MEMORIAL OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, PRIEST - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many. MK 1-45

ZECHARIAH 8:1-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Every time Your people were taken into exile they suffered greatly and each time the prophets gave them immense hope of returning home with joy, of rebuilding the Temple, and the assurance of God's enduring presence in their midst.

Today, in our age, we too are in exile, but even though our places of worship have been closed for so long we know that You have not abandoned us. You are always in our midst. Your Holy Spirit abides in us. We receive as our own the message of the prophet Zechariah. 

Never are we more aware of the diversity among nations, the differing cultures, languages, customs, and habits, the different faiths, and ways of worship but one thing is clear the world actively promotes a universal culture where God is pushed to the peripheries. Those with wealth and power exercise their authority to silence the voices of reason and wisdom. Life in our times has become expendable as governments make arbitrary decisions about which lives have value and which do not. 

In these dark days, we embrace each one of Your promises for we know that Your Word is true. Our weeping and mourning will pass, joy will be ours in the morning.

‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
Now I am going to save my people
from the countries of the East
and from the countries of the West.
I will bring them back
to live inside Jerusalem.
They shall be my people
and I will be their God
in faithfulness and integrity.’

PSALM 102:16-21,29,22-23 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We yearn from the day when all who are called by Your Name live lives worthy of their calling. We are children of God, Temples of the Holy Spirit, and members of Your Body, but our lives do not reflect our high calling.

May the days of our unfaithfulness come to an end. May the whole world recall the Father's goodness, His infinite love, and His breathtaking plan of salvation that gave us such a wonderful and gracious Savior and Redeemer. May people of every nation stream into Your House and find in the bosom of Holy Mother Church all the treasures within her that God desires to heap on His people.

LUKE 9:46-50 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Our sinful natures and the taint of original sin are constantly apparent in our broken lives. We constantly jostle each other vying for the first place, the place of prominence, the greater honors rather than follow Your example - You came to serve and to give Your life as a ransom for all.

The disciples too argued among themselves about which of them was the greatest knowing their thoughts You responded by demonstrating to them how God perceives greatness by drawing a child to Your side saying, ‘Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the least among you all, that is the one who is great.’ It is a lesson we will all be wise to learn and follow.

Another common problem among us is to hem ourselves within our own circle and look with suspicion at outsiders. We think we are superior, have a monopoly on God and that we belong to a higher category of believers. Not true You say, God bestows His graces on whoever He pleases and often does. Oftentimes He does this to let us know that He excludes no one. Your grace is at work in the whole world and in all of humanity and each time we become aware of it we must praise You for as You rightly point out if anyone is preaching, teaching, and working miracles in Your Name they will not be a threat to those who belong to You.