1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59, 1 Chronicles 29:10-12, Luke 19:45-48

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me. Jn 10:27


1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59, 1 Chronicles 29:10-12, Luke 19:45-48


1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are the altar, You are the holocaust, You are the burnt offering that we make to the Father at Your command. You said, "Do this in remembrance of me." We offer to the Father, each time we gather together,  the same Sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving, worship, and adoration, that You did when You instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and a new order of Priesthood. You are the Lamb of God, You are the Priest, and You are the Bread of Life that came down from heaven to nourish us. You are food for our soul. 

It was You who decreed to the Apostles on the night before You were betrayed, condemned and executed outside Jerusalem, that all believers must come together and do just what You did. 

This is what holds the Church You founded together - the greatest of all Sacrifices, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, when God who once walked with us, now becomes the necessary food that enables to be faithful, to be holy, to strive to be like God our Father, who has imprinted our souls with the imprint of God. 

"Do this in memory of me." We will do just as You have commanded until You come again in glory.


1 Chronicles 29:10-12

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

It is no hardship at all to praise God for He has done wonders for us from age to age. The unfailing love of God never ends. Your mercies Beloved are new every morning and from the rising of the sun to its setting the whole world resounds with praise to our God.

Everything around us Beloved inspires us to lift our hearts and our voices in glad songs of praise; for You have delivered us from the wiles of the enemy. You have given us a seat at the Banquet Table where You feed us with the finest wheat, the sweetest honey and we are strengthened to go out into the world and live our vocation. We are commissioned to live the Good News in the world in season and out of season. 

We thank You for the song of praise that You put in our heart. We thank You for the Holy Spirit who inspires us and provides all we need to become the people God created us to be. You My Lord sustain us, You feed us, You who inspire us,  You keep us alive and for this I thank You.

Luke 19:45-48

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

The Word of God in today's Liturgy recalls the incident when in righteous indignation You overturned the tables of the money changers and drove out everyone from the temple are who were there for purposes other than worship. They were defiling the temple, the raucous sound of buying and selling as it it were a market place prevented those who wanted to worship from doing so.

The House of God is the place where God resides and reigns. He desires that we approach Him in awe, in reverence, in sublime silence for He can be heard only when we have stilled our senses and the clamoring demands of the senses and the world. How can we expect to hear You, to allow the Holy Spirit to act in us when the temple of our body is defiled and we have rendered it unholy with sin and with self-absorption. We are so caught up with the noise of the world that we are unable to hear the still voice of Your Holy Spirit. We allow sinners to put a ring in our nose like cattle and lead us in ways where God is absent. 

Thank You for not abandoning e but for doing whatever is necessary to help me get rid of all that prevents me from experiencing You in spirit and truth. Thank You for the Sacrament of Reconciliation that helps me get rid of all that defiles me and helps me to become clean, and whole again and heps me to overcome temptations. Give me a contrite heart and a repentant spirit so I will never ever be parted from You either in time or in eternity. Amen.

1 Maccabees 2:15-29, Psalm 5-:1-2, 5-6, 14-15, Luke 19:41-44

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

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

1 Maccabees 2:15-29, Psalm 5-:1-2, 5-6, 14-15, 
Luke 19:41-44

1 Maccabees 2:15-29

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today Your Word continues to speak of the faithful remnant. It is this small group who will ensure that God's Law will remain alive and His Word will prevail. Mattathias was a worthy leader, and an exemplary father who would not give in to the lures that were dangled before him as bait so he would give up what was eternal for what was temporal.

When he saw a fellow Jew offering sacrifice to false gods righteous zeal overpowered him and he struck him down reminding us of how You went through the temple in anger. You made a whip of rope and overturned the tables of the money changers. Later the disciples understood what the temple represented and why You blazed with righteous indignation. We too make a market place of our body, the temple in which the Holy Spirit abides. Keep us faithful Beloved even if it means losing our life for in doing so we will keep it. 

Let us not be afraid to let go of all we have in order to keep ourselves away from all that seeks to destroy forever our immortal soul.

Psalm 5-:1-2, 5-6, 14-15

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

To those who belong to God You will show the saving power of the Lord our God. I thank You Beloved for gathering Your people from the rising of the sun to its setting to offer to the Father in Your Most Holy Name the same sacrifice You offered to Him on Calvary as an oblation that atoned for the sins of the whole world.

