MEMORIAL OF ST. JEROME, PRIEST & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The kingdom of God is close at hand:
repent and believe the Good News. MK 1:15

NEHEMIAH 8:1-12 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

As we read the passage selected for the first reading in the Liturgy of the Holy Mass, we see glimpses of how the people of Israel worshipped and how the Church has been faithful in leading the people of God, born of her, in worship. 

At every celebration of the Holy Mass, the priest or the deacon reads God's word. The assembly that gathered then to worship consisted of men, women and children old enough to understand this is also the requirement in Your Church. We stand at the reading of the Holy Gospel, for it is God's word that is spoken to us and we stand up to listen in reverence to what God is saying to us.

Accordingly Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, consisting of men, women, and children old enough to understand. 

All the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

It was Ezra, the scribe and priest who read from the Book of the Law of God and after reading it we are told that he translated, interpreted what he had read, and gave the sense, so the people understood what was read. This is why we need the Magisterium, which is God's gift to the Church. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, she teaches the people of God with authority and without error. 

The Magisterium, which is the sole authority in the Church, together with the priests and deacons,  with one heart and mind instruct God's people so there is neither division nor dissension in what the faithful believe. 

We thank You for instituting the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Through the hands of Your anointed, we enter Holy Mother Church, are nourished by her, healed through her, and strengthened by her as she ministers to us until the end of our life's journey.

The people of Israel rejoiced and feasted because they were of one heart and mind having understood the meaning of what was proclaimed to them. So it is in the Church, she is inerrant in her teaching and preaching of the incarnate, eternal Word.

PSALM 19:8-11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

If the words of the psalmist in the verses chosen for our
reflection today was true of every Christian presently alive the Kingdom of God would be in our midst.

The Law of God is the Word of God which enriches the soul and gives life. It is only the childlike in heart and spirit that understand without the wisdom of God to direct our steps we would be lost.

Your Word O Lord is true - and by its light, the path we are to take is revealed. Those who walk in the light of Your Word will never walk in darkness or confusion. 

Only those who know You can tremble in ecstasy knowing that they are loved by God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and would be afraid to do anything that would displease this most ardent and tender Lover, who for some unfathomable reason loves us with a love beyond our finite imagination's grasp. 

Without Your Law of Love etched on our minds, our hearts, and our souls, our lives would be tedious, boring, tiresome, dull, bland, grey, but because we have encountered the Living Word we now understand that nothing can ever give us greater delight than obeying the Law of God who became incarnate for love's sake: 

They are more to be desired than gold,
than the purest of gold
and sweeter are they than honey,
than honey from the comb.

LUKE 10:1-12 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The witness of two carries weight. One alone will find the journey endless, grow weak, will falter, and fall by the wayside. Two side by side strengthen each other, encourage and help each other and where two or more are gathered in Your Name, You are present. 

You appointed seventy-two and sent them in pairs. You desired that they have companionship, bear each other's burden, strengthen each other, and correct each other if one was in error, and together they would vouch for each other by their testimony and their shared experiences.

You also show us how a disciple should go out on a mission. The less he carries that could weigh him down the better. We ought to be aware of the mission field, there are a large number of souls hungry for the Word of God, and there is an absolute necessity of giving it to them without watering down the truth to make it more palatable. There will be pitfalls and dangers on the way for the devil never sleeps. We must carry only that which is necessary for the mission nothing more or less. We give only that which we have received from You and from Your Church and trust the Holy Spirit to supply all we need and all that is lacking in us. 

We need not be concerned about those who reject us for in rejecting the Word the reject You and we can leave them to Your mercy and judgment. May our lives be fruitful as we help to build God's Kingdom in our midst.