MEMORIAL OF ST. JEROME, PRIEST & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I have accepted the loss of everything
and I look on everything as so much rubbish
if only I can have Christ
and be given a place in him. PH 3:8-9

JOB 9:1-12, 14-16

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We are justified before God by faith in You, and by believing in the Good News that saves. There is no other way to God than by You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is neither salvation nor justification in any other but You for this is how God, our Father wills it. 

Job speaks the truth in all he says concerning God to his friends. Who can say no to Him? He does what He wills. He raises and He brings down. He smooths and He makes rough. He calms and He stirs. He speaks and all He desires come to pass. God is spirit and truth - He is eternal and all things are held in Him by the power of His Word. The Breath of His Spirit sustains all that lives for He is the life-giver, when He takes His Breath away we cease to be.

If we live we live because of Him, if we die it is because He wills it. Life and death are His to give and to take. There is but one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - in Him we live, and move, and have our being.

PSALM 88:10-15

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

There are times in our life when we all experience the cri de coeur expressed in this psalm. We cry until there are no more tears to shed. We beg night and day for deliverance from sickness, troubles, anxiety, pain, or whatever it is that is crushing our spirit or wracking our body and mind. There seems no way out of this pit of darkness and despair and You seem far beyond our sight and deaf to the sound of our weeping, moaning, sighing, and despair.

Yet, we cry out to You. We appeal to Your mercy. We plead with You to lift the bone-crushing weight of our agony whether physical, mental, or spiritual, and to grant us deliverance and peace.  In moments like these, Beloved, let us keep the Cross ever before us and let us recall that we are not alone in our sufferings. When we carry our own cross in union with You then we will be given the strength, grace, and courage to bear it for as long as God wills. And while we wait for deliverance, Beloved, let us remember that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. 

LUKE 9:57-62 

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

In our pilgrim journey from this life to the next, every one who desires to be Your disciple receives his or her call to follow You in different ways. There is no one size fits all. Everyone's call is unique. This is why we must be attentive, we cannot have any preconceived ideas. What is right for one may not be right for another - we are not cast from the same mold. God takes into account my strengths, weaknesses, talents, gifts, abilities, vocation, etc., and my mission as Your disciple is tailormade for me.

Today's Gospel speaks of three different types of people who encounter You on the road as You travel with Your disciples. To the first man filled with bubbling enthusiasm to follow You wherever You went without giving any real thought as to what it entails, You give a strong dose of reality by reminding him that ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

The next person, however, was given a direct invitation to follow You.  So many of us are like him. We make excuses. We want to follow You but there are so many other pressing duties that we think first need our attention. To him, You say, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’ It is a sober reminder to all of us that our foremost duty as members of Your Body is to live the Gospel by our lives. 

And finally, there is the last one to whom You also extend an invitation to follow You. He wants to become a disciple but not yet. He does not say yes and he does not say no, he evades a direct refusal by making the excuse that he will follow You but not right away. He wanted to return to his people first and take their leave. When we make excuses, when we refuse to commit ourselves, when we allow other things to get in the way of following You, chances are we never will if we are not prepared to follow You now. To him You give this warning, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

Beloved, grant us the grace to get our priorities right. If we don't follow You now while this day lasts, chances are there might be no tomorrow and it will be too late.

FEAST OF STS. MICHAEL, GABRIEL, RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Give thanks to the Lord, all his hosts,
his servants who do his will. PS 102:21

REVELATION 12:7-12ab

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

In every age it would appear that evil has conquered, good vanquished, and rule and dominion handed over to the rulers of the world. This is a lie that Satan spreads in order to weaken the resolve of the faithful remnant who continue to battle against the forces of evil.

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, and we are encouraged because we know that mighty heavenly forces, legion upon legion of angels commanded by the Archangels fight ceaselessly against the forces of darkness. While the great deceiver wins battles the war is won.

We are saved by the Blood of the Lamb, all who hear the Word of Life and believe are created anew. There is no greater power than the power of the Cross, there is no greater vindication for the penitent than the Blood of the Lamb that washes us clean of every sin. You are the Incarnate Word of God, the Eternal Word of the Father, the only, Living Word God utters in the power of the Holy Spirit, and with this Word, He has conquered. 

We are Your witnesses, Beloved, we are Your people, the sheep of Your flock, and the life we have received is Your life. Death no longer holds us for Your Word and Your Blood have conquered and You have won the victory in which we who believe receive a share. We rejoice because in life or in death we are Yours.

PSALM 138:1-5

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Being finite creatures our vision is limited and yet ever since You laid the foundations of the world You have revealed much that is divined not only through our experience, and our senses but also through the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

To Your Church is given the fullness of Truth which she treasures carefully and hands down meticulously to her children from one generation to the next. This Truth will be preserved unsullied, and You have guaranteed that this precious deposit of faith will not be watered down but preserved in all its beauty and majesty until You return.

We are unable to see the mighty archangels, angels, dominions, principalities, that watch over the Church and over the world but we can trust in Your faithfulness and in Your Word. As long as today lasts, Beloved, the Church will offer to the Father, in the presence of all the angels and saints the one, holy, perfect, and most acceptable Sacrifice of Calvary that ensures Your Life and Presence in the world until Your return in glory. Maranatha! Lord Jesus, Maranatha!

JOHN 1:47-51

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

There are multitudes of angels, Your messengers, who are at work ceaselessly doing Your bidding as they keep constant vigil over us and over the world. Legions of angels adore You in all the tabernacles of the world, at the celebration of every Holy Mass, and in every adoration chapel. We are mortal, hence we cannot look into the realm of the supernatural but it is all around us. But to some, such a privilege is given. 

You know us and You recognize us just as You knew and recognized Nathanael. You know all about us even before we come to believe and You have already prepared the way for us to enter into fellowship and friendship with You. 

Nathanael was a man after Your own heart. He was a man of prayer, he was a man seeking for the truth, and every true seeker of Truth will encounter You in Person, for You are Truth. All who know You and love You with all the fervor of their souls are drawn into a communion of love with You, the Father, and the Holy Spirit and will experience the wonder of seeing heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending just as You promised Nathanael would. 

MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Son of Man came to serve

and to give his life as a ransom for many. MK 10:45

JOB 1:6-11

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Unlike Job, there are not many who have the fortitude to bear the disasters that befall us. We generally tend to whine, complain, murmur, and grumble when we life gets too much for us. Thank You for this Book in Scripture that teaches us that faith in You enables us radiate grace under fire.  

Job lost everything in a day not through any fault of his own for he was a righteous man and the favor of God was on him. Troubles come to us all for various reasons but through it all, if we trust You, in the end, all will be well. More often than not we lack the faith, courage, and fortitude to do so.

To God's question to Satan, 'Where have you been?' he responded, 'Round the earth.' It brings to mind what St. Peter said in his letter, 'Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.' It is heartwarming to note how God praises Job's virtues to  satan. He, in turn, challenges God to withdraw His favor from him and Job would crumble under the weight of misfortune like every one else. God accepts satan's challenge with just one condition, ‘Very well, all he has is in your power. But keep your hands off his person.’ A very clear indication to us all that life and death belong to God alone no one can usurp God's power over our lives. How wonderfully heartwarming it is to learn that satan lost his challenge against God, let us never forget that he always does.  

When the news of each calamity was reported to him with the final one being the loss of all his children let us take note of Job's reaction:

Job rose and tore his gown and shaved his head. Then falling to the ground he worshipped and said:
‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
naked I shall return.
The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!’
In all this misfortune Job committed no sin nor offered any insult to God.

How wonderful it would be if I too could have such faith in times of trials - sadly I lack the courage and fortitude to do so. Lord, increase my ability to endure with grace any burden I am called to bear. Amen.

PSALM 17:1-3, 6-7

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The verses of the psalm chosen for the liturgy today is that of a just person, who like Job had great faith, courage, and fortitude in the face of tribulation.

It teaches me who am so frail, so weak, who so readily is despondent over the slightest difficulty, to have a more robust faith and trust in You. 

Trials come to us all and they are necessary if we are to be pruned in order to bear more fruit. Unless we are thrust into the crucible of suffering we cannot grow in Your image and likeness. This is our calling, to grow more and more like You each day. All who strive after purity and holiness will have You who are God, for a friend and a brother.  

LUKE 9:46-50

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The Gospel of the day begins with these words, An argument started between the disciples about which of them was the greatest. This is the perennial desire of the worldlywise who seek to grab and grasp as much as they can by any means possible without too much thought of the cost to others or the consequences of their actions.  

Knowing the secret thought of Your disciples, You once again patiently teach them the paradox of the Kingdom of God. He took a little child and set him by his side and then said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the least among you all, that is the one who is great.’

If we want to belong to God then we must remember that in the Kingdom of God, the first is last, the least is the greatest, the Master is the Servant of all for You came to serve not to be served and to give up Your life as a ransom for us all.

There is another important point You make today. John said, ‘Master, we saw a man casting out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.’ The Good News is not given to an exclusive club of people. All who believe in You are welcomed into God's family. Let us get rid of our narrow vision, our narrowmindedness, our readiness to push people out of a nonexistent inner circle. By virtue of our baptism, we are all called to preach the Good News of salvation regardless of who we are, what language we speak, which country we belong to, for there is no law against preaching the Gospel of Love. 

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

 DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me. JN 10:27

EZEKIEL 18:25-28

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We expect all kinds of concessions made to us; we want justice for ourselves, we want to be treated with equity and respect. We want our voices to be heard. We want to be free. Yet, do we always treat everyone in the same way? 

The world is filled with injustices of every kind. The rights of people are constantly ignored. The rich, the powerful, and anyone who can and get away with it constantly steal from the weak and the vulnerable, and the disparity creates an ever-widening chasm.    

Today, the prophet Ezekiel reminds all who will listen that no matter how wicked we have been, no matter the gravity of our evil deeds if we repent, You will be merciful. A humble, contrite heart You will not spurn. If on the other hand, we die unrepentant of the evil we have done then no one can save us from Your righteous justice and punishment. It is very consoling to know that You will not withhold mercy, compassion, and forgiveness from the sinner no matter at what hour he or she repents and rejects sin.

PSALM 25:4-9

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism. Without the promptings of the Helper who is also our teacher and guide, we would find it difficult to walk in Your Way of Light, Life, and Truth. 

My Beloved, without You there would be no forgiveness of sins. Every repentant sinner can approach the Throne of Mercy because they are washed clean in Your Blood. God, our Father, forgives us because You paid the price of our redemption. 

It is the poor in spirit, the humble of heart, the little ones who are closest to the heart of God. You taught us true humility and obedience, true poverty of spirit, true surrender to the will of God without these it is impossible to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Love holds all things together in You for God is love. If we love as You love the world will experience the peace that You came to give. Sadly, any show of genuine kindness, tenderness, empathy, and solidarity is seen as a sign of weakness. The world is growing increasingly crass, ugly, and base. Evil rather than good is encouraged and celebrated.

This beautiful, timeless hymn by St. Paul to Your humility must be the lived experience of every Christian. Only by imitating the Master closely in all things is there hope for the world. The faithful remnant will survive the ugliness and destruction of the age we live in, for love alone can withstand evil. True joy is found when like You, we are prepared to lay down our lives for one another. 

You were God, and the Son of God, and yet You gave it all up in total obedience and surrender to Your Father's will. You embraced the human condition in all its weakness and frailty becoming like us in all things save sin. This is why, 'There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’ You are raised high above all and are seated at the right hand of the Father. You are given a name that is above every other, 

so that all beings in the heavens,
on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

MATTHEW 21:28-32

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Your parables hit the bullseye every time. In today's Gospel passage You are addressing the chief priests and elders who ought to have been the first to believe and yet You faced the fiercest opposition from them. They hated You with a murderous rage because You threatened the status quo. They lived in a comfortable bubble and were determined to preserve it at any cost. They thought their salvation was guaranteed because of their perceived righteousness before God but You knocked that fallacious notion right out of the park.

This is true of some Catholics/Christians too. Just because we are baptized does not guarantee us a safe passage to the Kingdom of God. It will do each of us good to remember that salvation is guaranteed to no one except to those who are meek and humble of heart. Only when we confess like the publican that we are sinners and unworthy can we hope to receive the grace and mercy of God. 

