DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
Let your face shine on your servant,
and teach me your decrees.
PS 119:135
EZEKIEL 12:1-12
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Once again, in this passage taken from the prophet Ezekiel we recognize ourselves. Just like the chosen people, we continually try the patience of God. We sin, we turn our face from You. We are willful, stubborn, disobedient, and it is right that You, in turn, abandon us for we deserve to be banished from Your Presence.
We put our faith in people, nations put their faith in their leaders and time and time again we are disappointed, we have yet to learn and understand that our help comes from You alone.
Once again, Beloved, as has happened so often in the past, our world is in turmoil; only You can save us. Have pity on us once more and in your great love, mercy, and compassion rescue and save us.
PSALM 78:56-59,61-62
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Pity us, Lord. We keep trying Your patience by our willful stubborn disobedience to Your commandments because we are stupid and foolish. We are weak. We lack the discipline to refuse to give in to the wiles of the Enemy, the weakness of our flesh, and the spirit of the world. We permit ourselves to be drawn away from the Light and deeper into darkness.
Only You can save us. You have saved us. Hear the prayers of the faithful who intercede before You night and day. Turn Your wrath away from us. Forgive us. Act as You have done so often in the past and shake us from our stupor so we may open our eyes once again, open our ears once more so we can see and hear the voice of our Good Shepherd, follow You and be saved.
MATTHEW 18:21-19:1
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
We like to keep grudges, we like to cling to past hurts and keep a record of who has wronged us and how often. We go over these periodically and refresh our memory and keep the wounds alive. We refuse to forgive and we refuse to let go. We permit all the hurts to gain power over us and direct all our energy into being smallminded and petty as we wait for opportunities to retaliate in the same coin.
Peter probably thought he was being magnanimous when he asked You, 'Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me" Seven times seems often enough to him. Today we learn another invaluable lesson in the parable of the unforgiving servant. You teach us as You taught Peter and Your disciples not to keep a record of wrongs. The servant was forgiven the complete debt he owed not only because his servant begged him to, but also because the servant could never repay it. He in turn ought to have forgiven the small debt owed to him by a fellow servant but he didn't and hence lost everything.
We are called to forgive over and over again just as we have been forgiven. Each time we approach You and beg for mercy with humble and contrite hearts You wipe the slate clean. You instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation because You know that sin kills, sins maims, and unless we forgive as we've been forgiven the burden of sin holds us captive until we do.
Grant us the grace, Beloved, to be as magnanimous with others as You have been with us for it is only in the measure that we forgive will we ourselves be forgiven.
Let your face shine on your servant,
and teach me your decrees.
PS 119:135
EZEKIEL 12:1-12
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Once again, in this passage taken from the prophet Ezekiel we recognize ourselves. Just like the chosen people, we continually try the patience of God. We sin, we turn our face from You. We are willful, stubborn, disobedient, and it is right that You, in turn, abandon us for we deserve to be banished from Your Presence.
We put our faith in people, nations put their faith in their leaders and time and time again we are disappointed, we have yet to learn and understand that our help comes from You alone.
Once again, Beloved, as has happened so often in the past, our world is in turmoil; only You can save us. Have pity on us once more and in your great love, mercy, and compassion rescue and save us.
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Pity us, Lord. We keep trying Your patience by our willful stubborn disobedience to Your commandments because we are stupid and foolish. We are weak. We lack the discipline to refuse to give in to the wiles of the Enemy, the weakness of our flesh, and the spirit of the world. We permit ourselves to be drawn away from the Light and deeper into darkness.
Only You can save us. You have saved us. Hear the prayers of the faithful who intercede before You night and day. Turn Your wrath away from us. Forgive us. Act as You have done so often in the past and shake us from our stupor so we may open our eyes once again, open our ears once more so we can see and hear the voice of our Good Shepherd, follow You and be saved.
MATTHEW 18:21-19:1
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
We like to keep grudges, we like to cling to past hurts and keep a record of who has wronged us and how often. We go over these periodically and refresh our memory and keep the wounds alive. We refuse to forgive and we refuse to let go. We permit all the hurts to gain power over us and direct all our energy into being smallminded and petty as we wait for opportunities to retaliate in the same coin.
Peter probably thought he was being magnanimous when he asked You, 'Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me" Seven times seems often enough to him. Today we learn another invaluable lesson in the parable of the unforgiving servant. You teach us as You taught Peter and Your disciples not to keep a record of wrongs. The servant was forgiven the complete debt he owed not only because his servant begged him to, but also because the servant could never repay it. He in turn ought to have forgiven the small debt owed to him by a fellow servant but he didn't and hence lost everything.
We are called to forgive over and over again just as we have been forgiven. Each time we approach You and beg for mercy with humble and contrite hearts You wipe the slate clean. You instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation because You know that sin kills, sins maims, and unless we forgive as we've been forgiven the burden of sin holds us captive until we do.
Grant us the grace, Beloved, to be as magnanimous with others as You have been with us for it is only in the measure that we forgive will we ourselves be forgiven.
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