1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Psalm 145:2-7, Matthew 24:42-51

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come. 
Mt 24:42A, 44

1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Psalm 145:2-7, Matthew 24:42-51



1 Corinthians 1:1-9

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We ought never to forget that it is You who called the Apostles and entrusted them with their sacred mission of leading, guiding, and teaching the members of Your Body all that You taught them. They have been charged with handing down the faith to all who follow from one generation to the next. They are anointed by You, empowered by Your Holy Spirit and sent forth to preach the Good News so that all whom the Father has chosen will hear, believe, and be saved.

To all who believe has been given the extraordinary privilege of being known as children of God, we are Your brothers and sisters. Angels have been given charge of us and all the rich treasures of heaven are poured out upon us through the glorious Sacraments instituted by You.

Your Church lacks nothing Beloved. She is invincible because You make her so. She is powerful because the Holy Spirit makes His home in her. She is radiant because Your Light and Your Truth are embodied in her - You are her Bridegroom. No harm will come to her. Her walls are impenetrable and the gates of hell shall not assail her for You are her God and she is Your possession.

Psalm 145:2-7

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Every day all over the world Your faithful gather together, so that from the rising of the sun to its going down perfect praise, adoration, and worship are offered to the Father in Your Name as we offer Your Holy Sacrifice to Him who finds its fragrance most pleasing and acceptable.

From day to day, from sunrise to sunset, and from one generation to the next, until You come again this Sacrifice of Praise, Worship, Thanksgiving, and Adoration will be offered. The power of this Sacrifice sustains the world and keeps all in it alive.

Thank You, Beloved, for all You have done for us. May we never fail to give You all the glory, honor, and thanksgiving that is due to You and may we teach our children and children's children that without this awesome celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist the world will wither and die.

Matthew 24:42-51

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

May we listen to Your Word today, receive it with joyful hearts, and keep its message alive. We are given all we need to combat evil. With Your help, and Your grace we will overcome. We have Your promises Beloved that no harm will ever approach those whom You have claimed for Yourself. We believe, and believing, we are saved.


Jesus said to his disciples:
"Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is long delayed,'
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant's master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18, Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5, Mark 6:17-29

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Mt 5:10
Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist


2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18, Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5, 
Mark 6:17-29


2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

As Catholics, we are called to be the salt of the earth and a light to the world. We are called to be role models so others may imitate us. This is especially true of those who are leaders in the Church, those who are called to be its shepherd. 

At all times and wherever we may be we are called to bear in mind that we must model You in every way. This is why we must think before we speak, and ensure that our actions are not contradictory to the message we proclaim.  Anyone who imitates us must not be led astray for having done so.
Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5

My love, Beloved of my soul,

As a child of the Father, as a member of Your Body, the Church, and as the temple of the Holy Spirit I am called to live in fear and awe of the Lord. My fear must be never to wound You who loves me so and to do all in my power to be pleasing to You always.

Thank You for the graces You pour upon me each day m Beloved and grant that I may use those graces well so I may grow strong in the virtues and be pleasing to You always. Amen.
Mark 6:17-29

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Those of us who have been given positions of authority, influence and power must use them for good and ensure that they do good and only good.  However, it is more common that they become arrogant and use that power for personal gain. They are unable to face criticism and refuse to be held accountable for they believe themselves above the standards to which everyone else is held.

John the Baptism was not afraid to call out the king for living in sin and for giving a bad example to the people. He was aware of the consequences of speaking the unpalatable truth but it did not stop him from doing so. Beloved, it is better to call the sinner to repentance than to pretend all is well and thus be the cause of someone imperiling their immortal soul.

St. John the Baptist lost his life because he dared to speak the truth. It is better to die with once with honor and be taken up to You rather than to live immorally and jeopardize our soul condemning it to eternal death. 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3A, 14-17, Psalm 96:10-13, Matthew 23:23-26

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. Heb 4:12

Memorial of Saint Augustine, 
Bishop and Doctor of the Church


2 Thessalonians 2:1-3A, 14-17, Psalm 96:10-13,
Matthew 23:23-26



2 Thessalonians 2:1-3A, 14-17

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We are called to live calmly and peacefully and not to allow ourselves to be alarmed by sensationalism. There are prophets of doom who seek to excite fear and apprehension. Your Spirit is a Spirit of wisdom, docility, gentleness, humility, kindness, tenderness, and all that is pure and holy. This is the Spirit that must pervade our beings and our gatherings when we come together in prayer and fellowship.

