Genesis 17: 1, 19-10, 15-22, Psalm 128:1-5, Matthew 8:1-4

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases. Mt. 8:17

Genesis 17: 1, 19-10, 15-22, Psalm 128:1-5, Matthew 8:1-4

Genesis 17: 1, 19-10, 15-22

Dear Love, 

All that God said to Abraham is true for everyone who is baptized. We are called to walk in Your presence and be blameless. We are called to honor and keep the Covenant God made with us through Your eternal Sacrifice and not only we but our descendants as well must keep it. Abraham's descendants were called to be circumcised, we are to be baptized and grafted into You.

God's promises to us might seem impossible, but we must believe for You are the God of the impossible and You can do anything. You can cause to be where nothing was. Only You can create something out of nothing just as Isaac was conceived from what was barren.

Sometimes we instruct God the best way that He should act according to our human wisdom, but God always has the most perfect plan and we can trust that God always knows best and that God always keeps His promises even to the thousandth generation. 

Psalm 128:1-5

Dear Love,

We are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If we are wise we will fear You, stand in wonder and awe before You, tremble in terror lest we offend You who are all good, all loving, all merciful and full of tenderness and compassion and all worthy of our love. 

When we have a holy fear of the all-powerful and all-gracious God then we will have understood to some degree why a holy fear is in keeping with who God is and who we are and we will be blessed. We will receive an abundance of the fruits from the merits that You won for us and Your favor shall rest on us.

You will bless us and our homes, and our children, our children's children until the last generation. You Yourself along with the Father and the Holy Spirit will ensure that we live always under Your mighty protection. Safe always for You are our refuge.

Matthew 8:1-4

Dear Love,

We can be part of the crowd who are awed for a while and then move on or we can be part of the inner circle that walks with You daily and is fed and nourished by You. Wonder and awe will be our constant companions for we will always be aware that You are God, all powerful, all knowing, all loving. You will encompass us and our whole focus will be to love You and please You but striving to do Your will always.

Here we see the leper, he had no hope until he encountered You. He recognized that You are God and he bowed before You. He then made his plea, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." We have Your prompt, loving and merciful response as You stretched out Your hand, unafraid to touch him because he was was unclean but in touching the leper You had the power to make him clean. "I will do it," You said, "Be made clean."

The Gospel writer says that the leprosy was cleansed immediately. This is what the Sacrament of Reconciliation does for us. As soon as we are repentant and beg for forgiveness and healing You grant it. However, it is necessary to approach the priest, and by this outward act of  obedience to Your command, and the inward attitude of contrition, repentance, and purpose of amendment to sin no more, we are restored back into communion with God,with the people of God His Church, and with ourselves.

Thank You Beloved, for the awesome gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Acts 12:1-11, Psalm 34:2-9, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, Matthew 16:13-19

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. Mt 16:18


Acts 12:1-11, Psalm 34:2-9, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, Matthew 16:13-19


Acts 12:1-11

Dear Love,

Those who belong to You can trust You to care for them in all circumstances. Peter was fulfilling the mission You entrusted to him to preach and teach the Good News and for this he was imprisoned. King Herod began a persecution of the Church and when he ordered James to be killed and how his evil act pleased the Jews who hated all Your followers, he arrested Peter, who was clearly the head of the group of disciples. He was put under heavy guard and escape was humanly impossible.

Peter calmly went to sleep for he trusted in You, and the Church was praying for him. We cannot underestimate the power of prayer. Prayer moves mountains. With prayer we can accomplish the impossible. Prayer unlocks the the irresistible power of God we see God work the most awesome miracles. 

God sends His angels always and sets us free from every chain that binds us. The angel came to Peter and woke him up, the chains that shackled him fell from his wrists. The angel instructed him to dress up, to wear his belt, sandals and cloak and to follow him. The doors of the prison opened mysteriously and he was brought out from under the very noses of the guards that we appointed to keep watch. Having done what God had sent him to do the left him.

You always send Your angels to rescue those who put their total faith in You.