Thank You for the grace that enables Your faithful to leave their beds early in the morning and assemble in the House of God, the new Zion and there offer to the Father praise, adoration, worship, and thanksgiving that rises up like fragrant incense before the Holy of Holies where God Himself is seated. 

Thank You for keeping us safe in Your love. Thank You for hearing our prayers and for answering us each time we call. Thank You for the hope that we have in You, and thank You for the confidence we have in You that You will never fail us.

Luke 19:41-44

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Twice in Scripture in the New Testament we read that You wept. Once was at the death of Lazarus Your friend, and again when You looked at the city of Jerusalem.

The city was destroyed just as You said it would. Not a stone of the Temple of Jerusalem remained standing one over another. The day of wrath did come for they refused to believe that the Messiah which their hearts had long yearned for, the Word of God became Flesh and lived among them. They were destroyed by the Romans viciously, barbarously, and they were annihilated and their cities were razed to the ground. 

It continue to this day Beloved as the enemies of Truth circle like vultures over all that is good, all who believe, all who follow the Law of Love, and witness with zeal the faith that was handed down to us. Do You continue to weep as You see how Satan has barricaded us in with his lies, his false promises of happiness that convinces so many consists in pandering to the flesh, to the ego, to the ways of the world. Ugly, old sins continue to flourish in every age. Then children were ripped from their mother's wombs by the enemy, today children continue to be ripped from their mother's womb in abortion. The most heinous crime that we can commit is when we deny the life that God has ordained.

We continue to fail to recognize the time of Your visitation which occurs continuously and will do so until You come again to judge both the living and the dead. May You find a more favorable welcome. Maranatha Lord Jesus! Maranatha!

2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31, Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8 & 15. Luke 19:11-28

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord. Jn 15:16

Feast of St. Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr


2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31, Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8 & 15. 
Luke 19:11-28


2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Once again Your Word reminds us that there will always be Your remnant that is prepared to face evil unflinchingly because of their faith in You who came down into the world to set us free. The seven brothers in the Book of Maccabees were able to stand unflinchingly before their executioners because they were raised by a good mother who herself was a stalwart of the faith.

Today while the power of evil attacks the sacred institution of families error upon error is taught to the young and the impressionable and more and more do they embrace the false teaching of the world that bring about not physical death but spiritual death.

These brave men specially that youngest remind us today that we too live in a world that no longer desire to believe the Truth that God sent You into the world to redeem and set us free from the wiles of the Enemy. We are called to imitate them, parents are called to emulate the mother and are to remember that they cannot fail in their duty in raising God earing off spring who will bravely stand and face evil , challenge it and pay the ultimate price, their life for as that brave mother tole her children 

"Do not be afraid of this executioner,
but be worthy of your brothers and accept death,
so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them."

You O Lord are the God of Life not death.


Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8 & 15

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Just as the psalmist has cried out to You confident that he will be heard so have I cred out to You and You have always heard and hastened to my rescue. You have shown me the way to keep close to You if I keep my heart from evil and do not fall prey to the deceit of the world You will guide my steps and keep me from the paths that lead to destruction. You will ensure to keep my hand firmly in Your own and even if i should stumble, I will not fall for You will steady me.

I pray the words of the psalmist this morning:

Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
But I in justice shall behold your face;

on waking, I shall be content in your presence.

Stay with me Beloved all my days so when the sun sets finally on me I will lie down without anxiety confident that You will come for me, You will receive me and You will stand beside me before the Father.

Luke 19:11-28

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

As You approached Jerusalem You knew that You were entering the final phase of Your life on earth. You were approaching the hour when You would be given over into the hands of the Enemy. This was the hour when death would conquer, sin would no longer have the last word and You would win a decisive victory.

You are  the Nobleman who has entrusted to us the treasures of the Kingdom and You have commissioned us to use them in order to share the wealth of our faith with those who may have never heard of You. We are called to work, straining every effort, in order to increase our knowledge of You which in turn will strengthen our faith and we will be able to share it more convincingly with others.

