Monday, December 10, 2018

Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 85:9-14, Luke 5:17-26

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Behold the king will come, the Lord of the earth,
and he himself will lift the yoke of our capacity.



Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 85:9-14, Luke 5:17-26


Isaiah 35:1-10

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Thank You for the glorious prophesies by Isaiah. We rejoice that this valley of tears is not the end of the story. A glorious future awaits us as we wait on You and for Your coming again in glory. When we look at our world today darkened with sin, sorrow, poverty, ugliness, and strife our faith could waver and our hope dim. But today's reading promises us a time of glory, beauty, joy, abundance, and peace. 

When You come again in glory Beloved, You will renew the face of the earth and all its people and all that is in it. No longer will there be sorrow, fear, hunger, sickness, and death for You have conquered all and victory in Your Name is ours.

Thank You for the Holy Spirit that You have poured into our hearts for He causes springs to burst forth in the desert of our soul. He causes us to be fruitful in every season. He levels the mountains and fills the valleys and He helps us along the way with grace to strengthen us on our journey to the Kingdom of God.


Psalm 85:9-14,

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are a God who saves. You came into the world to bring us Your peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding. In the midst of sorrow, You give us joy, in the midst of poverty, You give us plenty, in the midst of tears, You give us laughter. You are our God who never fails. Possessing You Beloved, we possess the glory of God within us.

Stay with us Lord so Your abiding Presence will keep us safe to the end.


Luke 5:17-26

My Love, Beloved, of my soul,

Today's miracle of the paralyzed man whose sins You forgave before You healed him teaches us that when sin has us in its deathly grip and we are unable to set ourselves free we need the help of compassionate friends to help us. To intercede for us. To bring us to You and plead our cause.

The friends of the paralytic would not permit any obstacle to stand in their way. They knew You were present, they believed You could heal him and they seized the opportunity. The room was crowded but this did not deter them from their purpose. They climbed the roof, opened it, and let the man down. Everyone present was watching and wondering what would happen next. St. Luke tells us that the power of the Lord was with You for healing. You have the power to heal every infirmity physical, spiritual, mental, psychological. You have the power to heal the whole person body, soul, and spirit.  

You saw at a glance what ailed the paralytic. His sins. This obstacle was the first to be removed if the man was to be healed completely and so, rewarding the faith of his friends, You said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven."

There will always be those who will be shocked at the temerity of those who in faith, speak boldly in the Name of God and act with the power God. Those who are petty, small-minded, envious, and proud will find reasons to criticize. Why were the scribes and Pharisees there in the first place? What had the heard about You? What is it that they had come to see? What did they expect? They certainly got more than they bargained for.

You read their thoughts as they asked themselves, 

"Who is this who speaks blasphemies?
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"

Little did they know that they had answered their own question. Who but God alone can forgive sins? And God was certainly in their midst. God in human flesh. The Incarnate and Divine Son of God. You responded to the question in their hearts and said, "Which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?' Neither is possible for mere humans. This is God's prerogative and God's alone. You concluded by demonstrating to them that You indeed had the power of God because You are God and hence have authority over life and death and the power to forgive sin. Addressing the paralytic You said, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." And to the amazement of all present, and to the joy of the man's friends that is exactly what he did. And everyone present was awestruck, they glorified God as they marvelled at the incredible miracle they had witnessed that day.

This is what happens each time we go to Confession. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we meet You and You heal us and restore us completely. Thank You, Beloved.

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