1 John 1:2:3-11, Psalm 96:1-3, 5-6, Luke 2:22-35

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


A light of revelation to the Gentiles
and glory for your people Israel. Lk 2:32
1 John 1:2:3-11, Psalm 96:1-3, 5-6, Luke 2:22-35


1 John 1:2:3-11

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The evangelist of love reminds us that when we keep Your commandments we can be sure that we know You. We know we are in union with You when we keep Your Word for in keeping Your Word the love of God is made perfect in us. To know Your Word Beloved, we must be familiar with it. We need to spend reading, contemplating, meditating, and keeping it in our heart only then can it become the rule of our lives.

You are the Light of the World that illumines the heavens and the earth and our lives. In You, there is no darkness. Anyone who is in darkness is in ignorance and sin and yet if we lack love, we who claim to know You walk in darkness, for the absence of love blinds us to the truth.  


Psalm 96:1-3, 5-6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We have a new song in our hearts and joy in our souls because You came into the world and reconciled it to the Father. You are our Savior, our Redeemer, our Messiah. You took upon Yourself our anguish, our sins, our guilt, our shame, our suffering and You bore the punishment and death that was ours.

Your glory now shines, splendour and majesty are Yours. Your rule the nations and all who believe are commanded to go out into the world and spread the good news that we are saved through the shedding of the Blood of the Lamb. 


Luke 2:22-35

My Love, Beloved of my soul,  

The ritual of purification required Mary and Joseph to bring You to the temple to present You to the Lord. As the firstborn son You were to be consecrated to the Father and an offering was to be made by a sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or pigeons.

Both You and Mary were sinless. Mary and Joseph both knew that You were the Son of God and yet in perfect humility and obedience submitted themselves to the law of Moses. 

Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Simeon who was assured that he would not die until he saw the Messiah came to meet Mary. Taking You in his arms he said, 

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”
Mary and Joseph heard the words spoken with great wonder and then after blessing them he turned to Mary and said,

“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Beloved, the shadow of the Cross lay upon You and Mary from the moment of Your conception in Mary's womb. The Shadow of the  Cross fell upon the earth from the moment sin entered it for in that instant God decided to send a Savior to redeem His lost children.

There is no greater love than this that we lay down our lives for one another just as You, the Son of Man and the Son of God did.

1John 1:5--2:2, Psalm 124:2-5, 7-8, Matthew 2:13-18

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

1John 1:5--2:2, Psalm 124:2-5, 7-8, Matthew 2:13-18


1John 1:5--2:2

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

God is Light, God is sinless and those who have sinned can have no fellowship with You. I cannot belong to You if I am in sin or if I choose sin over You. Your word today is clear if I am to walk in the light of Your love only then can I remain in You sin cuts me off from You and without repentance, without the washing away of sin by Your precious Blood I will wither and die.

I am a sinner, I was conceived in sin, but thanks be to God by the grace of Baptism I am a child of God and a member of Your Body, the Church. Thank You for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, thank You for the forgiveness of sin in this glorious Sacrament where the repentant sinner can be washed, cleansed, made whole and restored to the family of God.


Psalm 124:2-5, 7-8

Abba Father, thank You for Jesus, Beloved of my soul, 

Had You not rescued us through the Saving Blood of Your Son we would have been lost forever. 

Thank You, my Love, my Life, for You humility and Your obedience in embracing the Cross and laying down Your life for me in order to open the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Thank You for coming to my rescue, for breaking the chains of slavery to sin and for setting me free. Thank You for making me a child of God and making a place for me at the Banquet Table.


Matthew 2:13-18

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Grant me the humility and obedience of St. Joseph who was docile to the will of God. Thank You for his silence for only in silence can we hear You speak to us. Grant me the grace to accept what You will for me no matter how hard it may be to understand or difficult to do. In the end, I know that Your will for me is always for my good.

The innocent continue to be slaughtered from the babes in the womb and in every stage of human life by those who deem their lives to be worthless. Innocent lives are lost on the altar of greed, and selfishness.

Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents who were martyred - killed by Herod who was afraid that You would seize his throne. Someday you would say to Pilate my Kingdom is not of this world, but Herod did not know that. He was too caught up with his tiny little realm, and his puny little power in it.

The little innocents died for a divine cause and today we celebrate their noble little lives that were not in vain. Their mothers' wails of lament have long since turned into hymns of praise, worship, adoration, and thanksgiving before the throne of the everlasting King in the everlasting Kingdom.

Today we pray for the slaughter of innocents that goes on in every age - may there be an end to it and may every life be celebrated as a gift from God from conception until natural death. Amen.

1 John 1:1-4, Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12, John 20:1A, 2-8

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
1 John 1:1-4, Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12, John 20:1A, 2-8

1 John 1:1-4

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The Apostles were privileged to walk with You, talk to You, be instructed by You, see You and witness the amazing miracles You performed. They touched You, ate with You, laughed with You, shared Your life intimately for three whole years. They loved You. They were Your friends handpicked by You, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. 

Of the 12 John was the only one that did not die a martyr's death. He who was closest to You and whom You loved more than the rest was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write most eloquently about You. 

He saw the Word of God in the Flesh and he testifies to all that he was a witness to in order that we too may believe and in believing receive eternal life. You are the Love of the Father made visible to the world in order that through You we may have fellowship with Him, with You, and with the Holy Spirit forever. We thank You for the power of the Word recorded by the evangelists that together with Sacred Tradition has the power to save all who believe and are obedient to the Truth.


Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Those who belong to God are called to rejoice always. Our joy is not dependant on us but comes from Your Presence in us, the Presence of the Holy Spirit who makes our unworthy bodies His temple. The place where He dwells.

Thank You Beloved for coming to us in the Holy Eucharist as our food and drink without which we would not have strength for the journey from this life to the next. Thank You Beloved that in a world where justice is denied to so many You are the Just and righteous Judge.

You are the Light of the world and those who walk with You will never walk in darkness. Because You came into the world we rejoice and are glad and give thanks to God for giving us a Savior whose Name saves.


John 20:1A, 2-8

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Mary Magdalene who the first to see the empty tomb, she ran to tell Simon Peter and John and they too came and saw that it was empty.

John waited for Peter to catch up with him and go ahead of him into the tomb. The Apostles knew that You had chosen Peter to be the head of Your Church. They both saw the burial cloths, they entered the tomb and saw that it was empty and the passage concludes with the words, that John saw and believed in the Resurrection. You said it and he believed it.

Grant me a greater faith Beloved to trust in Your Word always. Your Word has the power to save.

Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59, Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17, Matthew 10:17-22

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD:
the LORD is God and has given us light. Ps 118:26A, 27A

Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59, Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17,
Matthew 10:17-22 

Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Those of the world hate those who are in the world but not of it. This is proved time and time again when those with the courage of their convictions are prepared to face death rather than deny what they believe in. So must it be for us who believe in You. The world continues to hate You and Your followers. The world preaches a feel-good gospel, You teach us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross every day, and come follow You who alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. 

Those who are prepared to stand up to the enemy like St. Stephen, will be given the grace and the wisdom to refute their accusations with the power of the Holy Spirit. Grant that those who follow You may never be ashamed of You or the Cross and that death is only a crossing over to the Kingdom of Heaven.


Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

All my fears are hidden in me Lord and this is why when they rear their ugly heads I am despondent. You are the God of the impossible, command Lord, say but the word and I will be set free of the sadness that sometimes tends to blanket my spirit. 

I raise my voice and echoing the words of the psalmist I beseech You to:

Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.

Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.


Matthew 10:17-22

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Christians have always been persecuted. They are a sign of contradiction to the world just as You were. A Christian with courage, prepared to lay down his life for Your sake and for the sake of the Gospel like St. Stephen, is a wondrous thing to behold as Saul discovered and became the Apostle Paul. 

