The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him
he gave power to become the children of God. Jn 1:14A, 12A


1 JOHN 2:18-21
PSALM 96:1-2, 11-13
JOHN 1:1-18


1 JOHN 2:18-21

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We are living in a world that uses words to blur the lines between truth and lies. Cloaked in the guise of kindness there is a ruthless and murderous aim to force everyone to accept laws that go directly against the laws of nature written on the human spirit as well as divine law. This is the work of evil. Antichrist is unleashed upon the world and influences every area of our lives either by force or by stealth. 

We know that You have triumphed over the forces of darkness and we will not be overcome as long as we walk on the side of truth for truth by its very nature is invincible. 


PSALM 96:1-2, 11-13

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

All the anointed have a song of praise in their hearts that nothing can silence. As long as our eyes are fixed on You, as long as we live to love and serve You, as long as we obey Your command to love God and neighbour we will rejoice and be glad always.

Thank You for Your promise that where You are someday we too will be. 

JOHN 1:1-18

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

When Moses asked God to reveal His Name, He said, "I AM."
God is, God was, and God always will be. And this God created me so that someday I will be with Him. This is why I was born, to know You, to love You, to serve You and to be happy with You in this life and forever in heaven.

You are the Light of the world that has overcome the darkness of evil. We are children of the Light and if we are God's children then we are called to walk in Your Light. Everyone who has been baptized and is a child of God is a child of Light and the Holy Spirit watches over that little flame and even at its weakest will ensure that it is not put out.

Many in the world still do not know You and there are many more who do and they work tirelessly and ceaseless to obliterate Your Name and Your Word and in doing so they will destroy themselves. And there are still many more who are faithful. We believe in the Truth and we will not be overcome.  For we receive grace upon grace in the Sacraments of the Church. We have the Holy Spirit who makes our body His temple. And we have been marked by the Sign of the Cross and sealed in Your Blood. The only begotten Son who is at the Father's right hand and makes intercession for us night and day. We long for Your coming in glory and majesty. We long for the day when we will see You face to face and live with You forever. 

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


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 AND 2-8



1 JOHN 1:1-4

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The Apostles You chose to live with You, walk with You, and learn from You, were witnesses to all You said and did during Your public life. They have given us a living testimony that God became Man. In today's Reading, John the Apostle and evangelist says so eloquently that they heard the Word of life, they saw You, they witnessed all the miracles You worked, and they touched You. The Invisible God was made visible through the Incarnation of the Word and all the Apostles save the Apostle of love lay down their lives in testimony of the Truth so that we may believe and believing, live.


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

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

A true Christian is one who rejoices always. A true Christian is a sign of contradiction in the world just as You were. 

We rejoice always no matter what the circumstances of our life for we know that we belong to the Lord, our God, and our Maker. 

We know You. You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and in You we live, move, and have our being. We who are called by Your Name, know in whom we have placed all our hope and we know that we will never be put to shame because our God who came in humility to save us will come again in glory and majesty to claim us.

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) - Mass During the Day

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


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 1:1-18



ISAIAH 52:7-10

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

How is it possible knowing what we do to still remain in sin, ignorance, and darkness?  How is it that those of us who do know choose to remain silent or are too lazy, afraid, or indifferent? The Son of God has come into the world, the Lord God has visited His people. He came with glad tidings to announce freedom from the tyranny and slavery to sin and freed us and we continue to live ordinary, unremarkable lives. If only we truly understood, if only we gave the Holy Spirit free rein in our lives, we would no longer be blind, and deaf, and dumb. Our eyes would see, our ears would hear, and our mouths would never cease to praise and glorify the God who saves until the whole world joined in our praise and thanksgiving to our glorious God.


PSALM 98:1-6

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

While it is true the culture we live in today has stolen the true spirit of Christmas, we who believe celebrate with great joy Your birth.

Thank You Father, for revealing to us the true cost of love. Thank You for all that You teach us of humility, obedience, suffering, reverence, worship, and awe as we gaze at the Nativity scene.

Thank You Holy Spirit for revealing the power of love that makes it possible for us to make Christ incarnate in our own lives.

Thank You Beloved, for being born in us and for coming to us in the Holy Eucharist and ministering to us in the Holy Sacraments.

This is the season of great thanksgiving for all that God has done for us. 


HEBREWS 1:1-6

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

In this beautiful and inspired letter to the Hebrews, the writer recalls how God revealed Himself to the world through Salvation History. He speaks eloquently of that moment in time when He sent forth His Word who became Flesh in the womb of the Virgin and was born among us in silence and in humility.

