Acts 5:34-42, Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14, John 6:1-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Mt 4:4b


Acts 5:34-42, Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14, John 6:1-15

Acts 5:34-42

My soul's beloved, there are not many who like Gamaliel, who belonged to the upper class in power and was prepared to stand up to defend those whom the authorities wanted to destroy, urging them to use wisdom and caution.  Prudence and caution in things we do not understand is far better than using force and violence for in doing so we may be fighting against Your will. Gamaliel was convincing and one would hope that the apostles would be set free without being persecuted any further. But the Sanhedrin had them flogged before they let them go hoping that it would deter them from preaching and teaching the Good News of Your Resurrection.

It did not have the effect that they had hope because we are told that the disciples left the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they had been worthy to suffer for the sake of Your Name and they continued to preach with boldness and with power so many came to know and believe and were saved.

Grant O Lord my God, that I too may have courage to stand up for the faith and to speak boldly without fear of the consequences.  

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

My soul's beloved, the psalmist speaks of hope, faith, and the final, eternal reward. Yes, Lord, You are my light, my salvation, You are my Redeemer and I need fear nothing for I walk in Your Shadow. You grant me refuge in Your Sacred Heart. You invite me to make You my dwelling place. You come to me in the Holy Eucharist and there I hold You close to me, heart to heart, soul in soul and I am permitted to hold eternity within this finite, sinful body. You are more than generous with Your blessings, You lavish me with grace even though I am unworthy and You kindle in me a desire of longing for this time of intimacy with You in the Holy Eucharist.

John 6:1-15

Not all the wealth of the world, not all its resources, have the power to satisfy us for we were made by God for You and for You only. We have a need in our souls for what only You can provide and we are satisfied only if we come to You and eat and drink of the bounty that only You can give. All the world offers will ultimately turn to ashes in our mouth leaving us emptier than ever. 

When You saw the crowds that were coming to You to be healed in every way You turned to those who were closest to You and asked them to satisfy the hunger of the people, but they had not yet grasped who You were, all they could see was their lack because they had not raised their eyes to You in expectant faith. Each of us who has encountered You, is grafted to You, is called to satisfy the needs of those who come to us for You have given us Your own power to do all that You have done. You take our five loaves and two fish and with it You are able to satisfy the multitudes over and over again for in You there is always enough and more to satisfy every need, every hunger, and every longing of the human heart. Not only were the crowds fed, but there were 12 baskets of leftovers. With God, His mercies never come to an end.

Acts 5:27-33, Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20, John 3:31-36

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe? Jn 20:29

Acts 5:27-33, Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20, John 3:31-36

Acts 5:27-33

My soul's beloved, if our faith is weak we can easily be intimidated by those in power who use their authority to suppress the good, the true and the noble. Peter was a different man after Your Resurrection, from the one who had so easily cowered in fear and cowardice denying You with oaths before a servant girl. We see him now bold, full of courage, unafraid so speak the truth in no uncertain terms. Filled with the Holy Spirit he was prepared to face persecution, imprisonment, whipping and even death but nothing would stop him from preaching the Risen Christ. 

Like the Apostles we too are called to fill the world with Your teaching which brings life, joy and salvation. We must remember that it is better to obey God in all things than people no matter how powerful and influential they may be.

God has raised You up before all thrones, all dominions, all authority, and has seated You at His right hand giving You and only You absolute power. We all have played our part in Your crucifixion but You came to forgive our sins and to save us. You came to give us Your Holy Spirit and we are called to be Your witnesses as we live each day in obedience to Your will no matter what it may cost us.

Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20

My soul's beloved, thank You for Your assurance that You will always hear and answer our prayers, our cries when we call out to You. You make a hiding place for those who seek refuge in You. You rescue us from our own evil desires and grant us grace and strength through the Sacraments to overcome temptation. No one who calls to You will be ignored for You came precisely for the poor, the sinner, the sick, the suffering, those exhausted by the troubles of life. You are our deliverer in whom we can place all our trust.

John 3:31-36

My soul's beloved, God wanted us to know what He was like and so He sent You into the world. You are the image of the Unseen God. You reflect Him in all His goodness and perfection. You have shown us who the Father is and You have said clearly that anyone who has seen You has seen the Father as well. 

There are many in this world who are content to be knowledgeable in the things of the world. They are so steeped in the culture of the day that exalts the self and denies the existence of a power above and over all who created us for a definite purpose. The exalt the present life to the exclusion of the eternal and they are prepared to defend their own personal dogmas over eternal, and divine truths.

You came to show us the way to the Father. You revealed to us who the Father is and You have given us the Holy Spirit in order that we may be led by Him and taught by Him about the things of heaven. You testified with Your life about what gives eternal life and what brings eternal death and it is our choice to decide whether we believe in You and obey You or to believe in the world and allow the world to have dominion over us.

Acts 5:17-26, Psalm 34:2-9, John 3:16-21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. Jn 3:16


Acts 5:17-26, Psalm 34:2-9, John 3:16-21

Acts 5:17-26

My soul's beloved, no matter how powerful the world appears to be it is powerless before You, the Lord God, the Almighty, the only Son of the Living God. How typical is the reaction of the members of the Sanhedrin - they are so like the rulers of the world who are more concerned about holding on to their positions of prestige and power than for the truth. The are prepared to go to any lengths to stifle it and to destroy those who will not be silenced. But we see that God will send His angels to protect those who belong to Him. Each of the baptized has been given a mission to preach the Good News even risking our lives; as we face our daily struggles and challenges. We are called to live by faith in the face of a Godless world. We are called to stand firm no matter how  much we are persecuted and we can always count on You to stay beside us and give us all we need through the power of the Holy Spirit, to proclaim boldly with heavenly wisdom all that God has done for us.  