Those who fail to do so will meet the fate of the one who wrapped his talent and hid it away doing nothing to increase what was given to him. We cannot take our faith for granted. As baptized Christians we have a mission to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The people who have been saved because we have challenged them to accept the Truth will be our witnesses as we stand before the Throne of Grace. And we will hear You say as the nobleman said to his faithful servant, 

 'Well done, good servant!
You have been faithful in this very small matter;
take charge of ten cities.'

Those who have neglected to increase what has been freely given to them will lose even that which they had and it will be given to the one who has been faithful in Your vineyard because, as You have said,  

"I tell you,
to everyone who has, more will be given,
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me."

All of us are journeying towards Jerusalem and we can only enter it if we have been faithful servants.

1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63, Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158, Luke 18:35-43

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

1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63, 
Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158, Luke 18:35-43


1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

When we surround ourselves with sinners and when those in power forget their rich heritage that they are a people chosen by God Himself, created by Him to establish His Kingdom and not to make for themselves their own forgetting that God and God alone is their Father, then misery will be our lot.

Today, the world as so often in the past repeats the terrible sins of ages past. We have given ourselves over to hedonism. We make up our own truths as we go along and these truths change according to weather. What is true in one season becomes unfashionable in the next and so it goes until no one can recognize truth anymore. Many are only Christian in name they identify themselves as Christians but their lives are a far cry from that which is demanded by God our Father. 

However, as in every age, there is the faithful remnant who persevere just as there in the time of the Maccabees who prefer to die rather than sin. Who strive to live holy lives in the midst of wickedness and who are unafraid to live, preach, and teach the Gospel even should it cost them their lives.

Beloved, grant me this grace, that I be counted among them.

Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

The more things change the more they remain the same. Ever since sin entered the world many have sunk to the depths of depravity and wickedness. They deny that they are answerable to You their Savior to whom the Father has given authority to judge. Divine Law has been pilloried, scorned, jeered, and set aside and those who follow Your Law are persecuted even to the point of death.

Insane, perverse, inhumane laws are introduced in every way of life and children no longer belong to their parents but are subject to the law of the wicked. We have rejected You Beloved, is it any wonder then that one wicked generation is followed by another even more wicked and lawless. The greater the depravity the greater the celebration of those steeped in the wicked ways of the world. 

Watch over Your remnant Beloved, continue to fill them with righteous anger and grief and keep them faithful and unafraid to challenge the world even if it means they lose everything they possess even their life.

Luke 18:35-43

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today's miracle of the blind beggar who pleaded for sight and received it gives us hope.  Our dark world is filled with those who are blind because they do not know You, nor do they want to know You and thus have their eyes opened to the truth. You said that the Truth has the power to set free. But people generally prefer the lie because Truth challenges us to change and we prefer the ephemeral pleasure of sin than the eternal joys of righteousness and holiness.

However, if, when we encounter You in the people around us and we cry out to You to have pity on us we know You will stop, You will dialogue with us as You did with the beggar, You will ask us as You did him, "What do you want me to do for you?" and when we reply with sincerity, "Lord, please let me see." You will immediately say to us, "Have sight; your faith has saved you." Our eyes will be opened and we will follow You glorifying God for all He done for us from everlasting to everlasting. 

Wisdom 7:22---8:1, Psalm 118:89-91, 130, 135, 175, Luke 17:20-25

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord:
whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit. Jn 15:5

Wisdom 7:22---8:1, Psalm 118:89-91, 130, 135, 175, Luke 17:20-25

Wisdom 7:22---8:1

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

All that Wisdom is made its home in Mary, your Mother and mine. All that the author has written about Wisdom can be attributed to this fairest of fair daughters of our Father in heaven. No creature ever born will ever surpass her for she is a child of light in whom sin had no  power to cast its shadow over.

Pure, childlike in humility and simplicity, aware always that she was but the handmaid of God and the great honor bestowed upon her to be Mother of God our Savior, was through no merit of her own but was purely God's choice for God's favor rested on her. The Holy Spirit's spouse He adorned her soul with every virtue and grace making her worthy of reverence, honor, emulation, and above all love. The Triune God loved her, honored her, reverenced her, who are we to withhold from her what God Himself does not deny her?