Enthroned in the Manger and enthroned on the Cross - our God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lord, and the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind will come again victoriously in glory, triumph, and splendor to rule and reign forever.


JOHN 1:1-18

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

It is never so dark in our lives or in the world because You are here. You pierced time and eternity to become Emmanuel, God with us and no power on earth or in the underworld can over overcome the Light, the Word of God made Flesh who dwells among us.

You are present in our world. We see You everywhere in joy and in suffering, in beauty and misery, in the humble and the awe-inspiring. You are in all that is mighty, grand, glorious, and breathtaking just as You are in the little, the weak, the forgotten, the marginalized, the unseen and the unheard.  

We can see You, hear You, touch You, taste You in those around us, yes, but most especially in the Sacraments that make You tangible and present as You minister to us from the moment we are conceived, draw breath, live and die.

Thank You for choosing me to be one of the elect not through any merit of my own but simply because You chose me. I am baptized. I am grafted into Your Body. I am a member of the Church You founded. I have the privilege of eating Your Flesh and drinking Your Blood in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. I am forgiven no matter how many or how grave my sins when I approach You with a contrite and sorrowful heart in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

May I never take for granted all the graces and gifts that You so bountifully shower on me. And may I never forget that I am also called to share what I have received and invite everyone to desire You and receive a share in Your Kingdom as well.

Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Advent - Mass in the Morning

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 AND 29
LUKE 1:67-79



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

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The only home You desire is to live and reign in our hearts. You do not wish us to make a great big show of piety but You do desire sincerity in all we say and do.

You blessed King David abundantly in every way. Peace flourished in his kingdom and in thanksgiving and gratitude he wished to build You a temple. Very often what we wish to do for You may seem right and good but what You desire from us is a heart that truly loves You. We can give You nothing for everything belongs to You. You bless us. You feed us. Every breath we breathe is because it is You who lives and breathes in us. Take Your breath away and we will cease to live. 

As we prepare to celebrate the feast of Your first coming, we offer the Father grateful hearts for sending You into the world and we ask the Holy Spirit for grace to stay steadfast in faith to the end so we will be ready and waiting with joy for Your Second Coming in glory and majesty.


PSALM 89:2-5, 27 AND 29

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

You are my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, may I never cease to sing of Your goodness all the days of my life. May I never forget all Your kindnesses to me. May every breath I breathe for as long as there is breath in my body tell of love and great mercy. May I live for You alone Beloved and when I die may I die in You.

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


O King of all nations and keystone of the Church;
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!



MALACHI 3:1-4, 23-24
PSALM 25:4-5AB, 8-10, 14
LUKE 1:57-66


MALACHI 3:1-4, 23-24

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

You came into the world not to destroy the world but to redeem it and save it. The last of all the prophets sent by God was John the Baptist to herald Your coming. He was the new Elijah just as You are the new Adam. He was sent to prepare the way, You are the Way.

We are living in the age of the Kingdom of God that You came to establish on earth. We are called to bear witness to the Truth - and this is the Truth that You are the Son of God, incarnate of the Virgin Mary, You were born, You were put to death for our sins, and You rose triumphantly from the dead.

We now live with hope and longing for Your Second Coming in glory and majesty. This time, however, You will come as the just judge; may we not be ashamed to stand before You as You winnow the wheat from the chaff. 


PSALM 25:4-5AB, 8-10, 14

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The psalmist's prayer today is to know You and to walk in Your way of truth. You came into the world and revealed to us that You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. By Your Cross and Resurrection, You have set us free, You are the Savior of the world.

This is the Good News, Beloved, sinners no longer have to be enslaved to sin. The humble and contrite of heart are washed in Your Blood and are once again a new creation.

Thank You, Beloved, for not only teaching us but showing us by Your life and death that the Way to the Kingdom of God is through humility. 

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine. Amen.


LUKE 1:57-66

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Elizabeth is a sign to the world that with God nothing is impossible. She is a genuine servant of God chosen by Him to bear the pre-cursor, the new Elijah, who would prepare the way for the Savior of the world. 

Filled with the Holy Spirit she was the first to recognize Mary's special dignity as the Mother of God and to burst forth in marvel and joy at this wonderful privilege of Mary's visitation to her home to assist her in her time of need.

When Elizabeth's baby was born, his father Zechariah's tongue was loosened when he confirmed that the name given by God to his baby was John. Breaking with tradition, breaking from old ways that are meaningless, he is a sign of the marvels God can do when we are prepared to trust and obey. 

