Ecclesiastes 1:1; 2:221-23, Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17, Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11, Luke 12:13-21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are the poor in spirit 

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. - Mt 5:3

FEAST OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA

Ecclesiastes 1:1;2:221-23, Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17, 

Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11, Luke 12:13-21

Ecclesiastes 1:1; 2:221-23

My soul's beloved, today we are reminded that we are created for God and as St. Augustine said, our heart is restless unless it rests in You. So many of us spend all our lives here on earth worried, stressed, amassing, gaining, striving, hoarding and they have all kinds of diseases that is robbing them of health and peace of mind. You remind us to look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field who are cared for by our Father in heaven. 

Being stressed has now become a way of life and people spend their time and their resources on all kinds of medicines and therapy to rid themselves of the ills that result from their constant anxiety. Only one is necessary, You said to the rich man, "Go sell all you have, give it to the poor and you will have riches in heaven." The man could not do it. He needed the crutches of his wealth which provided a false sens of security because he lacked faith, hope, and love. Vanity of vanities all is vanity.

Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17

If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts. This is the responsorial psalm of the day. 

You call to us constantly. As long as we are alive we will hear You lovingly stooping down from Your throne inviting us into a deeper relationship with You,  the Father and the Holy Spirit. But our hearts are cold and hard. Our ears are deaf to the sound of Your voice. Our feet stray constantly in ways that You warn us will be our downfall and we pay no heed. We labor and toil for things that do not satisfy when all the while You invite us to come to Your banquet and feast on the finest wheat and the sweetest fine - to eat and drink at no cost. But we prefer to toil ceaselessly for the things of the world that will rust, decay, can be stolen, and have no value in the life to come.

Each new day is a new beginning and each day You invite us to come to You, be fed by You, be nourished and strengthened by the Food You provide - Your Body and Blood. This is Food that will give us eternal life. At every worthy reception of the Holy Eucharist we become slowly but sure like You. 

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!

Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11

My soul's beloved, St. Paul reminds us today that we were created for heaven this is why we ought to be occupied with things that are eternal and not of the things of the world. By virtue of Your Resurrection we now have a purpose and a hope that someday where You are we too will be and to strive with all the fervor of our soul to align our lives and our will to Yours.

Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

We have been created in order to know, love, and serve You and be happy with You in this life and to know perfect bliss with You eternally in the next. What a great hope of glory is ours because You have redeemed us. The Holy Spirit provides all the help we need to strive after holiness so we can receive the inheritance that You desire to share with us.

Luke 12:13-21

My soul's beloved, today You give us this warning and it would do well if we paid attention and listened,

“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

This constant striving, getting, and amassing of worldly possessions without any concern of the things of heaven, is what kills the soul and sucks out all the joy of life. Today, You speak words of wisdom and it would do us all well to listen for to each is granted a certain number of years at the end of which we will be called to render an account of the time given to us: Let us not hear these words

‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves
but are not rich in what matters to God.”

We were created by our Father for heaven - we had lost our inheritance, You restored it to us and You have made it possible for us to share in it with the daily help provided by Your Holy Spirit. Help us Lord not to lose it through our own folly. 

Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24, Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34, Matthew 14:1-12

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:10

Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24, Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34, Matthew 14:1-12

Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24

My soul's beloved, if there is one thing that is anathema to the world we live in it is to give sin its proper name. The world prefers to couch sin in words that appease our disordered desires giving them a legitimacy that is false. More often than not people whose conscience is ill formed accept these lies and live the lie and whether they are aware of it or not they are affected by it.

Jeremiah and many of the prophets of old were rejected, persecuted, hounded and often put to death because the kings and people of the day preferred to live in sin. The chosen people of God did not hesitate to kill You in the most atrocious, horrific, and barbaric way even though they knew You were innocent that is how much the hated You. It was a hate that was so fiendish and demonic in its intensity that they refused to listen to the few voices of reason that tried to stay their hand.

Jeremiah was saved for a while because the voice of the few managed to prevail over those who desired his life, “This man does not deserve death; it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.” 

Look upon this world and have mercy on us Lord. We have spilled Your Blood upon us and upon our earth O Lord and in the spilling we are redeemed. Look with pity upon us who are weak, selfish, and prone to sin because of the frailty of our flesh and help us for we have no one who can save us but You.

Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink!

may I be rescued from my foes,

and from the watery depths.

Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me,

nor the abyss swallow me up,

nor the pit close its mouth over me.

But I am afflicted and in pain;

let your saving help, O God, protect me.

I will praise the name of God in song,

and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.

“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;

you who seek God, may your hearts revive!

For the LORD hears the poor,

and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”

My soul's beloved, I make the cry and the prayer of the psalmist my own this day. Be merciful O Lord and lift me from the miry depths of sin, help me! Save me!

Matthew 14:1-12

My soul's beloved, once again we see in today's Scripture reading that  evil finds no rest unless is destroys the good. All that is good silently condemns the ways of the wicked.

John the baptist was unafraid to tell king Herod that he had sinned in taking his brother's wife and he was breaking the law of God in having her. Bother Herod and Herodias were furious that he dared to question them. Unlike John the who are in authority and power and who condone evil going so far as to legitimize it. Herod in drunken folly, entranced by Salome as she danced before his guests,  promised her all that she asked for, at her mother's instigation she asked for the head of John the Baptist.

Thus evil won the day but only momentarily.

We ought not to be disheartened - You have redeemed the world. You have purchased it at the cost of Your Life and Your Blood. You have triumphed and are victorious - like the weed and the wheat the good and the bad are permitted to grow side by side because God is a God of mercy and tender compassion. All are given an opportunity to choose You as their Savior and Redeemer. The Cross has won and we are saved.  

Jeremiah 26:1-9, Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14, John 11:19-27

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life. John 8-12

Jeremiah 26:1-9, Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14, John 11:19-27

Jeremiah 26:1-9

My soul's beloved, it has always been so, those of the world who prefer to wallow in self-indulgence and cater to their own personal and selfish desires, do not wish to hear the voice of truth or of reason. They are able to twist truth into what they would like to hear, they use words to muddy the waters of reason making whatever lie they wish to promote sound like good. It is couched in phrases that are misleading and more often than not the gullible are deceived.

Jeremiah like so may prophets in the Old Testament was hated because he was not afraid of confronting the people and stripping the veil of deceit behind which they sinned with impunity. The people of the Law, the priests, the Scribes and the Pharisees hated You because You showed them up to the people for what and who they were, whited sepulchers who washed the outside of the cup while the insides were filled with all kinds of iniquity.

We are no different today my Lord. Every sin, every depravity is said to be genetic making us believe we have no control over who we are or our sinful tendencies. The world buys into the lie because the world wants to believe the lies, this is why the agents of death desire to kill the Church and all who are on the side of Truth. They ridicule her, they mock her,  they deny her and her children their legitimate rights in order to get her on her knees and surrender the Truth. They can try and they will fail for we have Your assurance that You are with her always, till the end of time.  She is triumphant because You have won the victory and have triumphed.

Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14

My soul's beloved, how beautifully the psalmist sums up what Your faithful have to undergo in the world. It is exactly as You assured Your Apostles. All that the world did to the Master will also be visited on His followers. So let us not be afraid, let not be troubled and let us above all not think that we are undergoing anything that You did not first suffer - this undeniable truth will make us victorious in the face of defeat. We will count ourselves blessed if we are called to suffer for Your Name.

Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Those outnumber the hairs of my head
who hate me without cause.
Too many for my strength
are they who wrongfully are my enemies.
Must I restore what I did not steal?
Since for your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother’s sons,
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
But I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.

John 11:19-27

My soul's beloved, today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Martha. She and her sister Mary are perfect examples of the active and the contemplative. Both are necessary and we must seek the right balance between the two in order to be effective disciples. 

Both sisters were grieving the death of a beloved brother, Lazarus but when news came that You whom all three loved dearly had arrived Mary remained seated, confident and calm in her faith in You. Martha on the other hand got up and went to meet You. As always she spoke up, she voiced her thoughts, she prayed aloud and made her requests known to You. 

“Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
God will give you.”

You responded saying, 

“Your brother will rise.”

She continued to dialogue with You,

“I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.”

She thought she had the answer but You gently corrected her, 
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”

She believed and said, 
 “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.”

