Saturday, January 13, 2018

1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1 Psalm 21:2-7, Mark 2:13-17

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives. Lk 4:18


1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1 Psalm 21:2-7, Mark 2:13-17

1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1 

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Saul was a handsome man. A striking man, one could not miss him for he stood out head and shoulders above the crowd. He had great potential for good and this is why God chose him as the first king to rule over His people. All of us has the potential for both good and evil. The choices we make using the gift of free will determine whether we will fulfill God's plan for us or not. 

Nothing in life happens to us by chance. The assess wandered away precisely because God desired to introduce Saul to Samuel so he could be anointed as king. God does not allow us to muddle in the dark but remains with us and will direct us if we let Him just as He directed Samuel to Saul and made known to him that this was the one He had chosen.

We are called by God. We are anointed by His Spirit. Each of us is given a mission and God has already planned a life of good words for us even before we were born. God constantly gives us signs if we are alert and aware. God is with us always from the moment we are conceived until we draw our last breath. How willing am I to follow God's will and purpose for my life?

Psalm 21:2-7

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Anyone who is appointed by God and who lives in the shadow of His Presence, permitting the Lord to guide his footsteps will find that himself truly blessed in all that he undertakes to do. 

Here the psalmist is speaking of a good, earthly king.  But we can apply the praises of the psalmist to the true King - there is no other King who pleased God more than You Beloved. All that You desire is Yours because Your will and the will of God are one. So perfectly did You conform to the will of Your Father that God has raised You above all that is, was, or ever shall be, and He has given You a Name that is above every other. Before You every knee shall bow, every tongue will confess to the glory of God that You indeed are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. To You be glory and praise forever. 

Mark 2:13-17

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

The call of Levi or Matthew, son of Alphaeus is truly dramatic. Some have said that it was not really so, he did not just get up at Your invitation and follow You but settled his affairs before he did. I don't believe that to be true. 

I think that all who were considered public sinners like tax collectors, experienced a feeling of shame, of inadequacy, of not being as good as the rest. The stigma of being a tax collector was like a visible stain on them and their families, and they lived with that shame for they saw no way out. Levi would have heard of You for Your fame had spread. He would have wondered about You. There would have been stirrings deep within his soul for something more, something better, something that would remove him from this present circumstances that gave him no joy. You knew it all. You knew his potential. You were aware of his deepest longings and when You stopped, looked at him, and said, "Follow me." I am certain that indescribable joy flooded his soul and he stood up and without a backward glance followed You.

Thank You Beloved for making known to every sanctimonious prig that ever lived that You came for sinners not the righteous for they have no need of You but we sinners do.

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