Just as the Lord's hand was with John the Baptist so will Your hand be with us, over us, above us, and around us to shield, save, and protect us for You are Emmanuel, God with us.

Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

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 Beloved, Soul of my soul,

How can I ever thank You enough for loving me even when I am least lovable? Thank You for seeking me out even when I run away and hide from You. You are Beauty, Truth, Love, and Grace and I am weak, frail, and sinful yet You love me with a love that is beyond all that I deserve for You love me with an everlasting love.

Thank You, Beloved, for never giving up on me. Thank You for Your infinite patience and for never tiring of encouraging me, forgiving me, healing my wounds, and carrying me home to the Father.

Thank You for washing me clean in Your Precious Blood and for restoring my baptismal garment in the Sacrament of Confession. Thank You for Your assurance that Your love for me is stronger than death. Grant me the grace to love You daily more and more. Amen.


PSALM 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Your Name is holy. Your Name is higher than any other and we who are grafted into Your Body are called by Your Name. We are Your possession, the people of Your pasture. You are our Good Shepherd and our God. You are Emmanuel, God who walks with us, lives in us, reigns in us, and desires that we will never be parted from You in time and in eternity.

You have put a new song in our hearts and we exult as we praise You, adore You, worship You, and glorify You. There is no God like You. 

Thank You, Beloved, for revealing to us the love of the Father. Thank You, Beloved for Your 'yes' to the Father's plan to save us. Thank You, Beloved, for never giving up on me but for loving me always. Keep me faithful to the end, Beloved. Amen.


LUKE 1:39-45

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

For over 2000 years the Church, Your Bride, has contemplated every precious word in Scripture that speaks about Mary, Your Mother. Some of the most compelling are those of Elizabeth her cousin, the wife of Zechariah and the mother of John the Baptist. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, she recognizes immediately who she was, "The Mother of God" as did the infant in her womb who leapt for joy when he came into the Presence of the Infant Son in His Mother's womb.

This is how we too must respond when we come into Your holy Presence, when we receive You in the Eucharist, and when we encounter You in the Sacraments.  We must exult and be filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit. 

Thank You for Mary and for giving her to us to be our Mother too. Thank You for her tender love for us and for leading us to You always. Thank You for her maternal heart which will plead untiringly to You, her beloved Son, for mercy for her sinful, wayward children.

May we, like Mary, always believe that all that You have said will be fulfilled. May we follow You closely as she did, for You are the sure hope of our salvation.

Monday of the Third Week of Advent

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Show us, LORD, your love,
and grant us your salvation. Ps 85:8


NUMBERS 24:2-7, 15-17A
PSALM 25:4-5AB, 6-7BC, 8-9
MATTHEW 21:23-27



NUMBERS 24:2-7, 15-17A

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

How good it is to know You, to love You, to belong to You.  How good it is to say, "I am my Beloved's and He is mine." How good it is to call God 'Abba' as You have taught us because we are His children. How good it is to see You with eyes unveiled, not with the eyes of the flesh but with the eyes of the faith, as You become present to us in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Not only do we see You, and touch You but we eat You and You become one with us; providing us all the nourishment we need on our pilgrim journey from this life to the next.

We are the children of God and the sheep of Your flock. You pasture us under one shepherd and nourish us on the finest wheat, the purest wine, and the sweetest honey from the Rock of our Salvation. 

Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son, into the world. He is the Day Star and the Evening Star who leads us from darkness to eternal light.


PSALM 25:4-5AB, 6-7BC, 8-9

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Thank You for the Magisterium in Your Church where Truth is safeguarded and kept alive without dilution or corruption. Thank You for the knowledge that although we are all sinners we have Your assurance that no power in hell or on earth can overcome or destroy Your Church.

Thank You for the Sacraments that unites us to You and to each other, nourishes us, cleanses us, enables us to be holy, and for guaranteeing their continuity until You come again in glory.

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, Your Gift to us who helps us silently but powerfully to be holy, as we journey through this valley of tears. 


MATTHEW 21:23-27

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The authority of the Church You founded comes from You alone. She is answerable for the souls of all those who are entrusted to her by virtue of their Baptism for through this Sacrament we become members of Your Body and children of God. This is why her primary responsibility is to ensure that she safeguards without error or ambiguity all that she received from You through the Apostles and their successors.

Many have come and gone and many more will come and go who will ask the same question as the chief priests and the elders did, "By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" They refused to reply because their motives were evil. They sought to trap You.

