Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

JOHN 15:15B

I call you my friends, says the Lord for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.

JAMES 2:14-24, 26

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

St. James tells us very clearly in today’s epistle that a life of faith devoid of good works is not faith at all. Our faith prompts us to be not just hearers of the word but doers as well. It is only by our works that our faith is made visible. Merely saying, Lord, Lord does not make us righteous in Your sight, nor does it make us holy, it just makes us hypocrites. We are one body in You and if we neglect any of its members, we put the entire body at risk.

PSALM 112:1-6

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

In the verses of today’s psalm, we are reminded that God delights in those who keep His commands. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Because we are aware of Your love for Your unworthy creatures, we desire to return Your love by living a life that is always pleasing to You. When we keep Your commandments, You assure us that we will live in Your Presence all the days of our life. As long as we live in You, we will be nourished by You and You will satisfy all our needs.

MARK 8:34 --- 9:1

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

It is so easy to pay lip-service to You but You who see the heart cannot be deceived by our duplicity. To follow You is to follow the way of the Cross, there is no easy road to the Kingdom of Heaven. There can be no compromises with the world, the flesh, and the devil. You do not tolerate hypocrites or those who blow hot and cold. We are either for You or against You. You ask us, what profit is there to gaining the whole world and losing our soul? If we are afraid or ashamed to stand for You today then we risk being damned before Your Father in heaven.

The martyrs will not taste death for when they shed their blood testifying their faith in You, they will be granted eternal life in the Kingdom of heaven.