Genesis 11:1-9, Psalm 33:10-15, Mark 8:34---9:1

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. Jn 15:15


Genesis 11:1-9, Psalm 33:10-15, Mark 8:34---9:1

Genesis 11:1-9

My soul's beloved, once sin had entered the world men became prideful of the gifts that were given to them by God and once we are filled with pride in ourselves then we presume that we can do anything even if it is not in keeping with God's will. We begin to attribute our accomplishments and our ability to take on all kinds of projects in different fields to ourselves and we cut God out totally from our affairs. But You know that when we do this we are bound for destruction and for hell. 

This story about the tower of Babel gives us an idea of how foolish we can be and like the devil we can be filled with arrogance. It is Your mercy that has intervened and kept us from accomplishing that which could become our downfall. Love alone has the power to unite and should unite us to You and to each other.

Psalm 33:10-15

My soul's beloved, the psalmist throws light and gives insight into the first reading today. God has the power to lift up and to cast down. Too often we believe that we are our masters but we soon find out how wrong we are for there is not much we can do when our grand plans fail, and come crashing down upon us. However, when we seek Your will, and Your plan for our lives we can be sure that we will succeed in all that we do for the power of God is granted to us and enables us to succeed. 

God has created us for Himself. We are destined for heaven. Those who are grafted into Your Body and are called by Your Name need fear nothing; for You Yourself are our shield, our armor, our protection, and our help. God, our Father Himself has given us to You and we are made co-heirs with You to the Kingdom. We have been given Your Spirit so that He might direct us in the way that leads to life and to salvation.

Mark 8:34---9:1

My soul's beloved, there can be no victory without suffering - it is the Way, the only way to life. To deny ourselves, even legitimate good helps us to exercise discipline and self-control. It enable us gain mastery over our will which is often wayward. To pick up the cross of suffering, of want, of persecution, of discrimination, of watching a loved one become ill, of losing those we love to death, all these various crosses that come too us are first weighed by You very carefully and then placed on our shoulders. We are not given burdens too difficult or heavy for us to bear and You are there right beside us, helping us every step of the way. 

In our sufferings, in our difficulties, You ask us to follow You, not our own inclinations. If we lose our lives in doing what God desires us to do then we attain eternal life. It is hard not to fall prey to the lure of the world and its many attractions that distract us from the goal which is the Kingdom of God but we do not have to struggle on our own. You have given us the Holy Spirit as our Helper, He will assist us to navigate the pitfalls and to be attentive to the voice of God. 

In a world where Christians are persecuted help us never to deny that we are Christians, we are Your followers, and let death be sweeter than fear keeping us from declaring to the whole world that You are God and that we are saved, redeemed, and purchased for God by Your most precious Blood.  

Grant O Lord, my God, that I may be counted among those who do not taste death until I have done my part in bringing about the Kingdom of God in power on earth. Amen.