Sunday, February 24, 2019

1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-34, Psalm 102: 1-4, 8, 10, 12-13, 1 Corinthians 15:45-49, Luke 6:27-38

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I give you a new commandment, says the Lord:
love one another as I have loved you. Jn 13:34

1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-34, 
Psalm 102: 1-4, 8, 10, 12-13, 1 Corinthians 15:45-49,
Luke 6:27-38


1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-34

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

We see that Saul's army of hand-picked soldiers was no match for David and his band of faithful men because God was with him. 

God is always involved in the affairs of the people of the world. It is He who directs the human heart according to His will. Those who belong to Him and are as devoted and loyal to God as David was, can be certain that God will never abandon them. The battle belongs to those who trust in You completely.

Sometimes we may think we are justified in avenging ourselves for wrongs done to us but we see from today's First Reading that it is better to forgive and leave all judgment to You.


Psalm 102: 1-4, 8, 10, 12-13

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The Psalmist has experienced God's everlasting mercy and this is why he is able to able to express so eloquently His goodness, kindness, mercy, and compassion.

The same is true for every sinner, my Beloved, for we have all sinned and God's just judgment would rightly condemn us. But we thank You for our redemption. We thank You for paying the price and for taking upon Yourself the punishment that was ours. The Psalmist knew about God, we know Him, He has revealed Himself to us in the Flesh.

The Father provided the Lamb without blemish who would take away the sins of the world. It was His plan ever since the Fall that:

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

Because our Father is God.


1 Corinthians 15:45-49

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

When God created the first man and gave him the awesome gift of free will, He knew that there was a danger that we would use it unwisely, as the Fall so spectacularly demonstrated, and yet He desired that we have it. Our freedom to choose is granted to us so we may always choose the right, the true, the good, the noble, the beautiful, but we do not always do so. But God respects the choices we make whether for good or ill. 

St. Paul points out that the first Adam was made from the dust of the earth whereas the last Adam, whom the Father sent has given us His life-giving Spirit. We inherited the sin of the first, we are saved by the Blood of the Second. All who believe receive His Spirit and with His help will be able to always yield our will to the will of our heavenly Father. He is able to form us in the image of God.


Luke 6:27-38

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

If every Catholic and better yet every Christian followed Your instructions surely the peace You came to give the world would flourish. The world would point to us as they pointed to the early Christians with reverence and awe because we lived what You preached, taught, and lived. We pray Lord that before You come again in glory, the world and all its people will be authentic disciples, just as the Father has willed.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say,
love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give, and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

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