Psalm 34:2-9

Dear Love,

Praise is the language of the people of God. We are called to be aware always of how blessed we are and how You have saved us and songs of thanksgiving, praise, and adoration, should overflow from grateful hearts in joyful songs. How good You are - You appoint angels to watch over us all our lives. The pray for us and carry our prayers to Your throne of grace. They minister to us.

Thank You for my angel and thank You for all the times I have been delivered from evil because of his vigilance.  Truly Beloved, I look at You and my heart is radiant with joy for being privileged to come into Your holy Presence. Thank You for hearing and answering all my prayers and thank You for the most powerful way You act in my favor over and over again. Thank You for the privilege of tasting You in the Holy Eucharist and making the joyful discovery that You indeed are very, very good. Thank You for making a hiding place for me in Your Sacred Heart which is my refuge.

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

Dear Love,

Paul was entrusted with the great task of bringing the Gospel to the gentiles and this he did most successfully despite all the hardships he had to undergo in accomplishing his mission. Now at the evening of his life, as he reflects on all that he has done for Your glory and for the Kingdom of God, he is sure of his reward. He believes that he will receive the crown of righteousness and not only he but all who serve You faithfully.

You make available the grace and the strength, You grant the faith, You strengthen when we are weak, and give us courage when fear threatens to assail us and render us unable to engulf us. You have given us the Sacraments that enable us to be always ready for battle and to emerge victorious. Many are the dangers that evil surrounds us with but Your hand renders us victorious. And in the end Beloved, it is You who will brings us safely home to the Kingdom of God and to the place that has been reserved for us. Glory, honor, and praise to You forever and ever.


Matthew 16:13-19

Dear Love,

At some point in the life of every one who believes in You, must respond to this question, "Who do you say that I am?" And like Peter we must respond with resounding conviction, "You are the Christ, the one anointed by the Father, the only Son of the Living God." To us You will also say, that not flesh but the power of the Holy Spirit has revealed this awesome truth to us.

Peter was given primacy over the other apostles and disciples and to him has been given the keys to the Kingdom of God. God's choice rests on him and we are called to give Peter and those who have come after him the honor that is due to him. The Church is built on a firm, sure foundation, on the Rock that is Peter and all who are baptized are commanded to obey him for His authority has been given to him by You, 

"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. 
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9, Matthew 7:15-20

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit. Jn 15:4-5

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9, Matthew 7:15-20

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Dear Love,

God created, God chose, God promises and God keeps every one of His promises. The truth is this that we can always put our whole faith, hope, and trust in the Triune God for He never fails.

From the first pages of God's Word we see how God loves and because He loves with a love that is alive He wants to share that awesome love with men and women whom He created in His image and breathed into them His Spirit.

He then chooses from all the nations one man Abraham and through his descendants He reveals who He is and how great is His love and His favor to those whom He has chosen for Himself.  He gives Abraham an heir when Sarah was long past the years of childbearing so we know without a doubt that He can do anything. He is the God of the impossible. 

We are heirs of Abraham our father in faith and just as he was counted righteous before God, so does our Father consider all who believe in You, righteous before Him.

To us God has made an everlasting Covenant and we are heirs to the Kingdom which is first established in our hearts. Each one of us who is a member of Your Body must work to establish the Kingdom on earth so You will come again to claim it and all who are in it for Yourself forever.

Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9

Dear Love,

God makes Covenants with man beginning with the first one He made with Abraham and culminating in the final Covenant which is sealed in Your Blood and ratified by the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of life and grace. The work of redemption is the work of the Father who willed that You offer Yourself as the Perfect Sacrifice, You who obeyed and gave Yourself up in obedience to the Father, and the Holy Spirit who enable us to live a life of grace so we can grow in Your image and likeness and thus be fitted for eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Praise indeed is fitting for all hearts who know You, love You and desire to serve You in humility and love in joyful response for all You have done for us. You never forget that we belong to You and we are before You constantly and not only us but our descendants too have received Your promise and Your assurance for You have bound Yourself to us until You come again to claim us for Yourself forever.

