1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Psalm 33:12-15, 202-21, Luke 4:38-44

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor

and to proclaim liberty to captives. Lk:4:18

1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Psalm 33:12-15, 202-21, Luke 4:38-44 

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

My soul's beloved, it is good to be reminded that as long as there is rivalry and discord between the children of the Kingdom we are still living in the flesh and have not matured in spiritual life. We are still learning, groping and finding our way like children. It is time we set aside our childish way of thinking for you have called us to work at co-workers in Your vineyard. The field are those among whom we work to draw from them the riches of the faith that we helped to plant and water - that is all we do. It is You who cause them grow and to be fruitful.  We are the laborers, You are the Owner, and the field is spread out before us in every direction. Instead of bickering among ourselves like children, grant us the grace to go out and do the work that You have assigned to us joyfully, generously, obediently, promptly, and willingly. Each doing the work that You have called us to do and together let us enjoy and rejoice in what we have helped plant, water, and nurture as the field produces fruit in abundance.

Psalm 33:12-15, 202-21

My soul's beloved, there was a time when nations belonged to You and were proud of their identity. Foolishly, they now refuse to acknowledge their inheritance, they prefer to be identified with the world and with the prevalent culture of the day. These nations have at some moment in their history dedicated themselves and their country to You and You looked down on them and blessed them. You who know all and see all, You who are enthroned in the highest heavens know us for You fashioned us. You knit us together in our mother's womb and no one knows us better than You know us for Your created us and You watch over and see all our works. Call these nations back to Your Sacred Heart. Let them hear Your Voice inviting them to return. Let them know again that there is no satisfaction apart from You and without You we may as well be dead. Hear the prayers of those who call on You to restore Your heritage.

  

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.

Luke 4:38-44 

My soul's beloved, when You enter into our hearts which is Your home, we invite You to heal all that ails us as You healed Peter's mother-in-law of the severe fever that laid her low and kept her in her bed and like her we will be healed and will be able to serve You once more. 

You were attentive to the needs of those around You. We are hardened and every tragedy that lights up our t.v screens in our homes leaves us more deadened to the pain and sorrow that is sown every day all over the world. You reached out to all and You touched them and permitted them to touch You and all were healed. We prefer to erect walls and create boundaries beyond which people may not cross. We are too afraid of getting involved of getting down on our knees in the mud and getting dirty with the grime of the poor, the forgotten, the marginalized. We close our eyes, shudder delicately, make a few sounds of feigned pity, and like the Pharisee and the Levi we cross over to the other side of the road leaving the poor man bleeding by the wayside.

The devil knows exactly who You are but those who work alongside him pretend You do not exist. St Luke tells us,

  

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases
brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.

After a long and tiring day one would have thought that you deserved a well earned rest but instead, exhausted as You were physically and as spiritually drained You knew the importance of prayer of coming in close union with Your Father and renewed and strengthened in His love to go out once again and continue Your work of healing, preaching, teaching and ministering to those whom the world cast aside. Let us take our cue from You and learn from You and have that same zeal to proclaim the Kingdom in season and out of season.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

1 Corinthians 2:10b-16, Psalm 145:10-14, Luke 4:31-37

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people. Luke 7:16

1 Corinthians 2:10b-16, Psalm 145:10-14, Luke 4:31-37


1 Corinthians 2:10b-16

My soul's beloved, we are reminded today that God does not scatter pearls among swine and so divine wisdom is granted only to those are attuned to Your Spirit. To the unspiritual mind the gifts of the Spirit of God are considered folly and they are unable to understand Your thoughts, or Your ways. But to those whom You call friends, You give the power to be called children of God for they know You the One whom He sent.

Psalm 145:10-14

My soul's beloved, Your Kingdom is everlasting as is Your dominion and Your rule for it pleases the Father to  give You authority and power over all. You in turn are faithful and kind, You do not put out the flickering wick or crush the bruised reed. You are loving kindness to all especially the weak, the sinner, the outcast, the forgotten. You came to seek those whom the world has pushed to the outside making them invisible. But You stoop lovingly over all and in the end You will raise them up and seat them in places of honor at the banquet feast.

Luke 4:31-37

My soul's beloved, You are the Eternal Word of God all that is was created at the utterance of the Word made Flesh who dwelt among us and gave us the power to become children of God. It is You Word that upholds and sustains all things. It is Your Word that has authority, and power and all that You desire to be carried out is accomplished at Your command. Demons tremble before You for You possess the power to destroy them. No evil can flourish in Your Presence and this is why we must always remain on guard that we do not permit ourselves to be robbed of what is granted to us freely in love. Our eternal destiny with You.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Psalm 119:97-102, Mark 6:17-29

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


MEMORIAL OF THE PASSION OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Mt. 5:10


1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Psalm 119:97-102, Mark 6:17-29


