Isaiah 7:1-9, Psalm 48:2-8, Matthew 11:20-24

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Isaiah 7:1-9, Psalm 48:2-8, Matthew 11:20-24

Isaiah 7:1-9

Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear;
let not your courage fail.

Unless your faith is firm
you shall not be firm!

My soul's beloved, despite the strength of the armies that threatened king Ahaz causing "the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled, as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind." You sent your prophet to calm their fears and to put their faith in You who would do battle on their behalf and vanquish their enemies. Scripture constantly reminds us to have faith and You have assured us that if we had faith as small as a mustard seed we could move mountains. Only if we know You my soul's beloved can we be unmoved by whatever threatens us. Perfect faith in You moves the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our favor. Nothing will shake the person of faith who has put all their trust in You. Lord, I believe. Increase my faith.

Psalm 48:2-8
 
"God upholds his city forever." How reassuring these words are my soul's beloved. The people God has chosen for His own and in whom You abide in the fullness of the Holy Spirit must be a people of joyful praise in all circumstances. You dwell among us, You make Your home in us, in You we live and move and have our being and no hand raised against us will succeed for You, our God are with us - Emmanuel. Mount Zion is the place where all people from every nation will come to worship You in spirit and in truth. It is here in the Church that You founded with Peter as the Rock and You as its Cornerstone that all nations will come to fall before You and worship and praise You and offer to the Father the most pleasing Sacrifice of all - the Sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise - a memorial of the the saving work of redemption of the Son of God who through the laying down of His precious life gave life to those who were once dead but are now alive in the new life that You have won for us on the Cross.  You have routed the Enemy and saved us.

Matthew 11:20-24

My  soul's beloved, we hear the anguish of Your cry as You denounce the people whose hearts are hardened against You despite the great signs and wonders You accomplished in their midst. The same cry of anguish is heard to this day for despite all we know of Your saving work of redemption that bridged the chasm that sin had caused people still turn their backs on You. Like the prodigal son in the parable they prefer to wallow in the pig sty and look for scraps to eat from the food given to swine rather than return to the Father's house where there is a place at His table for all. However, we are called to wear the wedding garment of baptism, to be washed in the blood and water that flowed freely from Your side and to eat of Your Flesh and drink of Your Blood in order to receive everlasting life.

You have revealed to us all the secrets of the Kingdom of God, holding nothing back, You poured Yourself out for us as a libation before the Father and yet we are hard of heart and are indifferent to Your love. You ask us this day having heard Your Voice not to harden our hearts for if we continue to walk away from You then we will face a more terrible judgment than that of Sodom.

Grant us the grace to heed Your warning and to repent of our sins and come back home to You.