SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT -2O21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight,
and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.  LK 3:4, 6

ECCLESIASTICUS 48:1-4,9-12 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The prophet Elijah was fire with the Spirit of God and the power of God. Zealous for God he abhorred the evil that he saw around him and in his fervent desire to bring the people of Israel to repentance he had the power to shut the heavens and bring on a famine so God's people would repent and turn back to Him. 

Zeal in establishing God's Kingdom on earth should be the primary goal of our lives. It begins with me and with each of us who desire to see God's Kingdom in our midst. It is not enough for us to wring our hands and lament on the state of the world but to do something about it. 

I am called to personal holiness in every aspect of my life. I am called to be a living witness to the Truth of God's Word in every season. Help me, Lord, to strive constantly to do all You ask of me to help build God's Kingdom on earth. Raise new Elijahs to renew God's people and thus hasten Your coming again in glory and majesty.

The prophet Elijah arose like a fire,
his word flaring like a torch.
It was he who brought famine on the people,
and who decimated them in his zeal.

Happy shall they be who see you,
and those who have fallen asleep in love.

PSALM 80:2-3,15-16,18-19 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

O Lord, our God, our Good Shepherd and Redeemer who do
we have but You O Lord to help us. Who can provide the aid we need to strive every moment to live holy lives pleasing to the Father but You. Help us O Lord, only then can we find the will to obey His commands.

Place Your hands around us and protect us. Cover us with Your Blood and fill us with Your Spirit - without heavenly aid and protection, I am doomed to live a life filled with gloom, turmoil, and sin. Stay with me Lord, all the days of my life only then can I hope to see You face to face in eternity.

Thank You for the Church You founded on Peter the Rock. It will never be moved or shaken. Continue to strengthen Your Vicar on earth in these turbulent and difficult times so he may steer us through the storms that rage around us and bring us to safe harbor. 

May your hand be on the man you have chosen,
the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again;
give us life that we may call upon your name.

MATTHEW 17:10-13 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The three Apostles Peter, James, and John were witnesses to Your transfiguration and the saw Moses and Elijah speaking with You this is why they asked the question: ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?’ It was prophesied in Scripture by Malachi 4:5  that Elijah would come when the Messiah returned in glory - which is the Second Coming not the first when You came into the world through the virginal womb of Mary and John was the prophet whom God sent to prepare the way for Your first coming.  

You then say to these three Apostles, ‘I tell you that Elijah has come already and they did not recognize him but treated him as they pleased.' Here You referred to Your precursor John the Baptist whom Herod had just beheaded for pointing out his sin publicly and repudiating him for it and calling for him to end his illicit relationship with Herodias, his brother's wife. You then point out that You too will suffer a similar fate - death at the hands of the Jewish authorities of the day.

Every prophecy concerning the Messiah is fulfilled in You O Lord, You alone are our salvation.