‘I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.’

SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death
and he has proclaimed life through the Good News. 2TIM 1:10

ECCLESIASTES 11:9--12:8

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

So many of us fritter away our youth on useless pastimes and pay little heed on the things that are eternal. To the young old age is a distant dream and so little thought is given to store up things that moths do not destroy nor rust corrode.

Parents who fail to prune the young vine, neglect to nourish the impressionable mind with wisdom and truth from the Word of Life and fail to help them to walk in the Way that leads to Life and proclaim the Good News that saves, do their children a great disservice. They set them up for failure when the time of youth, which is as fleeting as quicksilver, is upon them they are ill-equipped to withstand the trials and difficulties that come with the onset of old age. They grow to be querulous and cantankerous for they are not rooted in a robust faith that would have helped them withstand testing times with grace and fortitude. 

When the vigor and beauty of youth have fled, when limbs tremble, sight is dim, and hearing is dull, a strong tried and tested faith in the God of love will light the last stage of our life with fervent hope in the things to come.

PSALM 90:3-6, 12-14, 17

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

For so many in the world grinding poverty and misery are all they have to look forward to day in and day out. Those who are sick with debilitating illnesses are sometimes frustrated by the limitations that keep them dependant on others for all their needs - to these a day will seem like a thousand years. Those who are well, healthy, have sufficient for their daily needs and more, have times of leisure filled with pleasurable pastimes find the hours and days fly like a weaver's shuttle. 

For each of these time is relative - slow and painful to those in misery and swift to those who are well in mind, body, and spirit. But to You, Beloved, who is outside space and time as the psalmist says, a thousand years are no more than a watch in the night. You are the hope and refuge of people in all generations. 

Time whether it seems slow or swift will finally come to an end for all. In the end, our flesh will decay and return to the dust from where it came. Grant us wisdom, O Lord, to know that whether we live for a short while or a great many years ultimately we will take our last breath and will have to stand before God our Maker who will judge us. May we use this time that is granted to us to bear good fruit that will last for regret is a useless, bitter, and barren tree. 

In the morning, fill us with your love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us:
give success to the work of our hands.

LUKE 9:43-45

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

There are times in our life when we are caught up in the excitement of sheer living, all we do is successful, the people we love are thriving and happy, and we are content. No cloud mars our horizon and all is well in our world. When life appears free of any real trial or difficulty we pray that nothing will disturb the happy tenor of our lives. So it was with Your disciples. They were basking in Your reflected glory. They thought they had found the good life with You, the miracle worker, the healer, the provider of bread, the great teacher, and preacher who was followed everywhere by adoring crowds. But You knew it would all end and to prepare them You revealed what was to happen to You, what would soon take place, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: “The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.” 

No one likes to face the truth and so we try our best to ignore it or shut it out. Like the disciples, we understand dimly but are afraid to know fully we don't want the good times to end. We prefer ignorance to the truth. But the fact is that unless we die we cannot truly live. And this is the truth we all must face, unless we walk the way of Calvary, crucifixion, and death we can have no share in Your resurrection.

FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our mind,
so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. EPH 1:17, 18

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-11

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The writer, inspired by divine wisdom, reminds us that all things are passing and that we must cling to nothing except the things that are eternal.

The rhythm of life, its cycles and its seasons come and go, day follows night whether we like it or not and we can do nothing to stop it or hinder its passing.

The people we love do not remain with us always a time will come when they must leave. The only things that are certain are change and death which comes to us all. The only unchanging, unwavering, ever-present truth is this, that God and God's infinite love remain the same today, tomorrow, and forever.  

While we are called to live life to its fullest we ought not to cling to anyone or anything. Nor should we be too preoccupied about the things we have no control over but trust You fully and have faith in You. 

There is much we will not understand for much in living and suffering is a mystery - and while we may never fully understand the why of some things, if we have a childlike faith in You we can trust that in the end, all will be well. What does a man gain for the efforts that he makes? I contemplate the task that God gives mankind to labour at. All that he does is apt for its time; but though he has permitted man to consider time in its wholeness, man cannot comprehend the work of God from beginning to end.

PSALM 144:1-4

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

In a constantly changing and evolving world, I thank You with all the fervor of my being that You are changeless. You are the Rock, You are the fortress, You are the stronghold, the shield, the place of refuge for all who believe in You, hope in You, trust You, and love You. You are the one thing we can always count on never to fail, never to deceive, never to leave - who will love us in season and out of season, whether we are worthy or unworthy, deserving or undeserving. 

You are our light in a world that is sometimes very dark. You are hope when everything seems hopeless. You are our true joy and our Northstar guiding us surely to safe harbor in Your Kingdom once our days on earth draw to a close.

LUKE 9:18-22

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

St. Luke tells us in the Gospel passage chosen for today's liturgy that You were praying alone in the presence of Your disciples. This reminds us that we can enter into the inner sanctuary of our being and pray alone even when we are surrounded by people. We can pray anytime, all the time, and anywhere for You are Emmanuel, God with us, always.

Every Christian pilgrim journeying from this life to the next will meet people who have different ideas of who You are. The question that You put to Your disciples was, 'Who do the crowds say I am?' And there were varied responses and then we come to the crux of the matter when You directed the same question to them, 'But you, who do you say I am?' This is a question that every Christian has to answer at various stages in their life and at each stage, hopefully, we will come to a deeper understanding of who we believe You are, who we know You are, and whom we must love ever more deeply, follow more closely, and long for more ardently every day.

Peter did not fully understand what the Father prompted him to say of You that day, 'The Christ of God.'  But we have the benefit of revelation and we who believe know who You are. We know why the Father sent You into the world. ‘The Son of Man’ he said ‘is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’

And while You gave Peter and the rest strict orders not to tell anyone what was divinely revealed to him, we who are called by Your Name are commissioned to announce the Good News of salvation to the whole world as long as we live. 

THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

 DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
No one can come to the Father except through me. JN 14:6

ECCLESIASTES 1:2-11

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

After Adam's fall, they and their children were expelled from the Garden of Joy to till the earth for bread by their sweat. Then You came into the world and You became for us, the Bread of Life given freely to all who believe. But many refuse the life You offer preferring to toil endlessly for husks.

