TUESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

A pure heart create for me, O God,

and give me again the joy of your help. PS 50:12-4

EZEKIEL 47:1-9,12 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Today we are reminded that the deeper we enter into faith and trust no one and nothing but You and Your Word, the more we are assured of Your grace and mercy.

When we rid ourselves of the human and material crutches we have come to depend upon and learn to lean more heavily on You the more liberated we become and then we make the most exhilarating discovery that all we need is You. 

We have received all we need to navigate this perilous ocean of life in safety. The waters of Baptism have gained us admittance into the family of God. The Sacraments ensure that we are fed, nourished, strengthened, healed, and cleansed. They keep us in a state of grace so the Holy Spirit can direct, prompt, and move us along the path that leads to our final destination - eternal life. 

The Tree of Life on which You were crucified and died paid the ransom for our redemption. You established Your Temple, the Church, and from this Sanctuary flows life-giving mercy and grace streaming from Your pierced side. Through the channels of the Sacraments, the Holy Spirit causes His fruits and gifts to abound. 

PSALM 46:2-3,5-6,8-9ab ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Why are we so forgetful of Your promises, Your assurances, Your immense love for us in times of difficulty and trouble? If we only immersed ourselves in Your Word, if we only took advantage of the Sacraments, if we only gave the Holy Spirit the freedom to do what He wills with us we would live in perfect peace.

No one who experienced Your love can complain that You are distant, deaf, dumb, and indifferent. You are closer to us than our breath and our spirit. Your mighty protection keeps us safe from disaster. You carry us when we lack strength, You wipe away our tears, You help us to carry our cross, You comfort and console us when we are sad. You assure us that You are with us when the world proves too challenging for us.   

Thank You for Your Church, thank You for Your Holy Spirit, thank You for the Sacraments, and above all, thank You for revealing to us that Your Father is our Father as well. Nothing is more satisfying than knowing that I have God as my Abba who loves me as if I were His only child. 

Thank You for Your abiding Presence not only in our churches, in all our adoration chapels, but above all in the sanctuary of our body which is Your Living Temple.

Keep us faithful to the end, my Lord and my God, lest we perish.

JOHN 5:1-3,5-16 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

This disabled man who was lying beside the Sheep Pool for thirty-eight years is a perfect example of the insidious effects of sin on our body and soul. The more comfortable we become with our spiritual infirmities the less likely we are to make an effort to rid ourselves of the malaise gripping our soul. 

The waters in the pool represent the regenerating waters of the Sacrament of Baptism and the cleansing power of the graces that flow into our soul in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many take advantage of the Sacraments and receive this saving grace and power but there many more who are quite indifferent to the help readily available to all who desire it.

Even when asked by God Himself if he desired to be well, instead of saying, yes, a thousand times, yes, he whines, 
‘I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; and while I am still on the way, someone else gets there before me.’ 

You take pity on him and heal him anyway, ‘Get up, pick up your sleeping mat and walk.’ Cured instantly he picked up his mat and walked. The Jews lacked empathy all they saw was that the sabbath law was broken. When questioned he said,  

‘But the man who cured me told me, “Pick up your mat and walk.” They asked, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Pick up your mat and walk?” The man had no idea who You were since You just disappeared into the crowd.

You understood the danger to Yourself if the man knew Your identity but his soul was of greater importance to You than the safeguarding of Your life so when You next met him You cautioned him, ‘Now you are well again, be sure not to sin any more, or something worse may happen to you.’ The man revealed to the Jews that it was You who had cured him and this was added to the large number of grievances they had against You and they began to persecute You.

May we never permit fear to stop us from doing what we must.