TUESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I shall ask the Father,

and he will give you another Advocate

to be with you for ever. JN 14:16

ACTS 20:17-27

My Soul’s Beloved,

We see from the very earliest times after Your Ascension into heaven the way in which the hierarchy of the Church took shape and form. The reins of command with Peter at its held ensured the smooth and orderly functioning of the life of the Church and her members. Each of the apostles was assigned a territory and under his jurisdiction and guidance the Good News was preached faithfully and without error.

It was not easy as we see from today’s reading. Paul suffered great persecution at the hands of the Jews, and other detractors but he remained faithful in preaching the Gospel and in handing down the faith without diluting the doctrines You taught Your apostles. Anyone who wishes to be Your disciple must be prepared to face trouble and persecution for the enemies of the Church are legion and they exist within and outside her gates.

The lives of Paul and the apostles teach us that in this life we will face many tribulations but through them all You and Your Spirit are with us and if we remain committed to the Truth, victory and triumph will be ours for You have overcome the world.

PSALM 68:10-11, 20-21

My Soul’s Beloved,

We are living at a time when death, darkness, sickness, and

evil envelop the whole world, even nature appears to have turned against us. Those who are in misery have had it compounded by the force of nature as it unleashed her power on disrupted lives that have already been severely disrupted. In these difficult times the psalmist teaches us to continue to hope in You. To recount all Your past blessings, and to have confidence that You are always in control.

You have the power to draw immense good from unspeakable suffering and horror and You would not have allowed what is happening in our world if it was not for the purpose of establishing something wonderfully new and needful in the present times.

You love us and You will do anything to bring us to the realization that without You we will be lost eternally. If we need to be brought to our knees and scourged You will hesitate to do it for our immortal souls depend on us waking up to the truth that we on the brink of hell.

We were created for God and we are entrusted to You. You will not abandon us but will do all in Your power to save us from our willful and perverse stupidity. We are Your people, the sheep of Your flock, may we wake up before it is too late.

JOHN 17:1-11A

My Soul’s Beloved,

In Your powerful farewell prayer to Your Father before Your arrest, torture, crucifixion, and death You remembered each one of us who belong to Your Church which would soon be formed from Your pierced side. You called it the hour of Your glory and this is the way that every martyr who in imitation of You lay down their life for You and for the Gospel, saw it. Trials, persecution, imprisonment, torture, and death for Your sake is a singular privilege and honor.

We need not worry about the Church in the present or the future for she is Your bride. You will care for her. You will provide for her. Your powerful protection surrounds her. You nurture her, strengthen her, feed her, and give her life through the graces poured upon her members in the Sacraments. The fullness of the Holy Spirit is found in her.

You prayed for us who although in the world are not of it. We have been chosen by God the Father by name and we have been entrusted to Your care. It is the Father’s will that we who believe in You will be glorified with You but until You come again, the Holy Spirit will lead us, guide us, protect us, direct us, empower us, and remain with us. Thank You, for the incomparable gift of Your Holy Spirit.