SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Lord is our judge, the Lord our lawgiver,
the Lord our king and saviour. IS 33:22

ISAIAH 30:19-21,23-26 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

God's graciousness is revealed in You, His Son, whom He sent into the world not to condemn the world but to redeem it. To visit the lost sheep, and gather them to Himself. 

Yes, for as long as we live in this valley of tears we will experience suffering, loss, sickness, pain, death, and all the ills that come with living in a fallen world but the Good News is this, God has come in the world, the Son of God has redeemed His people. This is why the prophet exults as he proclaims to all God's people through the ages, 

Weep no more. He will be gracious to you when he hears your cry; when he hears he will answer. When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering and the water of distress, he who is your teacher will hide no longer, and you will see your teacher with your own eyes.

You are Emmanuel, God with us and this is why, in a world of chaos we can take heart, as the prophet proclaims the words of encouragement and consolation.

Whether you turn to right or left, your ears will hear these words behind you, ‘This is the way, follow it.’ 

God denies nothing to His children who believe in You, have faith in You, and put all their hope in You. The day will dawn when all sorrow and pain will end. We believe, Lord, I believe Lord.

On every lofty mountain, on every high hill there will be streams and watercourses, on the day of the great slaughter when the strongholds fall. Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight and sunlight itself be seven times brighter – like the light of seven days in one – on the day the Lord dresses the wound of his people and heals the bruises his blows have left.

MATTHEW 9:35-10:1,5,6-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The saddest thing in all the world in these present days when
chaos and madness rule the world is that a vast multitude of people and nations even have rejected the One who alone can give us all that every human heart longs for - true, unending, selfless love. 

We are currently living in a world that has chosen deliberately to self-destruct and it appears that it will get its wish. But we thank God that in a world where confusion, lies, and evil seem to have won the day, the Church You founded is alive. We cling to Your promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against her. She continues to bring hope and she continues to seek and find the lost, draws them into the comfort of her bosom, nourishes them, and gives them life anew.

The Good News of the Kingdom of God continues to be proclaimed by the Church in every season and has the power to cure all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. But let us not get complacent. This is not the time for those who believe to sit back disinterestedly, we have to labor zealously in Your Vineyard. The world is hungry and thirsty for You, Lord, even though many do not know it. Give us the same sorrow You felt when You saw the crowds because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples. 

By virtue of our baptism, all the faithful have received the mandate and the authority that You gave Your disciples, ‘Go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.’