FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTERTIDE - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. MT 4:4

ACTS 5:34-42 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

When we do God's work we need not be afraid all we need to be is faithful in carrying out the mission that is entrusted to us. Each of us living ordinary lives in the world is called to preach the Good News of salvation and this is never done more powerfully than when we are Your leaven in the world. We are to be light and salt in the world that's all. We are called to live as children of the light. We are called to live the Good News and when we do it faithfully and always whether we are seen or not we are transforming the world around us. 

It isn't easy to curb the tongue, to hold back the impatient word, to be humble, to give in, to allow someone else to go ahead. It is much easier to give in to impatience to grumble, scold, elbow our way ahead of others, to demand what is rightfully ours instead of putting the needs of others before our own. 

The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit and on fire with the mission entrusted to them to take the Good News to the ends of the earth, were unstoppable. It is our responsibility not to impede the work of our Church but to support it in every way and any way we can. We are called to pray for the Pope, our Bishops, clergy, deacons, and all lay ministers men and women whom You have entrusted with the mission to preach and teach some aspect of the Christian life according to the gift of the Holy Spirit given to them. 

Let us pray for the Church and her mission never losing sight of the truth that we too are part of that mission. Some are called to active work while the majority support them through our prayers, fasting, and financial help. 

May the Good News be preached uninterrupted in every part of the world so all will come to know the Truth that sets us free. 

PSALM 26(27):1,4,13-14 ©

The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink?

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord,
all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
to behold his temple.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!

There is one thing I ask of the Lord, to live in the house of the Lord.

JOHN 6:1-15 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

This miracle is a foretaste of the Last Supper when You would institute the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood. Your fame has spread around the country because of the amazing signs of healing. The crowds have heard where You have gone with Your disciples and are coming to see You. It is shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover which is also significant for soon You will become our new Passover Lamb. 

You climb the hillside, sit down with Your disciples, and look at the crowd approaching You. The people in the crowd are not faceless, You know each one of them and You are aware not just of their spiritual hunger but their physical hunger as well, and Your heart, as always is moved with compassion. Turning to Philip You ask, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ 

Andrew points out that ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ You respond saying, ‘Make the people sit down.’ St. John the Evangelist says that there was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. The tall grass is reminiscent of Psalm 23, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. You O Lord are our refreshment, coolness in the feverish heat of a tumultuous world. We all have something to give, but in that crowd, only one child prepared to give the little he had and that was enough to make the wondrous miracle possible. 

What You do next is done at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist since You, O Lord, instituted it. You took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave it to those who were seated. We are to come to You, we must be seated in Your Presence, You will satisfy the hungry soul. But we need to come, we need to be seated at the table if we desire to be fed by You. 

After all had eaten their fill of the loaves and fish You instructed Your disciples, 

‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. Your blessings, favors, and graces when we come to Holy Mass and receive the Holy Eucharist, Your Body and Blood, are inexhaustible. Thank You, Lord, for becoming our food and our drink. St. Paul reminds us, For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

My Beloved, the greatest sign of all is the Sign of the Cross, the sign of our redemption and hope. Keep us safe in Your love until You call us home to Yourself to live with You forever.