Sirach 2:1-11, Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40, Mark 9:30-37

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Gal 6:14


Sirach 2:1-11, Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40, Mark 9:30-37 

Sirach 2:1-11

My soul's beloved, You are God and Your nature is love. The Triune God has been revealed to the world and this revelation is cause for joy and exultation for God, our God, loves us who are so unworthy of His love. All that has been made known to us assures me that no matter how hard life gets, no matter what trials, troubles, and difficulties may be my lot for a while, I need not give in to despair for You are right beside me. No cross will be granted to us that is more than we can bear. Give me patience to endure for as long as the suffering lasts. Even though it may seem that the weight of sorrow is crushing me I need to know that the time of sorrow will pass and I will be the better for having been tested - refined, and pure as gold is refined and purified by fire.

You have given us the example and You ask nothing that You Yourself have not endured. At the end of the trial comes a great reward. A resurrection and enduring joy.

Give us all patience in this time of trial and testing. Keep us faithful and humble and may we never doubt that no suffering is in vain. There is no other way to enter into the heart of God than through the doorway of suffering - were there another better way You would have taken it. While we are being tried Beloved stay close to us and grant us the grace to endure until the time of suffering has passed.

Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40

The psalmist reminds us that those who trust in You will not be disappointed. We are called to trust You, to delight in You, and to believe that You will grant us all we desire. You watch over us and have given us the hope of eternity with You. We have been saved, we have been rescued from the wiles of the devil, and You assure us that You will never forsake those who have entrusted themselves to Your care. Even if we have to suffer You will deliver us and save us because we have placed all our hope in You.

Mark 9:30-37 

My soul's beloved, You turn the values of the world on its head when You teach us the values of the King of God, for they are in direct contrast to that of the world. To be first we must be last and be prepared to serve. We must have the innocence of a child, the trust of a child, the confidence of a child that God is always faithful.  The world has never hated children as much as  it does today - they are not welcome as can be seen from the rampant phenomenon of abortions. People do not curl an eyelash even though babies by the thousands are being dismembered around the globe each day. Animals have their rights protected, babies have no rights at all and the voices of those who courageously raise them for the sake of the voiceless are ridiculed, scorned, mocked, condemned,and persecuted.

Only when the whole world welcomes children as You did, receives them and welcomes them in Your Name, only then will the world truly receive You and not only You but the Father who sent You into the world just as every little baby is sent into the world.

The world is gripped by murder, death, violence and horror because this is exactly how we treat God's precious babies when we rip them from their mother's wombs with their mother's consent. Once this horror stops then we will permit You who redeemed us to rule us and the Kingdom of God will come among us.