The world continues to set traps for the Church. They try to undermine her by the scandals and the scandalous activity of some of her bishops, priests, and the faithful but we have the certainty that comes from Your Word assuring us that in the end, You will present Your Bride, the Church, without wrinkle or stain to the Father. Alleluia!!!!

Third Sunday of Advent

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor. Is 16:1, Lk 4:18



ISAIAH 35:1-6A, 10
PSALM 146:6-10
JAMES 5:7-10
MATTHEW 11:2-11




ISAIAH 35:1-6A, 10

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

None of the prophets who spoke about the coming of the Messiah would live to see this event come to pass yet their hope was not dimmed. 

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Isaiah spoke of a time of great abundance of every good thing. A time when every joyful expectation would be fulfilled for we would behold the glory and splendor of God made Man.

We rejoice, Beloved, for we are the blessed ones. We are called by Your Name and we have seen, heard, touched, and tasted our God. You have turned our mourning into dancing. You have set us free from the bondage of sin that enslaved us. You have healed us of our infirmities and have restored to us the inheritance that was lost.

Thank You for the glorious Sacraments that strengthens us and renews us and gives us strength for the journey from this life to the glorious life we will receive when You come again in victory and triumph.


PSALM 146:6-10

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

All who believe and have placed all their hope and trust in You will never be disappointed. Every promise ever made by the prophets is fulfilled by You.

Anyone who comes to You will be filled with every good and perfect gift. You feed the hungry soul. You restore sight to the blind, You strengthen weary hands and feet. You set the prisoners free and give justice and victory to the poor and the oppressed. 

You are God, the Son of God, Emmanuel who lives and reigns here on earth in the hearts of all who believe. Alleluia!!!


JAMES 5:7-10

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The Apostles were closest to You and with the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them, they recalled to perfection all that You taught them, all they witnessed, and all the mighty miracles they themselves were empowered by You to do. So when they preach and teach as St. James does in today's Reading exhorting us to wait with patient and expectant faith for Your coming, then that is just what we ought to do.  

He does not promise that the waiting will be easy or free from difficulties but all that will pass for the Day of the Lord will come as surely as day follows night and all sorrow will end.        

MATTHEW 11:2-11

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

It was John the Baptist who recognized You when he baptized You and proclaimed to his disciples that You were the Lamb of God who comes to takes away the sins of the world. He heard the heavens open and the Voice of the Father saying, that You were His beloved Son. Yet, alone and confined in prison, and having heard the wonderful miracles You were performing, he wondered if You were truly the one announced by the prophets.

In times of despondency, we sometimes question what we know to be true and perhaps that is true of John the Baptist as well that is why he sent his disciples to confirm if You truly were the One who was to come.

You said nothing but pointed his disciples to Your Work and sent them back to report to John what they had seen.

"Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

Then, turning to the crowd You praised John. You knew who he was. The messenger sent by God ahead of You to prepare the Way for You. Of him, You said, "Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
Let me never forget that there is no greater or higher virtue recognized by You than the virtue of true humility.

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


The Lord will come; go out to meet him!
He is the prince of peace.


ISAIAH 48:17-29
PSALM 1:1-4 & 6
MATTHEW 11:16-19


ISAIAH 48:17-29

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

To live a good, holy, and virtuous life is its own reward because nothing can be as rewarding as living a life that is pleasing to You. I know personally how happy and content I am when I am in a state of grace and how miserable when I am not. 

You are our Redeemer, our Savior, our Protector, and our Lord, and our God. You came into the world to show us the Way to the Father. You are the Truth that reveals that God is Love, and You are the Life that is poured into our hearts by the Spirit.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.


ZECHARIAH 2:7-14
JUDITH 13:18BCDE, 19
LUKE 1:26-38


ZECHARIAH 2:7-14

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

In fulfillment of all the prophecies, You came to dwell among Your people. God chose Mary, to be the first of all His daughters through whose womb You, His only Son, would become Emmanuel, God with us.

Just as Mary gave birth to You, she gave birth to the Church at Pentecost. She is the new Eve through Her perfect obedience to the will of God, and her whole-hearted participation in the mystery of salvation. She is Mother of God before whom we bow in reverence and awe for on her was bestowed the privilege and honor of conceiving the Son of God. The incarnate Son of the Living God is flesh of her flesh. He took His Body from her. This Body becomes our nourishment, welling up to eternal life in the Holy Eucharist.