'Vanity of vanities all is vanity.' All who are of the world, Beloved, experience the dreariness of life just as the writer expresses. Nothing is new for those who do not have eyes to see and ears to hear the marvelous, wondrous new thing that God has done for us. 

The people of the world from one generation to the next, have no memory of the sins of the past and hence have no memory of its tragic consequences. This is how the writer puts it, 'Take anything of which it may be said, ‘Look now, this is new.’ Already, long before our time, it existed. Only no memory remains of earlier times, just as in times to come next year itself will not be remembered.' How true this is of the world who in every age make the same mistakes repeatedly through colossal ignorance of the past. 

The Church alone remembers. She fights a lone battle. There are many within her who betray her but there are many, many more who have been taught by her of the serious consequences of past errors and she wisely steers the bark of Peter away from these evil waters that threaten to swamp the world.

PSALM 90:3-6, 12-14, 17

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Today's psalm is so apt for the time that the world presently finds itself in. An invisible virus has swept across the world and has changed the way we once lived. We went about our daily business, arrogantly impervious to the voice of the Spirit of the Wisdom, little did the world dream that life would come to a shuddering halt and all we once took for granted has come to an end, at least for the foreseeable future.  

Now, let us heed Your Word, and know that we are not invincible, we are like the grass that springs in the morning and by evening withers and fades. People everywhere are being swept away by tragedy upon tragedy. Hopefully, we will now realize how short life truly is. Lord, let not this time pass us by without teaching us that the things of earth are passing and only that which is divine remains. Grant that we begin to labor for fruit that does not perish, for in the end, it will determine our final destiny. 

LUKE 9:7-9

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

There will always be people like Herod whose desire to know remains only a desire. They lack the will to delve deeper, to make an effort to shake off their apathy about the things of God. They prefer the comfort of what they know lest in coming face to face with the truth, they will have to take a stand regardless of the consequences.

Herod heard all about You and was puzzled by the things he heard. He gave a direct order to behead John the Baptist even though he knew John was innocent. He thought once he had rid himself of John his conscience would be at ease but it wasn't. Here was news of another, who made him anxious and curious. He wanted to see You but refused to make a serious effort to do so until You were sent to him bound and a prisoner by Pilate. By then it was too late for him.

Let it not be too late for us. If we have any stirrings, any doubts, any questions; if we find that the things we have long believed in and held to be true do not stand up to scrutiny, or are false in any way, then we must begin a sincere search for the truth no matter what it may cost us. 

Truth is not an ideal, or a way, or a word, Beloved. Truth is the Way, Truth is Life, Truth is a Person, a divine Person, it is You, the Eternal Word of God.  And You dwell in the fullness of Your Spirit in the Church You founded which is one, holy, catholic and apostolic. 

MEMORIAL OF ST. PIUS OF PIETRELCINA, PRIEST, (PADRE PIO) - 2020

 DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel. MK 1:15

PROVERBS 30:5-9

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

If only we had wisdom enough to make these words our daily prayer, to trust You implicitly to provide for all our needs, to be glad to receive just what we require to satisfy our hunger and not our greed, and to know You, the Eternal Word of God, and make You our home and refuge. 

The world is full of falsehood, treachery, violence, and hatred, and few can be trusted not to lead us down the slippery slope of deceit. Thank You for the Church You established on the Rock and for Your assurance that the gates of hell will not prevail against her. She is the bulwark and pillar of Truth. In her, we are in communion with You, made one with You, as we feed on the Bread of Angels and drink of the saving cup containing Your precious Blood.

PSALM 119:28,72, 89, 101, 104, 163

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

If only the world understood that God's Word is Truth - that it is the power of God and the wisdom of God and that every Word that proceeds from the Mouth of God does not return without accomplishing His will and the purpose for which it is uttered.

You are the Eternal Word of the Father. He has just one Word - and that Word is You, Beloved. Your Word is alive, it is active, it is powerful, it is fruitful, it brings healing, unity, peace, consolation, strength, and new life. The power of Your Word uttered in faith not only changes and saves lives but changes the course of history. 

Your Word lights up the world and enables all who walk in it to walk in the light of the Spirit and Truth. May I always abide in Your Word.

LUKE 9:1-6

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

You picked the Twelve, instructed them, and trained them, and then You sent them on their first mission. You gave them very specific instructions. They were to take nothing with them but rely totally on God to provide for all their needs. You assured them that You had given them power and authority to preach and to heal. Not all would receive them. Not all would be hospitable. But some would and they were to stay with them until it was time to move on to the next town or village. 

The evangelist, Luke, does not record anything that was said by You about those that received the Apostles but he does record Your instructions with regard to those that did not welcome them. As they left that town they were to shake the dust from their feet as a sign to them, as a sign against them. Anyone who rejects Your Apostles rejects You and anyone who welcomes them, welcomes You. 

Beloved, if we are indifferent to You and Your teaching, if we are indifferent to the proclamation of the Kingdom of God then we can blame no one when ultimately we reap what we have sown.

TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

 DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Happy are those
who hear the word of God
and keep it. LK 11:28

PROVERBS 21:1-6, 10-13

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The proverbs in Scripture are the lived experience of human beings and those who have thought long about human nature and have seen the effects of the wise, the haughty, the prudent, the humble, the fool, and the imprudent, the wicked, the generous, and the niggardly, have left the fruit of their contemplation for our own wise reflection.

Grace is the living water flowing from the heart of King, He directs its flow wherever and on whomever He pleases. There is only one, who through God's good pleasure, was filled with this grace from the moment of her conception, Mary. 

Our lives, our actions, our thoughts, and our words reflect who we are, whether upright, just, dishonest, foolish, prideful, arrogant, wicked and everything else good or bad that we humans are capable of being. Each of us, according to our own decisive will determines whether we will follow the Way of Truth and abide by the Word of God and live uprightly or unrighteously. It is a choice we make either for You or against You but in the end, we will be judged by the choices we have made freely and without coercion.  

We were created for joy - it is a joy that is not determined by our circumstances nor can anyone it take away. It is a gift that comes from knowing You, loving You, serving You, and following You closely on the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Keep us safe, O Lord, in Your love now and to the end.

