Your revelation of God and Your relationship with Him. But we betray You all the time in little ways by our disobedience, by deliberately closing our ears to the sound of Your Voice, by refusing to see You in those around us who cry out to us to look at them with the same love, mercy and tender compassion that You show us.
In knowing You my Lord, we get to know Your Father and Your Holy Spirit for You are One God, born of the Father before time began, You are God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God. Begotten not made consubstanial with the Father in whom all things are made. He sent You from heaven for me. To save me. To give me a future and a hope. To give me eternity with You in the Kingdom that You came to establish on earth. Thank You Lord.
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