TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the bread of life, says the Lord.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst. JN 6:35

ACTS 7:51-8:1 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Where are the people in Your Church, the Church You founded, and of which You are the Cornerstone, who will preach the Truth as Peter and Stephen did after Pentecost? What are we afraid of? Why do we cower and tremble in fear and are so easily intimidated? We are like a blade of grass that is tossed around in every direction by the wind. In Your Church alone is the fullness of Truth and the fullness of the Holy Spirit but looking at us from the outside no one would believe it. 

Where are the Peters, the Pauls, and the Stephens in the Church who will stand up unflinchingly to the bullying of the world no matter the cost? Who will wear the mantle of Stephen and preach the truth? Sadly, there is no one. The doors of churches all over the world are slammed shut to the faithful and its shepherds are behind them while the sheep are neglected and left to fend for themselves.

Unless the Church begins to infuriate the world by boldly speaking the Truth, unafraid of the consequences, and the blood of martyrs once again soaks the earth, there will be no seeds sown and no harvest.  

The heroes of the faith are spread scantily all over the world but they are not found where they ought to be. Until there is a clarion call from those on the heights to the shepherds in the fields the sheep will scatter, dwindle, and be lost. 

Send forth Your Spirit anew, O Lord, and renew the face of the Church and the world. 

PSALM 31:3-4,6,8,17,21 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

In these difficult and unusual times O Lord, You are our rock and our refuge. You alone are a mighty stronghold to whom we cling for You alone can save those who are called by Your Name. Lead and guide us until our shepherds finally arise and take up the mantle of good shepherds once again.

You will never leave us, You will not abandon those who belong to You and whose names are carved on Your hands. You have redeemed us as too great a price to stand by while those who have been entrusted with looking after Your sheep continue to carelessly disregard their duties, 'Feed my flock. Feed my sheep.' However, we place our trust in You and we rejoice and are glad of Your love that seeks, consoles, and comforts us. 

Grant that Your Face continues to shine on us O Lord and keep us safe in Your love. Hide us from the Enemy and from those who plot evil against us until the time when those You have chosen and appointed to watch over over Your flock wake up from their slumber.

The Church needs the same fire of the Holy Spirit that burned in the Apostles and their early successors to vanquish the spirit of the world. 

JOHN:30-35 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We are a post-resurrection Church. We need no sign. We ask for none for the greatest sign is already given to us - the Sign of the Cross, the power of the Resurrection, and the might and strength of the Holy Spirit. The greatest work of all - the work of our salvation and redemption has been accomplished. The Kingdom of God has come into the world and is already among us.

To the Church is given the Bread of Life and the Cup of
Salvation. We receive the true bread, the true manna from heaven given to us by the Father who sent You down from heaven to be our food and drink that wells up to eternal life in us.  

Right now, Beloved, in many parts of the world, because of the pandemic our churches have shut their doors to us and we cry in vain, 'Give us the Bread of Life that we may live.' We are hungry and we are thirsty. You have given us our food and drink but it is being withheld from us. But we believe in Your Word:

'He who comes to me will never be hungry;

he who believes in me will never thirst.’

Until those to whom You have given all authority take a stand for the faithful, You see the hunger in our hearts, You collect our tears of longing and You will nourish us spiritually and provide us with all we need for You will never forsake Your own.