This is prayer - and this is how prayer is answered both in the way Martha prayed and in the way her sister Mary did, in silence and perfect confidence that God knows the desires of our heart and will in His great love hear and answer both the  pray that we cry out in our distress and when the heart is too heavy to speak. You my soul's beloved know all and answer.

Jeremiah 18:1-6, Psalm 146:1-6, Matthew 13:47-53

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Open our hearts O Lord to listen to the words of Your Son. -Acts 16:14b

Jeremiah 18:1-6, Psalm 146:1-6, Matthew 13:47-53

Jeremiah 18:1-6

My soul's beloved, You are the Potter, I am the clay. Make of me a little lamp and use me to shine Your Light in the world it does not matter how small the lamp or tiny the light just use me. 

Psalm 146:1-6

My soul's beloved, You are my help, You are my stronghold, my deliverer, my Lord and my God. May I praise you all the days of my life. May I recall to all how You have helped me, how You heard every cry, every prayer, every lament and had mercy and compassion. How You hasten always to help me, wipe away my tears and console me. Even though I am unworthy of Your love it does not stop You from loving me with a love that is beyond all comprehension for I do not deserve such love. I am exceedingly grateful that You do not look upon my transgressions, nor keep an account of my sins for Your mercy is great and when You forgive You do so completely and You forget my sins even though I find it hard to do so. Thank You my Lord and my God.

Matthew 13:47-53

My soul's beloved, today You remind us that as long as we have life we have hope. The Kingdom of Heaven is ours to receive and every opportunity is given to us to do good and to turn our back evil. To instruct the ignorant, to share the Good News of how marvelously God has dealt with us so others are encouraged and come to believe and believing they too shall live. My time is now. My hour is now - tomorrow is promised to no one. When the haul of fish is brought in grant that not only I am counted among the good fish that all those under the circle of  my influence may be good fish as well.

You came to show us that we do not turn our backs on the old - it is as important as the new. In the old, every Covenant that God made to His people is fulfilled in the New with Your coming into the world. Without You the whole Old Testament makes no sense but in the Light of Truth, in Your incarnation, Life, Passion, Death and glorious Resurrection and Ascension into heaven both the Old and the New pulsate with light, life and hope and our faith in You will be rewarded in eternal life with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom of Heaven

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21, Psalm 59:2-4, 10-11, Matthew 13:44-46

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I call you my friends, says the Lord,

for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me. John 15:15b

Jeremiah 15: 10, 16-21, Psalm 59:2-4, 10-11, 

Matthew 13:44-46

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21

My soul's beloved, the truly good are anathema to the world for they hold up a mirror to its lies and reflects the ugliness of the values it preaches. I calls truth a lie and lies the truth. It twists and deforms all that is pure, beautiful, and noble. It blurs the lines between reason, common sense and divine revelation against the gospel of pure vile that it crams down the throats of those willing to be duped and those who reject it. 

There are the remnant, the few, who distance themselves from the hideous culture of the day and they are persecuted, scorned, reviled, and mocked yet they stay faithful and true. Nothing disturbs their peace for they are rooted in You, they cleave to You and they receive life from You. 

You offer hope and consolation to the world if they turn away from their iniquities and repent. You are a God who heals, who loves, who forgives, who makes whole again. You promise deliverance, refuge, and protection to all who come to You and make their home in You. 

Psalm 59:2-4, 10-11

My soul's beloved, it is only when we recognize how truly helpless we are without You and turn to You for protection that we discover Your greatness and Your power over those who seek to destroy us. The world has become the dwelling of the devourer who seeks to destroy, ruin and kill all those who dare to stand up to it and reveal its lies, its corruption, and its evil that brings only death. The more the world seeks to remove You from the world the more they find how impossible it is and their rage grows even stronger and deadlier. They are doomed to fail for they wage war against God  who is always victorious, who has won the battle against evil and who has destroyed sin and put an end to death. Greater are You who are in us that he that is in the world. 

Matthew 13:44-46

My soul's beloved, nothing that we give up, not even our lives, in exchange for You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life can measure up to all that we receive. The world has nothing to offer that is lasting. No home, no treasure, no joy that the world can give can in any way compare to what You alone can offer - eternal life, an eternal home, eternal peace and joy in the company of God, the angels and the saints.

You are our Treasure, You are our Pearl of Great Price, You are Eternal Life and having found You we find  that the world is well lost and in losing the world we find perfect joy, perfect peace and perfect love.

