TUESDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I will send you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will lead you to the complete truth. JN 16:7, 13

ACTS 16:22-34 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Thank You for today's first reading. It teaches us the power of docility, surrender, humility, and obedience to the Word of God. True freedom is the gift we receive when we allow the Holy Spirit to have complete dominion over our lives.

Every martyr, beginning with the Apostles, early disciples, and Christians through the ages to this day rejoices when they receive the privilege of sharing in Your sufferings. Paul and Silas are witnesses to this amazing grace. Envy is often the reason for the rage and hate that roils the hearts of the enemies of Truth.  We see this plainly in our own times and in every place in the world. There is no country where Christians do not suffer some form of persecution either overt or covert. Visible or hidden in subterfuge and guile.  

If, however, we like Paul and Silas remain unperturbed and joyful even in our suffering, we will witness the power of God and the power of our witness to the Good News in every instance and without exception. They were stripped, flogged with many lashes, thrown into the inner prison and their feet in the stocks and they prayed late into the night singing hymns of praise to God. When we are able to trust God in all the circumstances that we will face in our lives we are invincible for God will move the heavens and the earth to aid us.

In this instance, we are told

Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and the chains fell from all the prisoners. When the gaoler woke and saw the doors wide open he drew his sword and was about to commit suicide, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Don’t do yourself any harm; we are all here.’ 

The fruit of the power of unwavering faith in You O Lord, is visible to those who like the jailer are witnesses to it and it stirs the soul and awakens a response. The jailer cries out: ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They told him, ‘Become a believer in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your household too.’ Then they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all his family. Late as it was, he took them to wash their wounds, and was baptised then and there with all his household. Afterwards he took them home and gave them a meal, and the whole family celebrated their conversion to belief in God.

Thank You, Lord, for the power of the Gospel and the witness of the blood of martyrs that abounds to a bountiful harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God. 'The blood of martyrs is indeed the seed of Christians'.

PSALM 137(138):1-3,7-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

When sorrow, anxiety, and a lack of faith in Your unconditional, infinite, overwhelming love oppresses my soul, the confidence of the psalmist in every line lifts up my spirit and renews and increases my faith, hope, and love in Your never failing love for me.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
I will adore before your holy temple.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love,
which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered;
you increased the strength of my soul.

You stretch out your hand and save me,
your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
discard not the work of your hands.

Thank You my soul's beloved, for Your words of tender compassion and assurance of Your loving presence in my life.


JOHN 16:5-11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We are only finite, mortal, sinful, creatures who do not see the whole picture of our lives as You do. We are so easily demoralized, and overcome with doubt because we lack a robust faith, concupiscence is the lot of our fallen nature and we are prone to giving in at the first obstacle rather than having a childlike faith in the love of our Father in heaven.  

Today we learn of Your own disciples' despondency when they become aware that You are leaving them and they will no longer be able to see You, touch You, talk with and to You, and fellowship with You. This is because they lacked the divine vision - the great and necessary Gift of the Holy Spirit that would make it possible for every believer in the Gospel to be empowered just as they were when You breathed the Holy Spirit on them.

‘......it is for your own good that I am going
because unless I go,
the Advocate will not come to you;
but if I do go,
I will send him to you.
And when he comes,
he will show the world how wrong it was,
about sin,
and about who was in the right,
and about judgement:
about sin: proved by their refusal to believe in me;
about who was in the right: proved by my going to the Father and your seeing me no more;
about judgement: proved by the prince of this world being already condemned.’

Thank You for Holy Mother Church for in her dwells the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for the Holy Sacraments through them we are nourished and given all we need on our pilgrim journey from here to eternity. Thank You for the Holy Eucharist, for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and above all for the gift of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the priesthood without which we would not have any of the Sacraments. All glory and praise to You Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Savior and redeemer of the world who is espoused to Your Church, Your Bride. We long for the day of Your return when You will present her without wrinkle or stain to Your Father. Thank You, Holy Spirit for helping us to strive to be holy and perfect as our Heaven Father is holy and perfect.