WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Make your home in me, as I make mine in you,
says the Lord;
whoever remains in me bears fruit in plenty. JN15:4, 5

ACTS 15:1-6 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

There are some things that are right and true and one must be
prepared to stand courageously on the side of truth despite all opposition. 

The Church has always faced down every heresy in the 2000 plus years of her existence. Old heresies in new garbs continue to rear their ugly heads but she recognizes them and strikes them down and will continue to do so. The Holy Spirit who is her guide will help her navigate safely through every web of deceit that evil spins.

The first face-off was between Christians from Judaea who taught that circumcision was necessary in order to be saved. However, Paul and Barnabas disagreed strenuously, they taught that believing in You and in the Good News was all that was required to be baptized and become Your follower. Unable to resolve the dispute they decided to go to Jerusalem and bring it before the apostles and elders - the Magisterium, and they would abide by what they decided. 

This is how the Church works to this day - the hierarchy is necessary in order to ensure that all that You taught concerning faith and morals is faithfully adhered to. No one can change doctrine - the hierarchy upholds it in the face of all opposition. Those who refuse to accept the teaching authority of the Church separate themselves from Your Body and can have no part in it. 

No matter how popular or convincing the arguments may be, no matter how much pressure is put on the Church she cannot change what You taught and she has Your personal assurance that the gates of hell will not prevail against her. We can trust the Church to shepherd Your flock safely into Your Kingdom.

PSALM 122:1-5 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

It's been over a year since we have come together to Your
House to offer the Father our thanksgiving of praise and worship in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Our churches are still closed for fear of spreading the virus as the pandemic rages all around us.

While we wait, Beloved, create in us such an immense hunger and thirst for Your Body and Blood, that once this dark, sad, and painful time has passed, we will come in great throngs to Your House. We wait with longing for the day when the great call will ring out to all Christians in the land announcing the opening of the doors of our churches everywhere and all will say to each other, with laughter, song, and joy, 'Let s go to God's house.' 

While we wait for that glorious day, may each day increase our hunger and thirst for You, and when that day finally dawns fill our hearts and our lives with the fullness of Your Presence.

JOHN 15:1-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You have hidden nothing from us. We know that we must stay close to You, we must be grafted to Your Body in order to live. It is Your life that sustains us. Those who sin willfully and gravely cut themselves from You will wither and die for apart from You we can have no life.

You have shown us how to live joyous, fruitful lives - unless love for You prompts all our words, thoughts, and deeds we cannot know true happiness. The Father has done for us what is unfathomable to angels and incomprehensible to us, His children - He gave You up to death in order that we may live. This is why He, the Vinedresser, will ruthlessly prune all who are unfruitful. 

Nothing is hidden from us - the warning is clear - those who choose to live apart from You condemn themselves. Cut off from You we live sterile, artificial, superficial lives. Life without You is cold and joyless and in the end, avails nothing but darkness and despair. On the other hand, if we choose You, if we choose to be attached to You, if we choose to be nourished by Your life-giving Body and Blood, and are guided by Your life-giving word You assure us that we may ask what we will and we shall get it. A disciple is one who bears much fruit - fruit that lasts and abounds to the glory of God, our Father.