1 Corinthians 2:1-5

My soul's beloved, we often make the mistake that we need to be great orators, or have the gift of preaching, or be able to have a big vocabulary, and not be shy and nervous when it comes to being effective evangelists.  But St. Paul who is considered the greatest preacher after You and the worlds best missionary, tells us plainly that this is not true,  All we need is a passionate love for You and a passion to share our story of how You met us just where we were, and as we were, revealed Yourself to us and loved us. Yet this seems like a difficult and daunting task. We overthink everything instead of just speaking from the heart. To evangelize is nothing more complicated than speaking of how You touched my life - all I need to do is tell it as I have experienced it and of how  the encounter with You transformed my life. It is a journey. The way gets rough and difficult, I may get lost because I can be stupid, selfish, weak, frail, but You never give up on me. You come in search of me, seek me, find me, convict me and above all love me through it all and You will until the end. This is my story all I need to do is tell it just as St. Paul did. Once he encountered You he could not stop talking about it and about the radical effect it had on his life and how everything was well lost as long as he had You. He was set on fire with divine love and could not rest until he traveled wherever the Spirit led to proclaim this Good News of God who so loved the world that He sent His only Son that we may not perish but have eternal life.


Psalm 119:97-102

 My soul's beloved, along with the psalmist I too want to sing the praise of Your law of love for God and for neighbor. To love God is to love wisdom, honor, truth, and virtue. To meditate on Love is to meditate on God. There is no greater or higher law than the Law of Love embodied in You. When we walk in the light of Truth we are invincible, we can conquer and rout the enemy who roars in the world seeking to devour, pillage, steal and murder. To contemplate Your goodness, to be immersed in Your Truth is to have wisdom greater than world's worldly wise. To love Truth and to obey it keeps our feet from the path that leads to destruction and decay. Grant me this grace today my Lord to hold fast to Your Word, to cling to the Truth - do not let my hand slip lest I fall and be lost forever.



Mark 6:17-29



 My soul's beloved, Herodias, represents all the lawless in the world who do not wish to be told that they cannot have what they lust for. To impose self denial and self restraint is vinegar and gall to those who would prefer to sin with impunity. The rich, those with power and influence like to live under the illusion that they are not accountable to God's law so they either mock Him or pretend He does not exists. John the Baptist was an irritant to both Herod and Herodias his brother's lawful wife whom he took as his own. There can be no greater evil than an evil woman for once all goodness has disappeared she can sink to the depths of depravity and takes those whose lives she influences with her. As we can see how she had no compunction to shamelessly use her daughter to achieve her own ends.

A good woman can either bring out the noblest characteristics in men or she can bring him down lower than swine. Herod was drunk, he was insensate of all rational thought, he permitted himself to lose control and who he was and made silly promises, even to the half of his kingdom because a girl danced before him and his guests and delighted him. Instigated by her evil mother, she sought nothing less that the head of the tormentor of her conscience and so she connived to kill him. Foolish Herod, thought keeping his word and saving face was more important than sanctioning murder. 

We live in a world that continues to kill those who stand by the truth until one day Truth will rise up and have its day.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Psalm 33: 12-13, 18-19 20-21, Matthew 25:14-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 

I give you a new commandment, love one  another as I have loved you. Jn13:34

 

1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Psalm 33: 12-13, 18-19 20-21, Matthew 25:14-30

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

 

My soul's beloved, it would be wise for me to always remember that I am nothing. It is always the way of God to choose the very least. This is why You chose for the twelve those whom the world despised, whom the world had no use for, those the world believed could do nothing. It these that You called from the fringes and given them a place among princes. You filled them with wisdom the world has never heard, You revealed through them things that were hidden, You worked wonderful miracles through them giving them You own authority. This You and done in order to demonstrate to the world that You do not need the worldly wise, those with power and influence, those with wealth to carry out Your work in the world. You do this so no one can boast or claim credit that what they have done or achieved was done because they were best equipped to do so. Only God can take nothing and makes of it something wonderful for Himself. May our boast be in You alone O Lord.

 

 "It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord."

Psalm 33: 12-13, 18-19 20-21

 

My soul's beloved, thank You for choosing me who without You would have been lost forever. Thank Your for stooping low over me and picking me up, washing me in the waters of Baptism and for redeeming me in Your death, for sanctifying me in the Holy Spirit and for the inheritance prepared for me.

 

Thank You for calling us from the darkness of the world and of sin into You own marvelous light.  Thank You for pouring Your life into us. Thank You for You never failing love and kindness every time we sin and fall. Thank You for not tiring of picking us up, of forgiving our sins and of restoring us once again into the family of God.

 

"Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust."

 

Matthew 25:14-30

 

My soul's beloved in the parable of the talents You reveal once more that we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. To all have been given gifts whether many or few according to our ability and we are called to use them in the service of our brothers and sisters. There is no room for laziness, or lethargy in the Kingdom of God. The harvest is great and the laborers are few and time will eventually run out. For as long as it is today, we are called to use all the gifts that we are given, all the blessings we have received, to witness to the world the truth of our salvation.  We are called to be Your disciples in season and out of season striving tirelessly to draw more and more to the knowledge of Truth so they too may receive Your Life and enjoy eternal life with the Father, You and the Holy Spirit in heaven.

 

If we take God's gifts for granted, if we do nothing about the rich treasures bestowed on us we will face You as a severe Judge and we will have to give an account of all the wasted hours, the useless pastimes we have indulged in and all the gifts we have allowed to be buried because we were too busy being distracted by the world.

