Hebrews 10:19-25, Psalm 24:1-6, Mark 4:21-25

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest


A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path. Ps 119:105
Hebrews 10:19-25, Psalm 24:1-6, Mark 4:21-25


Hebrews 10:19-25

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Every day draws us closer to the hour when life here on earth will cease and we will come into Your Presence. You have made it possible for us to have a foretaste of heaven by the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. We enter the Holy of Holies through Your Flesh for we have been washed clean by Your Blood. 

We have Your assurance that death will end in life because You tasted our death and in exchange, we have the hope that we will live eternally with You.

Keep me and all I love faithful to the end. Grant me the grace to share what I believe so that others too may come to know the truth and share in Your promise of eternal life.


Psalm 24:1-6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

I join the longing of my heart with that of the psalmist and I say with him, with all the yearning of my soul, "Lord, I belong to the people that long to see Your Face."

God created the whole world and everything in it by uttering the Word that reposed in Him eternally. The fullness of the Word is given to us and we feast on You Beloved at the Banquet table of the Eucharist.

You invite us to approach You and celebrate what You have done for us, how You saved us, how You snatched us from the jaws of death and made us Your inheritance. Because of what You have done for us Beloved we now dare to call God, Abba. It pleases the Father to grant us a share in the Kingdom of Heaven as we have been adopted as children of God.  


Mark 4:21-25

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Your Word illumines our lives and that light which You have kindled in us must radiate in the world. We are called to be witnesses to the Good News that You came into the world to save us. There is no Name given to us by which we can be saved but the Name that is above every other name.

If we hide Your Light then the world remains in darkness, the darkness in which sin and evil breed. All of us who have been saved by the power of Your Name will be held accountable if we have not shared the Truth by the witness of our lives. We have Your assurance that all we need will be given to us if we take our mission seriously. The more we labour in Your vineyard the greater will be the gifts granted to us to be more fruitful for the glory of God and for His Kingdom.

Grant my Beloved that all of us who are called by Your Name serve You faithfully all the days that are granted to us; so we may glorify Your Name eternally in the life to come. Amen.

Hebrews 10:11-18, Psalm 110:1-4, Mark 4:1-20

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live forever.

Hebrews 10:11-18, Psalm 110:1-4, Mark 4:1-20

Hebrews 10:11-18

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Thank You for putting to end the Old Covenant of laws, sacrifice and rituals by the will of the Father. Thank You for Your humility and obedience in becoming the Sacrifice to end all sacrifices by the offering of Your Life as a willing, spotless, Victim. Thank You for taking upon Yourself the sins of the whole world and all the evil that men and women are capable of, and paying the ransom for our debt with Your life. We have been forgiven much Beloved, grant that we may be always grateful for the debt we owe You is one we can never repay.

We now have the Father's assurance that He will not remember our sins and our evil because You took them upon Yourself and paid the heavy price of sin which is death, and in exchange, You gave us Your Life. Thank You, Beloved.


Psalm 110:1-4

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Before the foundations of the world, from eternity to eternity You have been the only begotten Son of the Father. Complete in the Holy Trinity God has not needed our love and yet He created the world and created us to have dominion over it. From all time God knew that we would use His gift of free will to choose self-interest over loving and childlike trust in His Word.

It is a wonder that God did not just sweep us into oblivion in righteous anger but instead, He gave us His Son who would Himself be both High Priest and Victim who would restore all things to even greater glory.

There is no way that we can repay the Father for what He has done for us in sending You to pay the price for our wickedness. There is no way we can repay You for laying down Your life in our place and dying for us. There is no way we can thank the Holy Spirit for making His Temple in us and enabling us with our daily struggles as we journey to the Kingdom. However, we can try. We can strive daily to overcome all the difficulties we are faced with each day with joy, courage, and grace and help others who are struggling as well; as we journey together from this life to the next. 

We long for the day of Your coming Beloved. Marantha!



Mark 4:1-20

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We have heard this parable, read this parable, heard preachings and teachings on it so often that we can begin to feel a little weary when we have to hear this Gospel passage again when it comes up in the Liturgy. Not only did You explain the parable to the disciples but we have heard it explained so often, we begin to feel ho-hum about it since we think we already know what You desire to convey through it to us today.

This is not true. Your Word is alive and this is why the Holy Spirit is always able to give us new insights as to where we are placed in the parable and how it applies to us in the present moment. 