JUDITH 13:18BCDE, 19

Blessed are you, (Mary), 
daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the (fruit of your womb),  
LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.


You are the highest honor of our race.


Your deed of hope (in conceiving the Son of God), 
will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.


LUKE 1:26-38

My Beloved, Soul of my Soul,

'Hail, full of grace!' 
Mary will forever be hailed with this greeting of the angel Gabriel in recognition of her perfection. She abounds in every grace and virtue bestowed to her by her Spouse, the Holy Spirit. Chosen by God to become Your Mother, He lavished upon her incomparable beauty and purity. No other creature born of man and woman has ever or will ever receive the singular merit that was given to her.

Anyone who chooses Mary as a model can be confident of pleasing God and of receiving a share in the Kingdom of God.

To all that You ask of me, Beloved, may my response always be like Mary's, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” 

Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.


ISAIAH 40:25-31
PSALM  103:1-4, 8 AND 10
MATTHEW 11:28-30



ISAIAH 40:25-31

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We are Your creatures and You are our God. You do not need me and yet You created me because You love me. All that I experience in this life prepares me for a destiny that is determined by the choices I make. 

You invite me to keep my gaze fixed on You so I will be aware of Your greatness, Your power, Your goodness, Your perfection and Your absolute rule over all that You have made. I belong to You wholly and all that is good, true, noble, and worthy of praise are Your gifts to me; what is mine are my sins and my failings. 

Thank You, Beloved, for Your watchful and tender gaze on me. Thank You for Your strength in my weakness. Thank You for Your mercy when I sin. Thank You for Your unfailing love even when I am undeserving of it. Thank You for Your faithfulness even when I am faithless. Thank You for keeping me in the shelter of Your wings and for letting me soar with You when I am weary. I am constantly discovering anew that it matters not that I have nothing all I need to do is to yield my whole being to Your care and love. Possessed by You I possess everything.


PSALM  103:1-4, 8 AND 10

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

I thank You with all my heart today for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Thank You for the comforting knowledge that I need never be ashamed to run to You in the confessional no matter how low I have sunk and how greatly I have sinned. All I need to have is a contrite and repentant spirit and You will joyfully wash away all my iniquity, cleanse me of all my sins, and pour Your mercy and grace into my soul. May I never let fear or shame prevent me from approaching You in this Sacrament of Mercy for You are my Savior, Redeemer, Brother, and Friend.



MATTHEW 11:28-30

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Thank You for Your constant invitation to come to You when life gets too much for us. There is so much that troubles us, wearies us and makes us anxious and if we did not have You to turn to with confidence and trust, we would give in to despair. 

Grant me the grace I need from moment to moment to model my life on Yours. All I need to do is to follow You one step at a time and I fail even in that. I trust You, Beloved, I know You will not fail me.  You know I need You, You know I will never make it alone and above all, I know that You want me to be saved so I can spend eternity with You.

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The day of the Lord is near;
Behold, he comes to save us.

ISAIAH 40:1-11
PSALM 96:1-3, 10-13
MATTHEW 18:12-14


ISAIAH 40:1-11

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

How good You are, how tenderly You care for Your people. The prophet Isaiah speaks words of comfort and hope. Even though we are sinners we will be forgiven for You have the power to wash away our iniquity and cleanse us of all our sins. You have made expiation for the sins of the whole world.

The time has come to put away the works of the flesh and to busy ourselves with the works of the Spirit. The Day of the Lord will be upon us when we least expect it, may we not be caught unprepared but awake and ready.

What perfect and unending joy is in store for those who have heard Your Word and have kept it.


PSALM 96:1-3, 10-13

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

It is easy to believe that the world is going to hell. It is easy to believe that evil has won. The world has never been more divided, those in power more corrupt, there is no longer a moral compass. The world has got rid of sin by denying it. Yet those who are faithful, those who are raising their families in the fear and knowledge of God, those who seek, discover that Truth and Beauty are present in the world and that God is alive and has not forgotten His people.

These are the people who go up to Mt. Zion singing new songs with lyre and harp. They are full of hope and joy. In a world that is full of darkness and despair, the light still shines. God's glory fills the hearts and homes of those who have heard the Good News and who proclaim it by the witness of their daily lives. 

Our God lives and He is faithful.

MATTHEW 18:12-14

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

I am that ninety-ninth sheep that constantly goes astray and because I am that sheep, this parable of the Lost Sheep is so comforting.