St. Paul also urges us to hold fast to the Truth as taught by the teaching authority of the Church and handed down by You to Your Apostles and from them to their successors. You will not permit error to be taught to Your Church and this is why we must stay close to her. The world is constantly coming up with new theories that seek to affirm the world in their sinful choices. They call good evil and evil good and will do all in their power to force their false ideologies on the world.

Those who stand firm to the end will do so only by the grace we receive through the Sacraments. Keep us safe Beloved within You for we are Your Body, Your Church. We are Yours.

Psalm 96:10-13


My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The Father has appointed You as King of the nations and the sole arbiter of justice. To You, the Father has given all authority, rule, power, Kingship, and majesty. All that lives and breathes must bow before You and worship You. This is the Father's will.

You can be trusted to judge fairly for You took upon Yourself our transgressions. You who are sinless became sin taking upon Yourself the punishment due to us and paying the price of our iniquity. Your justice will be tempered by mercy because You became one like us in all things save sin. You understand our fragility, our weakness, our concupiscence.

Thank You, Father, for giving us such a glorious Savior in Your Son. Thank You Beloved for laying down Your life for us and saving us. Thank You Holy Spirit for sanctifying us.
Matthew 23:23-26

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You abhor sin. Nothing that is tainted can come into Your Holy Presence. This is why, as the scandals in the Church come to light, and the sins of those who were charged with caring for Your Body are exposed to the gaze of horror by the world, we become aware of how easy it is to allow ourselves to become entangled in the snares of the devil. 

A little laziness, a little self-indulgence, a little wink at evil, a little compromise of the Truth here and there and before we know it we are down the slippery slope to damnation.

Today's Gospel passage is an indictment to those who believed that their powerful positions and the reverence and loyalty of the people they were supposed to serve, protected them. Not so. Sin will out. The truth will be exposed. God will not permit His Church to be sullied by those who were entrusted to look after His sheep.

"Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean."

You love Your Church. You lay down Your life for her. You will not permit stand by and watch her be destroyed by those who have been blinded by lust, by sin, by greed, by power. The Church belongs to You. It is holy because You make her so even though all her members are sinners. Come to the aid of Your Bride, Beloved. Wash her clean of the filth, defilement, and evil which threaten to destroy her. May she emerge once again, as she has done so often in the past, stronger, brighter, and more glorious. The New Jerusalem.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12, Psalm 96:1-5, Matthew 23:13-22

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


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


Memorial of Saint Monica


2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12, Psalm 96:1-5, 
Matthew 23:13-22


2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

St. Paul greets the Church of the Thessalonians and wishes them in the Name of the Father and in Your Name grace and peace. It is a grace and peace that is intrinsically a part of the Church You founded and no human person, no matter how high in the echelons of power within her can rob her of either. They have tried Beloved ever since You laid her foundations and have failed. 

Yes, there have been and will always be those within her whose faith flourishes and even more so in times of trials and tribulations as in the present time. We will overcome because You have triumphed over Your enemies, and the victory is already won.

We will endure with faith the persecutions and the afflictions to which we have been exposed by the grave sins committed by those who were given charge of her. They failed Beloved, never You.

We thank You for the suffering and reminds us that our faith is in You and does not stand or fall because human beings have failed. The Church has endured worse and perhaps worse will follow but we shall overcome for we are Yours.

We are bound to You Beloved and in You to one another. Let us unite together in prayer certain that Truth will prevail and in the end, the Church will emerge stronger, purer, brighter, because of what she has endured, what we will endure together with Your help.
Psalm 96:1-5

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

In the time of distress, we must double our praises of our awesome God. You dwell in the praises of Your people, those You have called out of darkness into Your own marvelous light. We have been saved Beloved and the victory belongs to You. 

May we never forget that we are sinners every one of us, this is why we need a Savior and God our Father has not spared His only Son but sent You into the world in order to set us free from the snares of the Enemy.

We are redeemed, we are saved, we are set free, and our song and our anthem to the Most High God, is Alleluia. 