To which part of the crowd can I identify myself? Am I  there only to listen to You because of Your popularity? Am  I there because You have touched my life with Your words and I desire to know more about how to be pleasing to God? Am I there because I have personally experienced Your touch and have been healed or have witnessed a miracle in someone else's life? Am I there because You have invited me and I responded to Your invitation?

As I hear You speak about the Sower and the seed how can I identify the type of soil in my heart? It's easy. I can look at my past life and see to what extent I have permitted Your Word to affect me each day. 

There is the great sea of opportunities and challenges facing me every day, will I just plunge in without the life jacket of Your Word or do I equip myself with it before I do? Having equipped myself with it will I use it to assist me, guide me, strengthen me or will I let I trust myself? When troubles, doubts, and terror strike me will I give up and allow myself to be overwhelmed or will I cling to the promises of the Word and let it help me stay afloat? 

When the crowd has gone will I stay behind with You, the Eternal Word of the Father, in order to have a better understanding of how to allow the Word of God to shape and influence me so I may conform more each day to You?

Help me Beloved! You have given me the Sacraments and Your Holy Spirit - may I use all the gifts You have given me to enter into a deeper relationship with You each day. Amen.

Hebrews 10:1-10, Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 19-11, Mark 3:31-35

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. 

Mt 11:25

Hebrews 10:1-10, Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 19-11, 
Mark 3:31-35


Hebrews 10:1-10

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

I am truly grateful to God our Father for the Gift of the Sacrifice of Calvary that takes away my sins and offers me food that will sustain me for the journey from this life to the next.

There are so many in the world who do not believe but those who do receive the heavenly manna that enables us to live each day with supernatural grace and strength. 

Abba Father, today I wish to thank You with my whole being for the Incarnation, for the Gift of Your Son, for the Sacrifice that takes away the sins of the whole world, and for the joy of perfect union with Him in the Holy Eucharist. Thank You for the Gift of Your Spirit that has been poured into our hearts - the Gift that enables us to cry, "Abba, Father," and the certainty that each time we do, You hear and answer us. Amen.


Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 19-11

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Thank You for Your obedience and Your 'yes' to the Father's will. Thank You for Your gracious humility in stooping low and becoming one like us in all things in order that You may raise us up to be grafted into You.

Thank You for the Sacrifice that immolated You to the Cross for love of poor sinners. Thank You, Beloved, that while we were still sinners You lay down Your life for us. 

All the blood of bulls and lambs could never wash away our sins and take away our guilt. Thank You for Your compassion and for Your love. Thank You for the Holy Eucharist without which, Beloved, we would fall by the wayside and perish.


Mark 3:31-35

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

If I am to be numbered among the members of Your Family then I must always do the will of God. It is not always easy to say, "Not my will, but Your will be done." But when we receive the grace to do it and when we cooperate with the grace freely poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, then seeking Your will in all things and doing it will be food and drink to us as it was to You.

Mary is the perfect disciple for she knew no other way of living than always being in perfect accord with God's will.

Setting aside my own selfish desires is very hard Beloved. I beseech You this day to help me, to give me the strength and courage I need to cooperate with the bountiful graces You give me, and to say always, "Not my will by Your will be done." Amen.

Hebrews 9:15, 24-28, Psalm 98:1-6, Mark 3:22-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel. 2 Tim 1:10

Hebrews 9:15, 24-28, Psalm 98:1-6, Mark 3:22-30 


Hebrews 9:15, 24-28

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You took the sins of the whole world upon Yourself and made expiation for them by offering Yourself to the Father as the spotless Victim. Your once-for-all Sacrifice is before God eternally and Your Blood that was shed on behalf of all who believe; has the power to open the gates of heaven to us.

The writer of Hebrews says that You are the only Mediator of a new covenant, for deliverance from sins for those who are called to receive the promise. All are called but how many will receive and embrace that call? 

The writer also says, that Your Sacrifice takes away the sins of many. This means that while all are saved by Your Precious Blood, not all will accept this free gift of salvation.

Grant my Beloved, that by the faithful witness of the lives of all who believe, many may eagerly await Your coming again in glory.



Psalm 98:1-6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

At the end of every celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the faithful are called to go out and live our lives joyfully. We are called to witness to the marvels that God has done for us by our lives in the home, in the community, in the workplace, and wherever we may be.