Psalm 34:2-9

My soul's beloved, You have claimed me for Yourself. You have anointed me. You have given me Your Name by which I am known for I am Your follower, Your disciple. You picked me up when I was drowning in sin and You saved me. I will bless You all the days of my life. I will praise You with every breath I  breathe for You have called me from darkness into Your own marvellous light. You have lifted my head and my gaze is fixed on You from You I receive all that is good, true, beautiful, and life giving. You have appointed angels to encamp around me lest I stumble and hurt my foot against a stone. You are my Protector, my Redeemer, my Savior and with your help all the days of my life, I shall walk in Your shadow and make my home beneath Your wings.

John 3:16-21

My soul's beloved, Lord and Giver of life, the Father gave us His Son in order that through You we may claim the inheritance that He desired us to have from the moment He created the world. We sinned, we inherited death, we chose to turn away from God and to walk in the way of darkness. The Father would have been justified in annihilating us from the face of the earth and condemning us to the darkest corner of hell. We deserved it. But we are eternally grateful that our awesome God is a God of Love, whose nature is Love and who can do nothing but love. All the actions of our Abba are prompted by love and love alone and so we have the most beautiful revelation given to us in Scripture, the most comforting verses inspired by the Holy Spirit, in Scripture, "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life." Thank You my Lord and my God for Your assurance that all who walk in Truth walk in the Light and all we do with the help of Your grace proclaims to the world that our God is awesome, glorious, and rightly to be raised from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Thank You for creating me and than You for the glorious future that is in store for me because of Your love.

1 Peter 5:5b-14, Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17, Mark 16:15-20

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


We proclaim Christ crucified:
he is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:23-24


1 Peter 5:5b-14, Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17, Mark 16:15-20

1 Peter 5:5b-14

---- Mine, there is no virtue more pleasing to the Father than the virtue of humility. Humility enables you to see yourself as you are before God and before humans. All your thoughts, words, and deeds must be prompted by this virtue for God Himself despises those who set themselves over the rest of their fellow human beings. All are equal before My Father in heaven and all are equal before Me. Ask for this virtue, cultivate it. The more you use it the more it will increase. It sweetens life and helps you to accept God's will for you with docility.

You are not called to struggle through this valley of tears alone. God is with you. Trust Him to help you carry your daily burdens. Be watchful and pray always so the devil's wiles will not deceive you or catch you off guard. Accept suffering as from the Lord for there is no surer path to holiness than the path of redemptive suffering. Live in peace with yourself and with everyone for the God of peace makes His home in you.

Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17

My soul's beloved, how blessed I am to know You, to walk with You, to live in Your shadow, to claim Your love for myself. I can count on Your faithfulness to me and mine from the rising of the sun to its setting and to its rising and setting everyday. Your kindness to me O Lord, unworthy as I am, is overwhelming for I know that I am undeserving of such steadfast love and faithfulness.

Heaven and earth together proclaim Your glory without end and I am privileged to join my feeble praises with theirs. I am invited to join Your faithful each day to offer You a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and worship at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist. How blessed I am, how fortunate to be counted among those who believe in You, those who are baptized into Your Body and are members of Your Holy Church. Grant me the grace to be always aware of how blessed I am to be called out of darkness into Your own marvelous light.

Mark 16:15-20

My soul's beloved, I too am numbered among those who have been given a mission to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world. I am called to shine Your Light in a world that is getting increasingly dark by sin. But I have Your assurance that the Light will never be put out because You have triumphed and You reign in glory at the right hand of the Father for You have won the victory over sin, the flesh, the world and the devil. 

All of the baptized have been given authority, all have received the Holy Spirit and we can claim the gifts of the Holy Spirit with confidence for we have it from Your lips that those who believe will do all that You did and even greater signs for You are with the Father.

Help me each day my soul's beloved to increase in faith, hope and above all in love.

Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27, John 21:1-14

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it. Ps 118:24

Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27, John 21:1-14


Acts 4:1-12

My soul's beloved, what a transformation we see in Peter who fled when he saw You taken away like a common criminal and You did nothing to defend Yourself or to escape. If You fought back, he would probably have found the courage to fight back with You but when He saw You taken away like a lamb to the slaughter, saying not a word, but submitting meekly to the soldiers and the rabble, he ran away and hid. 

Yet, in today's reading we see a man transformed, bold, standing before the leaders of the temple, Scribes and Pharisees and the people and proclaiming with power and conviction who You are and by whose power the cripple was able to walk.

The work of the Spirit transforms us and helps us to become the people that God has created us to be if we will only be docile and allow ourselves to be guided and led by Him.  Thank You Beloved for the gift of Your Holy Spirit to me.

Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27

My soul's beloved, the prophecy that the stone rejected by the builders would become the cornerstone, has been fulfilled. You are the Cornerstone upon which Your Church is built with Peter as the Rock, and the foundation stones of the Apostles You appointed. Ours is a living Church with living members of Your Body and this Body is animated by Your Holy Spirit who gives her power and life.

Thank You Abba Father for this wonderful plan that did not reject us when we sinned and turned away from You but instead gave us Your only Son to be our Savior and Redeemer. Thank You Jesus for knowing that we could not be holy without Your help and so You sent us Your Spirit.  Thank You!!!!

