WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - 2022

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

It is my Father’s will, says the Lord,
that whoever believes in the Son shall have eternal life,
and that I shall raise him up on the last day. JN 6:40

ACTS 8:1-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Bitter persecution has always been the lot of the Church. She is persecuted because she stands unshakeable and immoveable on matters concerning faith and morals. She is persecuted because people have false notions of what she believes and they prefer to believe the lies told about her rather than seeking the Truth she believes in.  She is persecuted because she is feared for there is divine power in her teaching and preaching as she proclaims the Good News to a sinful, sad, frightened, tired, loveless, faithless world.  

God is able to use everything for good. Through all the circumstances of our lives, He is able to work out His plan for our good. As the believers fled Jerusalem because of the terrible persecutions they carried the Good News with them wherever they went and thus the seeds of the Gospel were sown. 

There were many martyrs like Stephen and their boldness in the face of death only caused the flame of faith to burn brighter.  

The Church is filled with people like Saul who vowed to destroy her and her members but they too, having encountered You, became her most powerful witnesses to the Truth and the Good News that saves. 

Beloved, we live in a world that is hell-bent on destroying Christianity, but history proves that the greater the persecution the more powerful the witness of the blood of martyrs.   

We know Beloved, that loves overcomes hate, life overcomes death, and God in His Beloved Son has overcome the world as the Good News is proclaimed to the ends of the earth.

JOHN 6:35-40 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Every Catholic has the singular grace and privilege of eating and drinking Your Body and Blood. The Father ordained that it be so for if we did not have this Bread from Heaven we would die just as the rest of the world is dying. 

Grace abounds in the world because from the rising of the sun to its setting the Church offers to the Father a fitting Sacrifice of praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and worship as she offers to Him the once-for-all Sacrifice that takes away the sins of the world. The angels are commanded to open the treasuries of grace at the celebration of every Holy Mass wherever it takes place and this grace is poured into the hearts of all who gather together as members of Your Body to celebrate this great and incomprehensible mystery worthily. 

As long as we come together every day, everywhere, and for as long as time lasts and partake of the Bread of Life the world will have in its midst those who will never be hungry, never be thirsty, filled with every grace and blessing to be the Light of the world. The weary will find a haven in the arms of Holy Mother Church and because she lives the world has hope. Thank You, Lord, for Your assurance that the gates of hell will never prevail against her.