It is a blessing for you
when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ,
for the Spirit of God rests on you. 1 PET 4:14
ISAIAH 6:1-8
My Soul's Beloved,
Each of us who is baptized into Your Body is given a mission - our mission may not be spectacular like that of Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and King David or St. John the Baptist or the great saints that illumine the great hall of extraordinary men and women who lived heroically virtuous lives. We must recognize that each of us in our own little way is called to shed our little light. Our light may only be enough for another to take one little step, to put one foot before another and that is all that we are asked to do. Our own mustard seed of faith must be exercised and we will be the salt of the earth. One encouraging word, one kind deed, one smile are all we are asked to give according to our ability at any given moment.
Isaiah was called to be one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament and he recognized in humility that he was not up to the calling that was to be entrusted to him. He cried out to God,
‘What a wretched state I am in! I am lost,
for I am a man of unclean lips
and I live among a people of unclean lips,
and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of Hosts.’
for I am a man of unclean lips
and I live among a people of unclean lips,
and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of Hosts.’
And God heard and sent a seraph to cleanse his lips with a live coal and he was purified, strengthened, and equipped for the task given to him.
‘See now, this has touched your lips,
your sin is taken away,
your iniquity is purged.’
My Lord and my God, I too am privileged to receive the Holy Eucharist every morning. Your Body and Blood, the Bread of Life is more powerful than the burning coal that touched the lips of Isaiah. You O Lord give me grace and strength sufficient for the day when I consume You in Holy Communion and I am equipped to do all that You desire me to. I am called to love in little ways - and I can be faithful for You make it possible for me to love as You have loved me.
Every morning, every new dawn You say to me:
‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’
Grant me the courage and the strength to respond always:
‘Here I am, send me.’
PSALM 92(93):1-2,5
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed;
the Lord has robed himself with might,
he has girded himself with power.
The world you made firm, not to be moved;
your throne has stood firm from of old.
From all eternity, O Lord, you are.
Truly your decrees are to be trusted.
Holiness is fitting to your house,
O Lord, until the end of time.
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
My Soul's Beloved,
There are several nations across the globe where there is systematic persecution and constant harassment of those called by Your Name. They are taken hostage, they are kidnapped, they are imprisoned, they are made to bear inhuman tortures, their family members are put to death before their eyes and yet they remain steadfast in their faith in You. For us who live in comfort and come to know about these events that are hardly spoken of in the media and which many leaders refuse to highlight and denounce for material gain, we wonder how it is that they are so courageous in the face of such brutality and then we lift our gaze to the Crucifix and to God who is nailed on it and we understand that it is You who are their Model. They exult to be privileged to be counted among those who are called to lose their life in order to gain it more gloriously in the Kingdom of God.
Every day You invite me to take up my little cross and follow You and I do so reluctantly, sorrowfully, anxiously, and fearfully. Forgive me, Lord. Let me remember that our heavenly Father loves me as if I were the only person on earth. He does, He sent You to die for me. Forgive my niggardly response to Your great love for me. Help me to remember always that love and not fear ought to rule my life. You have shown me the way and You remind me today that the servant is not greater than the Master.
If in some small measure, I am privileged to suffer let me exult that You think me worthy to suffer for Your sake and for the sake of the Gospel no matter how pitifully small the cross I am called to bear.
‘The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. It is enough for the disciple that he should grow to be like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household?
‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’
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