We are called to be joyful. We are called to make known to the world the marvellous Good News that God has visited His people and has saved them. No longer do we need to be in slavery and bondage to sin for Your Blood sets us free. No longer are we prisoners of our flesh but filled with Your Spirit we can break free from the limitations that the flesh sets on us and soar on eagles wings with the power of the Spirit of God.

If we lived as the psalmist exhorts us to the whole world would come to believe. Help us, Lord. May we take our faith seriously and become joyful witnesses to the Truth.


Mark 3:22-30

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

When the scribes accused You of being possessed by Beelzebul they were guilty of committing the most heinous sin. A sin that You told them very clearly was unpardonable because they attributed to evil what was clearly the power of the Holy Spirit over the demons.

In our own experience, we see how divisions within families destroys from within. No entity can survive if there are warring factions within the group and the same is true in the spiritual realm as well.  

We too must be very careful when we question the motives of God's people, perhaps out of envy or malice, and attributing their good works to foul intentions. When we do, You remind us, that we clearly have unclean spirits in us.

Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart, let us always rejoice when we see others doing good and furthering the Kingdom of God. Amen.

2 Timothy 1:1-8, Psalm 96:1-3, 7-8, 10, Mark 3:20-21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Memorial of Saints Timothy and, Bishops

Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son. Acts 16:14B

2 Timothy 1:1-8, Psalm 96:1-3, 7-8, 10, Mark 3:20-21


2 Timothy 1:1-8

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Paul loved all those who helped him in spreading the Good News as well as those whom he led to faith in You and the Gospel with the love of a true father.

Once he knew the Truth that is embodied in You, the Christ, the Son of the Living God, there was no turning back. He gave his whole being to the mission entrusted to him; the mission to preach the Good News to the Gentiles. 

In this letter to Timothy, he assures him that he prays for him constantly, he tells him how he longs to see him, he commends him for his faith and encourages him to use the gifts of the Spirit that he received when he was baptized and  Paul laid his hands on him.

This is a reminder to me as well, Beloved, that God has given me a spirit of power, of boldness. I have received the capacity to love as God wholehearted and without self-interest or self-gain. I have also received the power of self-control. 

Grant my Beloved, that there will never be a time when I will be afraid or ashamed to stand up and be counted as a Christian and to be prepared to suffer any hardship for the sake of the Gospel. Thank You for Your pledge to be my strength to the end. 


Psalm 96:1-3, 7-8, 10

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

God, our Father, has put a new song in the heart of all those who believe they are saved by You. We are a new creation and our song is the song sung by the angelic hosts and the saints in heaven. We proclaim Your marvellous deeds of salvation from the incarnation to Your glorious Ascension into heaven where You are seated at the right hand of the Father.

We hand down our faith, hope, and love in You to our children and they will hand it down to their children and so may it continue from one generation to the next until You come again in glory.

We long for the day Beloved when You will restore all things as the Father intended from the beginning when He first created the world and before sin entered to mar the perfection of His creation.

May we remain true to the end as we wait for that day with joyful anticipation. 


Mark 3:20-21

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

There is no area of the human condition that You are not able to understand and empathise with, for You suffered all that we do even though You were sinless.

So often good people are misunderstood for various reasons during those times my Lord, grant that I may not include my voice among those who join the crowds. You were so different from any man they knew and Your way of loving and living was so radical that they thought it was abnormal. However, we who are Your disciples are also called to love and live as radically as You did. This ought to be the norm for us too. Thank You for making available to us the graces we need to model our lives on the example that You set for us.

Acts 22:3-16, Psalm 117:1BC, 2, Mark 16:15-18

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle

I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord. Jn 15:16

Acts 22:3-16, Psalm 117:1BC, 2, Mark 16:15-18


Acts 22:3-16

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The conversion of St. Paul is truly breathtaking. It is proof that You call anyone no matter what their past may be, and make of them a new creation. It is so easy to be prejudiced and critical because we make pre-conceived judgments of people based on hearsay or on other non-relevant bases. What matters is that we must be aware that God calls whom He chooses and we have to be open to the Holy Spirit and recognize that it is You who are at work in them.

St. Paul is honest about who he was before his encounter with You on the road to Damascus. Christians feared him and so did Ananias for his reputation had preceded him and struck terror in his heart. But he was prepared to put aside his fears and to trust You. For this, he was rewarded, for it was through Ananias that Paul was given knowledge of the great mission that was to be entrusted to him.  