God has raised her up, You have given her a seat on the throne at Your right hand, she is granted the Queenship of heaven and earth. From the throne of the Cross You entrusted us to her and her to us for we could find no more sweeter, gentler, more compassion creature of the human race than this Woman clothed with Son who is a thousand times brighter than the noonday sun. She is crowned with 12 stars, she is Mother of the Church.  We who have recourse to her will not be lost for we have her interceding for us before the Mercy Seat until we will all be with her safely in heaven.

Thank You Beloved for so good a Mother. Thank you sweet Mother for praying for me and those I love. Keep me always safe in your Immaculate Heart.

Wisdom 6:1-11, Psalm 82:3-4, 6-7, Luke 17:11-19

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes 5:18

Wisdom 6:1-11, Psalm 82:3-4, 6-7, Luke 17:11-19

Wisdom 6:1-11

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today we hear You warning those who have power, those in authority, those who have been given the work of leading, teaching, instructing, guiding, in the ways of God. These You warn, will receive a strict judgement for You have said very clearly to whom much is given much will be asked.  But You assure the the lowly, the poor, the powerless, that You will deal with them mercifully.  All authority is given to the leaders of nations by God almighty in order that they may serve Your people with wisdom, kindness, with right judgement. To have a special love for the poor, the weak, the needy, the sick, those who are cast aside as having no value, for You are the Lord of all, and God our Father, is Father of all. 

Grant O Beloved of my soul, to be faithful in the work that You have called me to do. Insignificant though it may be grant that I do it with love, honestly, and to the best of my ability. Help me to have a special love for those who are less fortunate than I am. Truly, Beloved, much as been given to me may I be faithful in using the rich treasures of Your grace knowing full well that I shall some day stand before You to give an account of my stewardship. Stay with Me Lord and help me to be faithful and vigilant always; so on the day of reckoning I may have no fear of judgement but look forward to it with joy.

Psalm 82:3-4, 6-7

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

The world and those with influence, authority, power, wealth, better tremble O Lord for the day of judgment approaches. It will be here at a day and an hour we least expect as You warn us over and over again in Your Word.

The world uses the poor, the orphan, the widow, and those who are denied a legitimate share of the world's resources in order to increase their own wealth. Leaders of nations who pledge to serve fail to do so, using their position only to serve themselves and those who can in turn help them.

But judgement will come upon us all Beloved, it will come swiftly, or slowly, but come it will and when it does those who have abused their positions of power assigned to them by God Himself, they will then tremble before You in fear for nothing will save them from the wrath of God and the right judgement of the Lord. But the poor will finally be set free and they will see their enemies routed and put to shame.

The world forgets that death must come to us all and after death judgment and reckoning.

Luke 17:11-19

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

In the Gospel of today's Liturgy we recall the miracle of the cleansing of the ten lepers; nine were Jews and one was a foreigner. All were healed but only the foreigner returned to give thanks.

Beloved, today those who are baptized and are called Christians because we follow You are the ones represented by the Jews in this miracle. We are ones to whom the Good News has been revealed. We are the ones who have received the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven through the Sacraments which we treat with indifference, to which we are lukewarm, of which we are so ignorant that we are quite unaware of the reservoirs of inexhaustible power available to us. But converts put us to shame. Those who are outside the the Catholic Church but who know You have faith so much greater than ours who have been given it in its fullness and perfection.

How often do you sadly say of us where are the nine who share in my Eucharistic Banquet, who approach my table to eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, who receive cleansing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and are healed of every sin no matter how great, where are they? 

Wisdom 2:23---3:9, Psalm 34:2-3, 16-19, Luke 17:7-10

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

Wisdom 2:23---3:9, Psalm 34:2-3, 16-19, Luke 17:7-10

Wisdom 2:23---3:9

Dear Love, Beloved, of my soul,

We are grateful for this month of November which the Church has dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, the suffering Church. It is a place where all who have died and are in need of purification before they can come before the Presence of the All-Holy God, go. This is the place that I too shall go before I dare come before You and enter into glory, and the place prepared for me.

The Sacred Word in the Book of Wisdom assures me of this unchanging truth, my soul is imperishable and I am created in the image of God Himself. The envy of the Devil is so terrible that he has done all in his power to ensure that I be separated from You so I will be denied the joys of everlasting life with You, the angels and the saints. 