 

"For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."

 

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-25, Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11, Matthew 25:1-13

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 

Be vigilant at all times and pray, that you may have strength to stand

before the Son of Man. Lk 21:36

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-25, Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11, Matthew 25:1-13

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-25

 

My soul's beloved, as Paul reminds us so eloquently today, we care called to preach the Gospel in such a way that the power and glory of the Cross on which You were so brutally crucified would not be emptied of its meaning. It is through the power of the Cross that we receive forgiveness of sin, for sin was nailed to it in order to set us free.  The world strives to rid itself of it and they want no reminders as they regulate and put into effect laws that would remove this symbol of our faith from our walls and anywhere else where it may be visible to people.

 

The Cross as the power to convict us of sin and the world prefers to go about its merry way steeped in it spreading a false gospel that happiness is found in hedonism and in self-gratification no matter how abasing to themselves and to others. Innocence was nailed to the Cross and we strive in every way to rid ourselves of it. Even children are not spared.

 

The people we follow in this world so avidly and who shape the morals and culture in which we live are the ones we set up as the arbiters of truth.  We believe the lies and the propaganda because it panders to our sins and our weaknesses.  Our morals are flaccid. The wisdom of the world will take us straight to the place of the damned and the eternal fire that never goes out.

 

The chosen people of God rejected You because they were not able to get ride of their human perception of how the Messiah would come into the world. You did not fit their expectation of a Messiah and so they rejected You so completely they were prepared to and did commit deicide. Those in the world who consider themselves wise and knowledgeable reject You because You do their textbook idea of what a God should be or because they believe the theories that God does not exist based on false premises.  St. Paul says, "Jews demand signs." Yet they rejected the greatest Sign of all, the Sign of the Cross. The Gentiles rejected You because their notion of God in no way fit the description of 'Christ and Him crucified'. But we are assured that the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. As You have reminded me in Your Word for today, that whoever believes in You, though he die, shall live and whoever believes in You will never die.

 

Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11

 

My soul's beloved, You are visible to all who desire too You. Your glorious imprint is on all the good things in the world. We look at all that is beautiful in our world and our hearts, minds and souls are raised to You and move us to give You praise, worship, thanksgiving and honor. You are worthy of praise and people in every age, culture, and nation have been moved to sing and make music because they have experienced You in the beauty of all that was visible around them.

 

Your word has the power to strike like a lightning bold and brings clarity and vision where once there was darkness, blindness and error through sin. All Your works tell of Your goodness, Your power and display Your majesty. From generation to generation people have experienced Your goodness, tenderness, mercy, compassion and love.  We thank You for Your assurance that no matter how hard evil may endeavor to claim what belongs to You, .

 

Matthew 25:1-13

 

My soul's beloved, in today's Gospel passage we are exhorted to be vigilant, to stay aware, to be alert, to remain awake for we do not know when we will be called from this life to the next. We are told the parable of the ten virgins five were wise and five foolish. The wise were prepared, they anticipated the possibility that there could be a delay in the arrival of the Bridegroom whereas the foolish ones were too caught up in the excitement of the moment and made no provision for themselves in case of necessity. There was a delay.  He did not come as quickly as they thought he would and they slept.

 

We have been waiting for over 2000 years for Your glorious return. Many have become indifferent and have fallen asleep unprepared to meet You and to them the door is closed.  The world is indifferent. The longer we wait, the longer the world makes You out to be a myth, a farce, a legend, a story for children and for idiots. But we cannot,we dare not be caught unprepared for at an hour we least expect it we will be called and we would have run out of excuses as the foolish ones ran out of oil and we will find that when You our Bridegroom arrives and shuts the door no amount of weeping and wailing will help to open it. Grant O Lord that while I still have today that I may be awake, and vigilant for Your coming. 

1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Psalm 145:1-7, Matthew 24:45-51

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 

Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come. Mt. 42, 44

1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Psalm 145:1-7, Matthew 24:45-51

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

 

My souls beloved, St. Paul says the most wonderful and encouraging things to the members of the Church today who have been made holy  in You and are called to be holy in imitation of our heavenly Father. To those who call upon Your Name my Lord is granted grace and peace from God who is our Father and for You our Savior.

 

St. Paul assures us that we have are enriched in every way with knowledge and wisdom through the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit in us. We do not lack in any spiritual gift for it is the good pleasure of Your Spirit to bless those who believe with every grace and blessing through Your merits won for us on the Cross. It is He who will keep us faithful and firm in our faith to the end. 

 

How comforting it is to know that God is always faithful and it is God whom You taught us to call Father has called us to fellowship with You, His Son, who is also my Lord and my Savior and the Bridegroom of my soul. 

 

Psalm 145:1-7

 

My soul's beloved, the psalmist reminds us that all who know You are called to witness to Your love, to Your great and awesome works, and to tell everyone that You are worthy of love, worship, and praise. All our experience of You demands that we do not keep the joy of knowing You to ourselves but we are called to share that knowledge so that everyone can experience the joy of knowing You, loving You, experiencing You, and living in joyful hope of eternal union with You in the Kingdom of God.  Unless we pass on our knowledge of You how can future generations know and praise You.  We live, move, and have our being in You and so do our children and so will their children and their children's children. The message has to be handed down from one generation to the next so the joy of living a life in Your Spirit may be theirs as well. For You are great my Lord and most worthy of praise for as long as life as we know it lasts on earth so we can take up our songs of praise in eternity. 

