31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

You have only one Father, and he is in heaven;
you have only one Teacher, the Christ! MT 23:9, 10

MALACHI 1:14-2:2,8-10 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The great tragedy in the present age we live in is that this ancient prophecy to the priests in the Old Testament is also applicable today. The sexual scandals of some of our bishops and priests over the last few decades have rocked the Church and caused many of her children to leave the faith in horror and disgust. Some of those who left were victims of this evil. 

The dire warnings of the prophet are applicable to those shepherds in the Church who continue to violate the innocence of Your little ones and are a stumbling block to Your sheep. 

.....And now, priests, this warning is for you. 

I will send the curse on you and curse your very blessing. 

You, you have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching. 

And so I in my turn have made you contemptible and vile in the eyes of the whole people in repayment for the way you have not kept to my paths but have shown partiality in your administration.

Have mercy on Your Church, Lord, Your Bride, and wash her ministers and her children clean with Your Blood and restore her. Set her high on the hill and may Your Light be resplendent in her drawing many into the loving arms of Holy Mother Church so all come to the knowledge of truth and be saved.

PSALM(131) ©

O Lord, my heart is not proud

nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great
nor marvels beyond me.

Truly I have set my soul

in silence and peace.
A weaned child on its mother’s breast,
even so is my soul.

O Israel, hope in the Lord

both now and forever.

Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:7-9,13 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The Second Reading is a shining testament of what Your Church ought to look like. St. Paul gives us a detailed description of how tenderly he and those who assisted him shepherded the flock in his charge, they cared for them like a mother caring for her children. 

Bishops and priests have many legitimate reasons for their inability to offer such visible and tender devotion to God's people entrusted to their care one of which is the scarcity of priests. Young men whom You O Lord call to serve You as priests lack the courage to answer with a resounding yes either because they lack faith in Your power to assist them or they are unwilling to conquer and overcome the wiles of the world and the desires of the flesh. 

The faithful are longing for good, holy, generous priests who are willing to lay down their lives for their sheep. Hungry and thirsty many in Your flock are spiritually undernourished and doctrinally ignorant and thus are easy prey to wolves in sheep's clothing.

Grant us O Lord a new springtime of faith, a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit, a renewed awakening of conscience before the darkness of this present age overwhelms us and we perish. 

Like a mother feeding and looking after her own children, we felt so devoted and protective towards you, and had come to love you so much, that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives as well. 

MATTHEW 23:1-12 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Today's first reading in the Sunday Liturgy focuses on the hypocrisy of the scribes and the Pharisees, the second reading shows us what a good bishop and priest in the Church who are appointed to preach and teach the Good News the teachers in the Church, bishops and priests Addressing the people You condemned the hypocrisy of the scribes and the Pharisees, they occupied the seat of Moses and while they taught correctly they failed to adhere to what they taught. 

In our own day, we have those in positions of leadership in the Church who preach with great gusto and verve but in their own ordinary dealings with ordinary, simple people they are often harsh, uncharitable, and haughty. Have mercy on us all Lord. Help us to do less finger-pointing, examine our own conscience, and endeavor to pray for and strive constantly to live holier lives in humility. Striving always to make our corner of the world a better place because we are in it. 

‘The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’