MONDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ,
you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. COL 3:1

ACTS 19:1-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Every one who is baptized into Your Body is called to preach the Gospel by the witness of our lives no matter what our vocation may be. We have all been baptized by water and the Holy Spirit and He has given His sevenfold gifts to us all. Sadly many of us are completely ignorant of the fact that we have a veritable powerhouse of gifts within us waiting to be used. These gifts enable us to be not only a force for good in the world but a force to be reckoned with for the powers of darkness will never prevail against the children of the Most High.

When Paul discovered that a number of disciples in Ephesus had only been baptized with the baptism of John, which was a baptism of repentance, he told that that they needed the Holy Spirit to be fully incorporated in Your Body. They were surprised because they had never heard of the Him. When Paul laid hands on them the Spirit descended on them and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.

The lives of all we touch in the course of our  pilgrim journey on earth ought in turn to become disciples themselves just as Paul made disciples for You wherever he went. This is how we build and establish Your Kingdom on earth. Stay with us Lord.

PSALM 68:2-7 ©

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
My Soul's Beloved,

During this pandemic that has been the scourge of the world for almost two years and shows no sign of abating we pray this psalm with the psalmist with all the fervor of our being.

Let God arise, let his foes be scattered.
Let those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is blown away so will they be blown away;
like wax that melts before the fire,
so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God.

It is mind-boggling to note how evil thrives in these horrific times as unscrupulous people prey upon the helplessness of the suffering and the dying for profit. We are stupefied by the extent of the wickedness of our fellow human beings and we cry out to You for justice for those who have been stripped of their rights and their dignity as they spent their last moments terrified and gasping for breath.

While it is easy to lose sight of Your goodness, Your mercy, Your justice, and Your power we know without a shadow of a doubt that You O Lord are:

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow,

such is God in his holy place.
God gives the lonely a home to live in;
he leads the prisoners forth into freedom.

You are God and we can confidently place all our hope and trust in You.

JOHN 16:29-33 ©

Be brave, for I have conquered the world

His disciples said to Jesus, ‘Now you are speaking plainly and not using metaphors! Now we see that you know everything, and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them:

‘Do you believe at last?
Listen; the time will come – in fact it has come already –
when you will be scattered,
each going his own way and leaving me alone.
And yet I am not alone,
because the Father is with me.
I have told you all this
so that you may find peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but be brave: I have conquered the world.’