MONDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2021

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

GENESIS 4:1-15,25

My Soul's Beloved,

Original sin is inherited and its debilitating spiritual effects are passed on from one generation to the next. There was no remedy to rid oneself of its curse once Adam and Eve were banished from God's presence. From that moment on suffering would be the lot of humans. 

Cain killed his brother Abel because his offering was not pleasing to God. The war between good and evil is a fight to the death and often it seems that evil is winning. 

Our world is full of people like Cain angry, restless, dissatisfied, filled with violent thoughts that find expression in violent acts that bring no relief but suck those who are given to it, into a vortex of evil. What the Lord said to Cain He says to us, 'If you are ill-disposed, is not sin at the door like a crouching beast hungering for you, which you must master?’

We are accountable for the sins we commit. Every sin causes a threefold wound because it mars our relationship with You, with ourselves, and with each other. No sin is committed in isolation the sin of one disrupts the harmonious balance of all in our relationship with God and nature. 

Thank You, Father, for not giving up on us even though we deserved eternal death. Eve was given another son to comfort her for the loss of Abel and You did not destroy Cain even though he deserved to die. Thank You for loving the sinner even though sin is abhorrent in Your sight.

PSALM 50:1,8,16-17,20-21

My Soul's Beloved,

The greatest sacrifice of Thanksgiving is to offer God the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving par excellence. The one, holy, and perfect Sacrifice offered at Calvary is made present before the Father at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist from the rising of the sun to its setting, making reparation for our sins and the sins of the world. Were it not so, the weight of our iniquities would have long since caused the world to implode. 

How casually we receive this Gift of Gifts, how disinterested most Catholics are in going to Mass, and so many go out of habit, compulsion. The sheer ignorance of the truth and beauty of this priceless Sacrifice is the reason why many don't approach this Fountainhead of God's grace and mercy. 

It is heartbreaking to see so many who treat the Eucharist so carelessly and cavalierly. May God have mercy on us.  

The world is in shambles as our increased self-absorption causes us to turn on each other like rabid wolves. There is no kindness in our discourse in the things that divide us. We lack the skills to argue intelligently on differing opinions and ideas. There is neither respect nor reverence and the tenor of name-calling on each side is noxious. We call ourselves Catholics and Christians but our hearts are as just as far from You as Cain's was to You and to his brother.

‘You who sit and malign your brother
and slander your own mother’s son.
You do this, and should I keep silence?
Do you think that I am like you?’

Grant us wisdom, O Lord, before it is too late.

MARK 8:11-13

My Soul's Beloved,

The Pharisees of this world are alive and well and their tribe is increasing alarmingly. They demand signs from heaven and question Your Presence and Your power because You do not show Yourself in the way they dictate You should.

All clamor for signs, people of no faith at all as well as people of faith. To each, You say as You said to the Pharisees with a sigh, ‘Why does this generation demand a sign? I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.’ 

The truth is that the greatest sign of all has been given to us, the Sign of Calvary, the Sign of the Cross, the Sign of our Liberation from sin and death. But we prefer ignorance to revealed truth. How pathetic we are - having received the greatest Sign of all we continue to whine childishly for more. Nothing will convince us if we are not convinced yet, except when it is too late and You return in glory and majesty, not as the Messiah but as the Just Judge.