PSALM 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The pages of history are strewn with the testimony of men and women who lived lives of heroic virtue just as the verses in today's psalm describes. They testify to the truth that all who choose to live righteous and just lives, enjoy God's favor even as they walk through the valley of tears.

But unless we know You, Beloved, how can we love You as You ought to be loved? So many of us are ignorant of You. We have never been told of You by those who were entrusted with the task of catechizing us, more often than not because they themselves were so poorly catechized. But even this is no excuse, Beloved. It is our duty to cooperate with the grace and the gift of faith we have received at our Baptism and to pray with humility to the Holy Spirit to help us, direct us, and do our part to open our heart and our minds as we prayerfully read the Scriptures so we can encounter You through the living, breathing Word of the sacred texts. 'Your word O Lord is truth, consecrate us in the truth.'

LUKE 8:19-21

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Many willfully refuse to see and have lead millions through the ages to do the same and these short verses in the Gospel of Luke are yet another opportunity for them to take a 'text out of context which is a pretext' and to misconstrue its meaning. Some have done so deliberately, or maliciously, or through ignorance. Satan attempted to do just that when he tempted You by using Scripture texts selectively. But Your counterpoint and counter thrust also using Scripture texts, left a defeated Satan no option but to slink away and depart from You.  

No living human creature ever was or ever will hear the word of God and put it into practice as obediently, willingly, humbly, and with such complete surrender as Mary did. Hence, to those who infer that You were denigrating Your Mother by Your response to those who told You that Your mother and brothers were standing outside to see You, one can only say that they unlike Your Mother, Mary, have not conceived the Word of God as she did first in her heart and then in fact and truth in her womb. She gave You, the Word of God, a Body which You then gave up for the life of the world. 

Also, would God who Himself commanded that we honor our father and our mother, Himself dishonor His own?  This is why the Church born from Your side and entrusted to Mary at the foot of the Cross, truly comprehends the high place of honor given to Your Mother at Your right hand in the Kingdom of God.

FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW, APOSTLE & EVANGELIST - 2020

 DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

We praise you, O God,

we acclaim you as Lord;

the glorious company of Apostles praise you.

EPHESIANS 4:1-7, 11-13

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

What a glorious destiny awaits us - how well St. Paul directs us on the path to holiness and to fullness in You. We are called to be a light in a world of darkness, division, violence, evil, selfishness, and sin. In a world that promotes self-glorification, You show us another way, a better way, a way that leads to life and seeks the good of the other, putting their needs before our own.

Because we are sinners it is a constant struggle to live as a true disciple should - I must bear with my brothers and sisters in Christ with charity, I am called to be selfless, gentle, and patient. I am called to build, preserve, unite with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

We have all been given gifts to build up Your Body, Beloved. Each is given according to Your will. We may have different vocations but are called to work in unity, each using their gifts and talents to work tirelessly in the service of all to the end. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.

PSALM 19:2-5

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

God has left His imprint all around us. All creation gives Him glory and so must we who are created in His image and likeness.

God so loved us that He sent You as one of us, like us in all things, save sin. You are the perfect Man and we are all called to strive to holiness and perfection by striving to be like You. You were humble and obedient and though You are God You came to serve not to be served and to lay down Your life as a ransom for us.

From the rising of the sun to its setting, Beloved, the whole world gives You praise as does Your Bride, the Church, offering the one and only holy, pure, and most acceptable Sacrifice to the Father whose infinite merits have the power to draw His infinite mercy on her and on the whole world.

MATTHEW 9:9-13

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Only those who have been despised by the world will truly understand what Matthew suffered by being labelled a sinner and an outcast. The cruelty of ostracism by his fellow Jews must have been a source of constant suffering for him. 

What were his thoughts that fateful day as he was going about his daily routine in the customs house? Did he wish things were different, that he had another more respectable profession to earn his living for himself and his family? When he heard the commotion as You passed by with Your disciples, did he recognize You as the famous Rabbi, the healer of miracles, the wonder-worker, the great teacher, and preacher? Did he sigh inwardly because of the constant deep inner spiritual sadness in him? He looks at You and the crowd following You fully expecting You to walk past him and then You stop, he is mesmerized by Your gaze, You seem to look deep into his soul, Your look is full of love and tender compassion, and his soul is stirred with an emotion he is unable to put into words and then he hears You speak, "Follow me." Was he stunned for split second? Did he ask himself, 'Did I hear right? Is he actually calling me?' What tumultuous joy must have flooded his soul when as he realized it was true, a tremulous smile must have lit up his face as he got up immediately and followed You without a backward glance leaving all that was familiar, old, tired, miserable, unhappy, behind him to take up a new life with You.

Sinners generally congregate with sinners. Like-minded with like-minded and so in Matthew's house that evening his old friends came to dinner at his house. The Pharisees questioned Your disciples about the company You kept and ate with, they wondered why You congregated with sinners and tax collectors. When Your disciples repeated what they said to You, You responded saying, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’

Today's gospel passage reminds us that there is hope for every sinner and that we should be less free with our criticism of sinners and more forthcoming with mercy. Self-righteous bigots condemn themselves. It is most comforting to know Beloved, that at God's banquet, there is always room for the repentant sinner.

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

 DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. ACTS 16:14B

ISAIAH 55:6-9

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

No one knows the day or the hour when the spirit will leave our mortal bodies this is why we are constantly reminded to be prepared. Now is the time, the present is all we can count on. The choices we make today determine our eternal destiny. This is the time to put away the things of the night and of the dark and to walk in the Way of Life and Truth. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life - a Person - fully human and fully divine, it is a very sobering thought that no one, absolutely no one comes to the Father except through YOU.

But who knows the mind of God? With God all things are possible and while we dare not take Him our salvation for granted we are also reminded that God is love. He is merciful, compassionate, forgiving, and is full of pity for the weak, the sinner, those who cry out to Him piteously for His saving help.

Who will say 'no to God? Who dare deny Him what He desires? This is why the repentant sinner will receive God's mercy even as he or she draws their last breath. Truly and thankfully God's ways are not our ways nor our thoughts His thoughts for He is rich in mercy. 

