I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
anyone who follows me will have the light of life. JN 8:12
1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-5
My Soul's Beloved,
The most astounding attribute of the God of Love is humility. The God who created all that is with the God-Breathed Word, the only Word of God was obedient unto death, even death on the Cross. You, O Lord, the Son of the Living God, left Your glory behind to become the Son of Man. Incarnate of the Virgin Mary, You were conceived in her womb by the power of God and the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. By the will of the Father, You became one like us in all things save sin so You could lead us who were lost back to Him.
Unless we emulate Your humility and obedience to the will of God, Beloved, we will be destroyed by our own hubris. The world is full of corruption, arrogance, pride, and violence, the pride of God's creations, human beings, is sinking into a putrid, disgusting mess of debauchery, diabolic violence, vile hatred not just of other human beings but for God Himself.
Today, St. Paul reminds us of our identity. We are Your servants, we are stewards who are entrusted with the Pearl of Great Price, the Treasure Hidden in the Field, and we have been unworthy recipients of God's goodness. St. Paul and many holy men and women through the ages can rightly say with him, that they have a clear conscience for they have always sought to do God's without counting the cost, even to the laying down of their lives in imitation of the Master.
When the day of wrath descends and the only righteous Judge appointed by the Father returns like a thief in the night to judge the living and the dead, can we say, 'My conscience does not reproach me?' No. So let us judge ourselves now. Let us reconcile ourselves to God now before it is too late so when You come again to light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of men’s hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves, from God we will not be damned eternally.
PSALM 36(37):3-6,27-28,39-40
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
If you trust in the Lord and do good,
then you will live in the land and be secure.
If you find your delight in the Lord,
he will grant your heart’s desire.
Commit your life to the Lord,
trust in him and he will act,
so that your justice breaks forth like the light,
your cause like the noon-day sun.
Then turn away from evil and do good
and you shall have a home for ever;
for the Lord loves justice
and will never forsake his friends.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord,
their stronghold in time of distress.
The Lord helps them and delivers them
and saves them: for their refuge is in him.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
LUKE 5:33-39
My Soul's Beloved,
These are the days of fasting and mourning for the Bridegroom is taken from us. We live in troubled times, anxious times, violent and evil days are upon us. Sickness abounds. Death is everywhere the death of the body and the soul, of the mind and of the spirit. It is easy to allow ourselves to be swamped by the evil of the day but we are a people of hope, we are an Easter people, and our song of triumph and victory is 'Alleluia!'
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on Your people, Your Church, and on the world. You are Alpha and the Omega, the Divine Physician, the Redeemer, and Savior of the world. The price for our redemption is paid yet Lord, while we still live we need to make reparation for our sins. We need to fast and pray, we need to mortify our flesh. We need the discipline that comes from denying ourselves the things both good and bad that our bodies crave only then will we be able to face and overcome the challenges that the world, the flesh, and the devil that constantly lure us to our downfall.
Lord, we know we cannot do this without divine help. Thank You for the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us as well as the Sacraments through which we receive constant grace to remain faithful and when we fall to rise up.
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