2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Psalm 126:1-6, Matthew 20:20-28

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.  John 15:16

FEAST OF THE APOSTLE ST. JAMES

2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Psalm 126:1-6, 

Matthew 20:20-28

2 Corinthians 4:7-15

My soul's beloved, if the love of God did not create us, if we had never been born, if we had never existed then we would have no hope of perfect joy experienced in perfect and eternal union with You when this life as we know it ends and You come at the end of our earthly life to take us to Yourself. However, in this life, if we take our mission seriously, then we must be prepared for hardship, persecution, rejection, perhaps even death as was the fate of the Apostles. The degree to which we take our faith our faith seriously and live it in a world that prefers darkness, we will have to suffer, be ridiculed, and scorned.

The world cringes from calling Truth by its Name for it prefers darkness and lies - the world is a place where every twisted, self indulgent, sterile desire is touted as enlightened thought and if we are brave enough to stand up for the Truth we can expect to be cut down. This is why You said that the servant is not greater than the Master what You experienced at the hands of the world is our lot too so we ought not to be surprised. However, this is true, in the midst of sorrow we find joy, in the midst of rejection we find peace, in the face of death we find courage and strength for we have Your we know that the One who raise You will also raise us and give us a plae with You in Your Presence. You have won for us a place in the Kingdom. Grace in abundance is poured upon us and if we persevere in our witness to the end bringing more people to the knowledge of Truth then we will have a share in Your glory.     

Psalm 126:1-6

My soul's beloved, each of us are born to fulfill a mission that God has ordained for us to accomplish. Some of us are given a large field than others, talents in accordance with what we have been sent out to do are granted to us, some more than others so we are equipped. Neither the size of the field nor the number of talents determine our reward. You look for faithfulness, humility, obedience, and cheerfulness in laboring in the vineyard. We will bear fruit in accordance with our labor. We may have to sow in tears but You assure us that we will bring in the sheaves with laughter and songs of praise, thanksgiving and joy. 

Matthew 20:20-28

My soul's beloved, it is possible that just like the Apostles and their relatives we can miss the point completely. The mother of James and John like many well meaning parents can ask for things for their children that are unimportant in the grand scheme of things divine.  She wanted glory for her sons. She wanted them to be seated at Your right and Your left and wield power and authority that comes from a faulty vision of Your Kingdom.

You showed us that in order to rule we must serve. Our lives must be a reflection of Your Own - You came to lay down Your life for us. You came to pay the ransom that would set us free. We in turn are called to lay down our lives for each other in humble service. As Christians we are called to serve not to be served in imitation of You. 

Genesis 18:20-32, Psalms 138:1-3, 6-8, Colossians 2:12-14, Luke 11:1-13

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

You have received a Spirit of adoption,
through which we cry, “Abba, Father.” -Romans 8:15

Genesis 18:20-32, Psalms 138:1-3, 6-8, 

Colossians 2:12-14, Luke 11:1-13

Genesis 18:20-32

My soul's beloved, Abraham persistently begged God not to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if ten innocent people could be found. In this passage of the Gospel we are taught to be persistent in our prayers of intercession. We are called to have a heart of compassion and empathy. It is not Abraham who is merciful but God who is. He will not only withhold punishment until the guilty repent of their sins but He desires that all men be saved. God will certainly not destroy the innocent with the guilty. More often than not we want vengeance; we want God to swat the wicked like flies; but the Lord teaches us to pray the sinner and to desire that sinners be saved. 

Psalms 138:1-3, 6-8

My soul's beloved, every verse in today's psalm gives me hope. I do believe Lord help my unbelief. Each time I call on You for help You hasten to help me. Forgive me my Lord for my weak faith. I pray with all my heart for healing according to Your Word today. You will strengthen my faith as You give heed to my cry today and answer me. Whatever that answer may be my Lord grant me the grace to accept it for I know that all things work for the good of those who love You.

Colossians 2:12-14

My soul's beloved, today along with so many I am pleading with You to spare the life of one whom I love dearly and who is sick and dying. You remind me that death is not what what we ought to fear but what we should rightly fear is eternal death. But I am weak my soul's beloved. I desire with all my heart that You grant physical healing and restore to good health and length of days to one who is now  prostrate in bed. As You have healed so many I ask this day that once again You stretch out Your hands and heal and bless so that Your minister may rise from his bed and serve You with joy, gratitude and gladness of heart and that we may rejoice in Your goodness and praise You.

