SATURDAY OF WEEK 27 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Happy are those
who hear the word of God
and keep it. LK 11:28

JOEL  4:12-21 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Each day we are closer to judgment - every day we are nearer the end of our sojourn on earth not only individually but the entire human race. The days we live in are evil. There is no dearth of violence, mayhem, death, depravity, and black darkness in the hearts of so many who have handed themselves over to the kingdom of hell. Sanity has fled and even the leaders of nations have sold their souls to the Enemy.

Fear reigns as virulent hatred is spewed from the mouths of those who seek revenge for the evil deeds done against them. There is no wisdom in their speech only bloodshed and retribution, repaying great evil with evil.

How long will each side, while believing that they are the true followers of God, continue to commit horrific atrocities against each other while deceiving themselves that You O righteous Lord are on their side. Each believes that You, O Holy God are on their side and they are prepared to slaughter each other. But You O Lord, make Your dwelling in peace. 

God sent You into the world, His only beloved Son, born of a Virgin from a people chosen by God. They were chosen not because they were great but rather because they were the least and from them, God made a great nation. God's revelation of love to the whole world was to be through them.  

But these adversaries who are ramming their heads at each other have both rejected You out of hand. There is no victory in their war even though both believe that victory is theirs by divine right. You O Lord, the Prince of Peace are the only means by which the world can know peace. 

It is only those who acknowledge You as the Son of God to whom the Face of God will be revealed. Salvation comes from You there is no other way to come to God, O Lord, except through You.

‘Put the sickle in:

the harvest is ripe;
come and tread:
the winepress is full,
the vats are overflowing,
so great is their wickedness!’

Sun and moon grow dark,

the stars lose their brilliance.
The Lord roars from Zion,
makes his voice heard from Jerusalem;
heaven and earth tremble.

Truly, O Lord, You will be a shelter for Your people, the sheep of Your flock, the members of Your Body. Only those who believe in God's only Son will be saved for there is salvation in no other Name except Your Name, 'JESUS'. Only those who confess with their lips, believing in their hearts that You are Lord will be saved. Only those who enter with humility and in obedience through the narrow gate will discover that You dwell in fullness in the New Jerusalem, the New City of God in the Church You founded with Peter as its head and You, as its Cornerstone. 

When that day comes,

the mountains will run with new wine
and the hills flow with milk,
and all the river beds of Judah
will run with water.

PSALM 96(97):1-2,5-6,11-12 ©

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,

let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment;
his throne, justice and right.

The mountains melt like wax
before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.

Light shines forth for the just

and joy for the upright of heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord;
give glory to his holy name.

Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.

LUKE 11:27-28 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

While it is true that there is no greater, more radiant, more glorious human creature than Mother Mary, the Theotokos, the God-bearer. Her womb was the Ark of the New Covenant for it is here that the Eternal Word of God took Flesh. It was at her breasts that You were nourished. Under her watchful and tender gaze, You grew to manhood. However, the greater truth is that Mother Mary is greater still because she heard the Word of God and she obeyed it. 

Mary's whole life was 'yes' to God even when she didn't fully comprehend what her total surrender meant. Only this one thing is true, in declaring herself the handmaid of the Lord and saying, 'Let it be done to me according to your will,' she made a total act of submission to the will of God. This meant that God could make her the most sublime of all creatures. As the spouse of the Holy Spirit, she was filled with grace from the moment of her conception. There never was and there never will be a woman like the Woman whose womb bore You, the Son of God, and the breasts You were suckled at because no human being ever heard the Word of God and kept it as perfectly as she did.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’