 

Matthew 24:45-51

 

My soul's beloved, today You exhort us to "stay awake." It is when we lose sight of what is at stake that we become lethargic, indifferent, lazy and it is then that we give in to temptation and slide into sin. The way to stay awake is to do the work that God has entrusted to us. We ought to be alert and work tirelessly with our eyes on the goal, the prize that awaits us. Life on earth is short, shorter for some than others but in the end we must all die. Though death is certain we do not know the day or the hour when it will come and this is why You say, "Be prepared" for You will come for us when we least expect it.

 

 

You invite us to be like the faithful and prudent servant who is loyal to his master. He is unconcerned whether the master is around to watch him or if he is away - he carries out his duties ensuring that all that is entrusted to him he carries out. To the one whom You find awake, faithful and at work You will reward but the lazy, unfaithful servant who forgot the Master would return and demand a reckoning will be punished and assigned a place with the hypocrites.  The one thing that You cannot stand is hypocrisy and You despise hypocrites may I never, never be found guilty of being one my Lord.

 

Revelations 21:9-14, Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18, John 1:45-51

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 

Rabbi, you are the Son of God,;

you are the King of Israel. Jn. 1:45b

 

FEAST OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE

 

Revelations 21:9-14, Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18, John 1:45-51

 

 

Revelations 21:9-14

 

My soul's beloved, in this beautiful passage written by St. John the evangelist, he gives us a beautiful description of the Church born of the Holy Spirit and Your Bride. High on the mountain above all the grime and noise of the city where the air is pure, God dwells with all those who belong to Him, those who embrace His will in all things and have found in Him their joy and peace. To those who dwell with God in the Church that You have founded in the City which the evangelist describes as gleaming with the splendor of God, with the radiance of the most precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal dazzling in the Light that is shed upon her by her Bridegroom.  Here there is a wall so that no one who does not belong can enter - one enters only through the waters of baptism and through the narrow gate. It is here that the old and the new are emblazoned - the twelve tribes of the children of Israel chosen by God through Moses and the names of the twelve Apostles that were chosen by You with the Father. You did not pick the twelve for any extraordinary qualities that they possessed instead You chose them because You would make of men the world would certainly reject for high ranking places of world affairs, and make them fishers of men. You would deem them worthy of carrying out Your mission in the world of spreading the Good News to the ends of the earth.

 

Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18

 

My soul's beloved You no longer call us servants but friends. We are collaborators in the establishing of Your Kingdom on earth. All creation pays homage to You and gives thanks to God for You. They speak of You - the wind, the trees, the grass, the birds, the sky, the clouds - all nature sings a glorious hymn of praise as they reveal something of Your power, grandeur, and beauty.  God came to earth becoming one like us in order that You might share with us Your knowledge of the Father and the splendor of the place that God has prepared for us in the Kingdom. We are called Your faithful, because through grace, every day, we strive to live by the great commandment that You have given us, striving to know You with the help of Your Spirit and making You known from one generation to the next. Thank You my soul's beloved for remaining close to all who call upon You. Thank You for not judging as man does but for looking at our hearts and in Your tenderness picking us, choosing us, and granting us a place beside You in Your Kingdom.  

 

John 1:45-51

 

My soul's beloved, make me like Philip who did not miss any opportunity of bringing people to knowledge of You. Here he tells his friend Nathanael or Bartholomew of You. He has discovered the Truth that You revealed in Your Person that You were the fulfillment of the law of Moses and all the prophets, You the son of Joseph, from Nazareth. He did not reject You because Your father was a carpenter rather he looked at You and believed and he was excited about bringing those whom he knew to come to know You as well. Nathanael was prejudiced at first as most of us are. Nazareth was an insignificant place and nothing extraordinary or spectacular was expected to come from it. But Philip would not take no for an answer. He urged him to "Come and see." Nathanael allowed himself to be persuaded by his friend and he was not disappointed. You saw him from a distance and You knew him and when Nathanael discovered this he believed and made his own declaration of faith, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel."

 

However, You advised him not to make snap judgments but to look for the greater revelations that he would be privileged to witness.

 

 “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

 

Thank You my soul's beloved of the same hope that I possess - the hope of the Apostles of perfect union with You in Your Kingdom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17, Psalm 96:10-13, Matthew 23-26

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 

The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. Heb. 4:12

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17, Psalm 96:10-13, Matthew 23-26

 

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17

 

My soul's beloved, St. Paul encourages to assemble together in order to hear the Truth about You, to listen to all You taught so we will not be deceived by those who claim to come from You are sent by You to preach a Gospel other than the one preached by Your Apostles - the Twelve that You sent into the world to spread the Good News to the whole world.

