THURSDAY OF WEEK 30 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessings on the King who comes,
in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heavens! LK19:38,2:14

EPHESIANS 6:10-20

My Soul's Beloved,

We take our cue from the lives of the saints, St. Paul, and from the Apostles, if we desire to live lives pleasing to God. These intimate friends of God were aware they were nothing without You but with You and the Holy Spirit, they lived lives of heroic virtue. 

We were created by God for God and not for the world. God has a marvelous plan for our lives. We can safely navigate the pitfalls that constantly tempt us to veer from the course that leads to life if we, like them, love God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength and give our lives completely to the Holy Spirit. 

St. Paul tells us that it is possible to resist the wiles of the Enemy, the world, and the flesh only when we put on the armor of God and rely on it to help us withstand the wiles of Satan who prowls throughout the world seeking the ruin of gullible, lazy, indifferent, ignorant souls. Today Lord, pour Your Holy Spirit into our hearts, clothe us with the graces and virtues we need. Listen to the prayers of Mother Mary on behalf of her wayward children as well as our Guardian Angels, and all the saints and angels in heaven and we will, at last, behold You face to face forever,

So stand your ground, with truth buckled round your waist, and integrity for a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to put out the burning arrows of the evil one. And then you must accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the word of God from the Spirit to use as a sword.
Pray all the time, asking for what you need, praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all the saints; and pray for me to be given an opportunity to open my mouth and speak without fear and give out the mystery of the gospel of which I am an ambassador in chains; pray that in proclaiming it I may speak as boldly as I ought to.

PSALM 143(144):1-2,9-10

Blessed be the Lord, my rock.

Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who trains my arms for battle,
who prepares my hands for war.

He is my love, my fortress;
he is my stronghold, my saviour
my shield, my place of refuge.
He brings peoples under my rule.

To you, O God, will I sing a new song;

I will play on the ten-stringed lute
to you who give kings their victory,
who set David your servant free.

Blessed be the Lord, my rock.

LUKE 13:31-35

My Soul's Beloved,

You had a mission and nothing could stop You from fulfilling it. You were sent by Your Father to save His fallen children from eternal death. We know God loves us because He sent You into the world not to condemn it but to redeem it. Yes, Lord, we are sinners, we run away from You, we hide from You, and we prefer to gratify our own selfish, narrow sensual desires rather than choose the path that leads to freedom from sin and life. We run away from suffering, we refuse to carry the cross that God has prepared for us and is necessary to purify us and fit us for eternal life. We prefer the broad, easy, pleasure-seeking way that enslaves and leads to death.

You knew all the evil plans and plots being hatched against You but You did not run away. You used the time You had left in the world to fulfill the purpose for which the Father sent You. You laid the foundation for Your Church and You prepared the Twelve who would establish it after You returned to the Father. You knew that many, especially the chosen people would reject You and would in the end execute You. You came into the world to enter into our death so we could receive Your life that never ends.

As long as we have time on earth O Lord grant us the grace to use it wisely, to seek You, to listen to Your voice, to obey Your commands, and to discern Your will in all things and do it.  Gather us under Your wings, Beloved, and keep us safe from the day of evil and punishment that is to come.

‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:
‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’