Thank You, Beloved, for Your assurance to all of us who are weak and so easily succumb to temptation, that our heavenly Father does not forget those who stray and are lost. He has appointed You as our Savior. You are our Good Shepherd who will leave the ninety-nine sheep that are safe and go in search of the sinner and You will not rest until You find the one who is lost. How good it is to know that it is the will of the Father that none of His poor, sinful, weak little ones are lost.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


Luke 1:18
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women.

GENESIS 3:9-15, 20
PSALM 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4
EPHESIANS 1:3-6, 11-12
LUKE 1:26-38


GENESIS 3:9-15, 20

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

"Where are you?" When You call me will I be afraid and hide like Adam and Eve or will I come gladly and confidently into Your Presence?

As an infant, I was washed clean in the water of Baptism and clothed in the virtues. Since then I have soiled my soul often and hidden from You, aware that I preferred to wallow in mire rather than discipline my will and my flesh. I am truly thankful and grateful to the grace You grant me to come to You repentant and contrite of heart in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Thank You for the awareness when I am filthy and naked that mercy and forgiveness are gladly and readily mine in Confession.

I know my weaknesses are legion and that I will continue to be tempted until I draw my last breath but I also know that in You there is no condemnation. No matter how often I fall because of the inherent weakness passed on to me, I will always receive forgiveness, mercy, and pardon when I come to You with a humble and contrite heart.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.


PSALM 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

If the world does not know You, if the world is not alive to the marvels that God has done for us in and through You, if the world is not on fire and exultant with praise and thanksgiving because we have been rescued from the deadly vise of sin, then this is because we who believe are silent.

It is time to wake up, to stir up the Spirit that is given to us, it is time to rise up and go out into the world as You have commanded us and to proclaim the Good News from the rooftops. God is with us and has set us free from slavery to the world, the flesh, and the devil.


EPHESIANS 1:3-6, 11-12

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

I am chosen, I am blessed, I am called, I am given a name that proclaims my adoption into the family of God. I dare to call Your Father, my Father. Your Mother is my Mother, all the saints in heaven, in Purgatory and on earth are my brothers and sisters. I am baptized and the irrevocable mark on my soul confirms that I belong to God.

I have access to all the heavenly treasures and graces through You, my Lord, and Savior for You desire to share with me, unworthy though I am, all that You have received from Your Father.

Thank You, my Lord and my God.

Second Sunday of Advent

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Luke 3:4, 6
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

ISAIAH 11:1-10
PSALM 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
ROMANS 15:1-9
MATTHEW 3:1-12




ISAIAH 11:1-10

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We are living in the latter days, in the days after God chose a people and a nation where You, His Son would be born of a Virgin. We are living in the time after Your glorious Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven. We live in the age of the Kingdom of God and we who believe are filled with joyful anticipation for Your coming again the glory. We know not when this will be but we are invited to live every day as if that hour is now.

Everyone who believes is required to spread the Good News that You have saved us and You will come again to establish Your rule of justice and peace among all people of every nation. When You return there will be no more sorrow, death, suffering, diseases, poverty, violence, and evil. You have triumphed and we will have a share in Your victory and triumph.


PSALM 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The psalmist did not live to see the Day of the Lord and yet he writes about it and speaks of it as if he were. But we are alive in this glorious time when all the prophecies have been fulfilled in You. Now, we live in anticipation of Your final battle when Satan will be crushed and all evil will end with him. In the meantime, each one us must model our lives on the Beatitudes so that the Kingdom of God will begin its reign in us and with us.

ROMANS 15:1-9

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

You came to unite people of every culture, language, color, and nation in love. Not the love that the world professes, bandies about and denigrates, but the Love of God which became incarnate in You, His Son. Love is a Word, the Eternal Word, and Love is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. 

True love does not divide, it unites us with unbreakable bonds of fellowship. True love makes us accountable for each other because we see You in our brothers and sisters.

Beloved, help us to love one another as You love us.


MATTHEW 3:1-12

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

All the baptized are called to be the voice crying out in the wilderness of our world to make straight paths to prepare for Your coming.

We cannot wring our hands and moan the fate of our world but are invited to wade right in, get our hands dirty and our feet wet in doing our part to bring about the Kingdom of heaven.

Sin is sin and evil is evil no matter what the world says. There is a heaven and a hell, and we will be judged by what we have done or not done.

God sent You, His Son, into the world and You have redeemed it, and You have sent Your Holy Spirit into us and we are empowered by Him to set the world on fire with love. We are called to be fearless in the face of evil and to stand strong in Your Name for the victory is won and Good has triumphed over evil.