 

It is through this rich deposit of faith which the Church has guarded  and kept safe for two thousand years, together with the Scriptures that we receive all that You taught them and all that they heard You speak and all that they witnessed You do. The great signs and miracles that were proof that You indeed came by God and that You were the fulfillment of all prophecy revealed in Scripture throughout Salvation history.

 

My soul's beloved, keep us safe in Your Church, the only place where the fullness of Life and Truth are found when we eat Your Body and drink Your Blood and receive all we need to stay firm in our faith. It is here, in Your fold, with the Rock that is Peter and all those You have been appointed after him where we are encouraged and strengthened to fight the good fight and to stay the course until we reach the end of our race and the goal which is eternal life with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit.

 

Psalm 96:10-13

 

My soul's beloved, we exult and are rejoice with all that lives in the seas, in the sky and on earth that You who redeemed the world and all human beings will come again to judge both the living and the dead. We need not be fear of judgment from the only righteous Judge who lay down His life to save us from eternal death. You will judge with fairness not as the world does for the world is swayed by money, influence and power and the poor, the weak, and the helpless are pushed aside even to the fringes of society and many are made invisible for the sake of the few.

 

When You come again You will establish Your rule and all who were faithful will be judged fairly and will receive the great reward - eternity with You.

 

Matthew 23-26

 

My soul's beloved, You are scathing in Your condemnation of hypocrites. You warn us often that it is not enough for us to go by the letter of the law but it more important to abide by its spirit. The spirit of love must guide all our actions. If we perform our good works and our pious spiritual practices in order to be seen by the world and praised by it, we have already received our reward.

 

In God is found loving mercy and kindness. You are slow to anger and rich in goodness, faithfulness, compassion and tenderness. You love the sinner though You hate the sin. We are called to obey the Word of God and to fulfill the commandments of love which is made visible in service to those less fortunate than we are. We are called to fulfill our duties to God and to the Church but not so scrupulously that we forget those who are in need of our compassion and our love.

 

It is easy to fold our hands in church, say long winded prayers, and look pious before people and have a reputation for being 'good' in public whereas in our private lives we are sinners. You warn us to make sure that our public practice of our faith is in keeping with the way we live it when no one but You are watching us and we will be judged accordingly.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12, Psalm 96:1-5, Matthew 23:13-22

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 

My sheep hear my voice says the Lord,

I know them and they follow me. Jn. 10:27

 

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12, Psalm 96:1-5, Matthew 23:13-22

 

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12

 

My soul's beloved, may the prayer of the Church for me and for all its members be fulfilled. May You use me my soul's beloved in whatever way You see fit no matter how small. Grant me the gift of true humility so I may see myself as I am and that I may gladly serve wherever and whenever the opportunity presents itself. May Your will for my life be accomplished even to the smallest most minute detail. Help me to grow in faith and in love for God first and then for those around me. May my life glorify You always. Grant me each day grace sufficient to carry out Your will in my life. Stay with me Lord in time so I may live with You in eternity.

 

Psalm 96:1-5

 

My soul's beloved, each time we pray the Angelus we recall that moment in time when God pierced the veil, sending the Angel Gabriel to a Virgin in Nazareth whom He had prepared from the moment of her conception to become Your Mother. This is the most marvelous deed of all, the most awesome, and the one with the greatest repercussions on us for it set into motion the plan to save us. It all hung on a young maiden's yes. The whole world waited in expectant silence along with God. Heaven and earth held its breath as all creation paused for a moment, waiting, hoping, longing, and when she said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to Your Word,"  there was great rejoicing in heaven and God became Man.

 

It is right and fitting that we sing to the Lord a new song; that His praise be ever on our lips. It is right and fitting that the whole world and all that is in it bless His Name. For God announced His salvation and Mary said yes. Great indeed is our God and deserving of all praise for the greatest to the least. Praise You Lord!

 

Matthew 23:13-22

 

My soul's beloved, here You tell the Pharisees, the priests in the temple and the Scribes without mincing words how You abhor hypocrisy of every kind.  It is easy to be sanctimonious and pious without being in the least a person of true faith in God. We bend the law out of shape giving it our own twisted meaning so we can indulge in sin and get away with it. We foolishly believe that we can trick God into believing that we are righteous.

 

We live in a world where lies are tricked out to appear as truth with the use of clever words that muddy the waters and confuse us. But there are many in the world, who with Your help and grace, call out sinners and their hypocrisy and the world hates them. We live in a world where truth is being strangled and all we hear are lies and more lies and many believe it because they are ignorant of God, of You and of the Holy Spirit.

 

Do not abandon us Lord and for the sake of the few save the many.

Isaiah 66:18-21, Psalm 117:1-2. Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13, Luke 13:22-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father, except through me. Jn 14:6

Isaiah 66:18-21, Psalm 117:1-2. Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13, Luke 13:22-30

Isaiah 66:18-21

My soul's beloved, the Father sent You into the world in order to gather to Himself every man, woman, and child from the first to the last. He first chose from all the world Abraham and through Him He began to slowly but surely put His great plan to make known His love to us so that we may know Him, love Him and give Him glory for all His marvelous deed. You are the Sign that He set among us and You chose in turn sent out disciples into the world to carry out the mission of making God known and loved in the whole world.