Matthew 23:13-22

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

At a time when the enemies of Your Church are gloating and pointing fingers of accusation at her and are condemning her for the grave sins of those who were duty bound to watch over her, we take refuge in Your Sacred Heart and in the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

We ask You, Beloved, to come to our aid and to help Your Church rid herself of the accumulated filth of generations of sinners. Get rid of the scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites who have worked ceaselessly to bring her down and weaken her foundations. They are a threat to the faithful within her and are causing the faith of her weaker members to falter. Those who need an excuse to abandon the teachings of the Church in favor of sinful lifestyles are using this opportunity to confirm their sinful choices. The shepherds have been struck by the Enemy and the sheep are being scattered.

However, Beloved, we shall not be overcome. We cling to You. We know that You will not abandon Your Bride for she belongs to You. We are strengthened by Your promise that she will prevail until You come again in glory. Maranatha Lord Jesus! Maranatha!

Joshua 24:1-2A, 15-18B, Psalm 34:2-3, 16-21, Ephesians 5:21-32, John 6:60-69

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life. John 6:63C, 68C
Joshua 24:1-2A, 15-18B, Psalm 34:2-3, 16-21, 
Ephesians 5:21-32, John 6:60-69


Joshua 24:1-2A, 15-18B

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

In every life there comes a time when we have to make the choice of whether we will serve the one, true God or we will give ourselves over to false gods.

To know all that God has done for us, how He loves us, how He has saved us, and how He cares for us and still choose to bow down before idols, is to bring about our own ruin and damnation. 

For as long as I have breath in my body, grant my Lord that my family and I serve You and You alone with all the fervor of our soul. 
Psalm 34:2-3, 16-21

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The psalms teach us how to live, how to worship, and how to approach God in prayer. They teach us how to pray and praise. They teach us how to look at the world and see the hand of God in everything. And how to interpret all that happens to us in the light of God's sovereignty and love.

Your praise Beloved must be always on our lips no matter what our circumstances may be. We are called to praise You always because we know that God's love has ordained all that happens to us and even when things are not as we would have them be, we can be certain that You have the power to draw good from every situation.

You are a God who dwells with Your people and Your Spirit makes a home in us. What need we fear when You are always with us Beloved? Nothing.

Ephesians 5:2A, 25-32

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Love must be the rule of our lives in every circumstance and in all our dealings with one another. Even more so between husbands and wives.

We know that the world is in shambles today because we live in a world of parody. The word love has been misused and the kind of love that must command our every thought, word, and action, agape love, is mocked at, ridiculed, and has been rejected as impossible because it demands that we give all for the sake of the other.

But Love as God ordained it is divine. It is the kind of love that makes sinners saints. It makes the unlovable lovable. Love makes us all sons and daughters of God and this is why we are called to live as His children. Loving and reverencing each other. Raising each other up and helping one another to live up to our fullest potential.

You have given us an example of true love. You lay down Your life for us, we are called to do the same for each other, especially as husbands and wives.

Help us, Lord, for we are unable to help ourselves.

John 6:60-69

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

No one comes to You unless it is granted by Your Father. These are Your words. For those of us who believe that You are the Son of God, the Bread of Life, the Savior of the World, without whom we will not have life - we believe because the Father in His goodness has granted that it be so. We believe through no merit of our own. We are saved by no merit of our own.

It will keep us humble if we keep these truths in mind.

Many of Your sayings are hard Beloved, but You have warned us that the way to eternal life is narrow and hard and few choose it. Thank You for the grace of the Sacraments that enable us to choose the Way that leads to life in You and with You.

The world today is full of sin and turmoil. Confusion, division, and hate. In a world that is dark and frightening let us keep close to You and may the truth of the words of Peter be ever before us, 

"Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

Ezekiel 36:23-28, Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19, Matthew 22:1-14

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

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


Ezekiel 36:23-28, Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19, 
Matthew 22:1-14


Ezekiel 36:23-28

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

I thank and praise You for calling me by name, for declaring that I belong to You, for washing away my iniquities and cleansing me of all my sins. I thank You for giving me a new heart and a new spirit. I thank You for calling me out of darkness and bathing me in your own marvelous light. No longer am I an orphan for You have invited me into the family of God   You taught me to call Your Father, my Father as well. You have poured Your own Holy Spirit into me and You have united me with Yourself in cords that can never be severed unless I sever them myself by choosing to deliberately walk away from you.

Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

I thank You for the gift of the Sacraments. Thank You for the Sacraments of Life  Baptism, Reconciliation, and Holy Communion. Thank You for the Sacrament of Confirmation in which I declare before heaven and earth that I have chosen to walk in the Spirit of Truth that was poured into my soul at Baptism.

Thank You for washing away my sins each time I approach You in Confession and pouring grace upon grace into my soul enabling me to keep my resolve not to sin and displease Your Spirit in me. I will sin Beloved, and I will fall from grace because I am a frail, poor, weak, thing, tempted on every side, but I will run to You each time I fall and beg Your forgiveness. With Your help, I resolve to sin no more, but when I do Beloved and beg for pardon, pick me up. Wash me, strengthen me and hide me in our Sacred Heart which is my refuge and my home.

Matthew 22:1-14

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

I thank You for inviting every man, woman, and child,  irrespective of who they are or where they come from, including myself, to the Wedding Banquet. Here You feed me on the finest wheat and wine sweeter than honey in the comb. You have given me the wedding garment at my Baptism and through the course of my life, I know I shall stain it often with sin. But I beg thee Beloved, every time I approach You to forigive me,  wash me, cleanse me, restore to me all that I have squandered so wantonly in moments of weakness. Help me to grow strong in my resolve to sin no more and grant that the moments of weakness grow fewer and more rare.  Keep me close to You, to Your Church, and to the Sacraments that I may receive all the grace and strength I need all the day I live and until the day Y0u call me home and lead me to the place that You have prepared for me from all eternity Amen

Ezekiel 34:1-11, Psalm 23:1-6, Matthew 20:1-16

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart. Heb 4:12

Memorial of the Queenship 
of the Blessed Virgin Mary


Ezekiel 34:1-11, Psalm 23:1-6, Matthew 20:1-16

Ezekiel 34:1-11

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Even though many of Your shepherds have failed Your flock miserably beginning with the greatest, You will never fail us.

The word of the Lord came to me:
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,
in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds:
Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel
who have been pasturing themselves!
Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
You have fed off their milk, worn their wool,
and slaughtered the fatlings,
but the sheep you have not pastured.
You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick
nor bind up the injured.
You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost,
but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd,
and became food for all the wild beasts.
My sheep were scattered
and wandered over all the mountains and high hills;
my sheep were scattered over the whole earth,
with no one to look after them or to search for them.

Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
As I live, says the Lord GOD,
because my sheep have been given over to pillage,
and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast,
for lack of a shepherd;
because my shepherds did not look after my sheep,
but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep;
because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I swear I am coming against these shepherds.
I will claim my sheep from them
and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep
so that they may no longer pasture themselves.
I will save my sheep,
that they may no longer be food for their mouths.

For thus says the Lord GOD:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
Psalm 23:1-6

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Only goodness and kindness will follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o'clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.'
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o'clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o'clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.'
He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
'Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
When those who had started about five o'clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
'These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day's burden and the heat.'
He said to one of them in reply,
'My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Ezekiel 28:1-10, Psalm (Deut.) 32:26-28, 30, 35-36, Matthew 19:23-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


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

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope


Ezekiel 28:1-10, Psalm (Deut.) 32:26-28, 30, 35-36,
Matthew 19:23-30


Ezekiel 28:1-10

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

No man or woman can make a mockery of God and live. Many have tried and have found to their destruction that they have been deceived themselves by their folly. 

Those in the highest places thought themselves invincible. They have been cast down. They have become a source of derision to all. They who were once mighty and in their hauteur ignored the laws of God, no have their sins laid bare before the world.  They sinned with impunity, without fear, and preyed upon the vulnerable and the innocent thinking God was blind - they now discover that You are patient. You give every opportunity for repentance and contrition, however, God's justice will not be denied to the innocent.

Lord, God, never let us forget that we are only servants and that we can never compromise the Truth and hope to live.

