WEDNESDAY OF WEEK 31 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

It is a blessing for you
when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ,
for the Spirit of God rests on you. 1PET 4:14

PHILIPPIANS 2:12-18

My Soul's Beloved,

Your Sacrifice saves us all but St. Paul reminds us most solemnly, 'to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.' The deceiver has not rested since he brought about the fall of our first parents and he and his minions will not rest until he snatches as many sheep as he can from the Shepherd. St. Peter reminds us that the Enemy is prowling around the world seeking to deceive, to destroy, and to murder and many have chosen to follow the broad and easy path that leads to eternal destruction. 

Beloved, it is so easy to lose heart and confidence when our prayers remain unanswered and we see no light of hope. As those we love continue to live as strangers who once knew You but have allowed themselves to be lured away from the path of righteousness, our hearts grow heavier, sorrow and sadness crush our spirit, and regret and guilt overwhelm us.

Every Apostle, every great saint, every holy man, woman, and child is a mirror reflection of You, Lord. Each in different measure is You, O Lord. They understood what it means to be a disciple and to take the commission You give to all the baptized, seriously. They laid down their lives for Your sake and for the sake of the Gospel. Many have shed their blood and their blood mingles with Yours, Lord and it will not be in vain. I desire to be like You with my whole being and the Holy Spirit will provide the grace and the will to make me like You.

It is God, for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you. Do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing and then you will be innocent and genuine, perfect children of God among a deceitful and underhand brood, and you will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life. This would give me something to be proud of for the Day of Christ, and would mean that I had not run in the race and exhausted myself for nothing. And then, if my blood has to be shed as part of your own sacrifice and offering – which is your faith – I shall still be happy and rejoice with all of you, and you must be just as happy and rejoice with me.

PSALM 26(27):1,4,13-14

The Lord is my light and my help.

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!

The Lord is my light and my help.

LUKE 14:25-33

My Soul's Beloved,

The way is narrow, the road is hard, the cross we are called to carry is heavy, and it is very possible for us to get frustrated, to give up, to grumble, and complain, and to give in to the temptation to take the easier road. But there is no easy road, Lord. The Cross is laid on us when we are born and we must carry it all the way to Golgotha. Unless we are prepared to die like You we cannot expect a share in Your resurrection. There is no gain without first losing our life to receive it anew from You.

When we refuse to give You the place of primacy in our hearts and lives we will become idolaters. Empty lives feverishly and futilely attempt to fill it with the things that perish and ultimately they destroy themselves because nothing and no one can satisfy us as the love of God. We were created by God for God. Created in His image and likeness we can find fulfillment in nothing other than Him. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to make us in Your image and likeness the happier we will be.

Help me Lord, to be like You. I place all my hope in You.

Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple
Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

.....none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’