John 21:1-14

My soul's beloved, You revealed Yourself to the disciples several times after Your Resurrection and so there were many witnesses to the fact that You had truly risen from the dead. Simon Peter, the man of action decided to go fishing and soon discovered that no matter how hard we toil, if You are not with us our labor is in vain. However, if we are docile and attentive and we obey You we will accomplish far more than we can ever imagine. So it was with Peter and the rest that day as they went fishing at the Sea of Tiberias.

It was the beloved disciple who recognized You. All beloved disciples will recognize You because they keep their gaze on You and their ears attuned to the sound of Your voice eager to do all You ask. You call those big, burly, older than You men except for John, children. How sweetly tender You are. With You there will always  be an abundance of good things, more than we can ever ask for or hope for. Grant me the grace to rely on Your providence always.

Acts 3:1-10, Psalm 105:1-9, Luke 24:13-35

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it. Ps 118:24

Acts 3:1-10, Psalm 105:1-9, Luke 24:13-35

Acts 3:1-10

My soul's beloved the entire episode about Peter, John and the lame beggar reminds us of our relationship and conversion experience with You, with the Father and the Holy Spirit and with those whom You have appointed to minister to a sinful, hurting, world.

Your ministers must be found at their posts, in prayer they will be empowered to do all You have commanded them. The Church it is said, is a hospital for sinners. The man crippled from birth was carried to the temple each day to beg. It was not by chance that he was there. Every one is given an opportunity to encounter You at some point in their lives. The beggar looked at Peter and John as all the members of the Church look to Your anointed to feed our hunger, to quench our thirst, and to heal us in every area of our life. The returned his look, with the same look of compassion, and tender mercy that You always direct at the sinner. They had nothing of material value to offer him but they had something of far greater importance to share with him, the treasure, the pearl of great price, the Good News of the Kingdom of God that we receive in Your Name.

Speaking that Name which above every other and which is more powerful than any in heaven and on earth, they commanded the lame beggar to rise up and walk. Not only did he rise up but he leaped, and danced and praised God. This is the remarkable story of every sinner who is redeemed and saved by Your Name. All who witness are are filled with amazement and marvel at what God continues to do for us to this day and will do so until You return in glory.

Psalm 105:1-9

My soul's beloved, St. John Paul II, Your servant and Your anointed reminded us that we are a Resurrection people and our song is Alleluia!!!

We are called by the Name by which all men and women are save and so we give thanks to You always and everywhere as we witness to the whole world the marvels that God has done for us in You. We rejoice, we exult, we dance for joy, for God, our God, His only Son, reigns among us, abides in us and has given us His own Holy Spirit who makes us fruitful. It is You we are called to serve as we serve our neighbor recognizing You in all those around us.

God our Father who created us has made a covenant of love which is a fulfillment of every covenant He has ever made with us. It is Covenant sealed with Your Blood, and in it we too a sealed a belonging to God irrevocable through a solemn oath sworn by the Lord God Himself. We are the Father's because we are Yours in time and in eternity.

Luke 24:13-35

My soul's beloved, we see here as the two disciples were journeying away from Jerusalem to Emmaus they were conversing about You and You said, If two or three are gathered in My Name, I am there in their midst." True to Your word, true to Your promises You came among them even though they did not recognize It was You. They were sad and downcast for they had not really believed what You had said so often that You would rise from the dead in three days. You drew them both into sharing their sorrow with You You gave them an opportunity to unburden themselves to You and You listened to them patiently until they were silent and ready to listen to You.

You always show patience, and compassion pity and understanding mercy and love. You took the time to walk them through the Scriptures through the Law and the prophets pointing gout to them the various passages in Scripture that spoke about You, prophesied all the things that the Messiah had to suffer in order to accomplish the work of redemption. Exactly three days had passes since You were buried and here You were among them just as You promised. The women were the first witnesses to the empty tomb and bringing back the message they received from the angels that You were alive. Then the disciples, not believing the testimony of the women went to see for themselves and what they saw bore testimony to what the women had said they'd seen although they did not see you yet. Patiently, You walked them through the Scriptures pointing out how everything prophesied concerning the Messiah was fulfilled in the Man that was only three days ago crucified. You chided them for being slow in putting together the evidence that would enable them to believe that You had truly risen from the dead just as You had said.

When the disciples reached their destination they invited You to stay with them. They were loath to let You go. You agreed and when You sat at table with them and prayed the blessing and broke the bread the recognized You but You were no longer with them. At every Eucharist we recognize You in the breaking of bread and believe that we receive Your flesh to eat and your blood to drink and we are saved,  nourished and fortified. Once we receive the Eucharist worthily, we recognize You, our mission becomes clear. The disciples went back to Jerusalem to witness to what they had just experienced and discovered that You had visited the other disciples as well and they rejoiced as they all shared their experiences of their encounter with You.

Acts 2:14, 22-33, Psalm 16:1-2, 5-11, Matthew 28:8-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it. Ps 118:24


Acts 2:14, 22-33, Psalm 16:1-2, 5-11, Matthew 28:8-15

Acts 2:14, 22-33

My soul's beloved, St. Peter assures me that today that You who are exalted at the right hand of God the Father has poured out upon all who believe the awesome promise of the Holy Spirit. We have seen how 11 frightened men are transformed into warriors of the Truth as the begin to teach and preach the Way in order that all who believe receive Life in its abundance. 

