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.