MONDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - 2022

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ,
you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is,
sitting at God’s right hand. COL 3:1

ACTS 19:1-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles reveals a roadmap that leads us into the Kingdom of God. Every baptized Christian is invited to live the Beatitudes with boldness and courage. A lukewarm, wishy-washy faith will not draw people into believing the power of the Gospel to save. Too often, the lives of Christians are a source of scandal within and without the Church.

In fact, there are many brothers and sisters outside the Catholic Church who live exemplary lives, know the Scriptures, and are able to teach and preach with the power of the Holy Spirit. They preach with boldness and conviction and are able to stir hearts into desiring what they possess - Your peace.

Yet, we who possess the fullness of Truth make not the slightest effort to know more about the faith we were privileged to receive as cradle Catholics. We are poorly instructed and in many cases have received no instruction at all. We go through the rituals without understanding Church doctrine and are ripe for the picking by the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Numbers alone do not constitute strength when the vast majority are unable to articulate what the Church teaches because they are clueless. How then can we defend the Church as Paul, the apostles, and the early disciples did? They knew in whom they had placed their faith and were ready to suffer all kinds of trials even death. 

This Pentecost O Lord, hear the prayers of the Church and send down Your Holy Spirit mightily upon the Church and the world. 

JOHN 16:29-33 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The Church has never compromised on the Truth and she
never will this is why her enemies are legion many of whom are like vipers in her bosom. They work ceaselessly to bring her down but will never succeed because she has Your assurance that the gates of hell will never prevail against her. They strive mightily against her but in the end, they are destroyed not her. 

You O Lord, are Head of Your Body, the Church sent into the world by the Father to accomplish His will and do His work - the salvation of the world. We are saved despite all the wiles of the Enemy whose head You crushed under Your heel.

Beloved, we are living the in the last days - it is the age of the Holy Spirit, and although it may seem that the battle is being lost more and more to the culture prevailing in the world the war is won. Victory belongs to the Lamb upon the Throne seated in glory at the right hand of the Father.

But we who are called by Your Name must continue to fight the good fight in the power of the Holy Spirit. We do so with indomitable courage because our faith sustains us. The warning You gave Your disciples is a warning to us as well. Just as You were never alone, we too are not alone for we are united with You. Nothing in this life and certainly not death has the power to separate us from You. You have warned us what to expect in the world but we will not be afraid for You, O Lord, have conquered the world.

In the world you will have trouble,

but be brave: I have conquered the world.’