TUESDAY OF WEEK 8 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom
to mere children. MT 11:25

ECCLESIASTICUS 35:2-15 ©

My Soul's Beloved.

At every celebration of the Holy Mass, the priest re-presents to the Father the one, holy, and perfect Sacrifice that You offered to the Father on the Cross at Calvary in atonement for the sins of the whole world. You, the Firstborn Son of the Living God, one in being with the Father, became the Lamb of Sacrifice holy and unblemished to redeem the children of Adam and Eve. Had You not offered Yourself to God as an atoning sacrifice purchasing with Your Blood the lives of all mankind and redeeming us from the clutches of Evil, we were doomed to eternal death. 

In today's First Reading, the author offers some powerful insights on how we are to prepare ourselves even before we come for Holy Mass and the gifts we are required to offer along with Your perfect, once-for-all Sacrifice.

1. We keep the commandments
2. We make an offering of our own lives in gratitude for the life we have received.
3. We give alms as a sacrifice of praise for all that we have received.
4. We resolve to separate ourselves from this sinful and temporary world where we have no lasting home. We live in it but are not of it. 
5. We do not come empty but offer to the Lord in union with Your Sacrifice the poverty of our own lives and all that we are the good, the bad, the ugly, the downright disgusting. God desires us to give all of ourselves imperfect though we are - humbly, and with faith, and in exchange He gives us Himself.
6. Our prayers offered as one Body united with the Head make pleasing and acceptable our praise, thanksgiving, and worship to the Triune God.
7. We give generously and cheerfully all that we have even from the depths of our poverty for God loves a cheerful giver. Any offering when united with Yours O Lord, will rise up as a pleasing fragrance to the heavens before the Almighty God and be acceptable to Him.  

A virtuous man’s sacrifice is acceptable,
its memorial will not be forgotten.
Honour the Lord with generosity,
do not stint the first-fruits you bring.
Add a smiling face to all your gifts,
and be cheerful as you dedicate your tithes.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously as your means can afford;
for the Lord is a good rewarder,
he will reward you seven times over.

MARK 10:28-31 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Peter's concern about what he and the other disciples will receive for having given up all to follow You is also a concern of many. They too ask, ‘What about us? We have left everything and followed you.’ And You, O Lord, take the question very seriously responding to them as well as to everyone who gives up anything or gives up everything for You and for the Gospel: 

‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land – not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.’ But this comes with a caveat - we must be prepared to suffer persecution, imprisonment, loss of livelihood, loss of family members, ostracism, false accusations, and all manner of torture physical and mental. We must be prepared to lose everything including our lives but it is worth the Prize - which is eternal life and the beatific vision. 

My Soul's Beloved, may I never be guilty of the sin of presumption but place all my trust in Your great mercy to save me. ‘Many who are first will be last, and the last first.’