5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
Whoever remains in me bears fruit in plenty. JN 15: 4, 5

ACTS 9:26-31 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Often times we misjudge people holding them prisoner to our past knowledge of them even though they are no longer who they once were. So it is with Saul who has encountered You and become a new creation in You. To be fair, in the not-so-distant past, Saul had tormented and persecuted the Christians with fanatical fervor so naturally they were still afraid of him. But Barnabas vouched for Saul passionately. Once Baranabs revealed how You made Yourself known to Saul and that since then he had been preaching the Gospel boldly in Damascus, they welcomed him.  

Saul now began to preach fearlessly in Jerusalem as well. The same person who had requested a letter of authority from the chief priest to go to Damascus to seek and take prisoner men and women who were Christians had now become one. It is no wonder that the Jewish authorities now sought to put him to death.

Saul was an all-or-nothing person, he did nothing by halves, the Church would look so different if we were like him, and Barnabas and the early Christians. Sadly we profess a wishy-washy faith, the happy clappy let's all get along, namby pamby kind of Christianity that does not produce martyrs nor does it attract new disciples to the faith. 

But there is a new breed of Christian disciples being born now. They may be few but they are making a difference. There are a handful of bishops, priests, as well as lay men and women who, like Paul, the Apostles, and early Christians are passionate about their faith and their love for You who are Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. They are out there casting their nets into the deep. Thank You, Lord, for Your assurance that You will remain with Your Bride, the Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against her.

PSALM 21(22):26-28,30-32 ©

My vows I will pay before those who fear him.
The poor shall eat and shall have their fill.
They shall praise the Lord, those who seek him.
May their hearts live for ever and ever!

All the earth shall remember and return to the Lord,
all families of the nations worship before him;
They shall worship him, all the mighty of the earth;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust.

And my soul shall live for him, my children serve him.
They shall tell of the Lord to generations yet to come,
declare his faithfulness to peoples yet unborn:
‘These things the Lord has done.’

You, Lord, are my praise in the great assembly.

1 JOHN 3:18-24 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Love is not love if it is not revealed in action. Anyone can talk the talk but not many walk the walk. Our conscience can be unreliable, especially if it is an ill-formed one this is why St. John says that our conscience can accuse us wrongly and disturb our peace. However, if we let Truth be our guide then the Holy Spirit will lead us to all Truth.

You have not left Your children orphans but You have given us the Church and she safe-guards all the doctrines entrusted to her and passes them on faithfully to all her children in every generation. The most important of all God's promises is this, if we keep His commandments we are truly His children.

His commandments are these:

that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ
and that we love one another
as he told us to.
Whoever keeps his commandments
lives in God and God lives in him.
We know that he lives in us
by the Spirit that he has given us.

SATURDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

If you make my word your home
you will indeed be my disciples,
and you will learn the truth, says the Lord. JN 8:31-32

ACTS 13:44-52 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

To this day my Lord, there are Christians who, knowing nothing about the doctrines of Holy Mother Church, use blasphemies when speaking about the Holy Eucharist, our Beloved Mother Mary, and the saints, and our veneration and deep devotion and love for Your Mother and ours, and our brothers and sisters the saints, who have gone before us.

Jealousy and envy are deadly - they make us crazed and blind. When we reject the Truth for whatever reason we become agents of evil as is evident in our world today. When faced with the hostility of those who arraign themselves against us let us, like Paul and Barnabas, boldly proclaim the Gospel. Those who reject it do so at their own peril.

In our own country, we witness the ugliness and violence that divisiveness brings. They are unable to see that they are mere puppets to carry out the evil agenda and dirty work of those who are in power.

Thank You, Lord, for the many Christians, who love truth and are examining their faulty beliefs and coming home to the Church. Bless them abundantly Lord and grant them all the graces they need to persevere and grow in truth and love.

Keep us docile to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and be led by Him and all our labor in Your vineyard will bear fruit.

PSALM 97(98):1-4 ©

Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
ring out your joy.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

JOHN 14:7-14 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Your frustration with Philip is palpable as we see from Your conversation with him. The disciples, especially the Twelve, have been with You for three years they were witnesses to all Your mighty miracles that clearly confirmed that You were the Son of God, and yet when You told them that seeing and knowing You they also see and know the Father, Philip says:

‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’

‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him, ‘and you still do not know me?
‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father,
so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”?