PSALM 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

It is most consoling to know that You are close to all who call on You. Before Your Name escapes from my lips You are beside me. The moment I sigh You hear it. Your indwelling Spirit comforts me, gives me strength, energizes me, enables me to strive after holiness and purity even though I fail constantly. 

This is why Beloved, I must praise You with every breath I breathe and until there is life in me. Your love sustains me. Your protection envelops me. Your right hand holds me up. Your Body and Your Blood give me life without which it would be impossible for me to please God.

Another most consoling of Your manifold attributes is that You are just and those who have been voiceless, powerless victims of the world's injustices will be heard and rewarded more bountifully than their wildest imagination.  Conversely, the most wicked, hard-hearted, vilest, most evil sinner who repents will be forgiven. Who will say 'no' to the God of love, mercy, goodness, and tender compassion?

PHILIPPIANS 1:20-24, 27

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

It is only because St. Paul can compare who he was before he encountered You and who he became because of Your infinite grace and mercy that he was able to write as passionately as he did about living a grace-filled life. Only God can effect such a change in our hearts. Metanoia is only possible with the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. Our own efforts are meaningless for we are powerless to effect any real change without divine intervention and assistance.  

St. Paul urges us to, avoid anything in our everyday lives that would be unworthy of the gospel of Christ. This is why we must be alert, awake, and mindful of our thoughts, words, and actions. Our life must glorify You if we are to live with You eternally.

MATTHEW 20:1-6

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Today's Gospel proclaims to all who believe, very distinctly and powerfully, that there are no degrees to the Covenant of Love that God makes with those who follow Him, His disciples.

It does not matter when a person receives the Good News and accepts it, whether it is since they were baptized or in the last moments of their life, You will not deny them entry into the Kingdom of heaven. If we believe in You we are saved - it is as simple as that. Your hand is not too short to save anyone at any time.

For those who have labored faithfully and generously in Your vineyard their reward is knowing that they have been good servants. It does not matter at which stage in our lives, like St. Paul, that we have a personal encounter with You as long as we listen to You, obey You, and labor to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. The amount of time is irrelevant to God, our Father. All who believe in You whether in the first hour or the eleventh hour will be saved.

“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?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’

SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their perseverance. LK 8:15

1 CORINTHIANS 15:35,-37, 42-49

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

How well St. Paul expresses eternal truths. What a glorious destiny awaits all who believe and are faithful to the end. As long as we live in the flesh we will be blind to the Word and work of the Holy Spirit. What a terrible thing it is to waste this life through ignorance of the glory that awaits all who are grafted to Your Body. 

The worldly-wise are foolish for they spend their life in dreary futile rooting for the pearl of great price in the troughs of swine swill. The world peddles tawdry dreams that are perishable. But those who walk in the Light of Truth put their hope in imperishable things. We have to permit the old Adam in us to die in order to put on the new Adam, that is You, the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

If we die in You then we will be raised with You. If we are faithful, You are far more faithful. Thank You, Father, for creating me. Thank You, Beloved, for redeeming me. Thank You Holy Spirit for continually sanctifying me and preparing me for that glorious hour when this life will end and eternity in the Kingdom of God will begin.

PSALM 56:10-14

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

From the moment of my baptism, I have been privileged to walk in Your presence bathed in the light of truth and grace. You have been my constant companion. You are my protector, my deliverer, the bridegroom of my soul.

This is why Beloved, I walk with the confidence of faith which is Your gift to me. A gift which is unmerited and has been given freely. I have nothing to fear for nothing in this world can destroy the treasures God has in store for me where moths cannot eat nor rust destroy.

Thank You for the eternal Covenant of Love that binds me to You. Thank You for the vows made on my behalf at baptism that made me a member of the household of God and which I reaffirmed personally in the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Thank You for rescuing my soul from eternal death and the power of Your grace that keeps my feet from stumbling. Thank You especially for the Sacrament of Reconciliation that enables me to begin anew when I willfully fall from grace. 

LUKE 8:4-15

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Am I part of the crowd, the herd, looking for something to tickle my ears, looking for novelty, looking to be entertained, looking with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, or am I a true follower, a genuine disciple? 

The Sower generously scatters the Seed of the Word but how receptive am I in receiving it and allowing it to take root in my soul and bear an abundant harvest? 

I am easily distracted. I often have the attention span of a fruit fly. I want to be entertained. I am a lightweight because the things that require attention, discipline, and serious effort I find tedious and boring. I am superficial and like the seed that fell on the edge of the path, what I receive is easily eaten up by worldly pastimes.

Often, I lack the discipline necessary to make the hard choices and stick by them much like the seed that falls on rocky soil and is unable to thrive. I am easily distracted. I find it difficult to take the time to just remain present and diligently attend to the task at hand. I look for a way out and busy myself with other things to entertain myself - much like the seed that fell on thorns and were choked.

But there are also times my Beloved when with the help of Your Holy Spirit, You come to my aid recognizing how unable I am, how completely helpless because of my countless weaknesses, and You Yourself help me to listen, to receive, to understand, and to be fruitful. I can be generous because it is with Your generosity. I can be fruitful because You labor with me. I do nothing on my own, it is You who bear my burdens and carry me. Without You and Your help, I am truly nothing. Thank You for always being present to me and saving me. Without Your constant help and presence Beloved, there would be no hope for me.

FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

 DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
MT 11:25

1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-20

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

All that the Father willed You accomplished in perfect humility and obedience. To do the will of Your Father was food and drink to You nothing gave You greater joy than to always say to Your Abba, "Not my will but Thine."

And this was the Father's will who loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son so that everyone who believes in You may not perish but may have eternal life. You came into the world in obedience to the Father's will and gave up Your life as a ransom for many. You entered into our death in order to destroy it forever and through Your glorious Resurrection we who believe receive the promise of entering into Your life eternally. 

This is our faith that we have been saved in love. St. Paul tells us if there was no resurrection then we are all doomed to eternal death. But You have been raised to life and this is our hope that we who die will also be raised to eternal life with You.

PSALM 17:1, 6-8, 15

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

On the Cross at Calvary You were raised high above the earth and on that throne, that Altar of Sacrifice, where You were the Victim that was slain for the sins of the world as the Lamb of God, the spotless lamb without stain or blemish. You won for the Father all the children of Adam who were lost forever by his willful disobedience to His command. Your perfect act of obedience paid a debt that we never could. 

