MONDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS



If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. COL 3:1


ACTS 19:1-8

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The disciples in the early Church worked in close union with the Apostles and deferred to them, looked to them for direction, and took their counsel on matters of the faith. When the members of the Church work in unity there is harmony. We all work for the same Master, the same Lord, the same God and all we do should give You all the glory, praise, and honor. 


Today's reading reveals how important it is to receive the Holy Spirit and this is possible only through the laying on of hands by the Apostles. The Sacraments of Initiation equip us to evangelize with courage, boldness, and power. The gifts of the Holy Spirit help us in our mission to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth. Only with the Wind of the Holy Spirit beneath us can we do our part in building the Kingdom of God on earth. 

PSALM 68:2-7

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

You are alive and You are in heaven at the right hand of the Father who has given You all dominion, all authority, and all power. The psalmist is right when he says, 

God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire.

Yes, there is a great deal of evil in the world, yes, there are all kinds of horrific things being done by people in the name of God, yes there is great ignorance of You and there is division so great among people in everything that there is only a strident cacophony of sound caused by bickering, name-calling, and derision for the opinions of others. Wisdom has long fled from much of our public and private discourse because no one wants to listen to the Voice of Truth, Wisdom, Knowledge, and Reason. However, we are not to lose heart. You have sent us the Holy Spirit and with His help, Your reign, Your rule, and Your Kingdom will be established in the world that You redeemed.

JOHN 16:29-33 

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We are often like the foolish disciples who thought they understood everything You said, they thought they grasped the things You spoke about. But it was only an illusion they understood nothing and You knew it. You were aware that when the soldiers arrived to arrest You, at the very first indication of trouble they would flee and hide. "Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone." 

We are no different, we too think we understand but as soon as a storm comes into our lives we doubt, we lose perspective, we question Your love, we run away from You and hide instead of trusting You and Your Word.

But You were not alone because the Father is with You, and we are not alone because the Holy Spirit is with us and where He is so are You and the Father for You are One. In every storm of life we must enter into the peace that You have given us. We ought never to be taken by surprise when troubles assail us for You warn us that troubles will come but we can face them fearlessly for You have conquered the world.