In the daily course of our lives, Christians continue to be persecuted and discriminated against all the time. We ought not to be discouraged that this is so. You have warned us that the world will hate us but if we endure to the end we will be given a share in Your glory. 

Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98:1-6, Hebrews 1:1-6, John 1:1-8

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


The Nativity of the Lord


A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
For today a great light has come upon the earth.

Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98:1-6, Hebrews 1:1-6, 
John 1:1-8


Isaiah 52:7-10

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are the Gospel, You are the Good News, and anyone who bears You to others as Mary did indeed are the ones with beautiful feet who climb the Mountain of the Lord. Our whole lives must announce to the world the glad tidings that God, our God is Emmanuel. God dwells among His people and makes His Own all those who believe.

Today, the Church and the world celebrates the joy of Your coming into the world over 2000 years ago. May this day lead many from darkness into Your glorious Light so many will be saved and come to the knowledge of Truth.

Today a King is born. Today the Light of the Nations shines on the earth and darkness has been dispelled forever. God has come to save His people.


Psalm 98:1-6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today the Church and all the members of Your Body sing a new song - a song of our salvation. A song that proclaims the Good News that God has come to deliver His people. To thrown open the gates of heaven so all who believe may enter.

This is Good News indeed - You came to throw over the yoke of slavery to sin. You came to set Your people free from the powers of darkness. A great Light has shone upon the earth and we now walk in the freedom of the children of God.

The Good News that Mary carried in her womb was taken to Elizabeth, to John the Baptist, to Zechariah and his household. To the shepherd in Bethlehem, to the Wise Men, to the 12 Apostles, to the disciples, to all who believe and are baptized even to the ends of the earth, all have seen the salvation of our awesome God.


Hebrews 1:1-6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

How blessed and privileged we are to be born in the age of the New Testament, the age of the New Covenant when God has come into the world in order to set free all who believe in Your Name. The Name that is above every other name, every rule, every dominion, every principality. At Your Name Beloved, the Father has ordained and commanded that every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess to His glory that You indeed are Lord. This power, to confess Your glorious Name and be saved, is given by the Holy Spirit to those who believe.

All that is came to be when God spoke the Word - the Eternal Word that had reposed in Him. Through utterance of this Word by God Almighty, the universe was created. The Mighty Word that issued forth from the Mouth of God now dwell in the hearts of all men and women of good will and like Mary we are called to carry You, the Word of God, the Light of the World to others.

Yours is the only Name through which salvation may be obtained - there is no other. In Your Name alone is purification from sins. Yours is the Name given to us by the Father by which we may be saved. We long for that day Beloved when every knee on earth will bow and confess that You are indeed Lord.


John 1:1-5, 9-14

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man's decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father's only Son,
full of grace and truth.

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16, Psalm 89:2-5, 27 & 29, Luke 1:67-69

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

O Radiant Dawn,
Splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16, Psalm 89:2-5, 27 & 29,
Luke 1:67-69


2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We all desire to do great things for You but all You ask of us is obedience and to embrace Your will. You are God and You need nothing from Your creatures; however, if we are to be happy and fulfilled in this life we need to be attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 


David is a foreshadow of the King to come, the Shepherd King who will seek and save the lost and return them to the fold. Thank You, Beloved, for making Your home with us and in us. Thank You for building a throne that is everlasting, thank You for assuring us that we will receive a share in Your inheritance.


Psalm 89:2-5, 27 & 29

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Your promises stand forever. Thank You for all You have done for us. Thank You for entering into the world and becoming little for our sakes so no one need be afraid of approaching You. Thank You for knowing deprivation, pain, cold, poverty, hunger, loneliness and for understanding the entire spectrum of the human condition.

There is nothing that we cannot bring to You that You will not comprehend. You suffered all for my sake. 

Today I ask for the grace to praise You constantly. To give thanks for everything that I have received, receive now, and will continue to receive from You who are my God, my refuge, my strength, and my deliverer.