Peter, who denied You not once but three times after brashly vowing to follow You even to death, and who hid himself and slunk away mortally afraid that as Your disciple they would probably crucify him as well, is now transformed into the Rock, unshakable, immovable, as he proclaims to all his hearers that You whom they had crucified, had risen just as it was foretold and now lives never to die again.  He and the eleven would spend their lives boldly witnessing to this truth and they would suffer much and eventually be put to death. We now carry on that legacy, for we too have received the same mission to go out to the ends of the earth and proclaim the Good News that saves all - Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! Alleluia!!!

Psalm 16:1-2, 5-11

My soul's beloved, we who believe are called to have the same hope and confidence that You had in the Father during the time You walked the earth as a Man. You trusted in God to raise You up again  after You had laid down Your Life for us in order that we may not suffer eternal death. It is You who now keep us safe, it is You who are our hope, we take refuge in You for You are our Savior, our Redeemer, our Brother, our Bridegroom.

You have poured Your Spirit upon us who is our Counselor who makes known to us the Truth that leads to Life. We are confident that You will not allow us to be abandoned to death but will grant us a share in Your Life and Your inheritance forever.

Matthew 28:8-15

My soul's beloved like Mary Magdalene and the other Mary who believe in the empty tomb and in the Resurrection are called to witness joyfully to this truth and just as they met You on the way You too will meet us. In fact we encounter You all the time, in the Sacraments, and every time we enter into the temple of our soul where You live and reign. You assure us constantly as You did them, "Do not be afraid. Go and announce the Good News to everyone and they too shall see me. There will always be enemies of the Truth, there will always be those who are prepared to go to any lengths to spread a false gospel, one that brings with it violence, evil, and death. The evil one will continue to sow weeds among the wheat until You come again to cut down and winnow separating the wheat from the chaff. You will gather the wheat and burn the chaff in flames that will never be put out.

Acts 10:34, 37-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed;
let us feast with joy in the Lord. 1 Cor 5:7-8

EASTER SUNDAY

Acts 10:34, 37-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9

Acts 10:34, 37-43

My soul's beloved, You are the Way that leads to the Father's house, You anointed us who are baptized into Your Body, with the Holy Spirit and with fire, and we too like Peter have received the great commission. We are to be Your witnesses every waking moment. We are to give testimony of all the miracles we have received from the moment of our conception. We are be on fire with the Good News proclaiming it by our words, our deeds, and our lives.

Raised from the dead You now live among us, You make Your home in our tabernacles, in our churches, and above all in our hearts. We are living temples of Your Holy Spirit and we acknowledge You as the One appointed by God to take away the sins of the world. 

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

My soul's beloved, today the Church and all the members of Your Body, Your Faithful, rejoice with renewed hope and gratitude at the wonder of Your glorious Resurrection from the dead. In Your Resurrection is our hope of eternal life with the Triune God. Truly the mercy of God is unfathomable and inexhaustible. 

Raised from the dead You our glorious Lord are seated at the Right Hand of the Father and to You who are exalted by Him are given all power, all creatures bow before You and acknowledge with gladness and gratitude what the Lord has done for us and how marvellously He rescued us from the jaws of death and the gates of hell. We no longer face eternal separation through the sin of Adam but in You the New Adam we are given life. The stone rejected has now become the Cornerstone of the House of God, and is the Gate through which we enter heaven. Truly we rejoice and are glad on this day of days that the Lord has made.

Colossians 3:1-4

My soul's beloved, I no longer belong to the world. I have been raised with You who are seated beside the Living God, the God of our life. We already are in heaven for our lives are hidden in Your glorious life since we are grafted to You through Baptism. Yes, our bodies that are still in the flesh must live out our lives until the appointed time when we will sleep the sleep of death and awake to eternal life in the Kingdom to take the place that You have prepared for us. We wait with longing for that day when You will come again, this time resplendent in glory and majesty to claim all that belongs to God and we are assure of a share in Your glory because we have believed that the Father sent You into the world to ensure that where You are the rest of His children too may be.

John 20:1-9

My soul's beloved, the empty tomb is the reason for our exultant joy. Death could not hold You. Mary of Magdala, that faithful sinner who was forgiven much and so loved much, arrived in the early hours of the morning, while yet dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. Assuming that Your Body was stolen she ran to inform Peter and both he and John came running to see for themselves. Forgetting You had told them that You would rise again on the third day, they entered the tomb and found it empty, all they saw were the burial cloths. The full implication of what they had seen would not yet be realized until they saw You alive in Your resurrected body in their midst once again.

Thank You beloved for the empty tomb.

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I give you a new commandment, says the Lord:
love one another as I have loved you. Jn 13:34

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 
John 13:1-15

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

My soul's beloved, from the moment our first parents sinned in Eden the consequences of that sin reverberated through all creation and severing forever oure relationship with God. It was a sin committed by choice despite all they knew of the father, despite the fact that the god of love walked with them every evening in the cool of the garden, they chose to believe Satan rather than the God they knew had created them and loved them.  The consequences of sin is separation from God and enslavement to sin the sinner is no longer free because he or she is the servant of the flesh, the devil and the world their appetites are insatiable and can only lead to destruction and ruin. 

The God of love could not, would not let sin have the last word and so we see in the Passover God showing us how a lamb, perfectly formed would become the means by which our relationship with Him could be restored again. The Blood of the Lamb sprinkled on every household, on the lintel and doorposts would protect all those within that household to be saved from death.

Today, as we enter the Easter Triduum, Your Church recalls, just as the Jews do that first Passover, how God through You His well beloved Son, saved us. Innocence, Beauty, Purity, and Love entered into the depths of human wickedness and evil and recovered and restored to the Father what what Adam and Eve had so wantonly carelessly and callously lost.

Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18

My soul's beloved, today we are reminded that our coming together at every Eucharistic celebration is not optional, it is a command of love that we have communion as members of Your Body. We are instructed to continue what You did at the Last Supper as a memorial until You come again. The Cup of Salvation is the Chalice of Your Blood which has the power to cleanse from all sin and to restore to eternal life. All the faithful who die at the end of their earthly life take it up again anew in the Kingdom of God. At every Holy Mass we recall how the Blood of the Lamb that was slain set us free from slavery to sin. Thank You my Beloved for this season of Lent when every year we recall what You did for us and the price that was paid for our freedom.

 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

My soul's beloved, Your Church will never cease to proclaim, through the Eucharistic celebration, what You have done for us and what Your Sacrifice accomplished for all humanity. Today, Maundy Thursday, we recall what You did on the night You were betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinners, You instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of the Priesthood so we could eat Your Flesh and drink Your Blood in order to receive Your Life in abundance. It is the Sacrifice of our Salvation, it is the Cup of the New Covenant sealed in Your Blood and we will continue to celebrate this Memorial until You come again in glory to restore all things to the Eternal Father.

John 13:1-15

My soul's beloved, at the perfection of Your Manhood You were the Lamb without stain or blemish who had finally arrived at the hour when You would be handed over to evil. But there were yet monumental acts of love that were first to be made - acts of love that would remain as long as time. Eternal signs of Your unfathomable love that was loath to leave us orphans. You washed the feet of Your disciples, You instituted the two great Sacraments the Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist - the first would ensure that we would always find forgiveness through the supreme act of Sacrifice made for us on the Cross and the second that through the supreme act of Sacrifice made for us on the Cross You would break Your Body like Bread in order to feed us. As the Father fed the people of Israel with manna in the desert so would You feed us with the heavenly Manna. The first a foreshadowing of the second.

You washed the feet of the disciples to show us how we are to serve one another in love. Ready to stoop low and minister to one another in compassion and mercy. Always ready to forgive and love anew.  You have shown us the Way and You instruct us to walk in it.

Isaiah 49:1-6, Psalm 71:1-6, 15 & 17, John 13:21-33, 36-38

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father;
you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.


Isaiah 49:1-6, Psalm 71:1-6, 15 & 17, John 13:21-33, 36-38

Isaiah 49:1-6

My soul's beloved, if the Father had not sent You all the prophecies in the Old Testament would have remained unfulfilled but now as we read all that was said concerning the One who was to come, we see how perfectly all finds meaning and completion in You. The Light of the world throws such a marvelous and powerful light on each prophecy and we see the Son of God and the Son of Man emerge from the shadows of the Old Testament to shine brilliantly in the New  for You are the final, ultimate Covenant that God makes with us, a Covenant sealed in Your precious Blood.

The angel revealed to a young virgin that she was to conceive and bear a Son, she was told the Name by which You were to be called. You are the double, sharp-edged sword, the Word of God that can cut through bone and marrow making a home in our heart. 

You were delivered into the hands of the wicked who treated You whom angels adore and worship, as one of no account, the hatred of the world, consumed by evil who had its hour, viciously tore into You with malice unimaginable against One who was Innocence. And while it may have been thought that they had won, in truth, they had accomplished what God willed in ensuring that the crown of His glory be restored to Him. You had to take upon Yourself a punishment that was ours, You had to enter into our death in order to destroy its power forever and You opened the way back to Heart of God and the Kingdom of God. Glorious in the sight of God You are now the Light of the nations and Your salvation reaches the ends of the earth,

Psalm 71:1-6, 15 & 17

My soul's beloved, thank You for making a place for me in You who are my refuge, my Rock, my Strength. In the cleft of Your side, under the shadow of Your wings I make my home. You have rescued me from the jaws of death and have freed me from the snares that are set for me constantly. You are my joy, my hope and the reason I am alive. Thank You for saving me and for the place that I shall someday have in Your Kingdom forever.

John 13:21-33, 36-38

How many times will I deny You my soul's beloved, before the cock crows and I return to my senses, repent in sorrow, and return to You whom I have betrayed and sinned against repeatedly since I was born? You foretold Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial and yet they each went ahead and did the dastardly deed. How easy it is for me to point fingers although I too sin repeatedly.  

I pray my Lord that I too have the privilege to lay down my life for You perhaps not as Peter and the others did but in dying to myself and accepting Your will in all the circumstances of my life. 

Isaiah 42;1-7, Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14, John 12:1-11

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Hail to you, our King;
you alone are compassionate with our faults.

Isaiah 42;1-7, Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14, John 12:1-11


Isaiah 42;1-7

My soul's beloved, You were always aware that it was Your Father who sent You and together with the Holy Spirit You accomplished His will to perfection. This is why He sent You into the world to redeem it, to sanctify it, to restore to the Father once more that which without Your ultimate Sacrifice would forever have been lost to Him, human beings, the crown of His creation.We have a natural concupiscence to sin and evil, a legacy received from our first parents, You came to triumph over sin and death and the slavery to sin by which we are all shackled. You did not come to mow us down but to heal us, save us, free us not by haranguing us but cajoling us gently like a mother her recalcitrant child. You reveal to us the will of the Father and the awesome destiny He has in store for us if we obey Him and heed Your call to a life of holiness, purity, and goodness. The God who created us for Himself has created us for infinite joy in His Presence for ever and You made this possible. You were sent into the world as its light. You came to take away our blindness and to break the shackles that kept us enslaved. Thank You Lord.

Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14

My soul's beloved, You are our light, our salvation, our refuge and strength and with You we are invincible. We need not fear the terrors of the night and of darkness as long as we walk in Your Light that the darkness cannot put out. We are victorious in You. We are triumphant in the triumph won for us on the Cross. Death no longer holds a threat over us for in You we have life everlasting and in abundance. Although we stumble, we shall not fall, and should we fall we need not fear for You wait for us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and You restore to us all we had lost and more for we receive grace and strength to overcome temptation and the wiles of the Devil.

John 12:1-11

My soul's beloved, when in imitation of You we spend ourselves for Your glory our lives take on a pleasing fragrance to the Lord just like the fragrance that filled the room when Mary anointed Your feet with genuine aromatic nard. All our actions bust be authentic and must be inspired by love and love alone. Love spurs us on to heights of greater acts of self donation. When we fix our eyes on You we are inspired to be like You and grace transforms us slowly but surely into the person that the Father created us to be. The Holy Spirit makes this transformation possible when we allow Him full control over us. 

There will always be people like Judas Iscariot who will look at the actions of those who greatly love and are not concerned with being stingy with either the giving of themselves or what the possess with a self righteous, condescending and critical spirit. Mary's selfless act of generosity as she anointed Your feet, pointed out to something greater - Your identity, Your impending passion and death, leading up to Your triumphant Resurrection through which You would restore to the Father all that was lost to us forever.  John the evangelist points us Judas' hypocrisy in scathing terms, indicting him of being a thief who stole from the common purse. You rebuked Judas reminding him that they will always have the poor but not You.

You raised Lazarus from the dead proving definitively that You were truly the Son of God - this the chief priests would not tolerate. You had to die. They were so evil they even plotted the death of Lazarus for he who was dead for four days, was a living testimony of Your power. The status quo was being threatened as many Jews began to believe, and so the stage was set for the final show down between good and evil.

Ezekiel 37:21-28, Jeremiah 31:10-13, John 11:45-56

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Ez 18:31


Ezekiel 37:21-28, Jeremiah 31:10-13, John 11:45-56


Ezekiel 37:21-28

My soul's beloved, this is a prophecy for our times, while it may have been one also for the people of Israel who were scattered, it is more truly one of what God has done for us in You, with You and through You. Unity is the gift and the work of the Holy Spirit. You made that beautiful prayer to the Father that we may be one just as You and the Father are One. You desire that we may also be one with You and the Father and one with each other. This is the Kingdom that You came to establish with You as our King and our Ruler. 

Never has there been a greater defilement, greater apostasies, greater transgressions, in any age as the one in which we live. Our idols are our entertainment, our body, our gadgets, people, pleasure, and pandering to the desires of our flesh until we have become insensate. There is no silence and silence is not encouraged for if we only took a moment to look at the abomination our lives have become we would be horrified. Yet, You give us hope. You assure us of deliverance and cleansing so we may once be Your people and You our God. Calvary and the Cross will continue to draw the world and all its people to You in every time and age even though we transgress and wantonly destroy ourselves in hedonism.

As David was prince over a united Israel, so are will You be the King of Kings over a united world and all its people. Your laws, written on our hearts will be observed and obeyed. You will grant us life in abundance and blessings shall flow from generation to generation who will live in the peace that was obtained through the shedding of Your Blood and the everlasting Covenant of Love that You established. 

You have made Your dwelling place among us. You are present in all the tabernacles of the world where You draw Your faithful to You night and day until time comes to a close and You will set up Your Sanctuary forever.

Jeremiah 31:10-13

My soul's beloved, the Word of God came into the world, and dwells among us. It is You who gather people from the ends of the earth and together we all climb up the Holy Mountain, to the place where You dwell and we offer to You our sacrifice of praise, worship, adoration and thanksgiving. You are the Shepherd that gathers the flock and brings them together. You guard us as the apple of Your eye. You go in search of the lost and carry them home.  All are saved and all will come to the knowledge of Truth. All will be led on the Way that You have opened to the heart of the Father through the Holy Spirit our Teacher, our Guide, our Paraclete, our Helper. 

In the celebration of the Holy Eucharist from the rising of the sun to its setting the Name of the Lord is glorified. We are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb and we are more than conquerors through the streams of blessings that flow from the throne of Grace to us. We are fed on the finest grain, the fattest lambs, the sweetest honey, the best oil.

As we are made holy, as we understand and live by the two great commandments of Love of God and love of neighbor, we will become a royal people, a holy nation with You as our King. You will turn our mourning into dancing, our sorrow to joy, You will console us and wipe away the tears from every eye and peace will once more be ours a peace that only You can give.  We pray for that day. We long for that day. We will see that day for God Himself has promised it to us.

John 11:45-56

My soul's beloved, the raising of Lazarus to life after he was dead four days was clear proof of Your identity. Only God has power over life and death this was self-evident. This is why Your enemies were livid, anxious, and prepared to go to any lengths to preserve the status quo. The power and position they enjoyed was being threatened. The Way that Your proposed was so controversial, so contradictory,that they could not imagine embracing it.  The Law had become of paramount importance and anything that threatened it had to be obliterated. They were prepared to murder to achieve this end.

