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.