Purgatory, the place of cleansing like silver in the furnace, and like gold is necessary and we welcome it for we could never be happy in Your Presence knowing that nothing unclean can come before You. Thank You for this opportunity of being cleansed with a holy fire so we are purged of whatever impurity still remains before we can be admitted to heaven to live with You eternally.

We thank You for the wisdom of the Church You founded that consoles us and reminds us that our God is an awesome God and that in the end we will be united with You just as the Father always intended.

Psalm 34:2-3, 16-19

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

My joy is in praising You, blessing You, adoring You, worshiping You, always. My joy is in knowing You are my Beloved, my God, my Friend, my Bridegroom. My soul longs for You. I pine for the time when this life shall cease and the next will begin in union with You eternally. You are God and yet you love me although I am so undeserving of Your love for me, love that took You to the Cross in order that You could taste the death that I will experience and remove from it all trace of bitterness and fear. My physical must perish if I am to live again  in fullness of joy and life with You.

Grant my most Beloved that I may never be separated from You. Stay close to me Lord for You know that I am a poor, weak, sinful creature who could fall at the least temptation for I am a broken reed and a flickering wick and I need You to pick me up and hide me in Your Sacred Heart where no evil will touch me. Keep me safe Beloved from the wiles of the enemy for You know how prone I am to sin.  Keep me aware of my weaknesses so I may cling to You alone always. 

Luke 17:7-10

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today You remind us in no uncertain terms that we ought never to forget who we are, servants of the Most High God. We have been called to labor tirelessly in the vineyard of the Lord. We have each been given a clear mission and we are equipped to carry it out boldly. If we allow ourselves to be crippled with fear then it is because we not only lack love for You but because we lack faith in You who will never ask of us what You Yourself have not done. 

You came into the world to serve although You were the Son of God, You cam as the suffering servant, You who are God from God and Light from Light, true God from true God, God Himself and yet You allowed Yourself to be scorned, spat upon, scourged, tormented, mocked, crowned with thorns, and nailed to the Cross in an execution meant for the dregs of humanity.

So when I am called to serve tireless without complaint in humility and in imitation of You then Beloved, let me do it joyfully for I know that in doing lies my true happiness and satisfaction. In the end Beloved it is true, I am an unprofitable servant and if I have done all You command then I would only have done my duty. This should keep me from being prideful or boastful for were it not for the grace You make available nothing I did would ever have any merit. Thank You.

Wisdom 1:1-7, Psalm 139:1-10, Luke 17:1-6

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life. Phil 2:15, 16

Wisdom 1:1-7, Psalm 139:1-10,  Luke 17:1-6

Wisdom 1:1-7

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

We walk with God when walk in His Spirit who guides us through life. The Spirit of God is Truth, Justice, and Mercy and those who seek Wisdom will be given it in full measure. As children of the Father we are called to believe and not put our God to the test for when we do He distances Himself from us. The Spirit of God makes His home in the hearts of those who believe but will flee when our body is enslaved to the desires of the flesh. While the Holy Spirit is kind, gentle, compassionate, and loving God's Holy and pure Spirit will flee the heart that is given over to blasphemy and lies.

Thank You Beloved for the gift of Your Holy Spirit in us who will be our witness when we stand before You as our Judge for He not only fills our life but fills the whole world with His all embracing Presence and knowledge of us. Everyone led by the Spirit of God are children of the Most High.

Psalm 139:1-10

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

The Psalmist exults that God knows us so intimately, so wonderful is God's knowledge of me, His constant and watchful care of me is such a comfort. 

I thank You Beloved for the Spirit of God who abides in me and knows my every thought. It is good that I cannot flee from Your loving Presence for if I could hide from You then there is a grave danger that I could be devoured by evil and lost to You forever.

Stay with me Beloved, never let me stray from the path of life and truth for God's Spirit will depart from me if I choose to wallow in sin for He is holy. Stay with Lord all the days of my life and in the end lead me to the place with the Father dwells so I may live with You, the Father, and the Holy Spirit forever.


