FRIDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
No one can come to the Father except through me. JN 14:6

ACTS 13:26-33 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We believe because we have received eye-witness testimony that You are indeed the Christ, the Son of the Living God. This testimony is recorded by the preaching and teaching that You entrusted to Your Apostles and disciples, and they have been faithful in handing on what they have received from one generation to the next. The Sacred Deposit of our faith is found in its fullness in the Teaching Authority of Holy Mother Church. She alone teaches without error.

The Apostles and the disciples willingly and joyfully lay down their lives rather than deny that You are the Son of God and the Son of Man and we believe because their blood is the seed of Christians. 

Grant us this grace too O Lord, in the face of the present hostility against Catholics and Christians, that we too, filled with the Holy Spirit, will gladly lay down our lives for the TRUTH.

‘We have come here to tell you the Good News. It was to our ancestors that God made the promise but it is to us, their children, that he has fulfilled it, by raising Jesus from the dead. As scripture says in the second psalm: You are my son: today I have become your father.’

PSALM 2:6-11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

While it is still today, grant us all the grace to acknowledge that You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life and there is no other route to the Father except through You. 

Fulfilling the will of God the Father, You were obedient even unto death, death on the Cross and God raised You up as the King of Kings, the Lord of Lord, the Ruler of all that is seen and unseen on earth, in the heavens, and in the underworld, 

To You is given all authority, all power, all majesty, all glory - You O Lord are the Son of the Father and Son of Mary - and we are adopted children of God because You have incorporated us into Yourself as members of Your Body.

Keep us safe in Your love, Beloved, and preserve us for eternal life with You in the Kingdom that is to come. Amen.

Now, O kings, understand,

take warning, rulers of the earth;
serve the Lord with awe
and trembling, pay him your homage.

There is no other way but the Way and all the Way to heaven O Lord is heaven as the great St. Catherine of Siena proclaimed, for You alone are the Way to the Father's house.

JOHN 14:1-6 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

I am sorry my Lord, for all the times in my life thus far that I have taken my gaze away from You and have focused on the storms that buffet me from time to time as I journey in this valley of tears. Time and time again You assure us that we need fear nothing. Over and over in the Gospels You have said, 'Be not afraid.' 'Do not be afraid.' 'Why did you doubt?' 'Fear not.' 'Do not doubt, just believe.'

And today once again You speak the same words to me that You spoke to Your disciples:

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.’

You created me to share eternal joy with You, the Father, the Holy Spirit, and all the angels and saints. From all eternity You knew me. You knit me together in my mother's womb. Your hands fashioned me. Your Spirit sustains me. The Father loves me so passionately that He lay on You the punishment of my sins which separated me from Him eternally. Because You paid the ransom that redeemed me from slavery and death I now have hope of eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

You will come for me when the days of my life on earth draw to a close and You will receive me and lead me to the place the Father has prepared for me.

Thank You, Beloved, for revealing to the world that You are the Way to the Father's House. Truth is embodied in You and if we allow Truth to be our guide in all things and for as long as we have breath in our body we will receive a share in Your divinity for You will give us new Life in You. 

‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.’