The prayer of the psalmist is a prayer that You alone can prayer with justification for You alone are one with no deceit on Your lips. You alone rose in glory and majesty to take Your place at the right hand of the Father. 

Because of Your Sacrifice, Beloved, all who call on Your Name will be heard and You will answer every cry that rises up in supplication. You alone can save and You will save by the power of Your Name.

Thank You for loving us. Thank You for sealing us in Your Blood. Thank You for the Gift of Your Spirit and thank You for our adoption through Your favor as children of God. Thank You for Your mighty protection, for guarding us, and keeping us safe as the apple of Your eye from the wiles of the devil. Thank You for granting us refuge in the shadow of Your wings. Thank You for Your assurance that after we close our eyes in death we will awake to behold Your glorious Face for ever.

LUKE 8:1-3

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

You came into the world and among a people whose culture has always looked at women as means to an end. As property who could be used and abused without compunction. This has been so since the time of Eve and even though, in this so-called enlightened 21st-century many women continue to be used overtly and covertly as things, as objects, as less than their male counterparts even though God created us equal. 

Sin, suffering, and death are the effects of the original sin of our first parent's disobedience and often the woman pays the heavier price. Thank You for showing the world that women no less than men have a part to play in the mission of spreading the Good News to the ends of the earth. That they are just as necessary, and important in playing a vital role in building the Kingdom of God on earth.

Luke tells us that along with the twelve certain women who were cured of evil spirits and ailments also followed You. He mentions some by name, some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. How refreshing and heartening it must have been for them to be recognized as having value. To be seen and appreciated for who they were. How gladly they followed You and how privileged they must have felt in being able to provide for and serve You and the disciples.  

Thank You for the Church You founded that has always elevated, reverenced, and upheld women beginning with Your Mother Mary. Holy Mother Church has always been faithful in imitating You closely and obeying all that You taught and did and she teaches her children to do the same.

THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

 DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord. MT 11:28

1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

It is a very sobering thought that all who are called to preach the Gospel do so without diluting the message and without adding anything to it. 

Paul teaches what he himself was taught by Your disciples - this is the Good News that saves, there is no other - You died for our sins, fulfilling every prophecy in Scripture, You were buried, and You were raised to life on the third day also in fulfillment of Scripture. 

You appeared to many after Your resurrection and Paul himself was one of the many - beginning with Peter, the Apostles, to more than 500 disciples at once, to James and the last of the witnesses is Paul. We believe on the basis of their testimony - they testified to the Truth despite persecution, exile, imprisonment, torture, and death. They suffered for the sake of the Gospel. They laid down their lives for the sake of their Master who also laid down His life for the redemption of the world. But You took it up again so we, who believe may receive Your life and live in glory with You for all eternity. Let us not be ashamed or afraid to follow in Your footsteps by way of the Cross and Calvary to eternal glory.

PSALM 118:1-2, 15-17, 28

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The psalmist invites us to give You thanks because You are good, to praise You because You are worthy, and to take comfort in the knowledge that Your love never ends.

Long before You entered time and history he prophecies Your triumphant reign at the Father's right hand after being raised from the dead. The grave could not hold You. You came to die in order that we who were dead might receive Your life and live. This indeed is Good News. 

No one who believes in You, the only Son of the Father, who was born, who suffered, died, was buried and rose again on the third day need fear death. You have triumphed over the grave and we will share in Your victory. This is why we praise and thank You, our Savior, and Lord, for as long as we have breath in our frail bodies.

LUKE 7:36-50

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

This beautiful account of the truly repentant sinner and the incredible tenderness and mercy of God by St. Luke is one that has touched and transformed many lives. One can visualize the whole event because St. Luke describes it so vividly and dramatically. 

There is a palpable hush in the conversation when a woman of ill repute carrying an alabaster jar, enters the house of the Pharisee who had invited You to a meal. The silence however was momentary. Soon there was a distinct, low murmur as the looked at her and whispered but she was oblivious of them all. She had come with a purpose. She had heard about You. Somehow she knew in her spirit that You would give her a chance to begin anew.  She saw You and came up right behind You.

Prostrating at Your feet she wept bitterly allowing her tears to wash Your feet, she dried them with her hair and poured out the fragrant ointment in the jar over Your feet all the while covering them with kisses. The fragrance of the expensive ointment filled the room.

Simon, the one who hosted the meal, is identified as a pharisee and a leper. He is obviously a former leper but the label has stuck. It is ironic that he himself who carries the label of a leper even though he is cured is busy labeling this woman in his head. Not only is he maligning You he is also condemning her. You read his thoughts and forced him to judge rightly after telling him a parable. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’

You did not leave it there. Simon had shamed and condemned the woman in his thoughts but he himself was guilty of withholding the common courtesies shown to a guest. Was his negligence as the host done deliberately and in full view of his guests subtly indicating to the rest how little he really respected You? What was his intention in inviting You in the first place? In any case, You addressed him directly.

‘Simon, you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

Thank You, Beloved, for instituting the awesome Sacrament of Reconciliation where every sinner who approaches You with a repentant and contrite heart can receive forgiveness, mercy, and healing.

MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CORNELIUS, POPE, & CYPRIAN BISHOP, MARTYRS - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;

you have the message of eternal life. JN 6:63, 68

1 CORINTHIANS 12:31 - 13:13

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

St. Paul reminds us that You have shown us a better way - it is not just a way but it is the Way. It is You Yourself who is the Way. It is the Way of agape love. 

My Beloved, only one who has suffered greatly, one who followed closely in Your footsteps, one who walked the Way of Calvary with You, could understand through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit granted to him and write this beautiful, divinely inspired hymn to the true nature of love.

So few of us love as love demands we do. The world's way of loving is tawdry, selfish, demanding, self-serving, servile, and false. Your way of loving however raises us far above the angels - love is a choice. Love is an act of will. Love loves even when it seems impossible. All the great saints knew that no matter how exalted the work they did and the words they spoke meant nothing if it was done without love. 

