WEDNESDAY OF WEEK 34 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Even if you have to die, says the Lord,
keep faithful, and I will give you
the crown of life. REV 2:10

APOCALYPSE 15:1-4

My Soul's Beloved,

It is most consoling to know that in the end, after all our trials in this life, all the difficulties, all the suffering, and all the mistakes we have made, we will be purified by the Blood of the Lamb. This is true not only for every soul but for the whole world. Over and over again the world has given itself over to the wiles of Satan but the redeeming power of the Sacrifice of the Lamb has brought us back from the brink of hell.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God there is no evil so great, nor is the wily power of Satan so strong that those redeemed by Your Blood will perish. Victory belongs to You. Might, power, glory, and final triumph is Yours. You O Eternal Word of the Living God are the praise we will offer God eternally for all that You have done for our redemption. 

At the end of the suffering, battles, and the Church's journey on the narrow way to Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the tomb we will receive at last, a share in Your glorious resurrection and a place forever in the home of our Father. There we will sing a hymn of praise to God as we join the angels and the saints who have gone before us.

I seemed to see a glass lake suffused with fire, and standing by the lake of glass, those who had fought against the beast and won, and against his statue and the number which is his name. They all had harps from God, and they were singing the hymn of Moses, the servant of God, and of the Lamb:

‘How great and wonderful are all your works,
Lord God Almighty;
just and true are all your ways,
King of nations.
Who would not revere and praise your name, O Lord?
You alone are holy,
and all the pagans will come and adore you
for the many acts of justice you have shown.’

PSALM 97(98):1-3,7-9

How great and wonderful are all your works, Lord God almighty.

Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation;

has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.

Let the sea and all within it, thunder;

the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy
at the presence of the Lord.

For the Lord comes,

he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.

How great and wonderful are all your works, Lord God almighty.

LUKE 21:12-19

My Soul's Beloved,

To the extent that we are willing to live out our faith publicly without compromise no matter the consequence, we will suffer persecution, ostracism, and alienation even by those closest to us. The greater our willingness to live out our faith boldly and fearlessly no matter the cost the greater will we scorn the things that the world considers worth pursuing and possessing.

If only every member of the Church was prepared to live authentic Christian lives the world would be a more peaceful and beautiful place and we would hasten the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth.

Beloved, the days are coming when we will have to take a stand for our faith, when that day arrives we ask You to provide all the grace, strength, and courage we need to remain steadfast even if it means death. We believe Lord, that You will be true to Your word and Your assurance that if we endure all for Your sake we will win the crown of eternal life.

Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.’