Luke 17:1-6

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

As we approach the season of Advent we are constantly reminded in the Liturgy that we are called to be holy. We are called to turn away from sin and to walk the narrow path that leads to life. We are called to encourage one another to live holy lives and not tempt those who are weak to sin especially Your little ones. You warn us today that it would be better for us to put a millstone around our neck and be thrown into the sea than to be the cause of leading someone to commit sins that lead to the death of the soul. We live in a world of sin but we ought not to be the ones that sin or tempt others to sin.

We are also called to show mercy. If anyone who sins repents we must forgive and not hold a grudge or withhold forgiveness for in the measure that we forgive will be forgiven as well. The Apostle begged You to increase their faith but You replied that if we had genuine faith even if it were the size of a mustard seed we would witness the power of God if we believed and used it boldly expecting miracles. 

Lord God along with the Apostles I ask that I may use the gift of faith given to me to help me and those who travel with me each day. Amen.



If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day 
and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,'
you should forgive him."

And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,

'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."

Wisdom 6:12-16, Psalm 63:2-8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Stay awake and be ready!
For you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matthew 24:42, 44

Wisdom 6:12-16, Psalm 63:2-8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13

Wisdom 6:12-16

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

The Holy Spirit has been poured into the hearts of all who believe. To us has been given the power of God and the Wisdom of God. If we do not perceive her then it is because we are not aware of the riches of God's grace that is given to us at our baptism and in the Sacraments we receive subsequently. God's gift of Wisdom shines brightly and nothing can tarnish her beauty for she it the Truth of God and she manifests the Beauty of God. 

She is God's gift to us and can be found if we are prepared to seek her and when we do we will find her already waiting for us ready to teach us all and reveal all to help us grow strong in faith, hope, and love. Those who receive her have received a gift whose value is beyond anything they could ever imagine or conceive. To be wise in the ways of Wisdom is to be free from the cares and anxieties of live for the children of Wisdom put all their trust in God knowing perfectly well that God never disappoints. Thank You Beloved for this wonderful gift that is given to us freely and without measure. To have Wisdom is to have Your Spirit as a Friend.


Psalm 63:2-8

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.

Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.

I will remember you upon my couch,
and through the night-watches I will meditate on you:
You are my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
about those who have fallen asleep,
so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
so too will God, through Jesus,
bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 
Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive,
who are left until the coming of the Lord,
will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself, with a word of command,
with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,
will come down from heaven,
and the dead in Christ will rise first. 
Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. 
Thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

Therefore, console one another with these words.

Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 
Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 
The foolish ones said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise ones replied,
'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. 
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'
But he said in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'
Therefore, stay awake,

for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27, Psalm 145:2-5, 10-11, Luke 16:9-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich. 2 Cor 8:9

Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27, Psalm 145:2-5, 10-11, 
Luke 16:9-15


Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

As we see from this part of Paul's letter to the Romans there are many disciples who worked before him to bring the Good News to the people of Rome and he acknowledges their work. There are many laborers in Your Vineyard and all toil for the glory of God and to establish His Kingdom in the world.

We are all brothers and sister and there is no question of one lording it over the other for all serve the One God, all serve their neighbor, and all serve each other in humility and love. Acknowledging that the work they do must give You all the glory and honor.

The foundation for the faith the world would eventually have in You was laid long before You came into the world. Beginning with Abraham our father in faith, and through the patriarchs and prophets that followed him, preparing the way for the Father to finally reveal to the world His love for us by sending You into the world to restore what had been irrevocably lost by our first parents. To the Father, to You and the Holy Spirit be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 145:2-5, 10-11

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Ever since the Father revealed You, His Son to the world, generation after generation has acknowledged the unfathomable act of the Father's love in sending You to redeem what was irredeemable except through You.  Our songs of praise, adoration, worship, and thanksgiving rise up as a pleasing fragrance to the highest heavens as we offer to Him the sacrifice of our lives in union with the one, holy, and perfect Sacrifice that You made for us. In obedience with Your command we do this in memory of You, recalling to mind what You have done for us. How You saved us, and how You made it possible for us to return to our Father's House after the fall.

Thank You Beloved for restoring order and harmony in all that God our Father created and which was so wantonly destroyed by one selfish, prideful act of disobedience. May every voice join with that of all creation and all in heaven to sing Your praise forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 16:9-15

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Often we miss the point of money, it has its purpose, it can be used for good rather than evil even though it certainly can be used for evil. 