Psalm (Deut.) 32:26-28, 30, 35-36

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Truly, it is You who deal death and give life. You have dealt death to those in high places. They have been brought low indeed and the innocent have been vindicated. God has come to their aid and justice has finally given the verdict. May genuine shame and sorrow be the fruit of this terrible revelation of betrayal of the sheep by the shepherds who were charged by God to protect them.

You have delivered up the sinners Beloved to the gaze of a hurt, and bewildered Church. Bring healing now my Lord lest our enemies gloat over us. 

You have named and shamed the enemies who thrived within her; now Beloved, as You root them out one by one, strengthen the remnant and bring about a new springtime in Your Church, Your Bride. She belongs to You alone.

Matthew 19:23-30

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Anyone charged with the sacred, solemn duty of standing guard over Your Body, the Church, and has done so faithfully to the end will be rewarded greatly as You assured Peter in today's Gospel reading.

But there is a warning in the last verse which every shepherd should heed. Many who are last will be first, and the first will be last.

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
"Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible."
Then Peter said to him in reply,
"We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

Ezekiel 24:15-23, Psalm (Deut.) 32:18-21, Matthew 19:16-22

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Mt 5:3

Memorial of St. Bernard, 
Abbot & Doctor of the Church

Ezekiel 24:15-23, Psalm (Deut.) 32:18-21, 
Matthew 19:16-22


Ezekiel 24:15-23

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

All the readings from the prophet Ezekiel chosen these last few weeks for the readings at Holy Mass speak directly to those whose sinful and scandalous actions have wounded deeply God's people, the Church.

Ezekiel's words seem to address these hollow straws who have desecrated the Sanctuary, the stronghold of our pride, the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul.  We gave them honor, respect, and were obedient to them. We were silent even when we did not understand or were uncomfortable, or were too afraid to speak for they used their power to trample on the innocent and silence them. You now say, "No more." God will not be mocked. The members of Your Holy Church who put their trust in them will see them cast aside, humiliated, covered in shame. 

Dressed in all their finery they will be named and shamed and the punishment long over-due shall fall upon them.

You shall do as I have done,
not covering your beards nor eating the customary bread.
Your turbans shall remain on your heads, your sandals on your feet.
You shall not mourn or weep,
but you shall rot away because of your sins and groan one to another.

God will not be mocked nor will He remain silent forever.
Psalm (Deut.) 32:18-21

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Now the passage from the book of Deuteronomy chosen for the Responsorial Psalm also addresses the evil rot that has been eating away at Your Bride.

Those in high places in their pride and arrogance forgot that the Church belongs to You. It is not their plaything and each one of them will be answerable. God is just and justice shall be rendered to those who have been violated, those who have suffered tremendously at the hands of those who were anointed and consecrated to help and heal.

You, my Beloved, will use the very people they sinned against and took for granted to bring them to their knees and make them acknowledge publicly how grievously they failed both God and His Church.

You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you.
You forgot the God who gave you birth.
When the LORD saw this, he was filled with loathing
and anger toward his sons and daughters.

"I will hide my face from them," he said,
"and see what will then become of them.
What a fickle race they are,
sons with no loyalty in them!"

"Since they have provoked me with their 'no-god'
and angered me with their vain idols,
I will provoke them with a 'no-people';
with a foolish nation I will anger them."
Matthew 19:16-22

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today in the midst of the scandal that is rocking the Church, Your Bride, You give us an answer to start over, to begin anew. You are a God of second chances. All are given an opportunity to repent, make reparation in contrition and sorrow and all are forgiven.

Today we look at the incident of the young man who approached You requesting You to show him how to receive eternal life. First You direct him to the obvious way - obedience to the commandments. He replies that he has kept them all. He was ready for a more committed, deeper discipleship, or so he thought until the moment of truth arrived.

He was not up to the challenge and today we find that those who took vows before God were not up to the challenge to keep them either.

"If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me."

Unless, unlike the rich young man, those in high places who have failed Your Bride so gravely, heinously, and highhandedly are able to strip themselves of all artifice, ornament, and sin, and make amends publicly in sackcloth and ashes, they too will walk away sad and condemned in their rejection of integrity, holiness and purity.