How can I dare to fault them, Lord, when I am no better than they? I know You. I am a cradle Catholic and I have been a practicing Catholic all my life and yet I allow life, suffering, loss, grief to weigh me down. A disciple must carry the cross that God lays on him daily and follow You. I whine, I complain, I feel discouraged, I ask for a different cross than the one given to me. 

You give us this wonderful assurance Beloved, that if we believe that You are in the Father and the Father is in You then not only will we do even greater works than those done by You, we can ask for anything in Your Name and You will do it.

I tell you most solemnly,
whoever believes in me
will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask for anything in my name,
I will do it.’

But I O Lord, am a person of little faith and this is why my life thus far has been so ineffective. My prayer this day is, "Lord, increase my faith. I believe, help my unbelief. Amen.

FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
No one can come to the Father except through me. JN 14:6

ACTS 13:26-33 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

All who saw You after Your glorious resurrection from the dead became Your witnesses. When the persecution of Christians caused them to flee from Jerusalem they carried the Good News with them and proclaimed the Gospel wherever they went. We are not citizens of the world but exiles. Our true home is with You in the Kingdom of God. We are children of God because You entered into our death and have raised us up in Your life making us a new creation in Baptism.

Beloved, You came into the world to die so we can live. Everything that happens to us in this life prepares us for our true homeland. In this world, we will suffer many tribulations but ask us to be of good cheer for You have overcome the world. You have robbed death of its sting. You have crushed the head of Satan. You O Lord have won the victory. The devil is a liar and has been so from the start - grant us this grace O Lord, to shut our ears to his lies and to fill our ears with the Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of Your Word. Like Paul and the rest of the Apostles, and disciples let us not allow the world to crush us rather let us rejoice when we are persecuted because we are called by Your Name for it is a Name that saves.

PSALM 2:6-11 ©

‘It is I who have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.’
I will announce the decree of the Lord:
The Lord said to me: ‘You are my Son.
It is I who have begotten you this day.

‘Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations,
put the ends of the earth in your possession.
With a rod of iron you will break them,
shatter them like a potter’s jar.’

Now, O kings, understand,
take warning, rulers of the earth;
serve the Lord with awe
and trembling, pay him your homage.

You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.

JOHN 14:1-6 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

I am Your disciple, I am a child of God, I am co-heir with You to the Kingdom of God. You have prepared a place for Me when the foundations of the world were laid and my name is written in heaven.

Today, my Lord and my God, I desire to receive this word and take it to heart as Your disciple, as one called by Your Name. I desire to have this word engraved on my heart and in every cell of my body: 

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.
There are many rooms in my Father’s house;
if there were not, I should have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you,
and after I have gone and prepared you a place,
I shall return to take you with me;
so that where I am
you may be too.
You know the way to the place where I am going.’

Thomas said they did not know where You were going so how could they know the way to You. 

What You said to him You say to the Church and to the world:

‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.’

God is our Father, You O Lord are our Brother, Savior, Spouse, Friend, and the Holy Spirit is the Helper, the Paraclete, the Comforter, the Guide who is given to us to help us navigate safely through the troubled waters and bring us to harbor there to remain with You, the Father and the Spirit forever.

ST. MARK EVANGELIST - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

We are preaching a crucified Christ,
who is the power and the wisdom of God. 1 COR 1: 23-24

1 PETER 5:5-14 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We sin because we lack humility. We are proud and self-willed demanding to be served rather than to serve and spend our lives in service to others. We are disobedient to Your call to service and we ignore the fact that we are not greater than the Master who came to serve and to give Your life as a ransom for many.

Nothing is more abhorrent in the sight of God than the proud, those full of vain glory, those who trumpet their good works before them. Those who serve to be seen and to be praised by people. It is the little ones, the ones who live lives hidden in You, going about their lives and doing all that needs to be done in secret, lovingly, humbly glad only to spend their lives for those who are dependent on them. Those who lean on You and trust You to supply all they need and are content in being of service to others are the ones whom You fill with grace and peace. 

True joy, the kind of joy that the world cannot take away comes from knowing that we are doing what we must do Your will without complaining, without being resentful. The evangelist reminds us that the devil never sleeps, the moment we let our guard down he strikes. Through the day, Lord, keep us aware of Your Presence in us and around us. May we lean on You and make all our worries and troubles known to You trusting that You will supply all we need, always. Let us flee from temptation and never engage with Satan but turn resolutely away from him and run to You and Your Mother - our refuge and our hope. 

Thank You for the Sacraments You instituted, Beloved, may we frequent the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist so we may always be filled with the strength that comes from Your Holy Spirit. May our lives be a powerful witness to the Gospel, the Good News that saves as we shine Your light on a world that is growing increasingly dark and ugly.

PSALM 88(89):2-3,6-7,16-17 ©

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,
that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

The heavens proclaim your wonders, O Lord;
the assembly of your holy ones proclaims your truth.
For who in the skies can compare with the Lord
or who is like the Lord among the sons of God?

Happy the people who acclaim such a king,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name,
who make your justice the source of their bliss.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

MARK 16:15-20 ©

My soul’s beloved, this is what You did as well when You walked on earth as a Man. You confirmed the message with signs and this is what You assure us too. But are we bold enough to take You at Your Word? My own faith is a poor, small, weak thing and needs to be propped up constantly by Your promises of love for me and Your faithfulness to all Your promises. Morning after morning You speak to me and tell me how much You love and care for me and yet at the first sign of difficulty I become troubled.

Grant me a robust faith Lord. A faith that takes You at Your Word and steps out boldly to speak in Your Name and to proclaim the Good News. What good does it do to anyone if I hide it under a bushel – my faith like a light must be held aloft so all who see by its light will come to believe that You are the Son of God who takes away the sins of the world as the Lamb of Sacrifice.

Grant me the courage to take You at Your Word confident that as You have said so it will be.

WEDNESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
anyone who follows me will have the light of life. JN 8:12

ACTS 12:24-13:5 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The Gospel has power to recreate the world and all that is in it beginning with us, making us children of God and heirs with You to the Kingdom. 

We see from the Acts of the Apostle that with the aid of the Holy Spirit and with our will conformed to Yours the Kingdom of God descends among His children, those who believe in Him and believe that He sent You into the world not to condemn it but to redeem it.

The Apostles chose from among the first believers men on fire with the love of God and the Holy Spirit and zealous for souls. The early Church did nothing without prayer, and fasting, and listening to the Holy Spirit, and being led by Him,  this is why they were able to do all the things that You did, but even greater things, just as You assured them they would. People from all walks of life joined the number of believers and the Church began to grow and flourish. She chose, anointed, appointed, and sent Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul as prophets and teachers. 

If we desire to work in Your vineyard we must first discern God's will by much prayer and fasting. We must be attentive and submissive to the Holy Spirit, trusting You to make provision for all our needs just as the early Church did. We too are entrusted with the same mission as the first disciples to go out into the world and set it ablaze with the fire of divine love. 

PSALM 66(67):2-3,5-6,8 ©

O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.

Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

TUESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

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

ACTS 11:19-26 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Often we are discouraged when faced with difficulties, when things don't turn out the way we had hoped and planned but when we trust You we can be certain that You can and will bring good out of the most unfavorable circumstances of our lives. Persecution of the early Church forced the disciples to flee Jerusalem but they carried the Good News with them and they preached it wherever they went first to the Jews and then boldly even to Gentiles.

What seemed like a tragedy and defeat was in fact a victory for in fleeing the persecution it was possible to carry out the mission You entrusted to Your followers to the ends of the earth. When we do as You command, when we obey Your Word, when we do You will in all things, even though it may seem that nothing has changed, the truth is that everything changes when we submit humbly to the will and plan of God.

No one can stop what God has ordained not men, not the world, and not the devil. Let this encourage us Lord. When facing discrimination, and persecution, when people make false accusations against Your people and Your Church let us not lose heart for through it all the Holy Spirit is at work to fulfill the will of God and the plan of God. 

PSALM 86(87) ©

On the holy mountain is his city
cherished by the Lord.
The Lord prefers the gates of Zion
to all Jacob’s dwellings.
Of you are told glorious things,
O city of God!

‘Babylon and Egypt I will count
among those who know me;
Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia,
these will be her children
and Zion shall be called “Mother”
for all shall be her children.’

It is he, the Lord Most High,
who gives each his place.
In his register of peoples he writes:
‘These are her children,’
and while they dance they will sing:
‘In you all find their home.’

O praise the Lord, all you nations!

JOHN 10:22-30 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

There are many O Lord like the Jews who gathered around You while You were walking in the Portico of Solomon who even after having heard You preach and teach and witnessed many miracles still demanded: ‘How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ To this day many who have heard the Gospel and have heard of amazing testimonies of those who witness to the power of Your Name and Your Word, refuse to believe, if they did they would have to change their lives, follow You, and become disciples. But they are too attached to the things of the world, the desires of the flesh, and are readily deceived by the lies of the Enemy.

All that the Father has to say to the world He has said through Your incarnation, life, passion, death, resurrection, and glorious resurrection into Heaven. There is nothing more to say. It is now up to us to decide whether or not we will take God at His Word and believe. Thank You, Lord, for Your assurance that no one can steal what is Yours. Having been baptized into Your Body, and sealed in the Holy Spirit. One with You we are also one with the Father and no one can snatch what belongs to You. We rest in peace in Your love.

‘I have told you, but you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness;
but you do not believe,
because you are no sheep of mine.
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;
I know them and they follow me.
I give them eternal life;
they will never be lost
and no one will ever steal them from me.
The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,
and no one can steal from the Father.
The Father and I are one.’

4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

https://whomshallisend.blogspot.com/2018/04/acts-48-12-psalm-118-1-8-9-21-23-26-28.html

SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;
you have the message of eternal life. JN 6:63, 68

ACTS 9:31-42 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

There are seasons in the Church of growth, persecution, trials, and suffering inflicted on her from her own within the Church and without. After a period of tribulation, the churches throughout Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace and they grew not just in numbers but in grace, and love, and were filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit. 

Peter, the head of the Church, spent himself tirelessly going from one place to another to teach, preach, heal, encourage, and build and strengthen the new people of God. Just as You had assured the Apostles they were doing all that You did and great miracles of healing took place through the power of Your Name. Aeneas was healed, Tabitha was raised to life, and people believed and were converted. 

In our age, Lord, while the world seems to be in the grip of evil, while hedonism and ignorance of all that is true, good, and beautiful abound, the Holy Spirit is at work silently, powerfully, and uninterruptedly. Many are encountering You through the tireless efforts of many lay disciples zealously in love with You and on fire with the Holy Spirit as well as bishops, priests, and religious who are setting the world ablaze with the Good News that saves.

The Church, Your Bride, will continue to thrive, to grow, and to flourish even during the times of the worst persecutions she will have to endure because her life comes from You and You have assured her that the gates of hell will never prevail against her.

PSALM 115(116):12-17 ©

How can I repay the Lord
for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise;
I will call on the Lord’s name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfil
before all his people.
O precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithful.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;
you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;
I will call on the Lord’s name.

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?

JOHN 6:60-69 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

To this day and until Wisdom and Truth open the hearts and minds of those who refuse to believe that You did mean that we are to literally eat Your Flesh and drink Your Blood there will be many who will echo the words of those who first heard this doctrine and found it too hard to accept. 

After hearing his doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, ‘This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?’ 

You knew that they would find this truth had to accept even disgusting because they were Jews and eating raw flesh and drinking blood was forbidden by the Law. Your disciples and the crowd began to complain but You did not back down, You did not water down the doctrine, You did not tell them that You were speaking metaphorically.  Instead, You said, 

‘Does this upset you? What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?

‘It is the spirit that gives life,
the flesh has nothing to offer.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit
and they are life.
‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ 

Many to this day are fair-weather friends, as long as all is going their way they are full of fervor but let the cross be laid on them and they lose heart and faith. Those who persevere do so because it is the Father's will that they persevere. Many disciples left You after Your teaching on the Eucharist and turning to Your Apostles You said, 

‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ 

And this was Simon Peter's response and the successors of St. Peter reiterate what he said and will do so until You return:

‘Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.’

Thank You, Lord, for instituting the Holy Eucharist for without this super essential Bread we would have no life in us. 

FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives in me, and I live in him,
says the Lord. JN 6:56

ACTS 9:1-20 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

No sinner is beyond redemption. There is nothing that God cannot do. Saul had a fanatical hatred of Christians and made it his personal mission to seek and arrest all Your followers. We read: 

Saul was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord’s disciples. He had gone to the high priest and asked for letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, that would authorize him to arrest and take to Jerusalem any followers of the Way, men or women, that he could find.

Lord, You choose who You will to carry out Your mission for what seems impossible for men is possible for God. Paul had almost reached his destination when he was surrounded by a light from heaven. He fell to the ground and heard You say,  

‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ he asked, and the voice answered, ‘I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. Get up now and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.’ 

That's all it took Lord. You knocked him to the ground, You spoke, You identified Yourself as Jesus, the One whom Saul was persecuting. Here was a once proud man, humbled in God's presence. All his knowledge of the past only served to blind him before He was given a new understanding. He who led the group to Damascus now had to be taken by the hand and led. God can do nothing with the proud, the boastful, and the haughty, but He can do everything with the meek and humble heart. 

For three days he was without his sight, reminiscent of the three days when You were buried in the tomb. Saul would soon be resurrected as Paul. You would make him a new creation through the power of Your resurrection. During these three days, he fasted from food and drink and pondered deeply on what he had experienced. 

Ananias had a vision from You and was told to go and see Saul whose infamous reputation had preceded him. Naturally, he was alarmed and said, ‘Lord, several people have told me about this man and all the harm he has been doing to your saints in Jerusalem. He has only come here because he holds a warrant from the chief priests to arrest everybody who invokes your name.’ 

Before Saul knew of Your plans for him, You revealed them to Ananias. He was told to set aside his prejudices and his worries and do as he was asked,  ‘You must go all the same, because this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before pagans and pagan kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he himself must suffer for my name.’ And Ananias did as he was told.

Saul was also told in a vision to expect Ananias. Entering the house he greeted him, laid his hands on him, and said, ‘Brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately it was as though scales fell away from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. So he was baptized there and then, and after taking some food he regained his strength. From then on Saul began preaching in the synagogues, ‘Jesus is the Son of God.’

All it took was one encounter, Lord. We who are cradle Catholics encounter You daily at Holy Mass, in the Holy Eucharist, in Adoration Chapels, each time we pray and yet we lack the zeal of Saul and so many converts to the faith. Have mercy on us O Lord and renew us with the fire of Your love and the Holy Spirit so our whole lives proclaims unequivocally, 'Jesus is the Son of God.'

PSALM 116(117) ©

O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples!

Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful for ever.

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.

JOHN 6:52-59 ©

My Beloved Jesus,

How have we become so apathetic concerning Your Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist? How long did it take to grow in the initial fervor of the Apostle, disciples, early Christians, and Christians through the ages to the lukewarm, indifferent Christians of the present age? For over 1500 years we took You at Your Word and believed that Your Flesh was real food and Your Blood real drink. We believed that if we did not eat the flesh and blood of the Son of Man we would not have the life of the Holy Spirit in us and we would die. 

The time that St. Paul warned about is here: For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.

Take pity on us O Lord. In Your tender mercy and compassion raise up anew men and women in the Church who will bring Your people back to the knowledge of the Truth. The Church is dying because her members are dying and falling away from the Vine and unless we return to the Sacraments O Lord Your Bride will continue to grow weak and ineffectual in the Church and in the world. 

‘He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives in me
and I live in him.
As I, who am sent by the living Father,
myself draw life from the Father,
so whoever eats me will draw life from me.
This is the bread come down from heaven;
not like the bread our ancestors ate:
they are dead,
but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the living bread which has come down from heaven,
says the Lord.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. JN 6:51

ACTS 8:26-40 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The Spirit of the Lord was with Philip so mightily that he performed great miracles just as You had promised the Apostles and disciples - Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. This is so evident in the early Church. From this passage, Lord, we know that God knows all things, God's hand is present in every aspect of our lives. God had already prepared the eunuch's heart to receive the grace of faith and baptism. Philip was wholly surrendered to the work of spreading the Good News and God used him mightily in this mission. Philip was available and he was ready to do all that God asked of him and because of this not only was the eunuch baptized but he in turn became a missionary and carried the Good News of salvation to Ethiopia.

To anyone who says that one only needs the Bible and the Holy Spirit to understand the Word of God, here is a powerful refutation of such a notion. The eunuch could make no sense of the passage that he was reading from the prophet Isaiah and when Philip questioned asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I unless I have someone to guide me?’ Anyone who thinks they can interpret God's Word without the aid of the Church is mistaken. She has Your assurance that she will teach inerrant truth because the Holy Spirit dwells in her in fullness.  For over 2000 years the Church has handed down everything You said and did in the writing of Sacred Scripture and through Oral Tradition. Both are necessary if we are to understand God and the work of God in the Church and in the world. 

Hubris causes many to believe that they rather than the Church together with the Holy Spirit can interpret His Word better than His Spirit and His Bride. Pride, ignorance, and a bullheaded determination to even consider that they could be utterly wrong are responsible for the continued fragmentation of the various protestant denominations. The work of Satan is to divide and rule, the work of the Holy Spirit is the perfect union between Christ, the Head of the Church, and His Body.

Philip was instrumental in introducing the eunuch to a deeper and fuller understanding of the Word of God which brought him to faith in You and a desire for baptism. 

‘Look, there is some water here; is there anything to stop me being baptised?’ He ordered the chariot to stop, then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and Philip baptised him. But after they had come up out of the water again Philip was taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Philip found that he had reached Azotus and continued his journey proclaiming the Good News in every town as far as Caesarea.

All of us O Lord, who are members of Your Body, the Church, are given the same mission as Philip grant us the same passion to make the Good News known and a sensitivity to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. 

https://whomshallisend.blogspot.com/2018/04/acts-826-40-psalm-668-9-16-17-20-john.html

WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

It is my Father’s will, says the Lord,
that whoever believes in the Son shall have eternal life,
and that I shall raise him up on the last day. JN 6:40

ACTS 8:1-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

When we are persecuted or when we hear of Christians in certain countries who are singled out to be mistreated, persecuted, or worse we become alarmed and angry especially when the rest of the world is silent. What we fail to understand is that it is through the suffering and the persecution that infinite grace is at work and conversions take place. Tertullian was right when he said, 'The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.' Beginning with the shedding of Your Blood O Lord, the disciples, Apostles, and Christians who were martyred through the 2000-year history of the Church and died for Your Sake and the Gospel has only resulted in the increase of believers. Such is the power of the witness of those who lay down their lives in perfect peace and joy for they know in whom they have believed and placed all their hope and trust.

The greatest conversion of all is the conversion of Saul. We read in the words of St. Luke, that Saul who witnessed the stoning of Stephen and approved his murder was the most passionate opponent of the Church and its followers. With single-minded fanatical fervor, he sought the total destruction of the Church. So great was his hatred of Christians that he was determined to go from house to house and arrest men and women and imprison them. 

But there is no power greater than that of the Holy Spirit. And the Way the Spirit operates is by disarming through love. The disciples were scattered as they fled the persecution and they carried the Gospel, the Good News of our salvation with them and they preached and lived it wherever they went.  Rather than stamping out Christianity, the fire of the Holy Spirit was being kindled wherever the Gospel was preached.

Signs and wonders accompanied the preaching of the Gospel. Particular mention is made of Philip who went to a Samaritan town and we read: 

The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured. As a result, there was great rejoicing in that town.

We are now entering an age of renewed persecution of the Church may we not cower in fear but continue boldly and unafraid to proclaim the Gospel even if it means death for the Church You founded is invincible - it is Your Body and will live forever.

PSALM 65(66):1-7 ©

Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise.
Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds!

Because of the greatness of your strength
your enemies cringe before you.
Before you all the earth shall bow;
shall sing to you, sing to your name!’

Come and see the works of God,
tremendous his deeds among men.
He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the river dry-shod.

Let our joy then be in him;
he rules for ever by his might.
His eyes keep watch over the nations:
let rebels not rise against him.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

JOHN 6:35-40 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

When we are tempted to think that perhaps if we lived during the time of Your public ministry we would have a greater, stronger faith we must recall Your words to the crowd: 

But, as I have told you,

you can see me and still you do not believe.

There is no guarantee, Lord, that this would be so with us. I believe that we are living in a much more favorable time when we can see the whole of salvation history and we have a panoramic view of the whole picture. Faith in any case is Your gift to us, especially those of us who are cradle Catholics.

We believe in the Holy Eucharist, we believe You are the Bread of Life. We believe that eating this Bread we receive eternal life. We believe that our faith in You, by the power of the Holy Spirit, has created a well of living fountain within us and we will never be thirsty again for we, O Lord, have You for our food and drink.

Thank You for Your assurance that the Father has entrusted all things to You and having done so, anyone who comes to You and believes that You came from heaven not to do Your will but the will of Your Father receives a share in Your resurrection and will be raised up on the last day. 

Yes, it is my Father’s will
that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life,
and that I shall raise him up on the last day.’

TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the bread of life, says the Lord.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst. JN 6:35

ACTS 7:51-8:1 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The martyrdom of Stephen took place over 2000 years ago and Luke has given us a detailed account of all that happened so vividly. Those who refuse to be touched by grace are the ones who resist the Holy Spirit. The elders and scribes are practically frothing at the mouth when Stephen calls them stubborn people with pagan hearts and ears.  The truth about ourselves is almost always unpalatable especially when we are proud, haughty, and self-righteous. Good, holy, saintly people are anathema to those who refuse to submit to God and embrace His will with childlike docility. Our hearts were created by God and this is why whether we know the true God or not there is a longing in our hearts for Him but we can stifle our desire for You, Lord, by giving into the passing distractions that the world offers. We can choose to embrace a spirituality that does not make any real demands of us. A spirituality that does not demand that we have to carry our cross daily and follow You closely if we desire to know You, love You, and serve You in this life so we can live with You eternally in heaven.

Stephen knew the cost of speaking the truth to those who hated him. He called them Your betrayers and murderers. He accused them of breaking the Law that was given to them by God Himself. They were furious with Stephen for showing them up for the hypocrites they were and in their rage they in turn falsely accused Stephen of blasphemy,  took him out of the city, and stoned him.  

One of the witnesses to the stoning to death of Stephen was a young man Saul. He heard Stephen pray this prayer aloud, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ He then knelt down and said aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and with these words he fell asleep. This passage ends with the words, Saul entirely approved of the killing. Stephen's prayer for his murderers and for those who aided and abetted them was heard by You, O Lord and the fruit of this generous prayer gave us not only the most unlikely Apostle but the greatest Apostle of all time - Saul who would later be called Paul. There is hope for all my Lord, and my God this is why we must never lose heart but pray unceasingly with faith, hope, and love and God will hear and answer.

PSALM 30(31):3-4,6,8,17,21 ©

Be a rock of refuge for me,
a mighty stronghold to save me,
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.

Into your hands I commend my spirit.
It is you who will redeem me, Lord.
As for me, I trust in the Lord:
let me be glad and rejoice in your love.

Let your face shine on your servant.
Save me in your love.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plotting of men.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

JOHN 6:30-35 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

When we keep demanding signs from God before we believe then no sign will ever be enough. The greatest sign of all has already been given and when we reject it and ask for more we will never truly believe. These crowds had already been witnesses to many miracles of healings, raising from the dead, and now the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fish that fed 5000 people, and yet they say, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

The miracle of the loaves and fish was only a prelude to the greatest miracle of all that was soon to come. The institution of the Holy Eucharist. You answered the crowd saying: 

‘I tell you most solemnly,
it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven,
it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven,
the true bread;
for the bread of God
is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.’

They did not understand and said, 'Sir, give us that bread always.' They thought You were speaking of earthly bread. You replied: 

‘I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst.’

You were speaking of the true bread, the super essential bread we need to live lives holy and pleasing to God always, the Holy Eucharist. Beloved, so many of us can go to Holy Mass daily, yet we don't. The 4th Commandment obliges us to go for Holy Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligations. We know full well that it is a grave sin to break this commandment unless we have a valid reason, and yet we somehow convince ourselves that it is not a big deal.

O Lord, ignorance of the true magnificence of the celebration of the Holy Mass keeps many of the faithful from coming as often as they can. Bless those who spend their lives preaching and teaching and making known the beauty and the necessity of this Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving so dear to the Father. By the power of the Holy Spirit may our prayers for our loved ones move their hearts to repent, believe, and bring them back to living a sacramental life of fullness and grace in the Catholic Church.

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Lord Jesus, explain the Scriptures to us.
Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us. LUKE 24:32

ACTS 3:13-15,17-19 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

All that Peter said to the people was true, among the crowd were perhaps many of the people who thronged around You wherever You went, who heard You preach, and teach, who witnessed Your miracles, and ate the bread and fish that You miraculously multiplied. They had all played a part in putting You to death. Some of these may have been the ones who cried out for the release of Barabbas rather than You and cried out that You be crucified. 

You O Lord, are the Holy One, the Just One, You are the Son of the Living God who left His glory behind to reveal the love and the Face of God to us. Yes, the people of God indeed asked that You be put to death, but the truth is that my sins crucified You. Mine were the suffering You bore, mine the sorrows You carried, on You lay my punishment and through Your wounds I am healed.

May I never forget, O Lord, the price You paid for my salvation. I owe You a debt I can never repay. Grant me the graces I need from moment to moment to bear my cross daily with patience and humility. 

PSALM 4:2,4,7,9 ©

When I call, answer me, O God of justice;
from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!

It is the Lord who grants favours to those whom he loves;
the Lord hears me whenever I call him.

‘What can bring us happiness?’ many say.
Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.

I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once
for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.

1 JOHN 2:1-5 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The key to living a life of grace is to be humble. to discern Your will in all things and do it promptly, lovingly, and cheerfully no matter what it may cost us. You are our Living Sacrifice that takes away the sins of the world. In some small measure we are invited to unite our daily trials, sufferings, sorrows, and pains to Yours, and in this union will we find the courage and strength to go on. 

It is Your Blood O Lord that takes away the sins of the world and even when we desire not to sin we sin anyway for we are weak and easily tempted. Thank You for never tiring of forgiving us and for providing all the graces we need to begin anew. Thank You for the Sacrament of Reconciliation may we approach this Sacrament of Healing often and be strengthened in our resolution to sin no more.

Thank You for the Commandments, they are not just guideposts but barriers that keep our souls from destruction and eternal damnation. You created us, we are Your children, having designed us for Yourself for an eternal destiny with You, He has given us the instructions we need to follow to reach our final destination safely. 

If we keep Your commandments Lord, we are assured that Your love will come to perfection in us. Keep us faithful to the end.

LUKE 24:35-48 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You opened the minds of the Apostles to understand the Scriptures. You explained to them that everything written about You in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to be fulfilled. Now they can grasp what You had said to them so often in the past and was unclear and incomprehensible to them. All now makes perfect sense as You open their minds and their understanding to grasp eternal truths.

How blessed we are in the Church You established O Lord where we get to recognize You at the breaking of bread each time we come to Holy Mass and worship You as a community of believers. Thank You for giving us Your gift of peace, it is a peace that the world cannot give. In the midst of the storm O Lord, You are my hiding place and my refuge. Thank You for Your scars they are a reminder to me of Your inexhaustible mercy and incomprehensible love for me even though I am the cause of those wounds. I love You, Jesus, my love. Grant that I may love You daily more and more and do with me what You will.

SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Christ has risen, he who created all things,
and has granted his mercy to men.

ACTS 6:1-7 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The Church is a living organism and has been so from the instant it was conceived if it were not - if it were not infused by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit it would not grow and evolve constantly and would have long since perished. We can see how from the very beginning the Church had to adapt to the needs of its members so no one was neglected.

The Apostles were unable to do everything themselves as the number of believers kept growing and although the Church is of God it is filled with members who are human beings and hence prone to sin. Despite her best efforts, and their desire to serve all equally and generously, there will never be enough ministers to meet the needs of all the faithful because of the sheer numbers. 

As the complaints increased the Apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, called the disciples and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.’ Above are indicated the qualities necessary for all who are called to serve You in the Church, Your Body. The hierarchy in the Church is necessary for the orderly functioning of its members. 

Seven men were chosen from among them. They elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. To this day, the Bishops lay their hands on those who are called by You to serve as priests, this will continue until You return in glory. Without priests, there would be no Holy Eucharist without the Holy Eucharist, the world would perish. Thank You, Lord, for ensuring that the Church is alive and flourishing and she will continue to flourish and grow until there is but one flock and one Shepherd. 

PSALM 32(33):1-2,4-5,18-19 ©

Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.

For the word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.

The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

JOHN 6:16-21 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You sent Your disciples alone in the boat after the euphoria of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish feeding 5000 people. There is always a danger of basking in the adulation of the crowds and forgetting the mission so You sent them away by themselves while You sought time alone in prayer with Your Father.  The boat also represents the Church which is always navigating the sinful culture of the world that threatens to overwhelm her. It is dark and the disciples find the wind getting increasingly strong and the waves rough. They are rowing hard to reach the shore, they are exhausted and afraid when they see You walking on the lake and approaching the boat. Their fear increases until they hear Your familiar voice reassuring them saying, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid.’ They wanted to take You into the boat with them but found themselves instantly on the shore at the place where they were to be. 

Oftentimes, Beloved, not just in the life of the Church but in our own lives we experience the fear of being alone and abandoned by You. We find ourselves in rough seas and we find it hard to navigate through the temptations and pitfalls that loom over us. At moments like these let us always remember that You are always near. You will keep us safe and You will ensure that we will arrive at the place that we are destined for from all eternity.