Paul who was blind spiritually was not only given new sight but became an Apostle to the Gentiles. 

Truly, Beloved, You are a God of the impossible. You choose who You will for Your purposes. Let me always be alert to the sound of Your voice and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.


Psalm 117:1BC, 2

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

This is the mission that is given to all the baptized, 'To go out into the world, and tell the Good News.' 

What is this Good News? It is this, "The Father so loved the world that He sent His only Son, not to judge or condemn the world, but to save it through His once-for-all, perfect Sacrifice on the Cross."

As Your disciple and follower, I too am called to lay down my life in imitation of You.  I am called to preach the Good News in season and out of season. When it is convenient and when it is not. I am called to be steadfast in kindness and faithfulness just as You are always faithful and kind.

Stay with me Lord, and keep me faithful and kind to the end.


Mark 16:15-18

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You equip those who are baptized. By our very baptism, we become missionaries and we have a divine mandate to live the Gospel by the way we live our daily, ordinary, humdrum lives.

This is why we have to be aware that we are surrounded by saints, our Christian neighbours, co-workers, those who serve us in all walks of life who have been baptized are also living the mission given to them. We must recognize that we are all a divine work in progress and help and encourage one another. 

You have equipped us with spiritual weapons just as You equipped the Apostles. Filled with an abiding faith in Your Word great signs will accompany those who believe in Your Name which is above every other name. A Name at which demons tremble and heaven prostrates in worship and adoration.  

I believe Beloved, strengthen my faith so I can put all my trust in Your Word. Amen.

Hebrews 7:25 ---- 8:6, Psalm 40:7-10, 17, Mark 3:7-12

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel. 2 Tim 1:10

Hebrews 7:25 ---- 8:6, Psalm 40:7-10, 17, Mark 3:7-12


Hebrews 7:25 ---- 8:6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

How wonderfully comforting it is to know that You are always able to save those who approach God through You since You are eternal make constant intercession for us. We have a High Priest who offers the Father the once-for-all Sacrifice made on Calvary for the remission of sins of the whole world; beginning with Original Sin. 

Thank You, Beloved, that there is no sin I can commit that is greater than the mercy the God will show me when I come before Him repentant and contrite, for the Blood of the Lamb guarantees that I will be forgiven. You took upon Yourself my transgressions and in return, You gave me fullness of life in You.

How blessed I am Beloved to count You as my Brother, my Spouse, and my Friend. Grant that through the graces You make available to me that I may never distance my self from You; but should I fall may I make haste in approaching You in the Sacrament of Reconciliation so I may once again be united with You in the Holy Eucharist. 


Psalm 40:7-10, 17

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Like a lamb led to the slaughter, You offered Yourself in perfect obedience to the Father's will as a holocaust for the sins of the world.

The blood of lambs and bulls could never wash away our sins. If every animal were slaughtered they would never be able to restore our relationship with the Father. Only one who was like us, but sinless and pure could restore what disobedience to God's will had destroyed forever.

Thank You, Beloved, for Your obedience even unto to death on the Cross. Thank You for the shedding of Your Blood which takes away the sins of the world. Now, You are seated at the right hand of the Father and there You make constant intercession for all who approach the Throne of Mercy. 

Grant O Lord, that the whole world may come together to worship Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, offering to You, Our Father, the only Sacrifice of Your Son that is pleasing and acceptable, for the salvation of the whole world. Amen.


Mark 3:7-12

My Love, Beloved of my soul,


When You were here on earth people followed You from everywhere to hear You preach, teach, but above all to be healed from all their sicknesses. The crowds pressed around You wanting to touch even the hem of Your garments, for they knew that power came out from You restoring them to health in mind, body, and spirit.

How blessed we are Beloved that we have You living right in us. It pleases You to make Your temple in our body. Thank You for the glorious intimacy of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Thank You for making provision for us when we sin, for You know how weak we are and how easily we fall, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Thank You for personally meeting us in every Sacrament that You instituted so we can be made whole once more.

Keep me and all I love and pray for each day, Beloved, safe in Your love. May we all be united some day in heaven where together we will sing Your praises and worship You eternally.

