How happy are the poor in spirit:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. MT 5:3
2 CORINTHIANS 11:18,21-30 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
If every Catholic was like St. Paul the whole world would become Catholic. Sadly, even in the hierarchy, there are many wolves in sheep's clothing and they make us hang our head in shame.
Which of us, living in relative comfort does not face some degree of persecution from our hedonistic culture? Yet there are many places where our Christian sisters and brothers face mistreatment as a matter of course. Many countries boldly, unabashedly, and unashamedly, persecute their fellow citizens simply for being Christian. Sometimes the oppression may be more covert, more subtle but it is just as deadly and dehumanizing.
St. Paul reminds us that all suffering for Your Sake and the sake of the Gospel is meritorious. He suffered all kinds of hardships, privations, persecutions, torture, imprisonment, and even attempts on his life, yet remained unwavering in his faith. It is good for us to emulate his example and be joyful when we are faced with discrimination or denied basic rights, or face ostracism simply because of our faith in You, for You assure us that You will reward us. ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.’
PSALM 33(34):2-7 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
The psalmist reminds us why our hearts should always overflow with joyful praise and why there should always be songs of praise on our lips. We have a God who so loved us that He gave up His only, well-beloved Son so that all who believe in Him may not perish but have eternal life.
You are a God who is close to us in all the circumstances of our lives. You are close to us in our joys and closer to us in our distress. Your Name has the power to save and set us free from all the terrors and fears that plague us.
Thank You for the Sacraments, Beloved, and above all thank You for the Sacrament of Sacraments where You give us Yourself as our food and drink. Your Presence in us illumines our whole being and with You in us and us in You what have we to fear? Nothing but separation from You by our sins. Thank You, Lord, for the remedy to sin which is available to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Grant that we avail of this Sacrament frequently so we will never remain parted from You too long.
This poor man called, the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress.
MATTHEW 6:19-23 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
Too often we spend our lives gathering, heaping, storing, and saving feverishly. We tell ourselves that these things will be useful to us someday, and before we know it we come to the evening of our lives only to discover that none of it sweeten the bitter regret of precious time lost on obtaining these useless trifles.
Looking back which of us does not regret bitterly how wantonly and with no lasting merit we have squandered this most precious commodity. Too late we realize how quickly we run the course of our lives and all we have left are regret and sorrow for not spending this great gift more meritoriously.
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and woodworms destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworms destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’
Thank You, Lord, that with You who are Lord of our past, our present, and our future nothing is lost when we come back to You with all our hearts. You have the power to make us whole again, and to make us a new creation in You. You are the Light of the world and when we are reconciled to You, Your light illumines our life. Thank You, Lord, that every repentant sinner will find forgiveness and mercy in You.
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