Luke 1:67-69

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Zechariah's canticle of praise encompasses all that God who is love is about to do for His people. He will send forth a Savior who will free us from the bondage of sin and the fear of death. 

All the prophecies concerning his son as well as the Son of God are assurances that God has indeed made His dwelling place among His people. 

Thank You, my Lord, for Your humility and Your obedience in embracing the Father's will and for opening the door to the Kingdom of God where all who believe in You may enter.

All glory and praise to You Lord Jesus Christ, King of eternal glory.

Micah 5:1-4A, Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word. Lk 1:38

Micah 5:1-4A, Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19, 
Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45



Micah 5:1-4A

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You opened the minds of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus to understand Scripture. You helped them see that all the prophecies from the first to the last was fulfilled perfectly in You.

The prophet Micah speaks of God having chosen Bethlehem, the most insignificant of places to be born, there is a reference to Mary, Your Mother who will give birth to You, the Ruler of Israel. One who is from all ages sent by God to gather His people from the four corners of the world into fellowship as one Body in Christ, to worship God.

You are the Shepherd who will lead Your flock safely to the Kingdom of God. Your Name which is above every other and Your rule which is over every rule, throne and dominion has been established in the world. You are our peace in a world that is being rent apart by sin. You are our Savior and Lord. Maranatha Lord Jesus. We wait with longing and joy for Your coming.

Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are our Good Shepherd. You will bring Your flock safely to pasture. By the might of Your Name, You will keep those who belong to You safe within You.

You watch over Your sheep constantly. Those that are lost You look for and find. Those that are wounded, You heal. Those that are too weak You strengthen, those that cannot make it on their own You carry. No one who belongs to You will perish. 

You are the Vine and we are the branches. Your life runs through us. Make us fruitful Lord and keep us safe in Your love.


Hebrews 10:5-10

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You came into the world to die so we may live. God spared Isaac but He did not spare You from taking upon Yourself the sins of the world and making expiation for them. You who are the Son of God became Man in order that we may become children of God.

All the blood offerings prescribed in the Law could not wash away one little sin. In obedience to the will of the Father, You offered Yourself as a willing Sacrifice wholly pleasing to God. A once for all Sacrifice, that takes away the sins of all from the first to the last.

Thank You for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, thank You for the Eucharistic Banquet that takes away the sins of the world and feeds us with the Bread of Life to sustain us on our journey from this life to the next. Thank You for making us sons and daughter of God and heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven.


Luke 1:39-45

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Truly Mary, Your Mother and ours, is the disciple par excellence. If we imitate her we will always be pleasing to God. Mary is a woman of faith. She believed what the Angel had revealed to her. She, a Virgin, would conceive a child born of the Holy Spirit and her cousin Elizabeth who was barren and advanced in age was, in fact, pregnant and in her sixth month. 

Soon after the message from the Angel we are told that Mary travelled in haste to visit her cousin and to be of service to her. It is clear that we must never lose sight of the fact that no matter how great or small we may be we are called to serve one another in love. 

If we invite Mary to accompany us she will always bring You with her. When we encounter You we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Joy and peace are some of the gifts that are granted to those who receive the Holy Spirit. 

Beloved, grant me faith like Mary's so I will always believe Your Word, be obedient to it, and allow it to direct and rule my life.

1 Samuel 1:24-28, 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8, Luke 1:46-56

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
1 Samuel 1:24-28, 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8, Luke 1:46-56


1 Samuel 1:24-28

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Hannah teaches us detachment and renunciation. Two very difficult virtues because the flesh desires that we cling to those we love selfishly. To truly love we must be able to let go for the greater good. In this life, all we must cling to is God and not to any created or material thing. These are hard lessons that life will teach us and the more stubbornly we cling to people and things the tougher the trials that we will have to endure until we learn these lessons.