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17, Psalm 110:1-4, Mark 3:1-6

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people. Mt. 4:23

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17, Psalm 110:1-4, Mark 3:1-6


Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We thank the Father for giving us a High Priest such as Yourself. You have offered to the Father the only Sacrifice that takes away the sins of the world and enables us to enter into His Presence. 

To You, who are worthy of all praise, love, worship and adoration, we offer the sacrifice of our own lives in union with Your Own. You make our sacrifice acceptable to the Father.

Thank You for the Gift of Your Holy Spirit who helps us to discern the will and the plan of God in our lives. Who inspires us to choose what is right and makes available the graces we need through the Sacraments.

Thank You, Beloved, for making it possible for us to claim with confidence that God indeed is our Father, You, our Brother, and the life we have received is divine life in the Holy Spirit.



Psalm 110:1-4

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Nothing delights the Father more than when we, His children, give You all the glory and honour. He has raised You up far above all created things. 

After the Sacrifice to end all sacrifices He has seated You on His right hand and has given You a Name that is far above every other name. At Your Name demons tremble, the angels and saints prostrate in worship, it is only we on earth, who do not fully understand what it means to be loved as we are loved by the Father. He loved us so much He gave up His only Son so we may be saved. 

Beloved Jesus, I do desire to love You as the Father wishes me to. I ask for a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit in order that He may help me to love You as I ought. Thank You.


Mark 3:1-6

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Evil hates good with such venom it seeks to destroy it. All good is a witness to the truth that there is a God and that we, His creatures, must seek His will in all things. It is pride that denies God because believing in God demands that we obey Him and serve Him.

I am like the man with the withered hand and like the Pharisees. Sin has withered me often and made me useless and helpless but I am never without hope. You have the power to restore me to perfect wholeness and health through the healing power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Like the Pharisees, I too am often hard of heart. Continue to help me through the power of Your Holy Spirit to cling ever closer to You through the Sacraments. 

Hebrews 6:10-20, Psalm 111:1-2, 4-5, 9-10, Mark 2:23-28

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call. Eph 1:17-18

Hebrews 6:10-20, Psalm 111:1-2, 4-5, 9-10, 
Mark 2:23-28


Hebrews 6:10-20

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds me today that You are mindful of my service and You are also aware that I desire to continue to work in any way that I may be required. The one thing that is detrimental to the way of holiness is to become lazy in spiritual matters. Grant my Beloved that I may never give in to the desires of the flesh that would draw me away from intimacy with You.

Keep hope alive in me and grant that I may always keep my focus on the goal which is eternal life with You, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. 

You are the Eternal Covenant of Love that God has made with His people, that all who believe in You will receive the joy of perfect union with You when our life on earth comes to an end.


Psalm 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10C

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The psalmist reminds that God will always remember the Covenant of Love that He has made with those who believe in You.

I thank You for the privilege of knowing You, loving You, and being a part of Your Body, the Church. Thank You for the privilege of coming together with Your people to praise and thank You for all that You have done for us and to eat Your Flesh and drink Your Blood so we may have life in us.

Thank You for laying down Your life for us and for tearing down the barriers that separated us from God. Thank You for becoming the means through which we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Thank You for the Sacrifice that takes away the sins of the world. Thank You for laying down Your life so I may live. Thank You for the hope I have of heaven when time for me shall cease.  Amen.


Mark 2:23-28

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Deliver me from a critical spirit that is constantly looking to find fault, to tear down, rather than to build up and affirm. You came into the world to reveal the Father's Face of mercy to us. You are the Living God who is intimately united to us when we receive You in the Holy Eucharist. 

All who are grafted to Your Body receive Your life. In Your life we have life and we are lifted up with You and made pleasing and acceptable in the Father's sight through Your Sacrifice. Keep me mindful Beloved, of my own faults, weaknesses, and failings, and grant me the generosity of spirit to overlook the failings of others but to be quick in recognizing my own.

Help me Beloved from moment to moment. Make grace available to me so I may always be pleasing in Your sight. Amen.

Hebrews 5:1-10, Psalm 110:1-4, Mark 2:18-22

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Memorial of St. Agnes, Virgin & Martyr

The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. Heb 4:12

Hebrews 5:1-10, Psalm 110:1-4, Mark 2:18-22

Hebrews 5:1-10

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

In the priesthood of the Old Testament sacrifice for sin was offered to God by men called by God first to offer the sacrifice for their own sins and then for the people. For we are all sinners. 