You are very clear here, You have shown us in the parable of the dishonest servant how he made friends with those who owed his master money in order to keep their friendship when he had lost favor with his master.  But we who are Your disciples are foolishly naive when it comes to using the power of God available to us from working in our favor; to bring many to the knowledge of truth and faith in You. That faith which alone can save.

There is a very simple way to judge people including ourselves, are we scrupulously trustworthy with the things entrusted to us? We have been given such great spiritual wealth and we squander it by our indifference, our lack of zeal, our ignorance of how powerfully we can use what God has so graciously and generously entrusted to us. We cannot serve both God and the world we will do justice to neither. We must make a choice and having chosen to be Your disciples then we must do so with single-minded devotion.

The Pharisees knew that this parable was directed at them and the Evangelist of this Gospel tells us that they sneered at what You said because they loved money. So does the world today sneer at Christians, Christian values,  the Christian faith, as well as all things genuinely Christian. The whole world today is hell bent in bending over backwards to justify every aberration that the human mind can conceive of, every one of our abomination makes our holy God shudder in sadness and grief at the depths of depravity to which the crown of His creation has sunk; it should make men and women of good conscience everywhere weep just as You did when You looked at Jerusalem. 

Thank You Beloved that nothing is lost. We are still redeemed and You have won the victory despite all the lies of the devil.

Romans 15:14-21, Psalm 98:1-4, Luke 16:1-8

DAILY HOLY MASS READING

SOLEMNITY OF SAINT LEO THE GREAT
 - POPE & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH


Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
the love of God is truly perfected in him. 1 Jn 2:5


Romans 15:14-21, Psalm 98:1-4, Luke 16:1-8 

Romans 15:14-21

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

If we desire to be like You then what was said of You by the prophets will be true of us as well as it was also for St. Paul, and all the disciples and saints who have gone before us. "Zeal for your house consumes me." My Beloved, You have hidden nothing from us. You have taught us the value of the Kingdom of Heaven. You have shown us the way to be holy, pure, righteous in order to be filled with joy always no matter what our circumstances may be. In sickness and health, in time of sorrow and joy, in want or in plenty we will always believe that having You we possess all.

The faith that I have Beloved I am called to share with others. I am called to tell my own personal story not anyone else's. This is me, a child of the Father, a member of Your Body the Church, known by God before He laid the foundations of the world. He created me to know Him, to love Him, and to be blissfully happy with Him in this life and eternally with Him in heaven. This is the joy and the confidence that I ought to share with others.

Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, thank You for the Sacraments, thank You that You are always with me encouraging me even though I often take only baby steps and make such slow progress on the path to holiness.  Thank You for protecting me as the apple of Your eye. Help me to fulfill the purpose for which You created me. Amen.

Psalm 98:1-4

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Although we live in an age where sin abounds, we know that Your grace abounds even more. We can see this in the lives of the so many of the faithful who witness so powerfully to the love of the Father made manifest in You. We have been made sharers of the divine life. As St. John Paul II said so eloquently, "We are an Easter people and our song is Alleluia!" 

This is the new song that has been given to us because of all that You have done in perfect obedience to the Father's will. You have won the victory for the whole world. You message has gone to the ends of the earth and it is up to us who believe to live the message boldly in the world so that all who already know but have a weak faith may be encouraged to shine Your light without fear.

Stay with us Beloved that we may remain faithful to the end.

Luke 16:1-8 

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

We are always complaining that the people of the world are more crafty, more successful, and are able to live in comfort in the world because they are not too particular about how they handle their affairs. They are in good books with everyone and have influence with those who have power. 

Two thousand years ago You knew the ways of the people of the age who are no different from those today, they are crafty and are not ashamed of making a profit through any means. You were not praising them as it might appear in today's Gospel, You are just saying that they who are of the world are able to use they ways of the world to succeed unlike us who are timid, shy, awkward, ignorant and clueless how to use the mighty power of God available to us set the world on fire with the love of God. Is it timidity of indifference Lord that makes us so ineffective? 

Today You challenge us to take a leaf out of the children of the world and to be able to match them in shrewdness so the world will take us more seriously and pay attention to us as children of the Light and the Truth.