We are all meant for God and for the Kingdom as Hannah so beautifully demonstrates. She longed for this child Samuel whom she conceived after many years of suffering and tears. He is truly a gift from God but she is prepared to give him back to God joyfully. Help me to remember Beloved, that my life belongs to You and to be truly happy I need to dedicate it to You because my life is Yours to do with as You will.

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The Magnificat, Mary's hymn of praise when she meets her cousin Elizabeth, is the fulfilment of Hannah's song of praise to God on conceiving her son Samuel. 

"My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory."

"The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes."

"The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts."

"He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage."
My Beloved, I too exult at the awesome contradictions between the Kingdom of God and the world. You are the King of Justice and the Prince of Peace.


Luke 1:46-56

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Mary teaches us the beauty of the virtue of humility. It is truly the hallmark of the greatest among us. It is a virtue that we need to practice in order to grow in perfection. God, our Father Himself is mind-blowingly humble. He not only condescended to create us in order to share the joys of His Love and His Kingdom but when we disobeyed Him instead of just annihilating us He planned to rescue us. 

You are humility itself. We learn humility from You who although being God became a human being like us in order to redeem us.

The Holy Spirit teaches us humility and He is the teacher par excellence. He deigns to live in sinful creatures making us His temple. He gently leads, encourages, and guides us on the paths that enable us to practice and grow in this most lovable of all virtues. To know that we are dust and to be exultantly grateful to God for what He has done to us beginning with Mary's 'yes' is to live with grateful hearts that overflow with thanksgiving and praise. 

Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever."

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.

Genuine humility forgets self and is always in loving service of the other.

Song of Songs 2:8-14, Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21, Luke 1:39-45

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!
Song of Songs 2:8-14, Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21,
Luke 1:39-45


Song of Songs 2:8-14

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are with me here and now.  As I walk through the dark valley I do not feel your presence. I feel alone and I am tempted to believe that I have been abandoned but I know this is a lie. You have promised to remain with me always until the end of time. You are here. I am grafted to Your Body. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is my Father and you have taught me to call Him Abba. You love me with a love that is beyond anything I can comprehend or imagine I believe Lord, help my unbelief.

Hark! my lover–here he comes
springing across the mountains,
leaping across the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Here he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks; he says to me,
"Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come!
"For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!

"O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely."
Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

All those whose names are written on the palm of your hands are called to give thanks and sing new songs of gladness and praise making melody with joyful hearts.

There cannot be such a thing as a morose Christian, one who is moody, depressed, unhappy, not after what God has done for us through You, His only Son.

God's plan to form a people for Himself could not be thwarted even by sin. He gave us a Savior who would forever defeat sin and death and break all barriers that kept us from the God who so loved the world that He held not His Son, His only Son. You were offered to the Father as a pleasing Sacrifice on the wood of the Cross in expiation for the sins of the whole world.

All nations praise You, offering to the Father the one, holy, and perfect sacrifice that atones for the sins of all humankind.

You came into the world in time, You took Your place in history, and You will come again in glory. We long for Your coming Beloved as we celebrate Your Birth this Christmas. 

I will see You face to face when my life comes to a close. May I long for that day when I will come before You who have been my help, my shield and my joy in this life, to live in Your glorious presence for all eternity. 


Luke 1:39-45

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Mary is the disciple par excellence. She shows us the way to Your heart, to the heart of God. Filled with the Holy Spirit, with the Presence of the Father as she carried You in her virginal womb she went in haste to be of service to her cousin Elizabeth who had conceived in her old age by the power of God. She who was barren. 

All that God touches comes alive and is fruitful. Elizabeth is alive with the joy of knowing that God has heard her cries of longing and had blessed her with a child. When Mary who is carrying You in her womb meets her cousin the baby in Elizabeth's womb is filled with the Holy Spirit and leaps with joy.

Joy is the sign of God's presence in us. The Holy Spirit helps Elizabeth to understand the wonderful new thing that God has begun to do in this young girl and she cries out exultantly,


"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."

My Love, Beloved of my soul, please grant me this grace through the power of Your Holy Spirit to always believe that what You have promised will be fulfilled. Amen.