It is a wake-up call to all who delight in showing up the weaknesses of others either openly or in subtle ways, Love takes no pleasure in the sins of others. Love is always ready to excuse. Love readily makes excuses for others, holds up a less exacting standard for others than for oneself. Love does not end - because genuine love is divine and all that is divine is eternal.  

Christians must mature spiritually as they age. What can be excused in children cannot be excused in those who identify themselves as Your disciples. We are all journeying towards the eternal when finally we will see face to face and will know as fully as we are known. St. Paul concludes this beautiful ode to love reminding us that these three virtues faith, hope, and love are imperishable but of the three the greatest is love. 

PSALM 33:2-5, 12, 22

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

This psalm celebrates all who belong to God, all whom God Himself has chosen to belong to Him. By virtue of our baptism, we are grafted in You. We are called by Your Name. We are Yours. No matter how difficult life gets we must always remember that time is short and that we have an eternal destiny. No matter what we are called to endure in this life we must be faithful to the end. 

All suffering, no matter how great, is but a preparation for the life to come when we shall see You face to face. We will know You as we are known by You and our joy will be so great that we will need immortal bodies for mortal bodies could not contain such joy.

Keep us in Your love, Beloved, and give us the grace to love You and each other to the end. May nothing, no matter how difficult, cause us to lose the hope we have in You rather may it serve to increase our faith. Keep us faithful to the end. Amen.  

LUKE 7:31-35

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

You lamented the hypocrisy of the people of the time and the lament continues to the present day. We live in a world that is so divided, so polarized, that neither side has the charity, the understanding, the wisdom to dialogue with the other. 

Division is the work of the devil and it appears that he is having a field day in the present world. You call all Christians to unity in You, to peace in You, to fellowship in You but the world can no longer hear the voice of Wisdom. 

Nothing pleases children - the minute they get what they demanded they lose interest in it and demand something else and when they don't get it they throw tantrums. The world it appears has not changed from the time when You described the people in that generation. There is no pleasing those who look for excuses not to believe and embrace the truth. John the Baptist was criticized for being too austere and You were criticized for mixing freely with all.  It is all too easy to put dismissive labels on people so we can ignore them. Today we are called to reflect whether we too dismiss the Truth because if we didn't then we would have to accept it, embrace it, and live it.

MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Happy is the Virgin Mary,
who, without dying,
won the palm of martyrdom
beneath the cross of the Lord.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-14, 27-31

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We Christians, are grafted to Your Body by virtue of our Baptism. Faith in You is God's gift to us. We believe in You and in Your Name and believing we are saved. But just believing is not enough our faith must be a light that invites the world's weary to come out of the darkness and live in this light whose source is You, the Light of the world.

Each one of us is called to do a specific work that God has already planned for us to do. No one else is assigned the task designed for me alone - it is a necessary work no matter how humble, no matter how insignificant I or anyone else may think it is. It is a work that must be done and will remain undone if I neglect to do it. I am called to build up Your body, Beloved. I am called to do my part faithfully failure to do so will cause the rest of the body to suffer.  

There is a hierarchy in the Church - You are its Head, next comes the Apostles and after them the rest according to the work assigned to each. We are called to obey in humility, we are called to serve. We imitate the Head who although the Son of God did not grasp equality with God but humbled Yourself. You were obedient even unto death on the cross. You came to serve and to give Yourself as a ransom for many. Instead of spending our time quibbling, and in rank disobedience let us do the work assigned to us faithfully, if not we will continue to weaken Your Body, which is Your Church. May we use the gifts we have received to build up rather than to tear down.

PSALM 100

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We are Your people, the sheep of Your flock. We have been sealed in Your Spirit and in Your Blood. We have been washed clean in the waters of baptism and we are grafted into Your Body. We belong to the family of God. This is why we ought to be a people of joy and our joy should be contagious. We are called to a life of joyful service to You and to our brothers and sisters. 

If we truly lived the beatitudes then we would have songs of praise overflowing from our hearts always no matter what the circumstances of our lives. Just the knowledge that we have been chosen from among many to belong to You, to be part of Your sheepfold, ought to fill us with a deep desire to conform to the will of the Holy Spirit. Sadly so many of us who are baptized are ignorant of You. Many have strayed far from the sheepfold and are lost. Many have wantonly and deliberately turned their back to You to follow false shepherds who are leading them to ruin and death.

Beloved, we know the treasure we have received in knowing You but that is not enough. We need to have a real burden in our hearts to work tirelessly for the salvation of souls. You are good, You are faithful, You are merciful, and You desire the salvation of the world. Help us to do our part in spreading the Good News of salvation which You wrought for the whole world on the Cross.

JOHN 19:25-27

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Has any human being ever suffered the heartrending pangs of grief that Mary, Your Mother did? Has any mother ever witnessed and endured what she did? Through it all, she remained steadfast. Her faith in God, her complete surrender to His will, and her indomitable inner strength were the fruit of her unwavering faith. From the moment of Your conception in her womb, through Your public ministry, Your horrific and inhuman passion, and death, her passionate, all-surpassing love for You kept her by Your side. Her steadfast presence, her palpable love, compassion, and sorrow as she accompanied You every step of the way, comforted You. She entered completely into Your passion in spirit and was one with You through it all. She suffered with You, every blow that struck You, struck her as well. Every fall under the weight of the heavy cross crushed her as well. Your thirst was her thirst and finally, as the lance was thrust into Your side it ran through her heart as well. 

You gave us Your Mother at the foot of the cross when You entrusted her to the beloved disciple. He took her to his home and made a place for her in his heart and in his life. In giving us Your Mother, the last of all Your gifts to us before You died, You have given us a lifelong heavenly and earthly companion, a mediatrix through whose immaculate heart and hands You delight in giving us all the graces we need, a tireless intercessor as at the Wedding in Cana. How can we thank You enough Beloved, for this most excellent of all mothers?   

Mary, our Mother, and Mother of the World, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mediatrix of all graces and co-Redemptrix with Your Son, our beloved Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ, continue to plead for us at His right hand so we may all come to that wonderful place that God, our Father has prepared for us even before He laid the foundations of the world. As the most chaste spouse of the Holy Spirit, obtain for us all the gifts and power we need to accomplish all that God desires of us until we reach our heavenly destination safely. Amen.