Monday, April 24, 2023

MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. MT 4:4


ACTS 6:8-15 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Thank You for the glorious martyrdom of St. Stephen and all the martyrs who have laid down their lives testifying to the Truth. The world hates Truth because it is a constant irritant for those who prefer the lies they tell themselves and the lies they compel everyone to embrace. 

 St. Stephen and every martyr teaches us that when we allow our faith in You to be our guide we are filled with grace and power. The Holy Spirit living in us enables us to do all that You did and even greater signs just as You assured us He would.

Our world today is prepared to destroy anyone who does not kowtow to the evil, demonic, culture of our times. Division, hatred, violence, mayhem, and death are the tools of Satan and these are used by his followers. The vitriol spewed by those who hate those who are called by Your Name, and those who strive to live holy lives because they belong to You and Your Church is frightful and yet we are more than conquerors in You for You are victorious and we are victorious in You. Alleluia!!

PSALM 118(119):23-24,26-27,29-30 ©

My Soul's Beloved, 

Grant us this grace through the power of Your Holy Spirit to make the prayer of the psalmist on the Law of the Lord, which is the Law of Love, our prayer as well. Fear is the tool of the devil for he knows that he is powerless against those who walk in Your Law, abide in Your Word and whose food and drink is the Word Incarnate. Your Word O Lord is Truth, consecrate us in the Truth.

May we who are called by Your Name delight in discerning Your will and obeying it with a glad and ready heart. 

Thank You for the Holy Spirit who abides in Holy Mother Church and is constantly teaching, guiding, leading, directing, and correcting our course as we journey from this vale of tears to the Kingdom of God.  

JOHN 6:22-29 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Today's Gospel recapitulates for us the events of the previous day - You fed the five thousand, and Your disciples witnessed You walking on water - clearly indicating Your divinity and Your sovereign rule and power. 

It is the next day, the crowds want more signs, more wonders, more bread. They look for You feverishly for all the wrong reasons and not finding You they get into other boats that were there and came to Capernaum to look for You. When they find You they wanted to know how You got there from Tiberius since they had not seen You get into a boat. All they desire is to satisfy their curiosity and to get more free bread. 

Knowing their intentions You correct their way of thinking, 

‘I tell you most solemnly,
you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs
but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.
Do not work for food that cannot last,
but work for food that endures to eternal life,
the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you,
for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’

All of us who believe in You will do well to keep this warning ever before us and strive zealously for eternal things and not for what perishes. How do we do that, Beloved? We must believe in You, the One sent by God to save, redeem, and sanctify the world.

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