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.