Each one of us has to come before You with the brothers and sisters to whom he or she has made You known and loved. We do not save ourselves alone but we are called to bring others to the knowledge of Truth and Love so that the whole world can acknowledge that You are God and sing Your praises from one end of the earth to the other. So that they whole world can offer to the Father the one, holy, and acceptable Sacrifice that is pleasing to God. Your priests will be from every nation, every race, every culture and they will raise their hands to You along with Your people in the most awesome sacrifice of love, praise, worship, adoration and thanksgiving.

Psalm 117:1-2

 

My soul's beloved, this is the mission that all the baptized receive. We are called to proclaim to the whole world the Good News that You have saved us. Together, every nation is called to acknowledge what You have done for us and glorify You for giving us life and for revealing to us the love of God.  Love that did not abandon us despite our deliberate turning away from Him but sought a way to restore to us what we had so wantonly lost.

Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13,

My soul's beloved, when we are disciplined we have a tendency to pout, to complain, to lose heart, and to become disgruntled. Today You tell us that we should accept it as coming from a loving Father who corrects and disciplines because He cares for us. Had he not done so then we would continue to choose that which is detrimental to the salvation of our souls. Sometimes tough love is required because we are stubborn, or because our bad habits can lead us to lose sight completely of the goal which is eternal life. When we accept discipline in the right spirit we are glad of it because it makes us stronger and better able to resist temptation. God desires that all His children be whole and happy and this is why He is constantly pruning us. Let us rejoice that God loves us so much He is prepared to help us to be the very best that we can be with His help.
 

Luke 13:22-30

 

My soul's beloved, today You remind us that we cannot take our salvation for granted. We cannot claim knowledge of You, or that our baptism alone guarantees us a place in the Kingdom of God. We are called to love God first and then we are called to love each other in the same way that God loves us. This is not easy. We are selfish, proud, self-righteous, haughty, boastful, and we constantly seek to put our own interests above those of others even those who are most in need of our love and compassion.

 

It is not enough for us to say we know You it is more important that we spend our lives discerning Your will for us and then doing it promptly and joyfully. 

Ezekiel 43:1-7ab, Psalm 85:9-14, Matthew 23:1-12

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 

You have one Father in heaven;

you have but Master, the Christ. Mt 23:9, 10

 

Ezekiel 43:1-7ab, Psalm 85:9-14, Matthew 23:1-12

 

 Ezekiel 43:1-7ab

 

My soul's beloved, You assure us that You are with us. You will walk among us. Your Spirit will remain with us and fill us with Your glory. St. Paul has said, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and God's Spirit dwells in you?" In today's reading we see how God enters the temple of Jerusalem and fills it with His glory. In the inner court of my heart, where You my God are enthroned, You speak to me. You fill me with Your life. You direct my way, You tell me which way I should go and then You grant me the grace to walk in it. Without You in my life, without Your protection, and Your direction I would walk in ways that take me away from You. And when in my weakness I often choose to walk in the ways of unrighteousness, Your love gently speaks to Me, convicts me of sin, and draws me tenderly back to the narrow way, the only way that will lead me to the Kingdom of God.

 

The voice said to me:
Son of man, this is where my throne shall be,
this is where I will set the soles of my feet;
here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever.

 

Psalm 85:9-14

 

My soul's beloved, the Father so loved the world He created that when we sinned the sin of disobedience and turned away from Him, His love, His mercy, and His compassion would not destroy us, annihilate us, as we deserved. Instead, He sent You, His only Son into the world so we may not perish but have eternal life. The Glory of the Lord embodied in You came down earth to walk among us when the power of God came upon the Virgin Mother and the Spirit of God overshadowed her. Heaven stooped low over the earth, and God reached out and lifted us to Himself, our loving Father whose love sought a way to restore to us what we had so wantonly lost forever.

 

My soul's beloved, we now walk in the Way that You illuminate, We walk in the Truth that You embodied, and we receive Your Life in the Holy Eucharist - it is You who now sustain us and will remain with us until the end. 

 

Matthew 23:1-12

 

My soul's beloved, pride is the deadliest of all the grave sins for it seeks to glorify self rather than God and the Commandment of Love demands that we love God our Father, our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Sanctifier above and before all else in heaven and on earth.  Exercising the virtue of humility is not always easy yet You who are God and the only Son of the Father humbled Yourself even unto death by Crucifixion on that instrument of torture and shame, the Cross. You have now raised the Cross making it a sign of victory through which we are all saved. We are called to imitate You in Your humility, in Your redemptive suffering, in the way You came to serve rather than be served. You have left with us the key by which we may all open the door to the Kingdom of God.

 

"The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 107:2-9, Matthew 22:34-40

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Teach me your paths, my God,
guide me in your truth.  Ps 25:4-5

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 107:2-9, Matthew 22:34-40


Ezekiel 37:1-14

My soul's beloved, thank You for revealing to us that You are the God of Life and even though we may be dead in sin You have the power to breathe new life into us. You can pour Your Holy Spirit into us. There is no sinner so dead that he or she cannot be revived again and receive the inheritance that You have won for all. You brought many who were dead to life when You lived among us and walked the earth in the flesh. Now however in glory, You can send us Your own Holy Spirit , the Sprit of Life, Truth and Joy  and He will reveal to us the awesome destiny that the Father has for all who know You, love You and believe in You.