Luke 11:1-13


"And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

My soul's beloved, I take You at Your Word. I claim Your promises. You have taught me to call Your Father Abba. I turn my gaze to Him. I call Him by that familiar dad.

Abouna, our Father, 

I take Your Son, Jesus, at His Word and with perfect confidence in Your love I ask that You hear my prayer and grant my petition today. I make this prayer in the sweet Name of Jesus. Amen.

Jeremiah 7:1-11, Psalm 84:3-6, 8 & 11, Matthew 13:24-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you 
and is able to save your souls. James 1:21

Jeremiah 7:1-11, Psalm 84:3-6, 8 & 11, 

Matthew 13:24-30

Jeremiah 7:1-11

My soul's beloved, just as the church is a house of prayer so also is my soul the abode of the Holy Spirit and I dare not sin with impunity and take for granted God's willingness to forgive me. You have invited me to be holy and perfect and although I am aware that this is impossible without grace and help poured into my soul through the Sacraments, yet, I have to exercise my will. I must have discipline I cannot claim weakness as an excuse - it is possible to deny myself daily, pick up my cross and follow You if it were not You would not ask it of me.

Jesus, my soul's beloved, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Yours.

Psalm 84:3-6, 8 & 11

My soul's beloved, it is not always possible for us to make our way to a church but You have made our bodies Your dwelling place.We can come into Your Presence within us anytime and there we will find You our Lord and our God.

My soul's beloved, help me never to defile this temple with grave sin. Preserve my soul through the merits You have won for me on the Cross. Pity me Lord for You know how easily I fall I need You to hold me up. I need You to keep Your hand in mine constantly. I need to hear Your Voice whisper in my year, "This is the way, walk in it." Stay with me Lord every moment of every day so I may walk in the path of holiness, perfection and grace.

Matthew 13:24-30

My soul's beloved, in every one of us there is both good and evil this is why our whole life is a battle between the two. St. Paul understood this so well when he said that he longs to do good but does the evil he does not desire to do. But this does not mean that we throw up our hands in the air and admit to being incapable of choosing what is right. The Holy Spirit has been poured into our hearts precisely so we can draw on His strength and grace made readily available us to through prayer and the Sacraments. 

My whole life I will have both the good and the bad within me but with Your help I can overcome my evil tendencies and at the time of judgment, after my life has been spent You will be my Judge. Only You will know how well or how little I tried to allow the good seed to spring up and bear fruit for Your glory. Stay with me. I cannot do it on my own.

Song of Songs 3:1-4, Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9, John 20:1-2, 11-18

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Tell us, Mary, what did you see on the way?

I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.

Song of Songs 3:1-4, Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9, 

John 20:1-2, 11-18

Song of Songs 3:1-4

Seeking God & Finding Him 

I sought Him,

whom my heart has known,
In eternity,
Returning to the haunts where He,
And I met frequently,
Thirsting once again to see,
The One who set me free,
Who died upon the Cross so I,
Could live in liberty.

I found Him,
Whom my heart has known,
In eternity,
I walked on holy ground as I,
Ascended Calvary,
Nailed upon a rough hewn Cross,
For all the world to see,
I fixed my gaze upon my God
And He looked down at me.

http://bridegroomofmysoul.blogspot.com/2013/02/seeking-god-and-finding-him.html

Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9

O Lord You are my God,
It's You I long for.

O Lord You are my God,
You're all I need.

Fill me Lord I pray,
With Your sweet Presence.

Come fill my life anew,
With light and grace.

It's You alone who are,
My cup and portion.

You alone can slake
The thirst within.

Call and I will hasten,
To Your Presence

Imbued by Love,
At last eternally.

http://bridegroomofmysoul.blogspot.com/2013/07/god-alone-psalm-of-longing.html

John 20:1-2, 11-18

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?

Whom are you looking for?”

.... go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he told her.

