Galatians 1:13-34, Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15, Luke 10:38-42

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

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

Galatians 1:13-34, Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15, 
Luke 10:38-42


Galatians 1:13-34

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

St. Paul reveals how he once persecuted the Church zealously as a Jew but even in his mother's womb, God had chosen him for a singular mission. He would reveal You, His Son, to Paul and would appoint him as an apostle to preach the Good News of our salvation to the Gentiles. Upon his conversion, he says, he did not rush to the apostles rather he took time away from the world, three years, in fact, to be taught by the Holy Spirit. He took the time to meditate, pray, and contemplate and to be armed with the spiritual weapons necessary to go out to conquer souls for You and for the Kingdom of God.

When he believed that the time had come to begin his mission the only apostle he met with was Peter, the first of the apostles. Although Paul may have been the most ardent and most effective apostle in spreading the Good News it is Peter to whom You gave primacy in the Church You founded. He is the Rock upon which the whole Body stands.

Paul rejoices that even though he may have not met the other apostles, they all recognized and praised God for the conversion of one who was once spared no effort in seeking to destroy the nascent Church.

Your ways, O Lord, are truly marvelous.

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

I am truly grateful for Your intimate knowledge of me. Nothing about me is hidden from You and because You knew me even before I was formed in my mother's womb.+ You know all there is to know of me. You know what a frail, fragile creature I am and Your heart is moved with pity and compassion at my poverty and my nothingness. Without You, without Your breath in my nostrils, I would wither and die. It is You who keep me alive from moment to moment. 

Thank You for the glorious destiny You have for me when this life comes to a close. Because I cling to You, You will not forsake me for You a full of kindness and compassion. Keep my hand always in Yours, Beloved, and never let me go.

Luke 10:38-42

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The siblings Lazarus, Martha, and Mary were Your very good friends. You loved them. Their home was a welcome place for You to find rest, refreshment, and care. During this particular visit that Luke mentions, it was probably made known to the host and hostesses that You and those with You had not eaten and were hungry. Martha promptly went about getting ready a meal and since perhaps there were many other friends with You expected her younger sister, Mary, to pitch in. Instead Mary sat at Your feet enthralled by all You were saying and had forgotten all about Martha and the meal. She was oblivious to all else except the beauty of Your words, Your wisdom, the sound of Your voice. Her soul and her whole being was taken up with You. She was absorbed by You. 

Poor Martha, she too would have like to sit at Your feet but felt compelled to get the meal ready. Instead of just going about it patiently and calmly she found herself getting irritated with her sister and as her irritation grew she got more and more upset until she could not contain it and blurted out, 

"Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me."

You responded in tenderness, kindness, reminding her that there were greater, more demanding needs than the needs of the body,

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."

Beloved, grant that I may always choose the better part, the part that can never be taken from me.