I will put my spirit in you that you may live,
and I will settle you upon your land;
thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

Psalm 107:2-9

My soul's beloved, we rejoice and are glad for You have come to us, You have revealed Yourself to us in accordance with the Father's will and You have made known to us the Father's Love. You have poured Your Holy Spirit upon us and through Him we receive grace in abundance, pressed down, in full measure, overflowing. Only God gives with such generosity.  You came to find us who were lost. You accompany us on our journey from this life to the next. You give us food for the journey to strengthen us. You wash away our iniquities and cleanse us. You restore us. You give us joy, hope and peace.  You remain with us. You wipe away our tears. You hear our prayers. You rejoice when we come home like the prodigal son and You throw a banquet in heaven with the angels and saints rejoice because we are saved.  Thank you my soul's beloved.


Matthew 22:34-40

My soul's beloved, we do not grope in the dark on our way from here to the Kingdom of God. We are not in ignorance for You have revealed everything that the Father wanted You to reveal to us about how we can return home to Him. You taught us to call God Father because that is what He is. And there is only one sure way to claim the inheritance that You have won for us at so great a price.


“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

May we never forget my soul's beloved that true love is capable of overlooking a multitude of faults and love of God and neighbor is the sure way to ensure that where You are we too will someday be.

 

Ezekiel 36:23-28, Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19, Matthew 22:1-14

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

 

If today you hear his voice harden not  your hearts. Ps 95:8

 

 

Ezekiel 36:23-28, Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19, Matthew 22:1-14

 

 

Ezekiel 36:23-28

 

My soul's beloved, just as You have done for Your people in the past, so You have done for me. You have saved me from my own wickedness. You have washed me in the waters of baptism. You have cleansed and purified me with Your precious Blood. You have clothed me in wedding garments. You have case my sins behind Your back in the ocean of Your mercy. You have removed from me all desire for that which is base and unworthy for a daughter of God and have poured Your Own Holy Spirit into my heart. You have given me a love for all that is holy and a desire to observe Your commandment of love. You have made me co-heir to the Kingdom of heaven and You have claimed me for Yourself. I desire nothing more for You have given me all my Lord and my God.

 

Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19

 

My soul's beloved, thank You for washing me with the water that poured forth when Your side was opened by the lance of the soldier as You hung dead on the Cross. Thank You for the Sacrifice that atoned for my sins and have obtained for me forgiveness and pardon. You have taken away my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh so that I tremble at the thought of deliberate sin that would separate me from You eternally.

 

You have poured the joy of salvation into my heart. You have revealed the way to the Kingdom of God, You have given me new life  in You and a hunger and thirst for the truth that sets me free that I may walk in the freedom that is granted to the children of God. Thank You for enabling me each day to join in the celebration of the Paschal Mystery where we offer to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit the only pleasing and acceptable Sacrifice that atones for my sins, it is a Sacrifice that You will not spurn for it is the Sacrifice of Your Son who tasted death in order that I may taste and receive life and in doing so that I might live.

 

Matthew 22:1-14

 

My  soul's beloved, God prepared a people for Himself, a people through which He would give to the world the Gift of Gifts His Son in order to bring back a fallen world. They were the chosen race from whom He desired to make a holy race, from them His Son would be born from the Virgin and all this came to pass just as He ordained. But they rejected the only Son of God just as they had rejected all the prophets and holy men that He had sent them in ages past. The feast was ready and they were invited to the banquet but they did not know who it was who had spread the feast before them and who had desired that they dine with Him. They rejected His invitation because they missed the hour of the manifestation of God among them for they were too caught up with the things of the world.

 

We are blessed because they refused the invitation. The Apostles were sent out into the world to invite every man, woman and child from every nation, every race, every culture, every language to come to the Eucharistic table and feast on the Food that gives us eternal life.  However, even though all are invited it is imperative that we are dressed in the wedding garments of purity, that we are sealed in the waters of baptism and by the Blood of the Lamb. When we accept the invitation that God extends to all His children He expects us to come prepared. Nothing unclean can enter the presence of God and only by plunging into the waters of baptism and rising up to new life in You can we partake of the Feast that is set before us. We cannot take the gifts of the Father for granted. Once we say yes then we are expected to live out that yes just as Mary did, just as Joseph did, just as all Your saints do in imitation of that great YES that You said to the Father to lay down Your life in order that we may live.

Ezekiel 35:1-11, Psalm 23:1-6, Matthew 20:1-16

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. Heb 4:12

Ezekiel 35:1-11, Psalm 23:1-6, Matthew 20:1-16


Ezekiel 35:1-11

My soul's beloved, today Your remind the Church and all who have been given the mission to guard her children as a shepherd guards her flock, that if they fail to be faithful to their call You will call them to account. However, even if they should fail You will not fail those who belong to You. You will not permit Your own to be lost, destroyed, or hungry. You will claim us and lead us to pasture, You will save us and You Yourself will become our Good Shepherd and care for us.