My soul's beloved, today You and the angels tell me not to weep. You are God, You have risen from the dead and You are with me always. You desire that I share in Your life, enter into Your joy, and experience Your peace. You are Emmanuel closer to me that I am to myself. I hope in You, I trust in You, I adore You. I believe all that You have said my Lord and my God.

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-18, 12-13, Psalm 36:6-11, Matthew 13:10-17

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13, Psalm 36:6-11, 

Matthew 13:10-17

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13

---- My Own, you reject Me at your own peril. Today I remind you of your first fervor when you first recognized Me as the God who loved you with a love that is like no other  It was the love of a bride for her bridegroom I was your delight and you wanted nothing more than to please Me in all things. It was  I called you, who led you from sorrow, sin and darkness into joy, peace and rest but you now take My love for you for granted You look for satisfaction in the things that can lead you to exile. Listen to Me. Return to Me with all your heart and enjoy once again the fullness and perfection of My love. It is a love that never fails.

Psalm 36:6-11

My soul's beloved, draw me back to You my Lord. Forgive my foolishness forgive my sins pardon my offences, remove my guilt and bathe me in the ocean of your love. Turn your gaze of compassion on me and remember that You lay down Your life for me in order that I may be reconciled once again to You.

It is true that I am weak I am frail I fall and I close my ears to the gentle voice of wisdom . Do not permit me to sin help me I cannot help myself. Act on my behalf. I renounce my will and embrace Your will for my life. Draw me to yourself and permit me to be lost in You. I desire to please you alone in all things help my desire Lord .

Matthew 13:10-17

My soul's beloved, sin dulls my ability to hear the Voice of the Spirit. Sin separates me from You. The greater the distance that my sins create between You my Life and me. Do not permit me to grow away from You for if You do I shall die. I surrender my will to You this day simply because I cannot trust it do choose the right, the good, the true, the perfect, the beautiful. I know I ought but I choose to do otherwise. So I beg You this day my beloved to grant me this gift and this grace to permit Your Holy Spirit to take control of me completely and direct every impulse aligning my will to His. directing me from this moment and until the end of my days in the way that will bring me eternal life in Your Kingdom.

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10, Psalm 1-6, 15 & 17, Matthew 13:1-9

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10, Psalm 71: 1-6, 15 &17, Matthew 13:1-9

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10

My soul's beloved, the words spoken to Jeremiah are just as relevant to every baptized  into Your Body, every Christian. We each receive a mission, each of us is called by name God has a plan for our lives from the moment we were conceived in the womb. You know me intimately and You have given me the work of making You known and loved. It is a daily witness of Your influence on my life that is more powerful than anything I say. 

You assure me that You are with me and that I need never be afraid of people who may have the power to destroy my body and nothing else. You assure me of Your powerful protection. No harm can come to me because I belong to You.

Psalm 71:1-6, 15 & 17

My soul's beloved, You are my rock, my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. I cling to You for You are my support, my foundation and my strength. Deliver me Beloved from my weaknesses, my frailties, my readiness to give up after a halfhearted battle. Without You to help me, without the many graces You make available to me constantly I would not have one single good thought, I would not be able to perform one good action that was pleasing to You.

Continue to show me Your mercy. Continue to keep me rooted in You. Continue to allow Your strength to flow into me and Your Spirit to give me life only then will I be able to do what You ask and act as You will.

Matthew 13:1-9

The seed is the Word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to Him will live forever.

My soul's beloved, today we read how You went out and sat by the sea, large crowds gathered on the shore to hear You teach and preach. You got into a boat, sat down and everyone waited eagerly to hear You speak. The sea represents God's infinite love, mercy and compassion. The boat represents the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church You founded on Peter the Rock for it is he who is the foundation and You its cornerstone. All those who hear the Church hear You - they will not be be deceived for it is here alone where the fullness of Truth can be found.

It is up to each of us to ensure that Your Word falls on good soil in order that we can reap a harvest of good things that abound to eternal life.

Micah 6:1-4, 6-8, Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21 & 23, Matthew 12-38-42

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Micah 6:1-4, 6-8, Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21 & 23, Matthew 12-38-42

Micah 6:1-4, 6-8

My soul's beloved, even since we strayed and disobeyed You, God has come in search of us. Sin separated us and while You could have swept us away annihilating us completely having created us You pledged to save us. The Father did not count it too much to send You His only and First Born Son to pay the ransom to death in exchange for our miserable lives simply because He is love, He created us in love, saved us in love and cannot but be true to Himself. Love loves because it loves. So even though we continue to sin, continue to reject the God of Love, continue to choose self-indulgence over self-discipline, continue to choose our own will above Yours You are faithful and unwavering in Your love.

