DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Phil 3:8-9
Nehemiah 2:1-8, Psalm 137:1-6, Luke 9:57-62
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
What a wonderful little gem of a story we find in today's reading from the prophet Nehemiah. It reveals so much about his character and the character of the king. It is obvious that he served with great loyalty and affection and the king was aware of his servant and had great regard for him. Not only that, the kind noticed his servant was sad, and upon inquiring the cause for his sadness, the prophet trusted God to give him the words to speak.
Once he made the reason for his sadness known to the king, the king went out of his way to ensure that all that his servant the prophet desired was granted to him. So it is with You my Lord and my God. You know me, You love me, and You do all things to ensure my happiness in this world and eternally in the next.
Psalm 137:1-6
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
Sin, grave sin makes us exiles. We place ourselves outside God's mercy and yet, when we weep in contrition for our sins, when we recall like the prodigal the loving Father we turn our back to for the sake of the pretty baubles the world dangles before us and allures us away from the good, the holy, the beautiful, we find ourselves sad, alone, and longing for a way to return. Often we know the path we must take to return to the Father's house, the way of contrition, repentance, and reconciliation but we find it difficult.
However, when we recall all that You have done for us in the past and how much You have loved and cared for us and the many favors and blessings You have showered upon us even before we make our needs known to You we know that anytime we turn to You with a broken and contrite heart You hasten to us like the father of that other son who repented and return home and found in his father's embrace forgiveness, consolation, restoration, and unconditional love.
Thank You Beloved for revealing to us what Love truly is and drawing us into it.
Luke 9:57-62
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
The disciples accompanied You on the way to Jerusalem, the place where all the prophets were persecuted and killed. You knew what waited for You there and You did not hide from Your followers the fact that You would be rejected and they too would have to suffer because they followed You.
Many wanted to join You stirred up by the excitement of being part of a movement that they believed would set them free from Roman oppression. You quickly disabused them of this notion. You spoke bluntly saying that they would have no material comfort as You had no place to lay down Your head. To those whom You call but who tried to find excuses to respond to it, You challenged.
Each of us is Your anointed. We are baptized. We are confirmed. We receive the Holy Eucharist. We are called to live a life of virtue, holiness, purity, and grace. Once we have responded to Your call we must strive to follow You without any regrets of sighs for the past. If we do then You warn us that we are unfit to be granted a place in the Kingdom of God.
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Phil 3:8-9
Nehemiah 2:1-8, Psalm 137:1-6, Luke 9:57-62
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
What a wonderful little gem of a story we find in today's reading from the prophet Nehemiah. It reveals so much about his character and the character of the king. It is obvious that he served with great loyalty and affection and the king was aware of his servant and had great regard for him. Not only that, the kind noticed his servant was sad, and upon inquiring the cause for his sadness, the prophet trusted God to give him the words to speak.
Once he made the reason for his sadness known to the king, the king went out of his way to ensure that all that his servant the prophet desired was granted to him. So it is with You my Lord and my God. You know me, You love me, and You do all things to ensure my happiness in this world and eternally in the next.
Psalm 137:1-6
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
Sin, grave sin makes us exiles. We place ourselves outside God's mercy and yet, when we weep in contrition for our sins, when we recall like the prodigal the loving Father we turn our back to for the sake of the pretty baubles the world dangles before us and allures us away from the good, the holy, the beautiful, we find ourselves sad, alone, and longing for a way to return. Often we know the path we must take to return to the Father's house, the way of contrition, repentance, and reconciliation but we find it difficult.
However, when we recall all that You have done for us in the past and how much You have loved and cared for us and the many favors and blessings You have showered upon us even before we make our needs known to You we know that anytime we turn to You with a broken and contrite heart You hasten to us like the father of that other son who repented and return home and found in his father's embrace forgiveness, consolation, restoration, and unconditional love.
Thank You Beloved for revealing to us what Love truly is and drawing us into it.
Luke 9:57-62
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
The disciples accompanied You on the way to Jerusalem, the place where all the prophets were persecuted and killed. You knew what waited for You there and You did not hide from Your followers the fact that You would be rejected and they too would have to suffer because they followed You.
Many wanted to join You stirred up by the excitement of being part of a movement that they believed would set them free from Roman oppression. You quickly disabused them of this notion. You spoke bluntly saying that they would have no material comfort as You had no place to lay down Your head. To those whom You call but who tried to find excuses to respond to it, You challenged.
Each of us is Your anointed. We are baptized. We are confirmed. We receive the Holy Eucharist. We are called to live a life of virtue, holiness, purity, and grace. Once we have responded to Your call we must strive to follow You without any regrets of sighs for the past. If we do then You warn us that we are unfit to be granted a place in the Kingdom of God.
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