Matthew 7:15-20

Dear Love,

Today You caution us not to be deceived by those who are agents of evil but appear to be good. We are called to be as gentle as doves but nevertheless to be wise and not naive. We are called to test everything against all that You have revealed to us. Most especially we will know evil if there is a contradiction between between action and words. The fruit will reveal whether they are for You or against You. 

We too must ensure that we bear good fruit in order that those who see us may believe and come to know You and love You too. Keep me faithful Beloved, so I may always bear good fruit that will last and thus glorify You who are my Lord and my God.

Genesis 13:2,5-18, Psalm 15:2-5, Matthew 7:6, 12-14

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life. Jn 8:12

Genesis 13:2,5-18, Psalm 15:2-5, Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Genesis 13:2,5-18

Dear Love,

When You bless there is no end to the abundance of Your blessings upon those whom You have called to be Your own. As children of God we are called to live in harmony with one another for Your came to bring peace to the world not as the world gives it but as the wisdom of God grants it to His own.

Like Abram we are called to be generous when we give to one another trusting that whatever portion is left to us will continue to be blessed by God and be fruitful. We in turn must never forget all the favors God has granted to us and must be faithful to Him always, offering Him the love, praise, honor, worship, and adoration that are due to Him alone.

Psalm 15:2-5

Dear Love,

We do not have to wonder about how we are called to live as righteous children of the Father. Your Word is clear and offers many insights on how we are to live in order to be pleasing to God. 

Today the psalmist tells us very clearly how we can live lives of serenity in the midst of chaos. We are called to be just, to avoid sin, to contemplate on truth, to speak ill of no one. We are called to do no harm to anyone, to have nothing to do with those who blatantly live sinful lives from choice. To fear God always with a holy fear of reverence and awe. To give freely for we have received freely. Do all this the psalmist says and you will serenely in the world, being in it and not of it and therefore untouched by it.

Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Dear Love,

There are things that are too sacred and cannot be shared with those who do not know their worth. Those who walk in the dark cannot bear the light of truth, they are blinded by it and are quite capable of tearing to pieces that which they do not understand but feel terror because they cannot refute the truth so they turn with raging hate and seek to destroy that which they cannot make any sense of. 

They live by the law of the world that teaches an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. However, to the children of light You say, "

"Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few."

It is a very sobering thought when we read in Scripture that only those who believe will be saved. While we are all potentially saved, not all of us actually desire to be saved by the one, holy, perfect Sacrifice that made atonement for the sins of all men. My soul's  beloved, keep me and all those I love safe for eternal life.

Genesis 12:1-9, Psalm 33:12-13, 18-20, 22, Matthew 7:1-5

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

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


Genesis 12:1-9, Psalm 33:12-13, 18-20, 22, Matthew 7:1-5


Genesis 12:1-9

Dear Love,

To each of the baptized You give a mission and to each You command that we go out into the place that You have prepared for us. As we journey You assure us that You will be with us. There is a life that God has mapped out for us and He does not leave us to figure it out on our own but has given us the Holy Spirit to help us and guide us every step of the way.

If we are faithful, You assure us that we will be a blessing to all and in turn will receive blessings. You will be our God and You will go before us to prepare the way for us. We are required to trust You completely in everything even when the road gets narrow and the path difficult. You will make Your home with us and You will live with us and in us and we will walk with the confidence and assurance of children who know they are greatly loved by the living God.

Psalm 33:12-13, 18-20, 22

Dear Love,

Once again You tell me through the words of the psalmist how precious I am in your sight. You have purchased me at a great price and now I am your inheritance - I know I am not worth much Beloved, but such as I am, I am wholly your own.

Thank You for keeping Your watchful gaze over me and all who belong to me. Your loving kindness never fails and this is why my hope in You burns brightly. You have delivered me over and over again from all kinds of calamities both earthly and spiritual.  Thank You Beloved, for the glorious destiny that is mine and while I await that day I have Your wonderful assurance that Your kindness will never be denied to me. Thank You.

