Saturday, March 7, 2020

Saturday of the First Week of Lent

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold,
now is the day of salvation. 2 COR 6:2B




DEUTERONOMY 26:16-19
PSALM 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
MATTHEW 5:43-48


DEUTERONOMY 26:16-19

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

All that Moses said to the chosen people is what You say to us who are members of Your Body. They were a people of one nation whom God called to Himself but You, the incarnate Son of the Living God, call all who hear Your voice to be a light that dispels the darkness.

You have made an everlasting Covenant with us sealed in Your Blood and the Holy Spirit. All the promises made to Abraham, the patriarchs, and the prophets have found their completion in You. To us whom You have given a full measure of the Holy Spirit, You say, 

"You are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you; ...... and provided you keep all his commandments,
he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory........
and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,
as he promised.”



PSALM 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The lives of great saints clearly indicate that it is possible to reach great heights of holiness. 

Hard as it is, it is possible to choose the narrow way and walk in it, journeying through this valley of tears yoked to You, the sweet burden of living a life in union with You strengthens the pilgrim's feet. With the help of Your Holy Spirit, it is possible to strive daily after purity and holiness if we so desire. You do not ask what is impossible because all things are possible for those who believe.  


MATTHEW 5:43-48

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Love conquers all. This is what the Father wanted us to know and understand when He sent You into the world. By virtue of our Baptism, we are called to be ambassadors of love. Not the kind of wishy-washy, self-absorbed love of the world but a love that is self-giving, and self-emptying. The highest, noblest form of love is the love that takes us to the Cross. 

We live in a terrible world today, Beloved. It is a world divided into many compartments. We focus on what divides us and look at each other with rabid hate and suspicion. There are people who incite division, violence, terror, and hate to serve their own narrow agendas and the gullible and ignorant are used to fuel hate among people who share a common humanity. 

If every baptized Christian truly listened to Your voice and obeyed Your teachings then the Kingdom of heaven would be among us.

"Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,---------
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”


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