Proverbs 9:1-6, Psalm 34:2-7, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord. Jn 6:56
Proverbs 9:1-6, Psalm 34:2-7, Ephesians 5:15-20,
John 6:51-58

Proverbs 9:1-6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Wisdom which is another name fo God has established His home on earth in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. God has given us the seven sacraments. He has prepared the Eucharistic table for all who are baptized into Your His Church. Here we receive the Flesh of the Son of Man to eat and we are given the New Wine which is Your Blood which wells up to divine life in us. 

Day and night all over the world we hear the messengers of God inviting all to come and partake freely of the meal which is available to people of every race, language, color, and nation. Unless we eat this flesh and drink this wine we will lack an understanding of the divine. However, it is given only to the humble, the simple, the childlike, the Christlike. We must be prepared to give up, to deny, to let go of all that holds us back, shackles us, imprisons, us keeps us in slavery and bondage before we can come and eat.
Psalm 34:2-7

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Only those who have been granted the privilege of feasting at the Eucharistic table, those who believe that Your Body is real food and Your Blood real drink, can receive the immeasurable graces given to those who celebrate this Sacrament of Love worthily.

We exult with joy at the goodness of the Father who desired that we receive this divine Manna daily for He knows that without this spiritual nourishment we would be unable to wage war against the Enemy, the Devil, who prows around to devour souls.

At every Eucharistic celebration, we extol the goodness of God, we offer You praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and worship for You are worthy. Thank You for answering us in times of distress and for never abandoning those who are Yours.

Ephesians 5:15-20

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

No Christian can claim ignorance of how God's people are called to live in an evil world and this applies even more particularly to Catholics and those who serve the Church as Your shepherds either in high places or lower down the hierarchical structure.

All of us have failed God ever since the first sin committed by Adam and Eve. But now we are not only their children, inheriting original sin and concupiscence but we are also children of God by virtue of our baptism. No longer can we say that we are ignorant of how we are called to live. 

St. Paul does not mince words as we see in today's second reading:

Brothers and sisters:
Watch carefully how you live,
not as foolish persons but as wise,
making the most of the opportunity,
because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance,
but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery,
but be filled with the Spirit.

Immeasurable grace is given to Catholics through the worthy reception of the Sacraments this is why my Beloved You have commanded that we be holy and perfect just as our heavenly Father is holy and perfect. In cooperation with grace, this is possible. Enable us to be strong and to utilize the grace that is poured out upon us and upon Your Church. Amen.
John 6:51-58

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Every Christian who has ever read this passage and still thinks that the Eucharist is only a symbolic meal is like the ostrich that buries its head in the sand. If they understand perfectly what You are saying but are afraid to take the leap into the Church You established, then unfortunately they condemn themselves to eternal damnation. Your Word is clear and Your repeat it not one but several time.

Let those who have ears hear.

Jesus said to the crowds:
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me
will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."

It is clear Beloved, those who know and refuse to eat, as well as those who approach the Table aware they are in a state of grievous sin, eat and drink damnation to their eternal souls.

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32, Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19, Matthew 19:13-15

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. 

Mt 11:25

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32, Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19,
Matthew 19:13-15


Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Even in this 21st century, there are those who say when someone suffers that perhaps he or she is paying for the sins of parents or ancestors.

Today, in the Old Testament, where such thinking was prevalent, we are told in unequivocal terms that the sins we commit, and the punishment which is the consequence of grave sins, is our own. The sinner pays for his transgressions, he alone is accountable. The innocent son will not pay for the sins of his parents nor will the son, guilty of sin, be free of its consequences because his parents were righteous. 

You are a just God and all innocents who suffer violence against them by evil men and women will have to face the judgment throne of the Most High. He will have to give a strict account for all his unrepented sins and will have to make reparation for each one them.  We condemn ourselves Beloved, God does not condemn us. The words of the prophet Ezekiel are true, 

The word of the LORD came to me:
Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverb
that you recite in the land of Israel:

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,
says the Lord GOD. Return and live!

There is always time to repent as long as we are alive. Grant O Lord that every sinner repents and lives. Thank You.
Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The Psalmist got it right when he wrote the words to this beautiful psalm.

I will sin Beloved, many times before You call me from this life to the next because I am frail. I am a daughter of Adam. But I am aware that all I need to do when I sin is repent, be contrite, and vow with Your help to sin no more. I thank You that I am redeemed by Your Blood and that through the merits of Your passion, death, and glorious Resurrection I now share in Your inheritance. You have made me an adopted daughter of Your Father. And You, my Beloved, are my Brother. Thank You for all You have won for me on the Cross. May I never take Your love and Your forgiveness for granted but strive to live a pure and holy life with Your help. Amen.

