MONDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Spirit of truth will be my witness;
and you too will be my witnesses. JN 15:26, 27

ACTS 16:11-15 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

When we listen, truly listen, God will open our hearts to the Truth and the Light of the Gospel. This was true of Lydia, a pagan, a Greek, and a rich woman - with God all things are possible. Paul was tireless in his mission - as Your disciples we are to have the same zeal that You had burning in our hearts. Paul and his companions were on fire with the love of God and the Holy Spirit. He went where he was led by God to hearts already prepared by the power of the Spirit to listen, to be moved by grace, and to believe in the Word of God, the Good News of salvation, that they preached.

Once we have accepted You and the Gospel then we too receive the same mandate that the Apostles and disciples received. We too become missionaries within our vocation in life. Like Lydia, not only our hearts but our homes and our resources must be put at the disposal of those, like Paul, the Apostles, and the disciples who are out in the mission fields toiling tirelessly to sow the good seed of the Word of God.

PSALM 149:1-6,9 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

God delights in us, His children. Our response to this delight is to have a childlike response to this divine delight. You taught us to address Your Father, the almighty and living God as Abba for in and through You, He is our Father too.  

Through the power of Your Holy Spirit who abides in us grant us the grace to rejoice always, to give thanks in all circumstances, to be bearers of Your Light in a dark and sinful world. 

Holy Spirit of God, put a new song in our hearts that praises God constantly even when we are asleep. The love of God and His faithfulness is the reason for our exultant praise of His goodness, mercy, and tender compassion that is unending. 

May our response to Your delight in us O Lord kindle a reciprocal and awe-filled delight in You and Your unfathomable love for us as well.

Grant me this grace today and every day that I live to praise and glorify Your holy Name with every breath I breathe. Amen.

JOHN 15:26-16:4 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We are living in the era of the Holy Spirit. You revealed that You will send us the Advocate from the Father and You have. We need Him in this day and age if we are to withstand the terrors, the wiles, and the murderous snares of the Enemy. These are the last days, evil is in its death throes, and he wants to destroy eternally as many souls as will fall into his trap. 

In every part of the world, there is overpowering evidence that evil has been unleashed and has enslaved many.  But we shall not fear the terrors of the night and the powers of darkness for the Advocate is given to us. He is the all-powerful Spirit of Truth who issues forth from Your Abba and ours. We will be invincible witnesses to the Gospel when we give Him full reign in our lives.

You do not molly-coddle Your disciples but reveal to us the unvarnished truth of what we are to expect from the enemies of Truth. Let us take You at Your Word and be prepared for anything and everything just as every martyr through the ages was. Let us not be surprised at the persecution of Christians around the globe and it will get a lot worse. So many believe that in eliminating Christians they are doing a holy duty for the god or gods in whom they believe. What they do not know is that 'the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians' and many will come to believe in the Gospel through their faithful witness to Your love even unto death. 

‘.... indeed the hour is coming

when anyone who kills you
will think he is doing a holy duty for God.
They will do these things
because they have never known
either the Father or myself.
But I have told you all this,
so that when the time for it comes
you may remember that I told you.’

Thank You for preparing us Beloved for when that hour arrives may we, filled with the Holy Spirit, lay down our lives gladly just as You lay down Your life for us.