Matthew 7:1-5

Dear Love,

How easily we criticize each other. We rudely remove You from the judgement seat appointed to You by God Himself and we begin to pass judgement on everyone whether we know the truth or not. We tear each others reputations to shred based on hearsay. We encourage gossip and rumor. We are careful to notice every tiny little defect in others while we go about parading our vices like they were virtues. We lack compassion, we show no mercy, we don't give a quarter to those who in a moment of weakness, or lapsed judgement do foolish things. We are ready to destroy rather than build. 

Today You remind us to be mindful of our own sinfulness, our weakness, and to be less quick to take Your appointed place on the judgement seat. If we don't You warn us sternly that in the measure that we judge and condemn others we will be be judged and condemned.

Jeremiah 20:10-13, Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35, Romans 5:12-15, Matthew 10-26-33

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord;
and you also will testify. Jn 15:26-27


Jeremiah 20:10-13, Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35, 
Romans 5:12-15, Matthew 10-26-33

Jeremiah 20:10-13

Dear Love,

You called the prophet Jeremiah to make known to the ruler and the people the evil ways were displeasing to God and if they did not repent they would be punished. Because he called them out on their sins they hated him, hounded him, persecuted him and plotted tirelessly to put him to death. Jeremiah was constantly in hiding to escape from the  hands of his ruthless enemies. 

Sometimes, Beloved,we too are called to suffer, we who once were held in respect are now the target of whispers as people speculate and spread lies and rumors. There is even a sly wish that evil will prevail, not because these people are evil but because they are weak. However, we know that it is those You love who are tried as gold and silver in the furnace of suffering in order that we may be strengthened, tempered, purified. Let our vengeance be a calm and unshaken faith in You which does not flinch in the face of the adversary but remains calm because we are centered in You. Thank You once again from rescuing us from the very jaws of the enemy. We will praise and worship You and give You and You alone the glory all the days of our life.

Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 

Dear Love,

The Psalmist is crying out to God for help, just as You did in the Garden of Gethsemane and just as we did recently. And like the psalmist I cry out in triumph that in Your great love You did answer and You saved. At a time favorable to You we received liberation and our hearts were filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. Thank You for never  turning Your Face away from those who humble themselves before You and acknowledge that they can do nothing without You. Those who trust You to work in their favor just as You have promised will never be sent away empty handed. Thank You Beloved. We will give You all the glory, the honor and the praise that is due to You alone, our awesome God.

Romans 5:12-15

Dear Love,

St. Paul with the wisdom granted him by the Holy Spirit understood the consequences of the sin committed by Adam and how it tainted every human being from then on. Death entered into the world through their sin for the wages of sin is death and all had to taste it for the life of God was lost to us who once walked with God in the Garden of Eden and conversed with Him as one converses with  a friend. Death was our lot for every miserable one of us until God willed that we be saved by the Sinless One, who had to become sin, share our miserable human nature, die to it in order to raise it up in glory once again and restoring to us everything and more that was lost to us forever.

Through the sin of Adam the whole world suffered eternal death and through the willing obedience of One Man, the Eternal Son of the Living God, grace and life overflowed from the Cross to all and through You all who desire to be saved are saved.

Matthew 10-26-33


Jesus said to the Twelve:
"Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father."

Isaiah 49:1-6, Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15, Acts 13:22-26, Luke 1:57-66, 80

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way. Lk 1:76

Isaiah 49:1-6,  Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15, Acts 13:22-26, Luke 1:57-66, 80


Isaiah 49:1-6

Dear Love,

To the prophet Isaiah many wonderful revelations were given concerning You, Your coming, Your herald John the Baptist. These prophecies at regular intervals increased the anticipation and the longing for the wonderful things that God our Father was preparing the world for, Your coming into the world.