Isaiah 7:10-14, Psalm 24:1-6, Luke 1:26-38

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

O Key of David,
opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
Isaiah 7:10-14, Psalm 24:1-6, Luke 1:26-38

Isaiah 7:10-14


My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are the greatest sign of the Father's love for us. You are His Covenant with us. Grafted to You, Beloved, we have the hope of enjoying not only this present life but we can look forward to eternity in the glorious presence of the Triune God. 

God is constantly giving us signs of His love and His Presence among us. The abiding sign of Love is in Your Presence in the Holy Eucharist in all the tabernacles of the world. Conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary You are truly Emmanuel - God with us now and forever.


Psalm 24:1-6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Reveal to me with the help of Your Holy Spirit how to open my entire being to You so that You, my Lord and my God, may enter in glory and reign in my life.

Come in glory and majesty O King of Kings and Lord of Lords, You through whom all things were created and without You, nothing came into being, enter into my heart never to leave me again. Help me Beloved, who am helpless, weak, frail, a sinner, I have no strength or resources of my own. Lift me up and carry me on eagle's wings up the Mountain of the Lord, the place where God dwells. Hide me in You who are my rock, my refuge, my help, and my deliverer. Grant that I may seek Your Face always and may the light of Your countenance dispel all the sadness and gloom from my spirit. Amen.


Luke 1:26-38


In the sixth month,
the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.     

Jeremiah 23:5-8, Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19, Matthew 1:18-25

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!


Jeremiah 23:5-8, Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19,
Matthew 1:18-25


Jeremiah 23:5-8

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, You became Man, You took upon Yourself our humanity and all that it entails and You redeemed a fallen race. All had sinned and had lost the Kingdom of God forever. But God our Father found a way to restore what was lost. You saved not only Israel but the whole world. You are the Way to the Father's House there is no other. Thank You, Beloved, for laying down Your life for us. Thank You for restoring our hope of seeing God face to face.


Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You had a preferential love for the poor, the marginalized, the outcast, the sinner, the forgotten, and You expect us to have the same love as You did. 

The poor often have their legitimate rights denied to them and this is why they can expect justice from You. It is right that God, our Father, appointed You as the just judge for Your judgements will always be tempered with mercy. Anyone who cries out to You will be heard. Thank You for saving us and for restoring all that we had so wantonly squandered. Thank You for restoring peace in our hearts as You have promised.

Lord, God, Savior of my soul and of the whole world, may I praise, worship, honor, and give thanks to Your glorious Name all the days of my life. May my life be a witness to Your love always.


Matthew 1:18-25

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today's gospel reading narrates the greatest dramatic story that was ever conceived or written nothing comes close to it in human history. God trusted each of the characters to do the right thing. A young virgin, her betrothed Joseph, and God incarnate in the Virgin's womb.

Mary had gone in haste and great joy to assist her elderly cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant, she returns three months later visibly pregnant herself. Joseph's initial joy in having Mary back after a long absence would have turned to consternation when he realized that she was with child. His beautiful, loving, virginal, pure, holy Mary - what was he to make of this? He would have been crushed and yet there was no anger perhaps just great sadness as all his hopes, dreams and plans for a life together with her came tumbling down. Which of us can not identify with him? Have we not at one time or another been crushingly disappointed at things not having gone the way we expected them to?

But if we are faithful, God is even more faithful and He knows how to make everything work perfectly for the glory of God. He knows how to draw good from every situation that we face no matter how difficult.

God sent an angel to Joseph to reassure him that things are not always as they appear to be. A great work was being entrusted to him, as protector of Mary, guardian of her purity and virginity, and foster father to the Son of the Most High God. Joseph does not utter a word. His whole life is one of perfect dedication to God, to his wife Mary, and to Jesus.

We can learn from much from his example. 

Teach me Holy Spirit to imitate St. Joseph in his unconditional love for Jesus and Mary, his obedience to the will of God and his great humility. Amen.