A clean  heart create for me, O God;

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Matthew 19:13-15

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The Readings of the Liturgy these last days seem to speak directly to the shepherds who have failed their flock miserably. The same rebuke that You made to Your disciples then hold good today as You rebuke those holding high office within the Church.

All those who have been guilty of using their position to prey upon the innocent and persecute those who resisted will have to pay until they make reparation to the last penny like the wicked, ungrateful servant.
Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
"Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

As the sins of those in high places are revealed, may all that is rotten within the Church drain out. The wounds that have been inflicted on Your Bride, the Church no matter how grave, how serious, or how deep will not kill her. We have Your promise Beloved, that the gates of hell will never prevail against her. The sinners will be weeded out but Your Church will remain until the end of time.

We trust in Your promises and in Your unfailing, unwavering love for sinners who repent. Wash away our iniquities, cleanses us from all our sins. Restore all that was lost and help Your Church emerge stronger and brighter than ever before. Let us remember that people have failed Your Church never You.  

Ezekiel 16:59-63, Isaiah 12:2-3, 4-6, Matthew 19:3-12

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but, as it truly is, the word of God. 1Thes 2:13
Ezekiel 16:59-63, Isaiah 12:2-3, 4-6, Matthew 19:3-12


Ezekiel 16:59-63

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Truly, Your Church has broken the Covenant of Love that You have made with her. The betrayal comes from within and from those who held places of esteem and honor. They have stained her from within and have wounded and scandalized those that dwell in her. Your righteous anger, directed against her, would certainly be justified. The whole Church suffers terribly because of the heinous crimes committed against those they were bound to nurture, care for, and serve. Not only have they sinned with impunity but they have aided and abetted each other, confirming each other in their sins. They have celebrated the Sacraments with souls steeped in the blackest sins and deserve punishment to the maximum extent possible. 

Yet, You are a God of mercy. Turn Your gaze of love and tenderness on the victims of these grave sins, on those who are innocent but are now looked at with suspicion. Bring healing O Lord. Grant Your Wisdom in handling this terrible crisis that threatens to knock down the very foundations of the Church You established. Satan and his minions are at work to bring down Your Church by bringing down those who hold high office in the Church. But we have hope in Your assurance that the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.

However, Beloved watch over Your remnant and grant her all she needs to face every challenge that is thrown at her during these dark and troubling times in her history. Only when the cleansing fire purifies every area of her edifice can she emerge stronger, and more beautiful than she ever was with Your help. Amen.

Isaiah 12:2-3, 4-6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We have an awesome God and this is why we need be cast down with fear and despondency. The Church has always been faced with great challenges and with the help of the Holy Spirit, she has overcome them all.

You lay down Your life for her. Your love flows through her and out from her to all who take refuge in her. No power can bring her down for she has been set high on a hilltop and God Himself dwells in her.

Thank You for the words of the prophet Isaiah that reminds us of who the Church is and to whom she belongs.

God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!

R. You have turned from your anger.
Matthew 19:3-12

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today's Gospel strikes at the heart of what God desires of us whether single, married, or consecrated to God.

You remind us that God created us male and female and we can come into the sacred union of one flesh only through the bonds of Holy Matrimony. There can be no divorce for how can the two who are now one be separated. God's law and intent are clear. Anyone who divorces and marries again is guilty of adultery which is a mortal sin. The world today rejects this law of God and this is one of the causes of all the misery in our world. Families are shattered, children are wounded, suffer, are abused, are vulnerable to attack.

The Apostles who were all married except John were taken aback by what You said and thought it better never to marry. To this You said, 

 "Not all can accept this word,
but only those to whom that is granted.
Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so;
some, because they were made so by others;
some, because they have renounced marriage
for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

Those who have made sacred vows to remain celibate have done so freely and once such vows are made before God they are held bound to it for the rest of their lives. 

May You have mercy on Your Church Beloved and enable her to overcome the deep wounds caused by the shepherds of Your flock who have failed her. The shepherds are struck and the sheep have scattered.