MEMORIAL OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, PRIEST & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your word is a lamp for my steps
and a light for my path. PS 109:105

HEBREWS 10:19-25

My Soul's Beloved,

Your pierced side and Your torn flesh threw wide open the gates of heaven. You ripped the veil from top to bottom that separated us from God, and now nothing hinders our approach to the Father. All are welcome to enter through the power of Your Blood and Your Name.

You are the supreme High Priest offering the Father the only acceptable Sacrifice for the remission of sins of the whole world. There is no other way to the Father's house except through You - the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The Way that leads to God is not for the fainthearted for it is narrow and difficult but we do not walk this way alone, we are yoked to You. You bear our burdens daily as You walk every step of the way with us.

So how do we prepare ourselves each time we come into the House of God, to offer Him a fitting sacrifice of praise,  worship, and thanksgiving. The Letter to the Hebrews instructs us that must come with sincere hearts, filled with faith, free from any trace of a bad conscience, and washed clean in the pure water of baptism.

You are the reason for our hope for Your promises are eternal, they are ratified in Your Blood and sealed in Your Spirit. May our faith in You and our confidence in Your Word prompt us to live lives that are always pleasing to You and for love of You may we love each other and seek to do good always.

You desire us to have loving fellowship with God by coming together regularly as a community in Your Name. In doing so we will receive divine help to grow in faith, hope, and love, as we encourage for each day we draw closer to the Day of Your coming in glory. 

PSALM 24:1-6

My Soul's Beloved,

Today we are reminded in the beautiful verses of this psalm that we belong to You. We are the sheep of Your flock and all we have and receive comes from You. It is You who provide for us, sustain us, strengthen us, and keep us secure.

Our whole lives must be one of striving to align our will to Yours and to be pure in thought, word, and deed only then will we climb on the wings of the eagle, to the high mountain where You dwell, to offer You the worship and praise acceptable and pleasing to You. All the things of the world are tawdry, vain, and fleeting - You alone are eternal beauty.

Thank You, for the rich blessings and graces You heap upon us from Your inexhaustible treasury of graces and mercies poured upon us in every worthy reception of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacraments. Thank You for these heavenly aids to help us as we make our pilgrim way from this life to the next.

MARK 4:21-25

My Soul's Beloved,

You are the Light of the World, and Your Word is the Lamp that lights our path. This Word of God that rested in the bosom of the Father was sent into the world in order to draw lost humanity back to God. You scatter the seed of Your Word generously and all who receive it are commanded to let its light radiate from us. 

Speaking to the crowd You pointed out the absurdity of hiding a lighted lamp under a tub or bed - it is meant to be put on a lamp-stand so we do not stumble and fall in the dark. The power of Your Word shines its light on our words and works and in its light we can see how shoddy, or unworthy they are. The Truth of Your Word is a beacon that guides the world but we can choose to walk in its light or in the dark. 

Today we are warned that anyone, who having heard Your Word and believing in it refuses to share it, will be brought to account. Every natural and spiritual gift we have received comes from the hands of a generous and loving God and will be multiplied only if they are shared. Those who are generous in sharing their gifts are promised even greater ones. Those who refuse to share the free gift of faith received at baptism and every other subsequent gift that follows it will be stripped of everything and in the end will find that they are left with nothing.

You love a cheerful, generous giver so let us resolve not to be niggardly in sharing what we have so bountifully received from You - the gifts of faith, hope, and charity.