DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases. MT 8:17
2 KINGS 25:1-12
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Zedekiah was blinded by the enemy, after he led his army to destruction, and he himself was led in chains into exile.
Sin works slowly, seductively, and imperceptibly destroys us until we no longer have Your life in us. We become blind and in our darkness we not only destroy ourselves but lead others to destruction as well.
Over and over again, in salvation history we see, how the people of God who were chosen by Him, when faithful, lived in safety, prosperity, and joy. Sadly, in time they forgot the Giver and made idols of the gifts. So it is with us all. We cry out to You in times of distress and when all is going well with us we forget that it was You who rescued us, provided for us, and protected us. How often by being faithless we have brought about our own destruction.
PSALM 137:1-6
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Why is it that only when we suffer after having sinned disgracefully, that we remember You and cry out for Your help? We ought to praise and worship You in all the circumstances of our life and then, even in suffering, we will find joy and meaning.
When the people were taken into exile, many of them had followed the lead of their kings who ruled them and worshiped false gods and idols, but there were some who were faithful to the Living God; yet, they too had to suffer. So often the innocent have to bear the punishment of the wicked; this would make no sense if we did not lift our gaze to the Cross and see You, the innocent Victim who bore our sins, our punishment, and plunged into our death, giving Yourself up totally, in expiation for the sins of the world. O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not!
MATTHEW 8:1-4
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
AN ALLEGORY FOR SIN - LUKE 5:12-15, Mk 1;40, Mt. 8:2
The leper limped his way
before the Lord,
He was a mass of putrefying flesh,
Revolting and disgusting.
A choking, reeking stench emanates.
Sickened to my stomach,
I almost retch and shudder,
As I look away.
My reaction is,
Bereft of love,
Bereft of charity.
I hear a gasp,
The crowd dumbfounded,
Is aghast at the approach,
Of the wretched man,
Who dropping to the ground,
Begins to cry,
“Lord, if You will,
You can make me clean.”
His distress aroused
Compassion,
In the tender heart of God
Where mercy overflows.
The leper dared to hope,
When he beheld the Lord
And God in turn did touch
The seething mass of dying flesh
And said “I will. Be healed!”
,
Forthwith he’s whole again,
But just his body.
Not his soul.
The miracle
Is incomplete,
Until he stands before a priest,
Who will declare him free
Of the disease.
This will seal the work
God has begun.
I too did reek of sin,
And leprous was my soul,
Until I fell upon my knees,
And I confessed,
“Bless me father, I have sinned.”
Mercy overflowed,
God healed me and restored
All I had lost.
Absolved in Jesus’ Name
My soul is clean again,
My Lord has made me whole.
March 07, 2018
and bore our diseases. MT 8:17
2 KINGS 25:1-12
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Zedekiah was blinded by the enemy, after he led his army to destruction, and he himself was led in chains into exile.
Sin works slowly, seductively, and imperceptibly destroys us until we no longer have Your life in us. We become blind and in our darkness we not only destroy ourselves but lead others to destruction as well.
Over and over again, in salvation history we see, how the people of God who were chosen by Him, when faithful, lived in safety, prosperity, and joy. Sadly, in time they forgot the Giver and made idols of the gifts. So it is with us all. We cry out to You in times of distress and when all is going well with us we forget that it was You who rescued us, provided for us, and protected us. How often by being faithless we have brought about our own destruction.
PSALM 137:1-6
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Why is it that only when we suffer after having sinned disgracefully, that we remember You and cry out for Your help? We ought to praise and worship You in all the circumstances of our life and then, even in suffering, we will find joy and meaning.
When the people were taken into exile, many of them had followed the lead of their kings who ruled them and worshiped false gods and idols, but there were some who were faithful to the Living God; yet, they too had to suffer. So often the innocent have to bear the punishment of the wicked; this would make no sense if we did not lift our gaze to the Cross and see You, the innocent Victim who bore our sins, our punishment, and plunged into our death, giving Yourself up totally, in expiation for the sins of the world. O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not!
MATTHEW 8:1-4
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
AN ALLEGORY FOR SIN - LUKE 5:12-15, Mk 1;40, Mt. 8:2
The leper limped his way
before the Lord,
He was a mass of putrefying flesh,
Revolting and disgusting.
A choking, reeking stench emanates.
Sickened to my stomach,
I almost retch and shudder,
As I look away.
My reaction is,
Bereft of love,
Bereft of charity.
I hear a gasp,
The crowd dumbfounded,
Is aghast at the approach,
Of the wretched man,
Who dropping to the ground,
Begins to cry,
“Lord, if You will,
You can make me clean.”
His distress aroused
Compassion,
In the tender heart of God
Where mercy overflows.
The leper dared to hope,
When he beheld the Lord
And God in turn did touch
The seething mass of dying flesh
And said “I will. Be healed!”
,
Forthwith he’s whole again,
But just his body.
Not his soul.
The miracle
Is incomplete,
Until he stands before a priest,
Who will declare him free
Of the disease.
This will seal the work
God has begun.
I too did reek of sin,
And leprous was my soul,
Until I fell upon my knees,
And I confessed,
“Bless me father, I have sinned.”
Mercy overflowed,
God healed me and restored
All I had lost.
Absolved in Jesus’ Name
My soul is clean again,
My Lord has made me whole.
March 07, 2018
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