You raised Lazarus from the dead when his body had already begun to decompose and the people believed that here among them was truly God in human flesh. If this Good News was broadcast everyone would come to believe, and the great fear was that the Romans would kill all the Jews, so Caiaphas said better that You should die before Israel as they knew it be completely destroyed. They thought as men do not as God does. And so without knowing it Caiaphas, the Pharisees, the Scribes, the religious authorities and the Rome all colluded together to bring about the the death of the Son of God, sent by the Father to become the Eternal Sacrifice by which the whole world was saved, redeemed, and reconciled forever to Him.

Jeremiah 20:10-13, Psalm 18-2-7, John 10:31-42

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life. Jn 6:63, 68


Jeremiah 20:10-13, Psalm 18-2-7, John 10:31-42

Jeremiah 20:10-13

My soul's beloved, there are people in the Old Testament who were chosen for terrible agony and suffering because they were chose by God to make known the wicked ways of the rich, the powerful, the rulers so they could turn away from sin and return to God. However more often than not it had the reverse effect, they were hated so much they were hounded, persecuted, threats were made against their lives, plots were hatched, and they became fugitives  and sometime they were tortured and put to death. They had no way of knowing that all they suffered would pale in comparison to what You were made to undergo and that all their prophecies concerning One who was to come would find their fulfillment in You. Now, however it all makes perfect sense as Your life shines a powerful light on them and all that God was doing is revealed in the light of the Gospels.

In the first reading from Jeremiah today all that he had written about his suffering can be attributed to You for this is how You too were hounded and persecuted and finally put to death. A necessary death so that the God of Life may grant us who were doomed to die to rise up to new life in You.

Help me never to complain if I am privileged to suffer but grant me the grace to be aware that redemptive suffering continues to make up what is lacking in Your suffering - by granting me the honor of having a share in the ultimate Sacrifice made for me and for the whole world.

Psalm 18-2-7

My soul's beloved, sin is a terrible thing and grave sin brings with it death and total banishment from You. Were it not for You Lord, God, Savior, Deliverer, Rock, Fortress, Refuge we would be fodder for the Enemy. But God so loved the world, and You so loved the Father that You came into the world to become the new Adam and take upon Yourself the punishment that was ours for the wages of sin is death.

Now Beloved, when we find our foot slipping all we need do is call upon Your Name, the Name of One who Saves, Jesus, and You instantly reach out to us and save us. You defend and protect us from the snares of the devil. You throw around us a mighty, impenetrable shield of grace and the enemy cannot breach its walls. You Body and Your Blood provides nourishment and strength so we can fight temptation. Thank You Lord for taking my place on the cross and becoming the Victim and the Holocaust of Sacrifice that takes away my sins and the sins of the whole world. 

John 10:31-42

My most beloved Jesus, my soul's beloved, we balk when the good are called to suffer, when Christians are stoned to death even in our day and age. Christians are hated and Christianity is looked upon with fear and suspicion and there are entire nations that ban public or private worship and practice of our Christian faith. Today's Gospel tells us the Jews hated You so much they picked up rocks to stone You to death and this was not the first time that their hatred prompted them to react so viciously to Your teaching.  There is absolutely no doubt that You were seen as a threat to their way of life and to the status quo and it is no different today as well. Real Christians continue to be seen as a threat for they will not back down from speaking the truth.

You pleaded Your cause before Your tormentors and accusers and  cited Sacred Scripture to support Your claims of who You were but nothing will deter those who have chosen the path of evil to change their course. They are so blinded by their own evil, so hardened of heart, that they refuse to believe the Truth even though it shone so brilliantly before them. The Father of Lies is murderer and a marauder and those who have given themselves up to him will not rest until they bring their evil plans to fruition. You did not back down from the truth even though it would bring You the hour of death and of the Crucifixion for this is why You came into the world. This is why we now will enter into the Passion Week leading up to the heart of what we believe, the core truths of our faith, that we are saved through Your death and we receive eternal life through Your glorious Resurrection. 

Death did not have the last word, it never has, it never will.

Genesis 17:3-9, Psalm 105:4-9, John 8:51-59

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

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


Genesis 17:3-9, Psalm 105:4-9, John 8:51-59


Genesis 17:3-9

My soul's beloved, like Abraham we must never forget who God is and who we are. It is God who always condescends to us His creatures, He created us and He loves us we belong to Him, we are His possessions, and our whole life must be one of worship prostrate before His majesty always. It is God who desires to make a Covenant with us and to have a covenant relationship with us. It is God who seeks us, and invites us to enter into a a sacred covenant to which he will remain faithful forever whether or not we are faithful. Every baptized Christian and how much more so every Catholic who lives the fullness of faith in the Church He founded is privileged to live this Covenant relationship with the Triune God. It is God who prospers us, who renders us fertile, who empowers us, who shares with us His inheritance, who deigns to call us His children and raises us up with You because You have deigned to be brought low for our sake so that we may experience the wonder of being loved faithfully and eternally by God. This Covenant He makes not only with us but with all who come after us. It is a Covenant that will last forever.

Psalm 105:4-9

My soul's beloved, You are the Covenant, the Living Covenant, the Eternal Covenant of Love made visible, made incarnate - the Son of the Father, the Son of God. You came to serve, You came to give Your life as a ransom, You came to experience our death in order that we may receive Your life in all its fullness. From the moment of creation, God who created us in love, desired nothing more than to share His life in paradise. When we sinned, He did not abandon us as we justly deserved but instead recalled the Covenant He made and found a way to reconcile us once more to Himself, through Your obedience, Your suffering, Your passion, Your crucifixion, Your death. You were crushed by sorrow in order that You may triumph over evil and make expiation for our sins. And now You are raised up forever and the Covenant that God forged with us in Your Blood seals us to Him through You forever.