Now, however, when You came into the world as One like us in all things save sin, we have the Son of God who is the Eternal High Priest offering to the Father the perfect Sacrifice of Himself as the Lamb of God without stain or blemish, who takes away the sins of the world.

Perfected through suffering and obedient even unto death on the Cross, we have a High Priest who is the source of eternal salvation to all who obey You.

Thank You, Beloved, that we have in You a High Priest who understands our weaknesses and can make intercession for us to the Father with compassion and tenderness. 


Psalm 110:1-4

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

How blessed we are in the Father's extraordinary, unfathomable love for His sinful children. Original sin separated us eternally from God but He would not rest until He bridged the chasm that was caused by the sin of disobedience.

The Father willed that You, His Son, make expiation for the sins of the world. He made You who are sinless become sin in taking upon Yourself our guilt, our shame, our sins into Your very Being, absorbing it all in Yourself in order that we may become what You are before the Father, sinless and without guilt. You became the Bridge between heaven and a fallen world. This is why You have been raised high above all and given a Name that is above every other. You are the Eternal High Priest who till the end of time will offer to God the once for all Sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Father in Heaven, grant that we never forget the debt we owe Your Son and may we love, obey, revere, worship and adore Him as long as we live. Amen.


Mark 2:18-22


My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You have said, "Behold I make all things new." All that was old has passed in the fullness of all that is revealed in You.

In You, we always have new beginnings. No matter how many times we fall, every time we ask for forgiveness, You reach out, pick us up, and forgive us completely. There will always be critics who can do nothing but find fault in everything. Nothing is right according to their narrow vision and interpretation. 

Those who follow You are filled with light, love, and joy. There is a time for feasting and a time for fasting. When You were with Your disciples it was a time for rejoicing for You would be with them physically only for a while. A time did come when You were taken from their gaze and we now have periods of fasting until we are united once more with our eternal Bridegroom forever.

You are the New Wine that is poured into new lives that have been grafted to You in Baptism. Keep us faithful to the end, Beloved.

Hebrews 4:12-16, Psalm 19:8-10, 15, Mark 2:13-17

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives. Lk 4:18
Hebrews 4:12-16, Psalm 19:8-10, 15, Mark 2:13-17

Hebrews 4:12-16

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Eternal Word of the Father thank You for the power of Your Living Word that brings light, life, hope, joy, peace, conviction of sin, true contrition, and forgiveness.  

Thank You for Your Word which is Truth and which reveals the Way that leads to eternal Life with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Thank You, Word of the Father, that neither deceives nor can be deceived but is able to expose all that lies concealed. It is to You that that Father desires that must render an account because You are the only righteous judge.

Having taken human form, You understand our weaknesses, how prone we are to sin, and when we come to You in sorrow, You will forgive. For You took upon Yourself our iniquities and You atoned for our sins. This is why we need never be afraid to approach the Throne of Mercy from where all grace and help flow.


Psalm 19:8-10, 15

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Your words are truly Spirit and Life, for You have the words of eternal life. You are the Living Word of the Father made incarnate of the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

You are perfect, You refresh our soul. You are trustworthy, You are wise, You are perfect, You bring joy to those who believe. Your commands are sweet for they require us to love as we are loved. To fear You is right for we desire never to wound the One who loved us perfectly to the end.

Lord God, may I make my home in You. May I find refuge in Your Sacred Heart and may I never forget that You lay down Your life that I may live eternally with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit.


Mark 2:13-17

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We are constantly critical and judgmental of others whereas You mingled with public sinners, and those whom society rejected as outcasts.  It is so easy to be self-righteous and to pretend that we are better than those whom we condemn.

Our sins are hidden to the world but often those secret sins are worse than all the sins of the public sinner. Levi was such a sinner - despised by his countrymen because was a tax collector. Yet, You passed by, You looked at him, You saw his heart and his potential, and You invited him to follow You. 

His response immediate with gratitude and joy he promptly leaves his sinful past behind to begin a new life with You as Your Apostle and disciple.  We only see sins in order to condemn; You, however, see what we can become once we are forgiven and reconciled to God once again.

Thank You Beloved for coming for sinners and for the hope of redemption in You.

