MONDAY OF WEEK SIXTEEN IN ORDINARY TIME - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord. PS 94:8

EXODUS 14:5-18 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The entire sojourn of the people of God, Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom to the Promised Land is a journey that every Christian must make from slavery to sin to freedom and liberation when we accept You O Lord as our Savior and Redeemer.

The chains of our slavery to the flesh, the world, and Satan get stronger the more we give in to the lie that we can never be free of our proclivity to sin. This is the great lie that the father of lies tells us constantly. We believe that we are powerless against the Enemy but the truth is that the power of Your Name causes demons to flee in terror. 

But we are weak, at the first sign of danger we lose hope just like the Israelites when they saw Pharoah and his army in hot pursuit. Trembling with fear they complained to Moses that it would have been better to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to live in freedom in the wilderness. 

When fear looms terrifyingly before us, Lord, remind us that we have no need to fear the storms that assail us. We just need to stand firm on Your Word and take refuge in Your promises. All we need to do is be still, surrender to You, give have complete confidence that You will do the fighting for us for the battle belongs to You and victory is assured even before the battle has begun.

You are the New Moses who has liberated the new people of God and brought us out of slavery to sin into the freedom of the children of God. Your right hand, Your mighty arm upholds us. Does battle on our behalf as we rest in tranquility in the eternal arms of our God.

MATTHEW 12:38-42 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

All the Scriptures of the Jews were full of the marvelous signs of God's faithfulness to them as a people, as a nation set apart for God and they witnessed many of the marvelous miracles that You worked and it was not enough. It is never enough when we seek the gifts rather than the Giver of gifts. We become greedy and insatiable and we keep demanding more.  As long as we come to You in prayer with a long give me, give me, list of petitions we will never have a real encounter with You. Too caught up with our needs we become sad, anxious, fearful, and unable to exercise the free gifts of faith, hope, and love that we have received at our Baptism.

But You did promise them the greatest of all signs, The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 

Thank You, Beloved, for the hope we have of eternal life because of Your passion, death, and glorious resurrection into heaven. Grant O Lord that all may come to believe so we all may enjoy the beatific vision for all eternity.