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."