DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you,
says the Lord. JN 13:34

2 CORINTHIANS 3:15-4:1,3-6 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Authentic freedom is possible when we are docile in spirit, and are prepared to set aside our human wisdom and human understanding. St. Paul exhorts us to: "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross."

Obedience to You, Beloved, is impossible if we lack humility. To be truly free is to set aside our personal freedom and submit to the will of God revealed by You, His Son. You founded the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church on Peter. The fullness of Truth is found not only in Sacred Scripture but also in Apostolic Teaching which is Sacred Tradition. We need both or else we open ourselves to division which is the work of the evil one. Union is found only when we belong to the one Body with You as its Head.

Every Christian denomination no matter how strongly they protest and how vigorously they defend their position is in the unenviable position of the Jews in St. Paul's day and to this day who read Moses with a veil over their minds. How can this veil be torn asunder Only when they turn is humility and obedience to You and are docile to the Holy Spirit.

The Church is the beacon of light set high on Mt. Zion and it is to her that all nations and all peoples shall stream in order to receive eternal life. So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.

The Church prays faithfully for our separated brothers and sisters to come home for we know that Your prayer for unity will be answered by the Father for this is His will for the Bride of the Bridegroom - that we may all be one just as You are one with Father in the Holy Spirit. Hasten this glorious day Lord and we will be invincible and we will destroy the evil culture of our world.

For it is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. It is the same God that said, ‘Let there be light shining out of darkness’, who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory on the face of Christ.

MATTHEW 5:20-26 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

To the question posed to You by the lawyer, 'Who is my neighbor?' You narrate the parable of the Good Samaritan. As Catholics and Christians we must recognize that as Your disciples, ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.’ When there is such animosity between us how can we ever hope to draw others to the truth and light of the Gospels? If it is not said of us as it was said of the early Christians, 'See how they love one another' denominations will continue to fracture more and more into splinter groups. We have to cease our uncharitable discourse when we speak to each other. We must have the humility to set aside our differences. We must submit ourselves to the will of God revealed in You and by You. We must rely on the Holy Spirit and not on our understanding of how the Holy Spirit inspires, teaches, reveals, leads, and guides all people of goodwill. 

We have only to look at our world to see how evil seems to be winning the hearts and minds of those who are without rudder or anchor and are drifting along in the current of foul-smelling, murky waters of the corrupt culture ruling the world.

Let us reconcile with each other and humbly place ourselves at the disposal of God so that the Prince of Peace can heal all our divisions and unite us in His Body, the Church. Hasten, Father, and hear the prayers of Your Son for unity so we may be one just as You Father and He are one so He, the Bridegroom can present us, His bride, to You without wrinkle or stain. If not we will face the wrath of Your justice.

‘Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.’