You have revealed to us what God desires - to choose right over wrong, to choose love of God above and before all, to choose to love each other as You love us, and to walk before You every moment of every day in humility of heart. We live and we have an eternal destiny only because God wills it.

Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21 & 23

My soul's beloved, all sins have been atoned for by the one, holy, perfect, and most pleasing Sacrifice made for all humans on the Cross on Calvary. This holy and living Sacrifice in which You emptied Yourself and identified with our humanity so completely taking upon Yourself every sin ever committed and experiencing the horror of being totally cut off from Your Father and thus gaining for us a way back to Him is offered to the Father from the rising of the sun to its setting in every part of the world. It is the only means by which we are saved. The Holy Eucharist is the pledge of God covenantal love for us whereby we are united to God in the same union in which the Triune God is united. We are one - truly one, enjoying for a moment in time that which we will enjoy in perfect joy for all eternity.

Matthew 12-38-42

My soul's beloved, the greatest sign of God's love has already been given to us. The Living God lay down His life that we may not perish but be redeemed by His Blood. Thank You for becoming the Lamb with stain or blemish, the only Sacrifice acceptable for the Father for the atonement of the sins of us all. We need no other sign of God's immeasurable, unfathomable, infinite love for us than the Sign of the Cross.

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, Psalm 85:2-8, Matthew 12:46-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him. John 14:23

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, Psalm 85:2-8, Matthew 12:46-15

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

My soul's beloved, You are a God of mercy and compassion Your anger lasts but for a moment Your love is everlasting. Just as God chose a people for Himself in the Old Testament, You have inherited people of every nation, tribe, language, and race. You have set us apart and through Your Spirit You are constantly at work in us. You have taken upon Yourself our guilt and in You we receive pardon for our sins.  You have claimed us from the jaws of death and of hell by laying down of Your life for us  paying the ultimate price for there was no other way by which we could be saved.

As the saving Victim You have cast our sins in the ocean of God's mercy and You have revealed that God is always faithful even when we reject Him. Thank You my Lord and my God for being my glorious inheritance.

Psalm 85:2-8

My soul's beloved, every promise that God ever made has been fulfilled in the Covenant of Love He made beginning with the promise to Abraham. Every time we turned away from Him and rejected Him He wooed us back. He withheld His righteous anger and showed mercy and compassion for He knows e are weak. In order to ensure that we could still inherit the Kingdom we had lost He willed that You become the perfect Sacrifice that would take upon Yourself once and for all the sins of all mankind and pay the price of sin which is death. In dying our death we were able to receive Your Life. You have set us free and You have restored what was lost. In You we are once again the children of God and co-heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 12:46-15

My soul's beloved, thank You for Your assurance that anyone who does the will of Your Father is Your mother, brother and sister.  Perfect joy is to align our will to that of God there is nothing that can give us greater satisfaction than doing all things in accordance with His will and accepting all things as coming to us from the hand of a loving Father. Nothing will disturb us, nothing will shake us if we discern God's will in all things and obey promptly and cheerfully.
 

Thank You Mama Mary for  always saying yes to the will of God - there is no more perfect mother than you who are the Mother of God.

Genesis 18:1-10a, Psalm 15:2-5, Colossians 1:24-28, Luke 10:38-42

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Genesis 18:1-10a, Psalm 15:2-5,  Colossians 1:24-28, Luke 10:38-42

Genesis 18:1-10a

My soul's beloved, You come to  me every time I participate in the Holy Eucharist; I invite You my Triune God just as Abraham did to come to me and make your home in me. I offer You all that I have to give, You accept my invitation and in exchange for the poor gift of myself You give me all of Yourself as food for my soul and on leaving You grant me immeasurable graces and blessings.

Psalm 15:2-5

My soul's beloved, You assure us today that if we show justice and mercy we will live in Your Presence.  Today You invite us to treat one another as we would like to be treated ourselves.  Not to slander, to live by the truth that You have revealed, not to harm anyone, to live in peace with my neighbor, not to lend with interest. If I do these things You promise me peace and that nothing will rob me it for it is Your gift to me.

