MEMORIAL OF ST. BERNARD, ABBOT & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Teach me your paths, my God,
make me walk in your truth. PS 24:4, 5

RUTH 1:1,3-6,14-16,22 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Some of the choices we make have the power to shape not only the course of our lives for good or ill but affects the lives of those who come after us for generations. So it was with Ruth. Her decision to return with her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi, to Bethlehem after she was widowed and who encouraged her to return to her own people, chose to remain with her and to live with her. Her words are immortalized in sacred scripture and have provided not on the Jewish people but Christendom as well as food for reflection.

‘Do not press me to leave you and to turn back from your company, for

‘wherever you go, I will go,
wherever you live, I will live.
Your people shall be my people,
and your God, my God.’

Ruth's loyalty and her love for Naomi were rewarded and her name, although she was a foreigner and a woman, earned her a place among Your illustrious and not so illustrious ancestors. Ruth was the great-grandmother of David who would become the most celebrated King of Israel. Prophets foretold that the Messiah would be a descendant of the royal line of David.

PSALM 146:5-10 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

None of us has to muddle along and find the way to salvation by accident because the blueprint to eternal life is given to all who desire it. 

Not only have You left Your imprint in our soul so we hunger and thirst for You all our lives, but we also see You reflected in Your Word in Sacred Scripture both Old and New, as well as in creation. 

To be happy all we need is a childlike trust in You no matter what the circumstances in our lives. The good, the bad, the ugly, the horrific, the disastrous, the heartrendingly sorrowful and painful, all have the power to teach us that in all things You are with us. And if we draw close to You and rest in You, peace and tranquility will enter our soul.

You never promised Your disciples an easy life but You did promise to remain with us, to provide all the help we need, to flood us with grace through the Sacraments You instituted, to be our food and drink, to shoulder our crosses with us, and to be yoked to us so our burden will be lightened. 

Thank You for each of Your promises. The more we are familiar with Your word the easier it will be for us to draw comfort from them in times of tribulation. Suffering will come to us all but we can bear it with courage if we know Your Word and place our faith in it. 

MATTHEW 22:34-40 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Ruth loved and esteemed her mother-in-law so much that she was prepared to leave all that was familiar to her and go with Naomi and embrace her God and her people.

Love comes from God and no one is able to love if they have not first experienced Your love from those around them. Love alone has the power to save us and the world. Teach us to love as You have loved us - self-sacrificial love that gladly and willingly lays down one's life generously for the beloved.