John 8:51-59

My soul's beloved, truth is abhorrent to the wicked, how often we see the Jews pick up stones to kill You because something You said or did stirred up a vicious hatred which sought to remove You from their sight because You stirred their conscience which they had long appeased with lies and half truths. Your works proved Your words for if God were not with You, You would not have the power to do all that You said You had seen Your Father do. If we are to live we must listen to Your Word, believe in Your Word and act on Your Word there is no middle ground. The Father testified aloud that You were His Son in whom He was pleased and He commanded that we listen to You. Before Abraham was, You said, I AM, the Jews recognized this Name by which God identified Himself to Abraham. I AM.

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95, Daniel 3:52-56, John 8:31-42

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart

and yield a harvest through perseverance.  Lk 8:15

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95, Daniel 3:52-56, John 8:31-42

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95

My soul's beloved, the world demands that we bow down to the culture and to accept all that it dictates in matters of morals and faith. I blurs the lines between good and evil, between lies and the truth, between things that are holy and wicked, and it demands that we obey, to acquiesce, and if we don't the world persecutes, hounds, ostracizes, and will even put to death the innocent. Those who wish to peddle lies for truth have no conscience and desire that no one else have a conscience either. 

Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego were prepared to die rather than yield to the vanity of the king even though they knew that the penalty was death. Over and over again You show us that those who walk on the side of Truth will live. In fact You will walk with us and Your mighty hand will save.

Daniel 3:52-56

My soul's beloved, You are worthy of praise always in heaven and on the earth. The angels and the saints constantly prostrate before You and worship You and we are privileged to join them in our Liturgies here on earth. Our worship is joined to theirs and they join in ours as together heaven and earth sing of the glory of Your majesty. You are worthy to be praised,and I know that when I praise You I am transformed for all praise, and worship unlocks the power of the Holy Spirit and we rise up to You on wings of eagles. May I continually seek to praise You alone and together with Your Church and in doing so form me daily in Your image and likeness.

John 8:31-42

My soul's beloved, how passionately You spoke imploring the chosen people of Israel that God the Father had sent You to save them, to reveal the Truth about Him to them and they rejected You and were even as You spoke, plotting to put You to death. They were so caught up in their own desire to hold on to their power, that they cared not that they were actually plotting to kill the Son of God. They refused to believe on the strength of Your miracles, they refused to believe even though they had never heard anyone speak and teach as You did. The people in authority were so blinded by their rage, and their fears, that they were prepared to put You to death in the most cruel way knows to man rather than be converted and freed from slavery to sin. They insisted that Abraham was their father but You responded most emphatically, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me." Thank You Father for loving us so much that You were prepared to give up Your First Born Son in order to redeem, through Him, all Your adopted children.

Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21, John 8:21-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.


Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21, John 8:21-30

Numbers 21:4-9

My soul's beloved, this is our wilderness and it is from here that we journey to the Promised Land which is the Kingdom of God. This journey lasts a lifetime and it is during this journey that can become difficult and impossible sometimes that we begin to complain and become cantankerous. But it is the very difficulties that we chafe against that helps us to grow strong in faith, to rely on You for strength, and to count on You for help with the confidence of a child. But there are times when we succumb to temptation and sin and the wages of grave sin is death. But God does not desire the destruction of the sinner - He created us for life and life in abundance this is why He instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent, mount it on a pole and told Moses to ask all who had been bitten with the deadly poison to raise their eyes to the serpent thus raised above the ground and they would live. 

You took upon Yourself the sin all all human beings from the first to last. You allowed the punishment of sin to fall upon Your innocent Body. You paid the price that sin demands, eternal death, and in paying the price You gave us in exchange Your Life, the Life that leads to a share in Your glory eternally.

Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21

My soul's beloved, each time I called You answered. When I was filled with sadness and anxiety You came to my help and You comforted me. You have always heard my prayers and granted me what I needed. You are never further away than the sound of my cry. You are no shrouded in secrecy in heaven, hidden from the people You created but You come down to us, You walk with us, You make our heart Your home and You feed us with Your own Flesh and give us to drink of Your Blood. We eat and drink and we are transformed, healed, strengthened and are renewed in faith, hope, and love. We praise You Lord. May every breath I breathe praise You my soul's most beloved.

John 8:21-30

My soul's beloved, every sinner, like the Pharisees are given a chance to repent and to renounce sin. You kept nothing hidden but spoke plainly of the events that were to come. They would take Your life and in doing so, because of their unbelief, they would have lost their chance of being saved by the Messiah, the One that they were waiting for but did not recognize when He came among them. How often my Lord, have I failed to recognize You when You came to me in the disguise of my neighbor? You said that anything I do to him or her I do to You.

So long as I prefer to remain in the world and refuse to look beyond the desires of the flesh I can have no part in You. There is nothing hidden anymore - You revealed plainly to the world that the Father sent You and even today, as then, You are rejected. People behave like they have a choice, an option to believe or not, to accept or not that You are the great I AM, the Son of the Living God, the One sent by the Father to become the expiation for our sins. If we deny You then we condemn ourselves to eternal damnation.

Once again You foretell Your death and the manner in which You will die. You will be raised up like the bronze serpent in the desert, above the earth, and only those who look at You and believe that You are the Savior of the world, will receive the salvation that You came to give. You did all things to perfection and in perfect accord with the Father's will - teach me too to accept all that You will for my life joyfully.