DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
The Son of Man must be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him
may have eternal life. Jn 3:14-15
Acts 4:32-37, Psalm 93:1-2, 5, John 3:7B-15
Acts 4:32-37
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
Nothing pleases You more than when we, after the heart of God, are generous givers. Giving freely of what we have first received from the hand of the Lord.
The early Christians give us an example of what it means to live in community with our brothers and sisters. To share all that we have with one another so no one lacks anything is the ideal. How far we have strayed from it, Beloved. We are selfish, grasping, envious, we hold tightly to our possessions and are so afraid to give because we fear we will have less for ourselves and for our children. But this is not how the Gospel principle works. The more we close our hearts and our hands the less room there is for us to receive all that You desire to pour upon us. Today, those who give generously to the poor and to the Church are considered remarkable because they are so few. We wish we could imitate them but our fear of not having enough for ourselves holds us back. We do not have the disposition of the poor widow who put in her two little copper coins which were all she had to live on.
Barnabas called Joseph is re-named by the Apostles. His new name means 'a son of encouragement' there must have been some endearing qualities in him that made the others welcome him into their group so he too could share in the work of spreading the Good News.
Give me a generous disposition Beloved, so I too am able to give generously and share enthusiastically in the work entrusted to all who believe.
Psalm 93:1-2, 5
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
It pleases the Father to raise You high above all names and give You a place above all others. Seated at the right hand of God You are given dominion, power, and majesty over the heavens, the earth, and under it.
You offered Yourself as the Sacrificial Victim in expiation for the sins of us all and You rose gloriously from the dead. In dying, You destroyed death, in rising You give us hope of new life in You. You have established a new heaven and a new earth over which God has enthroned You and given You all authority. Your reign is everlasting. You have given us an example of how to live in holiness, in humility, in obedience and above all, You taught us how to love. Grant us O Lord a full measure of Your Holy Spirit so we may walk with integrity and the fear of the Lord faithfully, and at the end of our life here on earth, You will welcome us into the Kingdom and the place that has been prepared for us eternally.
John 3:7B-15
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
Sin taints, sin mars, sin corrupts, sin disfigures, sin destroys, sin separates, sin kills. Sin ought to be anathema to all who love You above all else and yet it is not so. We continue to suffer the consequences of original sin even though it is washed away at our Baptism. Our will is not purified and so we fall easily into the snares and traps that our sinful inclinations draw us into.
Nicodemus is a Pharisee. He comes to You at night. He is fascinated by Your teaching. It is all so fresh, so new, so invigorating and enlightening. He is drawn to the Truth yet he lacks the courage to risk everything and follow You openly as Your disciple. You do not condemn him for his fears but accept him as he is. You instruct him. You speak of the being born again in the Spirit. The flesh avails us nothing, it is the Spirit that gives life.
In the days leading up to the great feast of Pentecost, the Liturgy will speak of the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit without whom it is impossible to pray, praise or worship God the way we ought. We need the Holy Spirit in order to understand the things of God and to walk in the Light of Truth.
The serpent that was raised between heaven and earth represents sin. Moses told the Israelites who were bitten by it to look at the bronze serpent in order to be healed and live. You were raised between heaven and earth because You became one like us in all things save sin. You took upon Yourself the sins of the whole world and thus destroyed its power over us. Thank You Beloved for taking my place on the Cross and redeeming me by Your Sacrifice. Thank You for taking upon Yourself my death and in exchange giving me eternal life.
The Son of Man must be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him
may have eternal life. Jn 3:14-15
Acts 4:32-37, Psalm 93:1-2, 5, John 3:7B-15
Acts 4:32-37
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
Nothing pleases You more than when we, after the heart of God, are generous givers. Giving freely of what we have first received from the hand of the Lord.
The early Christians give us an example of what it means to live in community with our brothers and sisters. To share all that we have with one another so no one lacks anything is the ideal. How far we have strayed from it, Beloved. We are selfish, grasping, envious, we hold tightly to our possessions and are so afraid to give because we fear we will have less for ourselves and for our children. But this is not how the Gospel principle works. The more we close our hearts and our hands the less room there is for us to receive all that You desire to pour upon us. Today, those who give generously to the poor and to the Church are considered remarkable because they are so few. We wish we could imitate them but our fear of not having enough for ourselves holds us back. We do not have the disposition of the poor widow who put in her two little copper coins which were all she had to live on.
Barnabas called Joseph is re-named by the Apostles. His new name means 'a son of encouragement' there must have been some endearing qualities in him that made the others welcome him into their group so he too could share in the work of spreading the Good News.
Give me a generous disposition Beloved, so I too am able to give generously and share enthusiastically in the work entrusted to all who believe.
Psalm 93:1-2, 5
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
It pleases the Father to raise You high above all names and give You a place above all others. Seated at the right hand of God You are given dominion, power, and majesty over the heavens, the earth, and under it.
You offered Yourself as the Sacrificial Victim in expiation for the sins of us all and You rose gloriously from the dead. In dying, You destroyed death, in rising You give us hope of new life in You. You have established a new heaven and a new earth over which God has enthroned You and given You all authority. Your reign is everlasting. You have given us an example of how to live in holiness, in humility, in obedience and above all, You taught us how to love. Grant us O Lord a full measure of Your Holy Spirit so we may walk with integrity and the fear of the Lord faithfully, and at the end of our life here on earth, You will welcome us into the Kingdom and the place that has been prepared for us eternally.
John 3:7B-15
Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,
Sin taints, sin mars, sin corrupts, sin disfigures, sin destroys, sin separates, sin kills. Sin ought to be anathema to all who love You above all else and yet it is not so. We continue to suffer the consequences of original sin even though it is washed away at our Baptism. Our will is not purified and so we fall easily into the snares and traps that our sinful inclinations draw us into.
Nicodemus is a Pharisee. He comes to You at night. He is fascinated by Your teaching. It is all so fresh, so new, so invigorating and enlightening. He is drawn to the Truth yet he lacks the courage to risk everything and follow You openly as Your disciple. You do not condemn him for his fears but accept him as he is. You instruct him. You speak of the being born again in the Spirit. The flesh avails us nothing, it is the Spirit that gives life.
In the days leading up to the great feast of Pentecost, the Liturgy will speak of the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit without whom it is impossible to pray, praise or worship God the way we ought. We need the Holy Spirit in order to understand the things of God and to walk in the Light of Truth.
The serpent that was raised between heaven and earth represents sin. Moses told the Israelites who were bitten by it to look at the bronze serpent in order to be healed and live. You were raised between heaven and earth because You became one like us in all things save sin. You took upon Yourself the sins of the whole world and thus destroyed its power over us. Thank You Beloved for taking my place on the Cross and redeeming me by Your Sacrifice. Thank You for taking upon Yourself my death and in exchange giving me eternal life.
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