Saturday, July 11, 2020

Memorial of St. Benedict, Abbot - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS






Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said,
God’s love comes to perfection in him. 1 JN 2:5


ISAIAH 6:1-8

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

I can never thank You for enough for the privilege of being  born of Catholic parents, of being raised Catholic, receiving the life-giving Sacraments, receiving the fullness of God's Holy Spirit, and being led by the hand step by step, through this valley of tears, into the Kingdom of God. There have been innumerable occasions along the journey when I have deliberately let go of Your hand, I have willfully put my own selfish, sinful desires above the true, the good, the noble, and the beautiful, yet You never left me but waited patiently for good sense to prevail, for grace to take hold. It always did and for this I am truly grateful.

The seraph took a burning coal and touched the lips of Isaiah cleansing him of all his sins and removing all his iniquity to prepare him for the mission God would entrust to him. As Catholics we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation that most of us take lightly and for granted. It is tragic that we are not as appreciative of this awesome Remedy of Healing as we ought to be. 

PSALM 93:1-2, 5

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We have been created and willed into being, to be loved by You and to know the joy of loving You. You need nothing from us for the Triune Godhead is perfect and complete and nothing can be added to Your perfection. Yet You desired that I be born, You have carved my name on the palm of Your hand. I have Your assurance that although a mother may forget her infant You will never forget me. Thank You for creating me and for my eternal destiny with You.


MATTHEW 10:24-33

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

What You said to the Twelve over 2000 years ago You say to me. Never have more thrilling words been spoken, never has the clarion call to mission been more passionate, more glorious, never has any soldier been called to duty with such clarity of purpose.  

Many, in imitation of You, and in following Your footsteps received the same barbaric treatment meted out to You, we Your disciples can expect no less at the hands of those in the world who hate and reject us because of You.

You assured them as You assure us not to be afraid. The Word that issued forth from the mouth of God, the Eternal, Incarnate Word will fulfill to perfection the purpose for which You were sent.

Thank You for Your comforting assurance to be unafraid of those who kill the body, rather we are to fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. You assure us that we are known more intimately to the Father and are more precious to Him than many sparrows and that He has counted every hair on our head. 

To live our faith boldly in public can invite persecution but if we fail to do so we will have to bear the consequences of our choice: So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

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