Hebrews 4:1-5, 11, Psalm 78:3-4, 6-8, Mark 2:1-12

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

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

Hebrews 4:1-5, 11, Psalm 78:3-4, 6-8, Mark 2:1-12


Hebrews 4:1-5, 11

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

After God created the world and Adam and Eve we are told that God saw all that He made was good and on the seventh day He rested. We too are invited to enter into that rest after our weekly toil. It is a time of counting our blessings and praising and worshipping together as one family of God for all the good things we have received. 

Disobedience is the result of pride and those who deliberately and willfully turn away from You are doomed to remain strangers to the Covenant of Love that God has made with His people.

Keep me faithful to the end my Lord so I may enter that wonderful rest in the bosom of the Father forever. Amen.


Psalm 78:3-4, 6-8

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

It is good to praise You and to count our blessings at the end of each day so our hearts will overflow with gratitude for all You have done for us. How You have been mindful of us and keep us safe in Your love.

Thank You, Beloved, for the gift of faith and for the grace to hand it down to our children. Forgive us for the mistakes we made due to ignorance and make up for our lack in any way so they too will remain faithful and hand down the faith they received to their children. 


Mark 2:1-12

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Most of the time it is sin that ails us in body, soul, and spirit and yet we fail to recognize it or we pretend that this is not the case. In this miracle of healing, it is the faith of the four friends who brought the paralytic to You that made it possible. Too often we refrain from speaking of You to friends out of fear of being rejected or simply because we do not wish to be pushy, or we tell ourselves that the time or circumstances are not right. We look for excuses to find a way out yet, many could perhaps be saved and healed if we exercised our faith on their behalf and brought them to You.

These four friends did not let anything stop them, they loved their friend too much and they were not going to miss an opportunity to bring him to You as this could be their only chance to do so. Their faith was rewarded.

You looked at the man and saw that his soul needed to be healed before his body could be made whole and said, "Child your sins are forgiven." The scribes immediately accused You in their minds of blasphemy, "Who but God alone can forgive sins?" They were prepared to accept the power You had to perform miracles but they were not prepared to accept that You had the power to forgive sins. So You challenged them saying, "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? Obviously, both are impossible for humans. Then You concluded by saying, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth, I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." And that is exactly what the paralytic did.

The passage concludes with the words, 'Everyone was astounded and glorified God saying, "We have never seen anything like this."'

My Beloved, we see miracles every day in the Sacraments and yet we are like the scribes hard of heart and difficult to teach. Give us a childlike faith like that of the friends of the paralytic who believed in You and in Your power as the Son of God and the Son of Man. Amen.

Hebrews 3:7-14, Psalm 95:6-11, Mark 1:40-45

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people. Mt 4:23

Hebrews 3:7-14, Psalm 95:6-11, Mark 1:40-45

Hebrews 3:7-14

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today I am reminded that as I have begun so must I end. I must be faithful all the days of my life in order to enter into the bliss of rest in You for all eternity. Grant me the grace, My Beloved, to frequent the Sacraments often so I may remain steadfast and not give sin a foothold. I have been grafted into Your Body, Your Life of grace flows in me, may I never forget how much I need You. With You and Your Holy Spirit all things are possible but without You, I can do nothing. Keep me faithful to the end.


Psalm 95:6-11


My Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are constantly inviting me to a deeper fellowship with You through Your Holy Spirit. This is what the Father desires. That I may know Him through You whom He sent into the world to save and not to condemn.

Grant my Beloved that I may be attentive to the sound of Your voice and yield to its prompting. Remove from me my heart of stone and in its place give me a heart of flesh that is so sensitive that it recoils from doing or desiring anything that would displease You.

Thank You for being present to me always. Thank You for the Gift of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. These two Gifts make it possible for me to remain always united to You. Stay with me Lord every moment of every day and teach me to be generous in loving those around me for Your sake. Amen.


Mark 1:40-45

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today I approach You as the leper did in today's gospel. I prostrate myself before You and beg You to make me clean of the leprosy of sin that has made me foul, sick, in body, soul, and spirit. Look at me Beloved, and see how desperately I need you to reach out and touch me and make me whole again. Have mercy on me, my Lord, without Your help I shall be lost forever.

Grant me the grace to frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation in order that You may cleanse me of all sin Only Your grace will enable me to avoid giving into temptation. May I never cease to tell everyone how gracious and good You are my Beloved so the whole world may know You and praise You.


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