Here he speaks of St. John the Baptist, Your cousin, chosen by God to prepare the way for You. However, all these awesome things about John can also be applied to us, to me, in a way for each one of us is a thought of God, is part of the plan of God, and to each is given a mission to make You known and loved to the ends of the earth.  Called from the moment I was conceived, You gave me my name, You gave me Your Word which is sharper than a double-edged sword. I am Your servant, I am the handmaid of  God's handmaid and to all who belong to You, You have revealed Your power and Your glory.

Your light is given to me at baptism and I have a mission to shed that light no matter how tiny, weak, or flickering, to help  another find the way to You and to Your heart.

St. John the Baptist was faithful to the end. Grant that I too may be faithful until I breathe forth my spirit.

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15

Dear Love,

When St. John the Baptist was in Elizabeth's womb he encountered You when Mary when to visit her cousin. He leaped for joy for he recognized that he was in the presence of the Most High. From that instant he was filled with the Holy Spirit and with zeal to do all that God had planned for him.

Of him You said,there never was another born of woman who was greater than John and You added yet he who is the least in the Kingdom of God is greater. I am Your little nothing, truly the least of the least, and in my own minuscule way I desire to strive in all things to obey  You and do Your will. Thank You for creating me. Thank You for Your intimate knowledge of me. Thank You for my glorious destiny in You and with You forever.

Acts 13:22-26

Dear Love,

Paul recognized that St. John the Baptist was the herald of the Good News, a descendant of king David of whom God said, "I  have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish." So did St. John, he too carried out the Father's every wish even to the laying down of his life for the sake of the Truth. He testified that he was not the one that the people of God were waiting for, he was not the Messiah. In all humility he said he was too unworthy to even unfasten Your sandals.

Grant Beloved, that I too may understand the little place I have in the grand scheme of God's plan and that I may humbly but faithfully do all that You command.

Luke 1:57-66, 80

Dear Lord,

St. John the Baptist was a child of prophecy. Zechariah did not believe and was struck dumb. When Elizabeth gave birth she was asked to what his name would be, the name already chosen by God was John but they would not believe for there was no one of that name among their relatives. But God always does a new thing, the old ways must give way to the new and when Zechariah confirmed his name, his tongue was released for at last he was conforming to God's will.

Of each new child that comes into the world it ought to be said,

"What, then, will this child be?"
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him."

Stay with us Lord, stay with our children and may the awesome plans of God for each of be be realized for His glory and His glory alone. Amen.

Deuteronomy 7:6-11, Psalm 103:1-4, 6-7, 8, 10, 1 John 4:7-16, Matthew 11:25-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;
and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Mt 11:29

Deuteronomy 7:6-11, Psalm 103:1-4, 6-7, 8, 10, 1 John 4:7-16, Matthew 11:25-30


Deuteronomy 7:6-11

Dear Love, beloved Bridegroom of my soul,

Today the words of God that Moses spoke to the people of God You speak to me today even as You speak to every baptized Christian and especially every Catholic, as we celebrate the feast of Your Most Sacred Heart. 

I am sacred to God, I have been chosen from all all the nations on the face of the earth to be singularly Your Own. Not for any merit I possess but precisely because I have none. I am truly the least in every respect I know it and You too most certainly do. No. You chose me simply because You love me. There is no other reason than this. You are kind, tenderhearted, merciful, full of compassion and infinite love. Your loving hand of benediction is sworn not only to me but to my descendants to the thousandth generation.

Bless all who bless me Beloved, and bless in double measure all those who curse me or work against me and mine. Amen.


Psalm 103:1-4, 6-7, 8, 10

Dear Love, beloved Bridegroom of my soul,

Today, once again I recall Your many kindnesses to me and Mine and I pledge to bless you and Your Holy Name all the days of my life. I will continually give You praise, glory, and honor each time an opportunity to do so presents itself either privately or in public. Thank You for not looking at my sins, my weaknesses, my errors in judgement but for loving me precisely because I am so helpless. Thank You for healing me in heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit. Thank You for redeeming me and for the place You have preserved for me alone in that Sacred Space in Your Heart. Thank You for new beginnings that are possible with You for You never tire of making of me a new creation and giving me new life no matter how many times I fall and no matter how low I have sunk. Thank You!

