MONDAY OF WEEK TWENTY-THREE IN ORDINARY TIME - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,
says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me. JN 10:27

COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:3 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

To each is given a cross that You have specially designed and fashioned for us and You have commanded us to pick up this cross daily and follow You. This is Your will for us, this is the Way to the heavenly kingdom there is no other. All who are called by Your Name are invited to walk the narrow way that leads to life.

Suffering is necessary but it only becomes fruitful if, after asking for and receiving the grace of the Holy Spirit we carry the cross that is laid upon us and allow it to purify us, strengthen us, and conform our lives to You. 

St. Paul rejoiced in his sufferings for he understood that if the Master suffered His disciples would suffer too just as You said for the servant is not greater than the Master. Suffering is the way par excellence to obtain rich graces not only for ourselves but for those we pray for and intercede for.  When we suffer we pray with a greater burden on our hearts for we pray with empathy for those who are suffering as well.

Beloved, I need grace not to allow the cross You have laid on me to crush my spirit and steal me of Your joy and peace within me as this defeats the very purpose for which it is given to me. Rather, my Lord and my God may I follow closely after You, and with Your help and the help and prayers of those who accompany me on this journey may I receive all the help I need from day to day, from hour to hour, and from moment to moment so we can someday receive a share in eternally in Your victory and triumph over sin and death.

PSALM 61(62):6-7,9 ©

In God alone be at rest, my soul;

for my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock, my stronghold,
my fortress: I stand firm.

Take refuge in God, all you people.
Trust him at all times.
Pour out your hearts before him
for God is our refuge.

In God is my safety and glory.

LUKE 6:6-11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

There are some questions to which the answer is clear and unequivocal like the question that You addressed to the scribes and the Pharisees on a sabbath day when You went into the synagogue to teach. A man whose right hand was withered was present and You knew that the hypocrites there would object strongly to Your healing the man on the sabbath, You called the man to stand up and come out into the middle. He did so. You then asked the question, ‘I put it to you: is it against the law on the sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it?’ You then asked the man to stretch out his hand. He did so and it was restored. You did not allow the negative repercussions to deter You but You did what was right. 

Too often we are timorous in doing what we know fully well to be the right thing to do. We know the right course of action that we are to follow and yet we allow cowardice and fear to dictate our response.

We need the gifts of the Holy Spirit and we need to use them boldly if we are to bear the good fruit that we will bear if we use them to bring glory to You and to build up Your Church. Help us O Lord to never hesitate to do what is right, true, good, beautiful, and honorable always.