THURSDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord;
I go, but I will come back to you,
and your hearts will be full of joy. JN14:18

ACTS 18:1-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

From all that we read about St. Paul in his missionary journeys in the Acts of the Apostles, we get a pretty clear picture of his character. He was absolutely convinced of the Truth of the Gospel and was willing to suffer any hardship, persecution, torture, and even death in order to preach it. He was like the prophet Jeremiah for the Word of God within him was an all-consuming fire and he found no rest or peace unless he was preaching and teaching the Good News.

He was no slacker and did not take the affection of his friends for granted but worked at his trade as a tentmaker and insisted on paying for his food and lodging even though his friends who revered him would have gladly offered him hospitality without any remuneration. 

Every sabbath he went to the synagogues and debated boldly with both Jews and Greeks. Unless we are familiar with what our faith teaches us we will be unable to make a clear and proper defense of the doctrines that we must uphold and believe. 

We must work with others as Paul did. He always had companions with him whether it was Barnabas and Mark, or Silas and Timothy. We need one another to lean on when we are weary, to encourage and support each other, and to help each other in the mission entrusted to us. Each has different gifts and talents and when we pool our resources together we make a more effective team.

Paul was not afraid to make enemies for the sake of the Truth. He refused to water it down to make it more palatable to the Jews who often opposed him. When the Jews rejected him he did not waste time his time with them but went to preach to the pagans instead. We must go where we are needed and where the Spirit directs us rather than waste time with those whose hearts and minds are rigid, hard, cold, and stubbornly opposed to the truth. 

God always opens a way, He leads us to the people He desires us to evangelize, He opens doors that He desires us to enter, and when we do, when we yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, He ensures that our labors bear fruit, just as Paul did. We ought never to forget that we are only the instruments of the Holy Spirit - the work of conversion of hearts is His not ours, we just do as He asks that's all that is required of us, nothing less and nothing more.

PSALM 98:1-4 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Long before the incarnation, the psalmist proclaimed that God has shown His salvation to the nations. All that occurred after the fall prepared us for Your coming. Slowly but surely and distinctly God unfolded His plan for our salvation and the whole world waited in breathless and joyous anticipation for His promises and His plans to be fulfilled. 

It was not an easy road - for we are stubborn, difficult, hard of heart, and harder of understanding but God stayed with us patiently, lovingly, tenderly, He led us along, step by painful step. We fought, struggled, were disobedient, we grumbled, and complained, we sinned greatly and had to suffer much because we hankered for the temporary ease and comfort of the flesh but God desired to give us a Kingdom.

We thank You for kings, queens, prophets, priests, and ordinary men and women in Sacred Scripture whose hearts and minds were attuned to the Holy Spirit and they encourage Your people in every age to have faith and courage. Thank You particularly for the psalms that speak to every human need and desire and which teach us that no matter what we go through we must always have a song of praise in our heart and on our lips. Praise and thanksgiving help faith to grow for we are able to keep our gaze on You and we are strengthened.

Once again, the world finds itself in the grip of fear, darkness, terror, gloom, despair, and death and it is precisely at this time that hope in You must grow stronger, faith in Your everlasting promises increase, and our love for one another help us to walk together through the valley of tears. 

We have seen Your salvation. We believe. We know You have triumphed and we are victorious in You. We are an Easter people and no power working against us will succeed.

JOHN 16:16-20 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We who are baptized and are members of Your Body,
especially those of us who are privileged to belong to the Church You founded with Peter as the Rock, and you are its Cornerstone have so much to be grateful for.

In these dark times of the pandemic, we are not cowed down, the fear of death holds no anxiety for us, our faith has increased despite the horrible, worldwide tragedy that unfolds before our very eyes. Night and day there is no respite from the terrible wasteful loss of life of young and old. Through it all we hold on to this Truth - You are God and while this pandemic is the work of human hands we know that nothing happens without Your allowing it to. You have not willed it but in Your divine wisdom, You have permitted it only because, being God, You have the power to draw greater good from it, and You will.   

We can take heart from these words You spoke to Your disciples:

‘In a short time you will no longer see me,
and then a short time later you will see me again.’

Although this was an assurance to them that You would return after Your death, they are also addressed to us in our time and in our circumstances. Our churches are closed. We are denied the very thing that gives us life, hope, and strength - Your Body and Blood in the Eucharist. So despite the short time when we are unable to approach and eat and drink at the Eucharistic table we can still make a spiritual communion and partake spiritually of Your Body and Blood. You who are God can do all things, and You never deny the hungry heart the food and drink it needs - Your Flesh and Blood.

We thank You for wonderful technology that makes it possible to celebrate with the whole world the mysteries of our faith even though it is only through social media for Your hand is not too short to provide us with all the hope and courage we need.

Thank You for Your wonderful assurance to us in these difficult times:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
you will be weeping and wailing
while the world will rejoice;
you will be sorrowful,
but your sorrow will turn to joy.’

We believe that at the time of Your choosing, You will turn our mourning into dancing, our sorrow to joy, our tears to laughter.