Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9, Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, Matthew 10:7-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9, Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, Matthew 10:7-15

Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9

My soul's beloved, how tenderly God speaks of His wayward children who disobey Him and choose the paths that lead to destruction rather than those which give life. God cares for us not because he is under any obligation to love us but because He chooses to love us despite our wickedness, and the gravity of our transgressions against Him. Having created us He  loves us as a Father and a Mother. Mindful of our weaknesses, our inability to do any good thing on our own, He does it all for us making available to us a Savior who will redeem us at the cost of His own life, and giving us His own Holy Spirit to help us overcome our weaknesses and to walk in the light of wisdom and choose the path of truth. Thank You Abba for not consuming and destroying us in righteous anger but in pity, mercy, tender compassion and love, helping us through life giving Sacraments. Thank You for the Blood and Water that flowed from Your side and washes us clean, slakes our thirst and purifies us. Thank You for Your Flesh that strengthens and unites us giving us a taste of eternity while we are still pilgrims on earth.

Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16

My soul's beloved, today's responsorial psalm says, "Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved." Thank You for Your Face that is ever before us each time we come before You in the tabernacle in our adoration chapels. Thank You for permitting us to see see more than Your Face in Holy Communion where upon receive You we become one flesh.  My Lord and my God You know how weak I am. How my sinful, fallen nature will choose the path that is easy and broad rather than the path that is narrow and leads to live. Thank You for being my good Shepherd and and for speaking to me, leading and guiding me. Thank You for stooping over me unfailingly and watching over me keeping me safe from the snares set for me by the enemy. Grant me the grace to seek Your Face always, to desire You above all else and to desire nothing more than to joyfully seek Your will in all things and do it.

Matthew 10:7-15

My soul's beloved, You gave Your Apostles a clear mandate to go out into the world and to spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God. You asked them to depend on You for everything and not to carry anything with them that would hinder them or slow them down. They are to have a clear vision of what they are called to do and how they are to minister to all those they encounter. Teaching, healing, driving out evil,  dependent totally on the Holy Spirit to help them all that You did when You were with them and assuring them that they would do even greater things through the power of Your Holy Spirit. 

You have spoken to us as well and have instructed us how to treat Your anointed ministers bishops and priests. They labor in Your vineyard and are deserve to be received with respect. We are to provide them with what they need according to our means so they need worry about nothing but the work entrusted to them. If we do we are assuring of Your peace - the peace that passes all understanding. If we fail to love our priests and help and support them not only materially but by our affection and our prayers God assures us that He will judge us as severely as He dealt with Sodom and Gomorrah. 

Grant us the grace to love our priests, respect them and support them not out of fear but out of love and gratitude for all they do for us and most especially for ministering to us through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist.