THURSDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE (2023)

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS


You, O Christ, are the faithful witness,
the First-born from the dead,
you have loved us and have washed away our sins with your blood. REV 1:5

ACTS 13:13-25 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The key to conversion is repentance. When we are truly sorry for our sins and resolve with the help of Your Holy Spirit to avoid the near occasion of sin You will provide all the graces we need to live holy and blameless lives.  

St. Paul and his companions preached the Good News clearly and fearlessly wherever they went among the Jews as well as Gentiles. They did not worry whether or not the message would be accepted or not, whether they would be rejected or not, impelled by the Holy Spirit they went wherever He led them and 

proclaimed the message of eternal life. 

Paul shows us how to preach effectively, we must be well acquainted with Sacred Scripture both the Old and the New. We must know the nuts and bolts of our faith and the doctrines of Holy Mother Church. We must rely totally on the grace of God and the Holy Spirit. We must focus on You and the power of the Word and allow grace to move the hearts and minds of those who hear us. The work is Yours, not ours we are only Your servants and messengers. We must live, move, and have our being in You only then O Lord will all the glory be given to You and to Your Name.

In You, O glorious descendant of David, as St. Paul reminds us, are all the promises of God fulfilled: ‘To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.”’

Thank You, Beloved Jesus, for calling us, wooing us, pursuing us, never giving up on us, saving us, and preparing a place for us in Your Kingdom. Thank You for the hope we have in You. 

PSALM 88(89):2-3,21,22,25,27 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You have put an everlasting song in our hearts and on our lips. Thank You. Even in the midst of our tears, heartache, heartbreak, and sorrow if we keep our mind on You and our gaze fixed on You we will be able to sing and laugh through our tears. You have taught us by example that there can be no crown without the cross, no laughter unless we first walk through the dark valley of tears. You are yoked to us, my Lord, if we keep this truth ever before us we shall not be crushed by the weight of our sorrows and sins. You are true to Your Name - Emmanuel, God with us, Jesus, One who saves, the Christ, the Anointed of God.

Thank You Abba Father for giving us Your Son Jesus as the Sacrament of Sacraments and Your everlasting Covenant with us. Thank You for Your faithfulness even when we are unfaithful. Thank You for never withdrawing Your love for us even when we are at our most objectionable and totally unlovable. Thank You for being our loving Brother, faithful Spouse and Friend always.

I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.

JOHN 13:16-20 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We must always be mindful of this fact, the disciple is a servant. Today's Gospel passage in the Liturgy reminds us that You washed the feet of Your disciples - a menial task reserved for the slaves of the house reminding us that in the mission that is entrusted to us, we must imitate You. 

You are God, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, and yet You left Your glory behind in perfect obedience to the Father's will. The Father and You are One and Your will is always in perfect accord with that of Your Father and the Holy Spirit. What we are taught today is that pride and ego are alien to those who are authentic disciples. 

If we keep our focus always on the other and are concerned about and seeking the good of our neighbor then we will readily do whatever is required of us with patience and humility. We will readily get down on our knees to serve, to reach out our hands to lift up, to stand beside and offer comfort and assistance, to walk beside those in need.  

What You said to the Twelve You say to us:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

no servant is greater than his master,
no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.

‘Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly.’ 

Judas the betrayer was in the room and You made it known that You were aware of his dastardly plan. Let us not be surprised that there will always be those who rebel against You. They are to be found within the Church and without. Many occupy seats of honor at the Table, let us not allow ourselves to be scandalized by them because these enemies of the Truth will be with us always. Although You have crushed the head of Satan and are triumphant over evil, sin, and death yet we have to live through the death throes of evil.

‘I tell you this now, before it happens,
so that when it does happen
you may believe that I am He.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’

Keep us who know You, who love You, who are members of Your Body, who are fed and nourished by Your Word and Your Body and Blood, and the Sacraments faithful to the end. Thank You, Lord.