1 John 4:7-16

Dear Love, beloved Bridegroom of my soul,

Today the disciple of love sheds light about the God of Love whose nature is love. We are begotten by the love of God and so I nature too must be that of love. God sent You into the world because He loves us and the love of the Father would not permit His children to be destroyed forever. You came to give us Your life in the Holy Spirit. We now have Your life coursing in us. This is love, the disciple reminds us, not that we love You but that You have loved us first and You lay down Your life for us to make atonement to the Father for our sins, our transgressions, taking upon Yourself our punishment. The only way to repay such love is that we love each other because it is only in loving one another that Your love is made perfect in us.

Do  I need proof of God's love? It is already been given to me because You have given me Your Spirit. I testify that You are indeed the Son of the Living God  and I believe that God remains in me and I remain in Him because I know and believe in the love that the Father has for me.

Matthew 11:25-30

Dear Love, beloved Bridegroom of my soul,

Thank You for including me among Your little ones, thank You for revealing eternal truths to me - truths that are impossible for those who are haughty to understand.

Thank You for Your invitation to me this day, an invitation that has been made to me over and over again. I accept it Lord and I come to You. I lay my burdens upon You and I will find rest in You now and always.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves. 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

2 Corinthians 11:1-11,Psalm 111:1-4, 7-8, Matthew 6:7-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

You have received a spirit of adoption as sons
through which we cry: Abba! Father! Rom 8:15

2 Corinthians 11:1-11,Psalm 111:1-4, 7-8, Matthew 6:7-15


2 Corinthians 11:1-11

Dear Love,

The Father is jealous for us because He desires that not one will perish but receive the life that You came to give us at the cost of the life of the only Son of God. Each one of us has been created in order that we may be betrothed to You and the Father desires that this plan of His shall not be thwarted by anyone.

But we can be foolish and we can allow the world, the flesh, and the devil to tempt us away from this goal. There are so many like Paul who have given up everything in order that we may receive the Good News of our salvation and thus be saved. It surely is a terrible sadness when we, after receiving the Gospel of Salvation give it up for the things that perish.

Thank You for loving us so much and for choosing people in different times and to make the joy of the Gospel known to us.

Psalm 111:1-4, 7-8

Dear Love,

All Your works are to be praised for  My Soul always walk in integrity and justice. Your ways are so high above ours, You thoughts far above our own. You see everything, Yo know everything and this is why we can trust You implicitly to take care each of our needs.

It is in Your mighty work that You reveal Your splendour, majesty, power, and glory. You  are great and yet full of pity and compassion. Thank You for always working in the favor of those who belong to You.

Matthew 6:7-15

Dear Love,

Thank You for Your extraordinary promises to those who love You and believe in Your word. Thank You for reminding me today that th Father knows already al that I desire and I can trust Him to supply all my needs through You. He delights to give me all I ask for and move when I asm  in Your Name that Name that is above every other.

Thank You for teaching us the complete prayer and for teaching us in what order to make our petitions before the Father. 

All prayer ought to begin by knowing who God is and giving Him all the glory, honor and love.  God desires to establish His Kingdom here on earth and He desires to do it with our labor and cooperation. He longs to live among His people, His creation whom He loves with an everlasting love.

You reveal that the Father desires that we approach Him as children and make our hunger for both spiritual and temporal food known to Him - He is our Provider and it delights Him to withhold no good thing from His children.

Yes, we are sinners but He forgives us and He forgets throwing our sins behind His back and forgetting  them. We are called to forgive as well and we are called to forgive first and You caution us that if we do not forgive we shall not be forgiven for in the measure that we forgive we will be  forgiven.

You also remind us that evil is ever present in this world although the victory has been won by You. We are called to be wake and vigilant and rely on You to preserve us from the wiles of the enemy.

