TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Shake off all your sins – it is the Lord who speaks –
and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. EZK 18:31

ISAIAH 1:10,16-20 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We were created to love God in this alone is our true joy. We are fulfilled when we become what He created to be. 

You are merciful, even if our sins are as heinous as those committed by the people of Sodom and Gomorrah You will wash our souls whiter than snow. When we repent and make reparation for all our wrongdoings You will not withhold Your forgiveness.

All it takes is to resolve to sin no more, to turn our steps back to You, to begin to do good and shun evil, to make restoration for the wrongs we have done, to have a heart for the oppressed, the widow, and the orphan and You will fling wide open the treasuries of Your graces and flood our soul until it overflows with Your goodness, mercy, and love. A humble, contrite heart You will not spurn.

‘If you are willing to obey,
you shall eat the good things of the earth.
But if you persist in rebellion,
the sword shall eat you instead.’

PSALM 50:8-9,16-17,21,23 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The key to the treasuries of God's infinite grace and mercy is a heart full of thanksgiving for all He has done for us. There is no surer way to obtain from our loving Father all that is necessary to live a life of fullness and joy than to offer Him constantly a grateful heart overflowing with love, praise, and thanksgiving for His graciousness towards us. 

No sacrifice is pleasing to God if it is not offered in humility and obedience to His command and will. All we offer to the Father is only that which we first received from Him. All we have belongs to Him. The greatest of His gifts to us is You, His only, most beloved, Son. We can claim nothing except our sins. 

We cannot save ourselves. Without the acceptance of salvation granted to us through You, we cannot hope to see God. It is hard not to lose heart when we look at our world today. We seem to be sinking deeper and deeper into an evil abyss. We pay lipservice to You but our hearts are far away from You. We are living in an age where the world shows contempt for Your commandments, despises Your laws, and ignores Your Word - we are inviting God's wrath upon us.

Have mercy on us O Lord, for the sake of the remnant who seek Your Face night and day and grant us the grace to return to You once again so we can offer to the Father the Thanksgiving Sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist which alone has the power to bring about the salvation of the whole world. 

MATTHEW 23:1-12 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The moral life of every shepherd in the Church must be in perfect harmony with what they teach and preach. Their lives must be consistent with their actions. If not, then the severe warning addressed to the scribes and Pharisees is directed to them as well.

All who are in roles of leadership including parents, teachers, elders, all who have the power to influence and guide have the moral responsibility to do so in line with revealed truth. Divine teaching on faith and morals is clear and there can be no quibbling in order to blur the lines of doctrine. Truth cannot be diluted, it cannot be bent, it does not have varying shades and anyone who attempts to do so is peddling lies. 

There is another breed that is repugnant to You, the self-righteous hypocrite. The pseudo-pious, self-deprecating, moralistic prig who slyly puts down others while praising himself for being better than everyone else. 

'The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’ You have given us a perfect demonstration of what true humility looks like on the Cross. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Yours. Amen.