WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME - 2022

LENT 2022

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are those who,
with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their perseverance. LK 8:15

DANIEL 3:14-20,24-25,28 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Over and over again we read in the Word of God and even our own experiences confirm that we can trust You. You never fail those who are called by Your Name. 

King Nebuchadnezzar believed that his word of law and the people he ruled had to submit to his decrees but Daniel and his companions knew that there was only one God, the God they served and worshipped, and whether or not they would be killed they would not succumb to fear for life and death are in God's hands.

You come to the help of all who call on You - even if it is only a sigh or a whisper. You are a God who saves. Sometimes, Beloved, I allow my fears, my worries, to cloud my faith and trust in You. I am sorry, Lord. Once more today, I resolve to offer You all my anxieties and in return, I resolve to believe every one of Your promises. You will not fail me nor will You forsake me because I am Yours in this life and forever. 

JOHN 8:31-42 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

All that we read in today's Gospel passage is so comforting. Anyone who is Your disciple has God for their Father for we belong to You, His Son. You are the Eternal Word of God we desire to embrace Your Word and allow it to rule our every thought, word, and action. Perfect peace and serenity belong to those who are ruled by Your Word.

Your Word, O Lord, is Truth and we who are baptized into Your Body are consecrated in the Truth and are one with You just as You are one with the Father.

The world today is propagating the most hideous and evil lies that lead to violence, vile thoughts, and actions, leading to the death of the body and the death of the soul. It has rejected the Truth that is embodied in You - You alone O Lord can set the world free. You have set it free but for a brief while, the world is given up to the Enemy. Keep Your faithful remnant strong and safe in the power of the Truth.

The world, like the Jews You address in the Gospel, is unaware that they are slaves to the dictates of the flesh. Their shrill cries of freedom to live unchaste lives come at the cost of Wisdom and Truth. Shackled by lies they believe are truths they are doomed to fall headlong into the pit of eternal death.

Let us pay particular attention to Your Word to us today:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
everyone who commits sin is a slave.
Now the slave’s place in the house is not assured,
but the son’s place is assured.
So if the Son makes you free,
you will be free indeed.’

You have come into the world to save us. All who choose to walk on the side of Truth are loved by God. May we have the courage of Daniel and his companions as well as all the martyrs who have gone before us for the days are coming when we will be put to the test. In those days, grant us the grace O Lord, to remain steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and enduring in love. Amen.