THURSDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

With them in you and you in me,
may they be so completely one
that the world will realize that it was you who sent me,
says the Lord. JN 17:21

ACTS 22:30,23:6-11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Every one of Your promises is true, we see a perfect example of this in today's reading. You assured Your disciples that if they were hauled before the judges and rulers of the world they ought not to worry about what they will say in their defense for the words will be given to them. It will not be they who speak but the Spirit of the Father Himself who will speak through them.

When Paul was brought before the tribune he was inspired to speak precisely those words that would set his accusers against each other and would free from the clutches of both the Pharisees and the Sadducees who sought to do him harm.

Division will always cause destruction. This is why You Body O Lord, is one with You as its Head. It is the hierarchy of the Church You founded with Peter as the Rock and You as its Cornerstone that guarantees that the gates of hell will never prevail against her. She receives her life of grace from Your Holy Spirit through the Sacraments You instituted. Without these life-giving conduits of grace, the members of Your Body would wither and die.

The Church is Yours and no harm will come to her. It is You Yourself who remains with her and inspires her, who encourages her and gives her the courage to stand up to her enemies. She is the pillar and bulwark of Truth and Satan, the father of lies, and the ruler of the world is vanquished forever.

Grant us the grace we need O Lord to be Your faithful witnesses to the end.