THURSDAY OF WEEK TWENTY-ONE IN ORDINARY TIME - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Stay awake and stand ready,
because you do not know the hour
when the Son of Man is coming. MT 24:42, 44

1 THESSALONIANS 3:7-13 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

If only the Church and all her faithful members loved as St. Paul and his fellow workers in Your vineyard loved every member of Your Body as they loved the member of the church in Thessalonica. If we did then how beautiful and vibrant the Church would be and all who saw her would exclaim as they once did over 2000 years ago - see how they love one another.

For this to become a reality we have to keep our eyes fixed on You, O Lord, for our help comes through You, from the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. Your faithful servants must pray unceasingly with tears and sighs and groans too deep for words. Such must be our love for each other that despite our own trials and sorrows we rejoice that our brothers and sisters love God as He ought to be loved.

We make the prayer of St. Paul our own, Beloved, as we too pray for all those we encounter each day. May every living person come to know You, love You, and give their lives to You, so that not one single soul is lost, and when time shall cease we will all behold You face to face and praise You for all eternity.

May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.

PSALM 89(90):3-4,12-14,17 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

It does not matter how much time is granted to us. For some the years granted are more than others but time is relative when it comes to living in Truth and Love. The length of our days does not determine the fervor of our love and the authenticity of our faith in You. 

Fill us with Your Holy Spirit who is our Paraclete, our Helper, our Comforter, and may we give Him the freedom to assist us and provide the graces we need to always be pleasing to God.

Make us know the shortness of our life

that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever?
Show pity to your servants.

In the morning, fill us with your love;

we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us:
give success to the work of our hands.

MATTHEW 24:42-51 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Today the Gospel passage in the Liturgy warns us and alerts us to the fact that You will return at a time when we least expect it. Our lives will end - for some sooner than later. Many did not wake up this morning from their night's slumber. Many died due to sickness, or accidents, or died a violent and unexpected death. We live in a world where the tsunami of evil threatens to annihilate us all. Some godless people who presently possess great wealth and because of it have inordinate power to influence the affairs of the world and the people in it are using it for nefarious purposes. Given over to the powers of darkness they are hellbent on destroying the lives of many in order to establish the reign of the antichrist.

It is time for all Your people to, stay awake and to be vigilant. But let us not be afraid for You O Lord have conquered. You have won the victory. The reign of evil is shortlived and the Day of the Lord is at hand. May we be numbered among Your faithful and wise servants so when You arrive You will find us prepared to receive You, our Master, our Bridegroom, and our Lord and God. 

‘What sort of servant, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you solemnly, he will place him over everything he owns.’