Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13, Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44, Luke 8:19-21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it. Lk 11:28

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13, Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44,
Luke 8:19-21


Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13

Like a stream is the king's heart in the hand of the LORD;
wherever it pleases him, he directs it.

All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes,
but it is the LORD who proves hearts.

To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart–
the tillage of the wicked is sin.

The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,
but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.

Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.

The soul of the wicked man desires evil;
his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes.

When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser;
when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

The just man appraises the house of the wicked:
there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself also call and not be heard.

Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44

Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.

Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.

The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.

Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.

Lead me in the path of your commands,
for in it I delight.

And I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever.
Luke 8:19-21

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Your Mama's perfect fiat to the will of God gave us so wondrous a Savior as You. She was the disciple par excellence and we will do well to imitate her virtues.

All of us who desire to be Your disciples have an exemplary role model in our Mother Mary who prays for her children constantly and makes intercession for us with You, her Son.

Today You remind me that it is not enough just to hear Your   Word Beloved, I am called to act on it. I am called to receive it and contemplate on it. I am required to make it the Light by which my way to the Kingdom of God is illumined. Guided by the Light of Your Word I can be certain that You will see me safely home.

Proverbs 3:27-34, Psalm 15:2-3A, 3BC-4AB, 5, Luke 8:16-18

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Mt 5:16

Proverbs 3:27-34, Psalm 15:2-3A, 3BC-4AB, 5,
Luke 8:16-18


Proverbs 3:27-34

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The poor always have a claim on us this is why we refuse them nothing if it is at all possible for us to do them good no matter how insignificant that act may be. We ought to be available to our neighbor in the time of need an act of kindness postponed may never be done. The moment is lost and will never be recovered.

We are called to live in harmony with each other. There is enough division and strife in the world without our adding to it. Sometimes, the godless can be quite attractive and charming, guard us against such charm my Beloved. Help us choose our friends wisely so we may not be led into the trap of sin.

May all who know us find themselves blessed for You dwell within our home. May we always be humble and in turn, Beloved keep us close to Your Sacred Heart and the Heart of Your immaculate Mother. Amen.
Psalm 15:2-3A, 3BC-4AB, 5

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

There is a code of conduct that those who belong to You follow. These You assure a place of dwelling with You. In a world of lies, immorality, rampant sin, we are called to live in purity of heart. To walk blamelessly in Your sight and to always live in truth. We are called to keep a check on our speech and control our tongue which can lead us to all kinds of sin.

We are called to watch out for one another for we are our brother's and sister's keeper. We are called above all to honor God in all we say and do.

All who live in Your shadow my Beloved will know peace and joy all the days of our lives.
Luke 8:16-18


My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We have received the Good News. I have been privileged to be born a cradle Catholic and with this comes a responsibility to share generously what was given to me as freely. Your Light has been lit in me and I must let it shine through me so others can walk by its light.

May the joy of the Gospel radiate in me, Beloved. May I never be afraid to speak about all You have done for me and how I have been saved by Your love. Keep me safe from serious sin. I know my weaknesses Beloved and there is every danger that I could fall when I least expect to. May I have daily and frequent recourse to the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation so I may be strong to resist the wiles of the enemy within and without.

Grant O Lord that I may be open to receiving all that You desire to give me and may I use all I have received for Your glory. Amen.

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20, Psalm 54:3-6, 8, James 3:16--4:3 Mark 9:30-37

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thes 2:14
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20, Psalm 54:3-6, 8, James 3:16--4:3
Mark 9:30-37


Wisdom 2:12, 17-20

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

On the road to Emmaus, You open the minds of the disciples to understand Scripture and to recognize how all of the Old Testament Scripture foretells Your coming and prophecies all about You and what You will endure at the hand of evil.

In this verses from the Book of Wisdom, we are told clearly how the Scribes, Pharisees, and those in charge of the Temple will see You as a threat. They will be so alarmed by You that they will plot ceaselessly to get rid of You and will not rest until they do. You revealed all their hypocrisies to the people. You were unafraid to name and shame their sins which they hid very cleverly under a cloak of respectability and they, in turn, hated You with a murderous hate.  

In the end, they did kill You, the Son of God, in broad daylight and in doing so they played a part in giving the world its Savior.

Psalm 54:3-6, 8

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Not only does Your Name save me, I am called by Your Name for I am a Christian. I know that You have marked me for Yourself and You will keep me save all the days of my life.

You hear my prayers even before a word has escaped from my lips. You defend me night and day before Your Father in heaven and I am kept safe in Your Name, the Name that saves.

No evil will overtake me though it may pursue me all my days because I take refuge in You. You are my Helper, my God, my Lord, and my Deliverer. Yes, Beloved, I will offer the only Sacrifice pleasing to the Father and I will praise Him because of all He had done for me through You. Thank You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the Gift of Life. Amen.

James 3:16--4:3

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Those who wish to flirt with sin, myself included, will find it hard to do so when we read the Letter of St. James. He calls out sin in all its various forms and he is unafraid of telling it exactly as it is, no pretty words, not wrapped up daintily and hence there are some who are not very pleased with him and would prefer to ignore him.

I thank the Holy Spirit for inspiring him to write what he did. Sin is sin and it resides in the human heart. If we are not careful in resisting the weaknesses that we have inherited from our first parents we can be sure that before long we will slide down the slippery slope to eternal damnation.
Beloved:
Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.

Where do the wars
and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions
that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain;
you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Mark 9:30-37

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

It is in the nature of the human spirit to be concerned with having power, authority, a place of prominence, to be made much of and placed before others. But You teach us another way. The Way of Humility. The Way of self-sacrifice. The Way of putting others needs before our own.

You show us a better Way - a Way by which we become as a child and allow You to take us by the hand and lead us.
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Psalm 19:2-5, Matthew 9:9-13

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist


Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Psalm 19:2-5, Matthew 9:9-13


Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Words are easy it is putting the words into practice that is so very hard. I know to what You have called me. I know that I have to put aside the old, sinful me and live as one who has encountered You, one who knows You even as I am known to You. St. Paul could not have put it more plainly when he urges all who believe to live in a manner worthy of the call we have received. We are called to be humble, gentle, bearing all things patiently with love, live together in the harmony that is bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit.

Grace is poured upon me as I receive the Sacraments but it is a terrible thing to know Beloved, that grace can be ineffective if I do not put grace to use in fighting the good fight. No one can help me if I do nothing to help myself but give in without even the semblance of a struggle to my particular weakness of which I am fully aware. I lead myself into the jaws of hell and then dislike myself thoroughly when I fall. This helps no one least of all me.

Your Holy Spirit has given me gifts my Love, grant that I may use these little talents to further Your Kingdom on earth so that I may grow more and more like You and lead others to grow like You as well.

Psalm 19:2-5

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

I too am called to declare the glory of God for I am a part of His glorious handiwork. Help me, my Soul, to do all that You ask of me moment by moment all the days that are granted to me. Amen.

Matthew 9:9-13

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Just as You met Matthew where he was and invited him to follow You so You invite me to leave behind the things that keep me from embracing a life with You completely and to follow You more closely.

Matthew's response was instant, in his own words we learn that as soon as he heard Your invitation, "Follow me."He got up and followed You.

Beloved, I am more like the Pharisees who criticized You than like Matthew who heard Your call and followed You without hesitation and without looking back. He gave himself wholeheartedly to You.

Thank You for Your consoling words addressed to me today, 

"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Thank You.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Psalm 118:1B-2, 16AB-17, 28 Luke 7:36-50

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Mt 11:28
Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Priest, and Paul Chong Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs

1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Psalm 118:1B-2, 16AB-17, 28
Luke 7:36-50


1 Corinthians 15:1-11

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We believe in the Good News, the Good News that has the power to save. It does not matter who preaches, it does not matter how the one who preaches received the gift of faith, what does matter is that we who received it hand it down just as faithfully as we received it.

What is this Gospel that we believe Beloved, St. Paul tell us in the following verses:

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

We believe that You rose from the dead and that there were over 500 witnesses to this fact beginning with Peter and ending the Paul who became one of the greatest evangelists of all time.

I too am called to preach the Good News in season and out of season and not only in word but in deed help me Beloved to speak boldly and courageously of the Word that gives life and saves.

Psalm 118:1B-2, 16AB-17, 28

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

May I never fail to give You thanks my Lord and my God for Your many kindnesses to me. For saving me. For pursuing me even when I was fleeing from You. For catching up with me and for loving me tenderly. Thank You for never giving up on me and above all thank You for the eternal Covenant of Love that You have made with me and those I love.

Truly, You are a God of great mercy and compassion if not, Beloved, I would have died in my sins and I would have been damned eternally.

Thank You for being my Rock, my Refuge and my Deliverer. With You at my side Beloved, I shall always be safe.

Luke 7:36-50

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Although you called out the self-righteous Pharisees for their hypocrisies You nevertheless were gracious and visited them when they invited You into their home. You never lost an opportunity of bringing the sinner to repentance and conversion.

Today, we have the most beautiful passage written by the evangelist Luke who has a very tender heart for those who are poor both spiritually and temporally. He narrates this incident eloquently and we can picture the entire scene as he so movingly expresses the gestures made by the public sinner, the tenderness with which You received her and accepted her gestures of contrition and repentance, and the hardness of heart of Simon the Pharisee and one-time Leper. He too was a beneficiary of Your healing power but had no room in his heart for compassion.

The 'sinful woman in the city' whom all the men reclining at table knew (one wonders how, whether only by reputation or by personal experience). She had eyes for no one but You. Having gained entrance into the Pharisee's house she walked straight up to You and then she made the most beautiful sacramental expression of her contrite, sorrowful heart, her repentance, her desire to turn away from her sinful life, and Your loving acceptance of her expression of repentance and Your divine absolution of all her sins, cleansing her soul of all her past sins and giving her an wonderful opportunity to begin again.

This is a beautiful demonstration of what happens to every contrite soul in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Every sinner gets to hear Your beautiful, healing words from the mouth of the priest:

"Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

1 Corinthians 12:31----13:13, Psalm 33:2-5, 12, 22, Luke 7:31-35

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life,
you have the words of everlasting life. Jn 6:63C, 68C
1 Corinthians 12:31----13:13, Psalm 33:2-5, 12, 22,
Luke 7:31-35



1 Corinthians 12:31----13:13

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

As children of God and as members of the family of God we are always invited by You and the Holy Spirit to strive after holiness as our Father in heaven in holy and perfect. We are called to strive after excellence in all things spiritual. I cannot call God Father and then reveal traits in my character that are alien to His. I am a child of God and a member of Your Body the Church.

In today's Liturgy, we read perhaps one of the most sublime passages ever thought of and written on the nature and quality of love. It is abundantly clear from the beauty, nobility, and power of these verses that this is no merely human understanding of love but has been inspired by the Holy Spirit.

We are both human and spiritual beings. Each of us carries within our soul infinity and divinity for the Holy Spirit dwells in us and makes our body His Holy Temple. This is why we are called to live holy lives pleasing to the Father for where sin is present God cannot abide.

This more excellent way for children of God to live in an ugly, sinful world is a clarion call to all who have chosen You for our Brother, Bridegroom, and Friend.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
Psalm 33:2-5, 12, 22

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

It is not we who have chosen God but He who has chosen us to be His Own. Even though we are sinners He still stoops tenderly over us and constantly calls us to a life of repentance. He desires that we turn away from sin and live holy lives. He desires that once our life has run its course on earth we may spend eternity with Him.

God so loved us that He sent You into the world to be our Savior. Were it not for You Beloved, and the ransom You paid to deliver us from the snares of the Enemy the breach created by sin between God and us would never have been repaired.

You have put a new song of praise in our hearts and we will sing of Your goodness and love all the days of our lives.

Thank You Beloved for redeeming me and throwing open the gates of heaven so I may enter through You. There is no other way to the Father except through You who are the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Luke 7:31-35

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Truly we are like children Beloved. We are obstinate, stubborn, self-willed, foolish, slow of understanding, and lacking in wisdom and common sense. We are unable to read the signs of the times. We are unable to comprehend the disastrous consequences of our evil choices. We are unable to see for ourselves where sin is leading us and how we are not only destroying ourselves but everything around us. We embrace sterility and call it freedom. We produce nothing and we are drying up and shriveling from the roots. 

How much longer Beloved, before Wisdom prevails? How much longer before we say enough of ugliness and evil it leads to death and destruction. We choose life, we choose beauty, we choose love, we choose God.

Bring us to sanity Lord before we destroy ourselves and the world completely for we a wicked people of a wicked generation. Have mercy on us O Lord, have mercy.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31A, Psalm 100:1-5, Luke 7:11-17

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people. Lk 7:16


1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31A, Psalm 100:1-5, 
Luke 7:11-17


1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31A

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

All who are baptized into Your Body no matter who we may be, become members of the One Body of Christ. You are the Head we the members each having different functions. St. Paul reminds us that the Church is hierarchical in nature beginning with the Apostles and we have all a different role to play in building up Your Body, the Church.

All have been given different gifts and they are not to be sought for self-glory but used in the service of the Church and more than that he says that we must strive eagerly to seek these gifts in order to build the Body of Christ. 

Psalm 100:1-5

My Love, I belong to You and to Your Church. I am counted as the sheep of Your flock. I am Yours and You are my God and my Lord. The knowledge of this truth must cause me to sing joyfully in all the circumstances of my life.

I have been marked for the Kingdom of heaven. You watch over me tenderly just as You watch over all whom the Father has entrusted to Your care. Grant my Beloved that there will always be a song of praise on my lips and thanksgiving in my heart for all the many blessings that You have showered on me on those I love. Thank You Beloved for Your great goodness, kindness, mercy, and above all Your everlasting, faithful love.
Luke 7:11-17

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We are told that not only were Your disciples with You but a large crowd accompanied You and they all witnessed this astounding miracle. This miracle reveals to us the heart of our awesome God.

What were Your thoughts Beloved, when You saw this grief-stricken widow who had lost her only son? Did You think of the grief Your own Mama would suffer when the time came for You to die? Here was one mother whose suffering You could turn to joy and that is exactly what You did.

The Gospel writer says that You were moved to pity for her and consoled her saying, "Do not weep." Then You touched the coffin, the pallbearers halted and addressing the corpse You commanded, "Young man, I tell you arise!" He sat up, began to speak and You gave him to his mother.

Not much is said Beloved but there is so much that can be understood from this vivid scene painted by Luke, the evangelist.

We now look at the reaction of the crowd. 

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
"A great prophet has arisen in our midst,"
and "God has visited his people."
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region.
The whole of Israel ought to have believed that You were God after they witnessed this miracle for only God has power over life and death. Sadly, it was not so. 

People kept demanding for miracles and they were never enough. Even when You were nailed on the Cross they demanded that You come down from it and they would believe.  No miracle will ever be enough for those who do not have faith.

1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33, Psalm 40:7-10, 17, Luke 7:1-10

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. 

Jn 3:16

1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33, Psalm 40:7-10, 17, 
Luke 7:1-10

1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Division is the work of Satan; we see a world divided and torn apart on so many levels that it is impossible to count. We are fragmented and we keep breaking into ever smaller pieces because each group is adamant and stubborn. There is no room for love, no understanding, no finding of common ground, no wisdom, in fact, there is no God. Where God is there is peace, there is harmony, there is the Holy Spirit.

The one place that must unite all God's people is when we come together to celebrate the Lord's Supper. We come as a family, as a community, to eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of the Son of Man, the Son of God, in order that we may receive strength for the journey. But even here You will hear some boasting that the form of the Holy Mass that they celebrate is somehow superior. The Eucharist is the Eucharist and You are fully present no matter in what rite we celebrate it. 

Thank You Beloved for becoming our food and drink. When we come together let it be a time of unity rather than division for when we are divided we play into the hands of Satan.

Psalm 40:7-10, 17

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

At every celebration of the Eucharist, Beloved, we are called to proclaim Your death until You come again. 

Although You are the Son of God, You were obedient to the Father's will even unto death on the Cross. God so loved us that He sent You into the world so that whoever believes in You will not perish but have eternal life.

Thank You, Beloved of my soul, for Your yes to the Father's plan. Because You lay down Your life for the sins of all the world justice has been met and the price has been paid for our iniquity.

May we never cease to give You praise and glory from the rising of the sun to its setting until You come again to proclaim Your Lordship over the living and the dead. Maranatha Lord Jesus, Maranatha!

Luke 7:1-10

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You did not leave one place for another until You had said and done all that You set out to do and say. In today's Gospel passage we are told of a centurion, a Roman and an enemy of the people who had a slave who was so sick he was dying. The centurion was a good and generous man and this is why, when he approached the elders to come to You and ask You to heal his servant they did so readily. They interceded on his behalf. We see here the power of intercession.

The centurion was also humble. If there is one trait that is sure to please God everytime it is genuine humility. A truly humble person is not presumptuous. 

When the officer was aware that You had almost reached his home he sent word asking You not to trouble Yourself to enter his home for he was unworthy all he asked is for You to command the illness to leave and it would be done. His faith is truly astounding and this is why, because it is so rare even among those who one would assume would have a vibrant faith, that You remarked on it. This reveals to us that humility and faith go together. We must approach You in humility and we must believe that all we ask for in faith You will grant us.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine. Amen.

Isaiah 50:5-9A, Psalm 116:1-9, James 2:14-18, Mark 8:27-35

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Gal 6:14
Isaiah 50:5-9A, Psalm 116:1-9, James 2:14-18, 
Mark 8:27-35


Isaiah 50:5-9A

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You show us how we are to bear affliction and sorrow. You show us how to accept humiliation when we are innocent. You came into the world as a Man of Sorrows to take upon Yourself the sins of the world. To make atonement for all our sins from Adam to the last living person. You made it possible for us to enter into the Kingdom of Your Father whom You have graciously taught us to know as and call our Father as well.

You have taught us to put all our hope and trust in You when we are called to suffer and to be certain that God is closest to us in our pain and our agony. If suffering did not have a redeeming power God would not have permitted You to suffer but it does. May I never fail to unite my little sufferings with Yours and thus find in it the remedy for all my sins. Amen.

Psalm 116:1-9

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are constantly stooped tenderly over me. Before a word has escaped from my lips you already know what is in my heart. I thank You for being my ever-present help. Thank You for always answering me when I have called on Your Name. 

For as long as there is breath in my body, Beloved, I will be in danger of sinning grievously and thus being cut off from You forever. Stay with me Lord and keep me from falling from grace. Without Your help, I would be lost. Thank You for paying the price of my redemption. Keep me close to You Beloved all the days of my life.

James 2:14-18

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

I thank God for St. James who spells out very clearly that both faith and good works go together. It is impossible to say that we have faith but neglect the needs of those who have less than we do. All that we have been given comes from the hand of a generous God who expects us to share that which He has given us. 

Keep us sensitive to those in need Beloved. Keep us sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and let us not hesitate when it comes to giving and sharing that which we have received from Your bounty.

Mark 8:27-35


My Love, Beloved of my soul,

There will come a time in the life of all those who follow You closely to respond to the question that You put to Your disciples. Who do you people say that I am? and who do You say I am?

The response of the disciples to the first question who do people say that I am? reflects the fact that the crowds who pressed around You everywhere You went, did not truly know who were, because they did not have a close relationship with You as the disciples did. They had a perception of You based on hearsay and perhaps listening to You teach and preach on occasion and maybe witnessing a miracle or hearing of Your power to perform miracles. However, they were dead wrong in thinking You to be Elijah or John the Baptist, or one of the prophets.

Then turning to Your disciples You put the question to them personally, "But who do You say that I am?" You would have expected them to shout out in unison with Peter, "You are the Christ." However, it was not so. Peter alone was inspired by the Father to reveal this truth. God does not do things lightly or randomly. There is a meaning and a purpose to all that He does. Peter, a man of many flaws was nevertheless chosen to be chief of the apostles. We know this because You called him Satan when he discouraged You from embracing the suffering, the passion, the Cross, and the death that the Father had marked out for You. Yet, once the authority was given it was not withdrawn from him. Peter had much to learn and he was a slow learner, but You would teach him painstakingly. Once the lessons were learned he would not deviate from the Way but would remain steadfast to the end.

Addressing the crowd and the disciples You revealed the secret to receiving the Kingdom of God,

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it."

1 Corinthians 10:14-22, Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18, John 19:25-27

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;
without dying you won the Martyr's crown
beneath the Cross of the Lord.
MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS


1 Corinthians 10:14-22, Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18, 

John 19:25-27


1 Corinthians 10:14-22

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

There is always an ever-present danger of making idols of people or of ideas. In fact, we can make an idol of anything for anything that takes the place of God and of true worship is idolatry.

How privileged we are as Catholics to gather around the table of God and eat of the flesh and drink of the blood of the Son of God and receive life that wells up to eternal life. We who come together as God's family are strengthened by the same Bread as we eat of Your Body and drink from the Cup of Salvation.

Let us then my most Beloved Lord become very aware of the world and of demonic activity in the world and with Your help, preserve ourselves from all that could separate us from Your Love and from Your Body.
Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You have shown us the Way to the Father, in fact, it is You who are the Way to the Father. You are also Truth and Life. There is no sacrifice more pleasing to God than the offering of the daily sacrifices we made in union with the one, holy, and perfect offering that You have made to the Father in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

Everywhere in the world, a perfect of praise and thanksgiving is offered on our altars from the rising of the sun to its setting. It is our privilege to participate in it every day, or not, the choice is ours. But to those who approach Your Banquet every day Beloved, and feast on the Bread of Angels, You fill with every good and perfect gift.

Thank You. 

John 19:25-27

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The perfect Mother stood at the foot of the Cross. She never left Your side throughout the bitter passion. It was a comfort to You to know that she was there and that she shared in Your terrible suffering. Every blow that fell on You fell spiritually upon her as well. Every cruel, mocking, scornful, blasphemous word that was spoken to You lacerated her heart. Your flesh hung in tattered, bloody ribbons on Your Body, her spirit was just as wounded as Your Own. She suffered with You and participated in Your Way of Sorrow completely. 

She stood by the Cross as the evangelist John testifies. You looked down and saw her there and You entrusted her to Your beloved disciple John and to each one of us who are Your beloved disciples. You trust us to take her home with us and to treat her with love, reverence, tenderness, and care. You know that when we do we will indeed take into our home and our heart a rare treasure. The fairest daughter of the Father, the immaculate and peerless spouse of the Holy Spirit, and the Mother par excellence of the Son.

Mary, my dearest Mother, pray for me, and for all your children. Plead with us at the Throne of Grace and preserve the Church through Your intercession for it belongs to Your Son. Amen.

1 Corinthians 7:25-31, Psalm 45:11-12, 14-17, Luke 6:20-26

DAILY HOLY MASS READING

Rejoice and leap for joy!
Your reward will be great in heaven. Lk 6:23B

1 Corinthians 7:25-31, Psalm 45:11-12, 14-17, 
Luke 6:20-26


1 Corinthians 7:25-31

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

In the world we live in today,  a world of hedonism and self-indulgence, a world where instant gratification to every passing desire is the norm, St. Paul's advice would be mocked and scorned. All the evils of this world stem from a lack of self-control. A lack of discernment between common sense and idiocy. The world is fed on the 'do it if it feels good' principle and the world has grown flaccid and weak in its morals and principles because of it. 

Perhaps it has always been so but in day and age of instant connectivity, it seems that ugliness, sin, and moral decay is rampant in every corner of the globe. 

