Ephesians 4:7-16, Psalm 122:1-5, Luke 13:1-9

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion that he may live. Ez 33:11

Ephesians 4:7-16, Psalm 122:1-5, Luke 13:1-9

Ephesians 4:7-16

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has been given an understanding of heavenly things so we poor creatures can grasp to some extent, what it means to be members of Your Body. How greatly privileged we are that grace has been poured upon us so we can strive after holiness and perfection. Nothing unclean could ever be a part of You but without You, we would wither and die. You have given us the Sacraments through which You remain with us and assist us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

God, our Father, has through You and the power of the Holy Spirit, made it possible for all to know You and come to the knowledge of Truth. The Good News is this, that salvation comes from You alone, there is no other way by which we can be saved.  You have made every provision for us to help us. You have not left us orphans but have poured Your Own Holy Spirit upon us. You have taught us to know and love God as Father. You have given us Your peace so that we can live in unity with one another in the Church You established.  

Through the ages, You have given us great minds in the Church who have spent their whole lives contemplating Your Word. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they have left behind a lasting legacy for us to read, study, and know what it means to be a member of the Body of Christ. We each have a function and only in heaven will we fully understand who we were and how well we played our role in  God's plan to establish His Kingdom on earth.

The world is full of trickery and we have to be on our guard against the Father of lies. Keep my gaze ever upon You and keep my hand firmly in Yours lest I take away my gaze from You and be lost.

Psalm 122:1-5

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Thank You for establishing the Church. Thank You for Peter, the rock upon which the Church stands. Thank You for Your assurance that the gates of hell will never prevail against it.

Thank You for inviting us to ascend the Mountain with You and there to feast at the Banquet of the Lord's Supper. Thank You for the Holy Eucharist. Thank You for the Sacraments.

Above all, Beloved, thank You for the glorious destiny that is mine because God desires that where You are someday I too will be.

Keep me faithful to the end. Thank You.

Luke 13:1-9

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

It is often the mistaken belief that when calamities strike it is because those who have been smitten is because they have sinned. You disabuse us once and for all of such a notion. Death comes to us in many ways and no matter how cruelly, or suddenly our lives may come to an end, it does not mean that they were greater sinners than we are. 

How we die is not important, how we live our lives determines whether or not we will enter heaven.

The parable of the fig tree reminds us that as long as we live we are called to live lives that bear fruit that will last. God created for a purpose and if we do not fulfill God's plan there will be a reckoning.