DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts. HEB 4:12
EZEKIEL 34:1-11
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Today's reading from the prophet Ezekiel speaks powerfully to our times. It is a grave sin and a tragic one when those entrusted to shepherd the flock fail to do so. Some fail dismally. Many of the sheep are scattered, lost, weak, and ill through lack of spiritual nourishment while the shepherds are busy being involved in everything else but their duty in safeguarding, feeding, and tending to the needs of their flock.
Not only priests but parents, grandparents, godparents, catechists, and the more mature members of the laity in the community are all entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing the faith of the little ones but generation after generation each following on the heels of the next, failed miserably and today the world is teetering on the brink of moral and spiritual bankruptcy.
Thankfully Beloved, You are our Good Shepherd, You laid down Your life for Your sheep and You will ensure that we do not perish.
The Lord says this: I am going to call the shepherds to account. I am going to take my flock back from them and I shall not allow them to feed my flock. In this way the shepherds will stop feeding themselves. I shall rescue my sheep from their mouths; they will not prey on them any more.” ‘For the Lord says this: “I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view.”
PSALM 23
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
In this beautiful psalm written by King David, we know that we can confidently yield our whole life to You and trust You to care for us, provide all we need in this life, and guide us safely until we enter into Your rest.
When the night is dark when trouble looms on every side, when there seems no way out, it is most consoling to pray the words of this psalm repeatedly,
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Thank You for the Church You instituted on the Rock. Thank You for the Living Water that flows from this Temple of God situated on Mt. Zion, the New City of Jerusalem. It is in her alone that Your Holy Spirit dwells in the fullness of Your power, wisdom, majesty, and glory.
Here all the children of God are fed on the Bread of Life. Here we are washed clean in the Crimson Tide that flows from Your side. The Sacraments You instituted help her to stay on the right path no matter how dark the world may seem for the Church is always bathed in Your radiant light. She has Your assurance that the gates of hell shall never prevail against her.
Thank You for our enduring hope that You will anoint us with the oil of gladness and our cup of joy will overflow as we feast at the eternal banquet with the Bridegroom who has claimed His Bride, the Church as His Own forever.
MATTHEW 20:1-16
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
In today's parable concerning the workers in the vineyard, You give us an insight into the glory that all those who enter the Kingdom of heaven will enjoy. There will be no degrees of joy that each soul will enjoy when we behold You Face to Face, for each will be filled to overflowing and will taste it to the fullest.
Every living soul is constantly invited at different times in their life's journey to toil in the vineyard and each is promised a reward. Some may only hear the invitation after a lifetime of aimless living, but when they do hear the call they respond to it.
Everyone who labors towards the hastening of God's kingdom, whether from their earliest years, or at any stage in their life will receive the same reward - the bliss of being in the presence of God. We will adore and worship Him together with all the angels and saints and our joy will be complete. There will be no question of envy or grumbling for each will receive the same reward - the blissful vision of the Face of God for all eternity.
“My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?”
The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts. HEB 4:12
EZEKIEL 34:1-11
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Today's reading from the prophet Ezekiel speaks powerfully to our times. It is a grave sin and a tragic one when those entrusted to shepherd the flock fail to do so. Some fail dismally. Many of the sheep are scattered, lost, weak, and ill through lack of spiritual nourishment while the shepherds are busy being involved in everything else but their duty in safeguarding, feeding, and tending to the needs of their flock.
Not only priests but parents, grandparents, godparents, catechists, and the more mature members of the laity in the community are all entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing the faith of the little ones but generation after generation each following on the heels of the next, failed miserably and today the world is teetering on the brink of moral and spiritual bankruptcy.
Thankfully Beloved, You are our Good Shepherd, You laid down Your life for Your sheep and You will ensure that we do not perish.
The Lord says this: I am going to call the shepherds to account. I am going to take my flock back from them and I shall not allow them to feed my flock. In this way the shepherds will stop feeding themselves. I shall rescue my sheep from their mouths; they will not prey on them any more.” ‘For the Lord says this: “I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view.”
PSALM 23
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
In this beautiful psalm written by King David, we know that we can confidently yield our whole life to You and trust You to care for us, provide all we need in this life, and guide us safely until we enter into Your rest.
When the night is dark when trouble looms on every side, when there seems no way out, it is most consoling to pray the words of this psalm repeatedly,
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Thank You for the Church You instituted on the Rock. Thank You for the Living Water that flows from this Temple of God situated on Mt. Zion, the New City of Jerusalem. It is in her alone that Your Holy Spirit dwells in the fullness of Your power, wisdom, majesty, and glory.
Here all the children of God are fed on the Bread of Life. Here we are washed clean in the Crimson Tide that flows from Your side. The Sacraments You instituted help her to stay on the right path no matter how dark the world may seem for the Church is always bathed in Your radiant light. She has Your assurance that the gates of hell shall never prevail against her.
Thank You for our enduring hope that You will anoint us with the oil of gladness and our cup of joy will overflow as we feast at the eternal banquet with the Bridegroom who has claimed His Bride, the Church as His Own forever.
MATTHEW 20:1-16
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
In today's parable concerning the workers in the vineyard, You give us an insight into the glory that all those who enter the Kingdom of heaven will enjoy. There will be no degrees of joy that each soul will enjoy when we behold You Face to Face, for each will be filled to overflowing and will taste it to the fullest.
Every living soul is constantly invited at different times in their life's journey to toil in the vineyard and each is promised a reward. Some may only hear the invitation after a lifetime of aimless living, but when they do hear the call they respond to it.
Everyone who labors towards the hastening of God's kingdom, whether from their earliest years, or at any stage in their life will receive the same reward - the bliss of being in the presence of God. We will adore and worship Him together with all the angels and saints and our joy will be complete. There will be no question of envy or grumbling for each will receive the same reward - the blissful vision of the Face of God for all eternity.
“My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?”
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