The world would do well to heed St. Paul's advice, for we truly do not know the day nor the hour when You will return. When You do may we not be caught sleeping.

I tell you, brothers, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.
Psalm 45:11-12, 14-17

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today the psalmist reminds me that I am a daughter of the King. That the Church is Your Bride. That she belongs to You and that one day You will come to lead her without wrinkle or stain to Your Father's House, in the Eternal Kingdom of God.

I too am Yours. I am marked for heaven. I am a member of that same Church whose Bridegroom You are. My ear ought to be attuned to the sound of Your voice, alert to the sound of Your footsteps. You have given me a garment of royalty. I have received the festive robes through Baptism and You have claimed me for Yourself in time and eternity.

I know that You will never forsake me for You know that despite all my weaknesses, I desire to belong to You completely and You will honor my desire simply because You love me unconditionally. Thank You.

 

Luke 6:20-26


My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Raising Your eyes to Your disciples, You reveal the blueprint of the character of the Son of God so we who belong You know how we can emulate You. 

It is difficult Beloved, but the rewards are marvelous. We thank You for God's justice which ensures that those who endure their difficulties with grace will be raised one day. In the world, there is terrible division and unimaginable discrepancies between those who have and those who haven't. But we can be sure that God will ensure that in the end, each will receive their just reward.

"Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false
prophets in this way."

1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Psalm 149:1-6 & 9, Luke 6:12-19

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I chose you from the world,
That you may go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord. 

Jn 15:16
1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Psalm 149:1-6 & 9, Luke 6:12-19


1 Corinthians 6:1-11

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

St. Paul does not mince words in today's First Reading. We are called to bear with one another even injustice. We must be prepared to be cheated by our Christian brothers and sisters rather than take up the matter in the court with people who do not share our faith. We may take it up among ourselves but, he says it would be even better if we accepted the wrongs done against us. This is hard Beloved. But You never said that the way to the Kingdom was easy.

St. Paul then enumerates the different kinds of sin that shut the gates of heaven to us. 

Do not be deceived;
neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites nor thieves
nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers
will inherit the Kingdom of God.
That is what some of you used to be;
but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and in the Spirit of our God.

The world may go blue in the face and collapse before it agrees with Your Word - but it is unchanging. It is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
 Psalm 149:1-6 & 9

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

I know that You will hide me in Your shadow and keep me safe from my own terrible weaknesses because I ask it for I know full well that I cannot help myself. In Your great pity for me will move Your tender Heart to be my refuge, my protector, my rock, my hiding place.

Grant O Lord my God that I may forever sing Your praises in the company of Your people. May I fellowship with those who believe all my days and find friendship and strength among those who believe in You and hope in Your love. May I be faithful to the Church You founded and may I do nothing that will weaken her members. Rather, Beloved, grant that I may in my own little way help to build her up rather than tear her down. Amen.
Luke 6:12-19

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

If we desire to please God our Father then we must learn to emulate You. Prayer is our lifeline to God and without it, we will weaken and perish.

Physical exhaustion was not a deterrent to keep You away from prayer. This union with Your Father was absolutely essential to Your Ministry. You did nothing without discerning His will in all things and then You did exactly as He desired.

It was He who revealed to You the 12 that You had to choose to be Your closest companion. Every one of them would fail You at Your hour of greatest need and this does not scandalize us, rather it comforts us. They who knew You best failed You and we need not be discouraged when we do, for You are aware that we are sinners in need of grace. 

All fled. Peter denied You not once but three times and Judas Iscariot could not bear the shame of having betrayed Innocent Blood. He despaired instead of repenting and thus damned himself.

Let us never forget that even at the highest level of authority within the Church they are in the end only flesh and blood. They are weak and they are sinners. Yet You share Your priestly ministry with them and You will deal with them in Your own time and in Your own way for this is Your Church, not their plaything.

But to all of us who come to You wounded, broken, scandalized, lost, angry, sad, You will touch us through Your faithful ministers and You will bring healing and wholeness again. Your power is above all, You who have triumphed and victory is ours.