WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,

to proclaim liberty to captives. LK 4:17

COLOSSIANS 1:1-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

From today's passage taken from St. Paul's letter to the Colossians for our reflection in today's Holy Mass, we learn how to accompany our brothers and sisters in You on this journey from this life to the next. We are all saints in the making as we allow ourselves day by day, little by little, from moment to moment, to be formed in Your image and likeness. The grace and peace we receive from You we must carry and share to everyone we encounter,

Another important quality that members of Your Body possess is that we pray with a real burden in our hearts for the needs of our brothers and sisters. We are one Body in You and if any of its members is sick the entire body suffers. We must bear each other's burdens with genuine compassion and desire the salvation of all. The Good News is the message of Truth and gives Life to all who accept it and walk in the Way that leads to God. 

Give me the heart of a disciple who is unafraid to speak the Truth in love - gently, kindly, with compassion and love, yet firmly. Take away my fear and timidity and give me a spirit of courage and boldness. What good is my faith if I hug it selfishly to myself and not share the great Good News that has the power to save the world? Help me, Lord, so when I stand before You I will not be ashamed.

PSALM 52:10-11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

A disciple is one who is imbued with the Holy Spirit. As the psalmist describes I am called to be alive with the life I have received from You. I must be aware that I am always in Your Presence for my soul is the dwelling place of God. I must be always filled with hope and trust no matter what difficulties or sorrows may come my way for I place all my hope in You. I must walk in faith, not by sight, when I do, evil will have no power over me. 

May my whole life be a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to You my Lord and my God. Like the psalmist, may I never fail to proclaim Your goodness and mercy every day and all day for as long as I live. 

I trust in the goodness of God forever and ever.

I will thank you forevermore;
for this is your doing.
I will proclaim that your name is good,
in the presence of your friends.

LUKE 4:38-44 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

When we encounter You and You heal us from our spiritual and physical ills we must rise up and serve You in any way that You desire us to just as Simon's mother-in-law did. With just a word You rebuked the fever and it left her. With just a word You remove all our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, You fill us with grace, courage, and strength and we are renewed in the life of the Holy Spirit to live lives that are conformed to You.

A faithful disciple is one who brings all their friends to You because You are the answer to all our ills. Your Word saves. You make us complete. You give meaning and purpose to our lives. We understand that this life is passing and we are to live even now as if we were already in heaven for we are its citizens.

A true disciple is one who has a loving relationship with You and who hungers and thirsts to spend time with You. It was an open secret among Your disciples that You often slipped away in order to spend the early hours of the day or even the entire night in prayer. Without prayer, our life will lack the fuel of the Holy Spirit so necessary to make us effective disciples on fire with Your love.

Grant us the same burden that You had to proclaim the Good News wherever and whenever an opportunity presents itself. The more we do, the easier it will get to speak the Truth in love.