Thank You my Deliverer, my Rock and my Fortress. Keep me and all those I love save under Your mighty protection all the days of our lives.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Psalm 112:1-4, 9, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him. Jn 14:23


2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Psalm 112:1-4, 9, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18


2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Dear Love,

You are infinite and Your love is unending. When You give there are not limits and You want us to imitate You in Your magnanimity therefore You heap grace upon grace on us so that we too will deal generously with everyone. We all have a vocation and within that vocation there are many demands and  sacrifices, You desire that we do all gladly, with a joyful heart and a cheerful spirit.

You will give us a constant and plentiful supply of grace provided we approach You in the Sacraments, especially in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist where an unending stream of graces are poured upon us and we are enriched beyond measure. As we have received so we are called to give - like You - without stinting and without counting the cost.  You know how to bless the generous and cheerful giver.

Psalm 112:1-4, 9

Dear Love,

What awesome promises You make to those who look to You as their Father, their Provider, their All. Those who gladly obey You because they are in awe of You and love You greatly. You will bless them and subsequent generations for You are a generous Giver. When You open Your hand and command the treasures of heaven be opened You pour out without measure. We live in Your light and so darkness is never dark for us for we know that You cannot fail those who have put all their hope and trust in You.  As generously as You have given me Lord grant that I may be equally openhanded to all those who are in need.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Dear Love,

If there is one thing that is absolutely, crystal clear in Scripture it is this - You have no use for a hypocrite. A child is simple, humble, and open. There is no guile in a child and this is why You tell us repeatedly that we ought to be like like little children. 

When we give alms, when we fast, and when we pray we are to do is silently, are good deeds must be hidden, and our prayers when prayed away from any eyes but Your's alone, You assure us that we will be heard and we will be blessed.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9, Psalm 146:2, 5-9, Matthew 5:43-48

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

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

2 Corinthians 8:1-9, Psalm 146:2, 5-9, Matthew 5:43-48


2 Corinthians 8:1-9

Dear Love,

Truly it is in adversity, when we hold on to our faith and keep our gaze on You, even though the waves batter us on every side we are not anxious for we know in whom we trust. In the midst of poverty we have plenty, in the midst of fear we have peace, in the midst of profound sorrow we also have joy. All these contradictions are possible because You are a God of contradiction - only You can draw absolute good out of absolute evil. You can draw eternal life from death. You can draw water from barren ground. You can cause fruit to grow where there was none.

True joy comes from service to others. You came to serve and to give Your life as a ransom for many and You have called us, to imitate You. 


Psalm 146:2, 5-9

Dear Love,

How blessed I and my household are to know You, love You, adore You, bless You, worship and adore You as members of Your Body, Your Church. You have taken us by the hand and You have led us to victory in every way. In You we are more than conquerors - Satan has been crushed and defeated.

Keep us faithful forever, keep us in Your service to serve those who suffer difficulty, hardship, hunger, want and captivity. Let obedience to Your will be our food and drink.

You feed the hungry heart. You console the widow and the orphan. You wipe away our tears. You protect the alien who lives as a stranger in a strange land.

Thank You my soul's beloved. 


Matthew 5:43-48

Dear Love,

You know that we are weak and it is hard for us to be noble and to actively wish for the good of our enemies and to pray that blessings be heaped upon them. But this is what You demand of those who desire to follow You closely. These are truly hard sayings and not possible unless we have the conviction of little children that You do not ask the impossible. It is possible, if we possess a childlike spirit, to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors because we are the children of our Father in heaven.

You are no respecter of persons but You love all the good, the bad, and the evil, the just and the unjust. The tax collector and the public sinner and we are called to do the same. You tell us clearly that in loving the unlovable we will merit a great reward.

You command us to be perfect as our heaven Father is perfect. Grant us the grace to grow in holiness and perfection every day.