 

My soul's beloved, to all who  have been called to teach, lead, and guide Your sheep in whatever way their mission requires of them, may they faithfully sow good seed, lead Your sheep to pasture, and keep them safe from wolves especially wolves who are dressed in sheep's clothing. Should they fail we will not be afraid for You Yourself will come to rescue us.

 Psalm 23:1-6

My soul's beloved, even in my deepest, darkest nights of my life I will not be afraid for You my Good Shepherd are with me and I shall want for nothing. I shall desire nothing for I have all I need when I have You. I sing with the psalmist, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." Having You I have all things. My soul is filled as with a banquet, my mouth shall praise You with joy. Your mercy, goodness, and love follow me all my days and I dwell in Your Sacred Heart which is my refuge. No harm shall come to me. No one shall steal me. No one can approach to take me away from You for You are God and having claimed me for Yourself You will at the end of my days, take me to the place that You have prepared for me from all eternity.

 

Thank You for leading me each day to the Eucharistic banquet where I can feast on the Bread of Angels and receive every grace and blessing to choose to what is right, true, noble, and good each day. Stay with me Lord for You know how frail I am and how like a foolish sheep. Stay with me Lord.

 

 

Matthew 20:1-16

My soul's beloved, we ought to rejoice that You do not discriminate as the world does and that You are faithful to Your Word. You are just and You are righteous but above all what is most consoling is that You are generous beyond our imagination. We are all called to labor in the vineyard for souls for the harvest is large and the laborers few. To all labor faithfully in the hours or days granted to them in life, all will enter into Your Kingdom and behold the beatific vision. All will behold You Face to Face as You are. We will become like You just as You promised. You will make us co-heirs with You giving us a share of all that is Yours . From the greatest to the least,  all who have heard Your Voice and accepted Your invitation to spread the Good News no matter at what stage they may be in their lives - whether in their youth or when they have matured in years, it is all the same to You all will receive all that You have promised - eternal life in perfect union with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your invitation and thank You for Your unfathomable generosity in giving to all just as You have promised.

 

Ezekiel 28:1-19, Deuteronomy 32:26-28, 30, 35-36, Matthew 19:23-24

Daily Holy Mass Readings

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich
so that by his poverty you might become rich. 2 COR 8:9

Ezekiel 28:1-10, Deuteronomy 32:26-28, 30, 35-36, Matthew 19:23-30


Ezekiel 28:1-10

My soul's beloved, Ezekiel warns us of the dire consequence of becoming so enamored of the glitter and tinsel of the world that we spend all our time striving to possess more of all that the world offers to the detriment of our immortal soul. The more we spend our lives and every waking moment to getting and getting more of material things, of money, power and influence the more we believe that we are powerful, invincible ad we do not need You who are the Author and source of Life. This is the world that we live in today - the world is so caught up in hedonism and is so drunk and so addicted to the passing things of the world that it is in a constant state of stupor, insensate to the delicate nudge of the Spirit and to the Voice of Wisdom and Truth.

Deuteronomy 32:26-28, 30, 35-36

My soul's beloved, those who boast of great wealth, power and influence soon come to forget that God is the sole arbiter of our lives. Because the world is impressed with their material wealth or status and scurries about to do their bidding they have the false notion that they are indeed the masters of their own fate and the fate of those they believe are under them. They are deaf and blind to Your Voice because the sound of their own pomposity makes them so. To these You say, that it is You who deal life and death. We are mortal and the day of reckoning will and must come to us all no matter how many years you may grant us. Then we will stand before You the righteous Judge and we will have to render an account of how we used all the gifts and blessing You gave us. To those who were give much, much is expected for what we receive from Your bounty is given to us in order to share with those  to whom less was given. It is in the giving and in the sharing that we become the wise stewards of Your generosity towards us.

Matthew 19:23-30

My soul's beloved, to the world and the many who are constantly jostling for first place, who pull people down and trample on them in order that they may greedily grasp everything for themselves and lord it over those who have little, You give us a dose of reality. Life must come to an end and all that the world offers will eventually decay on that which is eternal will last. We have here on earth no lasting kingdom yet we spend our entire lives on uselessly accumulating for ourselves and striving to possess more of everything. We sacrifice the things that matter in order to lead selfish, self absorbed lives. The more we acquire the less satisfied we become. The more our senses become insensate the more depraved are our desires. We lose sight of the eternal because we are too busy mucking about in the grime and slime of the world.

We could not save ourselves and so the Father sent You to save us. We deserved death but the Father could not see His children condemned even though they deserved that condemnation for deliberately turning away from His Love. Thank You for revealing to us that we can enter heaven if like You were are prepared to humble ourselves, to stoop low, to see ourselves as we are,  to acknowledge our helplessness and trust in Your mercy. Thank You my soul's beloved for all those who give up everything for the sake of the Gospel and for souls. Thank You for those who imitate Your generosity in giving up all in order to bring many into the sheepfold. Bless them abundantly and may we not take them for granted and not hold back our affection for them, our praise, and our prayers that they may be strengthened each day to follow You in humility of heart and singleness of purpose.