Thursday, May 3, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Psalm 19:2-5, John 14:6-14

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Feasts of Sts. Philip and James - Apostles

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord;
Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Jn 14:6B, 9C


1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Psalm 19:2-5, John 14:6-14


1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

This is Good News indeed. You are alive and because You live I have hope of a joyous eternity with You, the Father, the Holy Spirit in the company of the entire hosts of angels and saints. What a glorious destiny awaits me because I believe.

I am saved because You came into the world in perfect humility and obedience. You came in order to take upon Yourself my sins, my iniquities, my punishment and now I stand innocent before God. When the Father looks at me He sees the price paid for my redemption. 

I thank You for the Apostles, I thank You for their testimony and their witness. I thank You for the blood they shed in order to preach the Good News just as You commanded, to all nations and even to the ends of the earth. Finally, we have the witness and the testimony of that great persecutor of the Church, Saul. If You could change a man so completely and make him the great Apostle to the Gentiles You can change me too. Make of me a new creation Beloved, so I too am unafraid of the consequences of preaching the Good News in season and out of season. The witness of so many courageous men and women has helped to transform my life through their witness. Help me in turn to fulfill the mission of evangelization entrusted to me.

Psalm 19:2-5

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

All of creation declares Your goodness, Your power, Your Majesty. Indeed Beloved we see the imprint of God's hand in all that is good, beautiful, noble, pure, uplifting, around us. Every little leaf, flower, cloud, speaks about the One who created us all out of nothing.

Thank You for eyes that see, ears that hear, hands that be extended to help, feet that can walk in the way that You direct. Thank You for feelings and emotions. Thank You for the Sacraments, thank You for the seal on my soul which marks me as Your own possession. Thank You for the ability to praise You and thank You for teaching me to praise and thank You in all circumstances for You are present in everything. Every baptized Christian is Your message to the world that You are indeed our Savior, our Messiah, our Redeemer. We are Your sign of hope in the world. Help us never to forget it.

John 14:6-14

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

In days past, when God called Abraham, choosing him to become the father of all nations through his descendants, He was known only to those whom He chose to reveal Himself. It was a slow, painful process as we can see from the lives of the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets. They were a stubborn people. They were disobedient. They carried the burden of original sin and nothing could rid them of the consequences of it this is why they sinned terribly and turned away from Him over and over again.

Yet, He never gave up on them. From the first moment of the rift caused by the terrible sin committed by our first parents, God sought a way to heal and restore what we had lost irrevocably.

He sent You, His only Son into the world. You are the Way back to the Father, You are the Truth of God, and only through You do we have life. This is why no one can be saved except through You. Thomas and Philip like the rest of the 12 knew You better than anyone else did except ofcourse Your Mother yet they didn't get it. This is one of those times when Your frustration with them shows. It is a frustration mixed with sadness. 

I too am slow Beloved, I too am thick headed. I don't always get it. Thank You for Your unfailing patience with me. Thank You for Your unfailing love and for making a flood of graces available to me through the Sacraments.

Help my faith to grow strong. Help me to believe with conviction Your assurance to the disciples as well as to me,  when You say, 

"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."

I believe Beloved, help my unbelief.

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