Colossians 1:24-28

My soul's beloved, what St. Paul is saying is that through our sufferings we can identify just as You did when You took upon Yourself the sin and suffering of the world. Because we live in a fallen world, although redeemed by You, there is still terrible suffering and injustice meted out against the weak, the powerless and the marginalized. There are grave illnesses of mind, body and spirit that ails so many and unless we accept whatever suffering comes our way in a spirit of solidarity with our brothers and sisters we cannot be part of Your Body, the Church. 

Suffering has a mysterious element to it, if accepted in the right spirit it can help us become more like You. It gives us a deeper appreciation of what You accomplished for us through Your incarnation, Your life, Your suffering and Your death culminating in Your glorious resurrection. It is because You identified so fully with us that we can share in Your life. Keep us faithful to the mission given to us at our baptism to make You known and loved.


 Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and bring a harvest through perseverance. Luke 9:15

Luke 10:38-42

My soul's beloved, through the course of our life we will read this passage in the Gospel often, we will hear it being read during our Liturgies, we will hear some inspired homilies on it and we ourselves will receive inspiration from it. This narration of Your visit to home of Your good friends Lazarus and his sister Martha and Mary show us a different side of You. It reveals to us the importance of having friends we can count on, whom we love, with whom we gladly share what we have as we offer them our hospitality. Their company brings us joy and we are pleased to be in their presence.

There is more than one way to welcome a friend who is not only important but one whom we care about greatly. We want to offer the best we have. We can react either by making the guest comfortable and then leaving him or her alone while we busy ourselves putting together an excellent meal or we can decide that it is better to be present to our friend by sitting with him, talking to him, and above all by listening to what he or she has to say. This is more intimate, this is more satisfying - long after the guest has gone the memories of the time we shared will remain.

We have to have find that perfect blend of Martha and Mary in our life in order to experience its fullness. There has to be time for work but there also must be time for quiet, for time alone with God, for reflection on His Word, His creation, in speaking to Him and listening to Him speak to us. May the Lord never have to rebuke us as He did ever to gently when He said, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” May we never forget that setting aside time each day to just be with You the better part and if we are faithful to our quiet time with You it will surely be the better part of the whole day.

Micah 2:1-5, Psalm 10:1-4, 7-8, 14, Matthew 12:14-21

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Micah 2:1-5, Psalm  10:1-4, 7-8, 14, Matthew 12:14-21

Micah 2:1-5

My soul's beloved, sometimes it is possible to get discouraged when we see how people with power and position systematically rob others of their rights and of what is legally theirs. You encourage us this day by Your promise that those who plot evil and carry it out will not prosper for long. God is aware of every injustice done against His poor and He will ensure that they will be repaid. No plans against the Lord's anointed will succeed for You do battle for those whom You have claimed for yourself for You have said, "The mountains may depart and the hills be moved, but never will my love depart from you nor my covenant of peace be removed, my whose compassion is for you."  Thank You.

Psalm  10:1-4, 7-8, 14

My soul's beloved, although wicked men and women sin with impunity believing hat God does not see all that they do and how they crush the poor under their heel robbing them of their dignity yet we do not that the eye of the Lord is on His poor. He delivers justice in His time. He gives all even the wicked time to repent. However, justice will be meted out to all. You will not forget those who have place all their faith, hope and trust on You.   Your eye is constantly upon those who belong to You and whom You have claimed as Your own.

Matthew 12:14-21

My soul's beloved, today we read that when the Pharisees were plotting against You to take Your life You were prudent and You stayed away from them. People continued to follow You and You continued to do the will of the Father by making His Kingdom known. We too are called to exercise wisdom and common sense. Persecution and rejection because we are Your followers is no excuse not to continue the mission given to us. We must take suitable precautions but continue to make You known and loved just as the apostles and disciples did. They fled from their enemies and carried their faith with them, making You known and loved wherever they went. You our God are awesome. Thank You for Your gentleness in ministering to me in my frailty and in my weaknesses. Thank You for not rejecting me but for seeking me and loving me and keeping me safe in Your fold.

Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom I delight;
I shall place my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not contend or cry out,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.