2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Psalm 98:1-4, Matthew 5:38-42

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path. Ps 119:105


2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Psalm 98:1-4, Matthew 5:38-42  


2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Dear Love,

What can I say - today's Word speaks so eloquently highlighting all that we experienced in these last three traumatic days. We have received grace upon grace from the moment we were conceived and Paul cautions us not to have received this grace of God in vain. You heard us, You helped us, You saved us in so concrete a manner that it is unmistakable that Your hand was over us protecting us from the terrors that threatened to engulf us.

We underwent much affliction, hardships, constraints, there was beating and imprisonment, there was vigil and fasting and through it we learned the sweet lessons of the Holy Spirit about purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, unfeigned, sincere, genuine love, in speaking truth through the power that is of God armed with the  weapons of Your righteousness that covered us even though we and our children were dishonored, insulted, treated as deceivers although they were truthful. Neither they nor we were treated as having worth, deserving of respect, and courtesy. Our legitimate rights were unrecognized and worthy only of the harshest treatment. We were weighted down with suffering, dying in spirit and yet behold we are find ourselves alive, rejoicing, celebrating in jubilation, poorer in material wealth yet finding ourselves gloriously rich in the things that matter friendship, genuine warmth and concern and possessing all things because our faith in God has grown in leaps and bounds and our children are restored to us.

Thank You Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the prayers and help of all those who came to our aid through the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

When God gives, He gives in super abundance of the things that truly matter. We have witnessed His providence and we shall never forget to give Him all the glory and honor for as long as we shall live.


Psalm 98:1-4

Dear Love,

Even the psalmist today echoes our experience of the last few days. We are singing new songs of gladness and rejoicing for You have done wondrous things for us. Your right hand, Your holy arm has won the victory for us. Your justice was pronounced resoundingly for our enemies to see and be astounded as their wicked plans crumbled to the dust. We will never forget your kindness to us as along as we live. 

Your powerful Presence in us was evident as we as we proclaimed Your greatness even as the storm threatened to engulf us for we knew that You were present in the  eye of the storm and so we were centered in You and we vowed to keep our gaze on You. When some of us faltered we encouraged each other and strengthened and comforted each other.

We are witnesses to Your power. We rejoice, we are glad and our hearts will sing forever joyful praise to You Beloved.

Matthew 5:38-42  

Dear Love,

These last days were difficult and it would be easy to ask that You punish those who deliberately set out to turn foolish mistakes and error in judgement into something hideously irrevocable, terrible and life changing. But in today's Gospel You remind us that we are called to offer no resistance to those who with evil intention set out to harm and destroy us.  These are Your Words,

When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.

Thank You dearest Jesus for the wealth of wisdom You granted us through an experience. As always Your brought about only all that is good and praise worthy through an experience that was nothing short of traumatic.

Thank You for testing us like metal in the  crucible of suffering and bringing us out stronger and more in love and awe of You our awesome God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12, Matthew 5:33-37

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law. Psalm 119:36, 29

2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12, Matthew 5:33-37


2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Dear Love,

Once we come to the knowledge of the truth then we can no longer live in the flesh for we become a new creation. Having died for us we are now raised into the new life that You have obtained for us. We have to put to death the works of the flesh if we are to truly live as children of God and as children of the Light.

You have reconciled us to the Father. You have forgiven all our sins and to us You have entrusted the message that brings life and light to all who believe. This is our mission to know You and to make You known. You tasted our death in order that we may come to the knowledge of Truth that sets us free.

Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12

Dear Love,

Thank You for all Your loving promises to me this day. 

The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.

He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes. 

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.


Matthew 5:33-37

Dear Love,

Today You remind us to be like children humble and without guile. We have to know that we are Your creatures and all that is good in us comes from You. Of ourselves we are nothing but You have deigned to raise us up according to the will of Your Father.

Today, You ask me to live a life of sincerity and truth. I am who I am because You are who You are and without You I am nothing. As long as I live in the world I am called to walk in the light that You have revealed for as long as I live no matter what it may cost me. I am a child of God. I am an heir and all that I receive comes from You and You alone. Of myself I am nothing but with You I am everything that You are for I live in You and Your Breath is in me.