ST. JEROME, PRIEST AND DOCTOR, ON TUESDAY OF WEEK 26 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many. MK 10:45

ZECHARIAH 8:20-23

My Soul's Beloved, 

Today, we are reminded that nothing in this life matters except knowing God, seeking  Him, loving Him above and beyond anything else that demands our affection, and doing His will in all things, no matter how difficult and how hard our flesh balks against it. True peace and joy come only from knowing that our will is aligned with Yours in all things. This is why we are attracted to people who are wholly in love with You, for they have understood perfectly that we are created by You for You, and we are to belong to You not just in time but eternally.

We thank You, Lord, for appointing us such good shepherds in the last decades as successors to St. Peter; each has been a beacon of light in a world growing increasingly dark through false ideologies that come from the deepest, darkest pit of hell.  So many in every corner of the world are being annihilated simply for being Your followers and refusing to deny that they are Yours. It can be really discouraging, Beloved, as we pray and cry out to You with increasing sadness and anxiety, 'How much longer, O Lord, will You remain deaf to the cries of so many who are being crushed under the heel of the Enemy?' Grant us the grace to not lose hope and wait with confidence for the day when the Day of the Lord arrives and the great tribulation will end, and all will fall on their knees and worship You, the true God and the peace that You came to give will prevail everywhere.

The Lord of Hosts says this:
‘There will be other peoples yet, and citizens of great cities. And the inhabitants of one city will go to the next and say, “Come, let us go and entreat the favour of the Lord, and seek the Lord of Hosts; I am going myself.” And many peoples and great nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of the Lord.’
The Lord of Hosts says this:
‘In those days, ten men of nations of every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and say, “We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with you.”’

PSALM 86(87)

God is with us.

On the holy mountain is his city
cherished by the Lord.
The Lord prefers the gates of Zion
to all Jacob’s dwellings.
Of you are told glorious things,
O city of God!

‘Babylon and Egypt I will count
among those who know me;
Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia,
these will be her children
and Zion shall be called “Mother”
for all shall be her children.’

It is he, the Lord Most High,
who gives each his place.
In his register of peoples he writes:
‘These are her children,’
and while they dance they will sing:
‘In you all find their home.’

God is with us.

LUKE 9:51-56

My Soul's Beloved, 

Our natural human instinct is to repay evil for evil, blow for blow, abuse for abuse, and to answer violence with even more violence. But You taught us a better way, a more effective way, the divine way. 

But I say to you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who treat you badly. To the one who strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek; from the one who takes your coat, do not keep back your shirt. 30 Give to the one who asks, and if anyone has taken something from you, do not demand it back.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

The world and those of the world jeer and laugh to scorn at those who live the Beatitudes faithfully and keep Your Word despite provocation from the godless or those who worship false gods. In places where Christians are in a minority, they are hounded, persecuted, denied their legitimate rights, their homes are taken from them, their churches are destroyed, and they are attacked when they come to worship You. In many nations, the earth is soaked in the blood of martyrs who preferred death rather than deny You. And while we can take up the sword, O Lord, in our defence, You have warned that those who live by the sword will die by it. And so we rest in peace and serenity in You and Your word, for You alone have the power to save.

As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.

26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Jesus Christ was rich,
but he became poor for your sake,
to make you rich out of his poverty. 2 COR 8:9

AMOS 6:1,4-7

My Soul's Beloved,

We live in an age where the senses have been given pride of place in our lives. Do what you want, whispers the devil in our ears, as long as you are not hurting anyone, it's perfectly OK, and because we desire to live unholy lives lacking self-control and discipline, we become idolaters who worship the world and the flesh, as acolytes of the evil one.

The world is hell-bent on grasping, possessing, consuming, indulging, and amassing with no thought to anyone else. We value things and discard people who are sick, weak, vulnerable, helpless, poor, and unable to care for themselves in our own families. We are prepared to sacrifice honor, loyalty, and duty so we can chase giddily the glitz and glamor that the world dangles before us. We pay lip service to You while our hearts are far away from You. But the day of reckoning is almost upon us, Lord, the very people we seek to appease and have given our allegiance to, trusting that they are looking out for our best interests, will be the very ones who will crush and destroy us.

Grant us wisdom, O Lord, to turn to You with contrite, repentant hearts and a humble spirit, and perhaps You will forgive us and hold back Your righteous wrath which can destroy us forever.

The almighty Lord says this:
Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Zion
and to those who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria,
those famous men of this first of nations
to whom the House of Israel goes as client.
Lying on ivory beds
and sprawling on their divans,
they dine on lambs from the flock,
and stall-fattened veal;
they bawl to the sound of the harp,
they invent new instruments of music like David,
they drink wine by the bowlful,
and use the finest oil for anointing themselves,
but about the ruin of Joseph they do not care at all.
That is why they will be the first to be exiled;
the sprawlers’ revelry is over.

PSALM 145(146):6-10

My soul, give praise to the Lord.

It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free,

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.

It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion’s God, from age to age.

My soul, give praise to the Lord.

1 TIMOTHY 6:11-16
My Soul's Beloved,

In the first reading, we saw how the wicked live, but in this second reading, St. Paul shows us how we, as Your followers and disciples, are commanded to live. Our whole life is one of spiritual combat against the lies of the Deceiver and father of lies, who was corrupt from the beginning. Faith is Your gift to us, Lord, freely given, and with faith we can fight every spiritual battle victoriously, for we have at our command the Son of God, the Mother of God, and all the saints and angels in heaven to fight the good fight alongside us. 

The world preaches violence, force, and brutality to seize the things of the earth, but we who are led by the Spirit are called to be holy and perfect just as our Father in heaven is holy and perfect. Lord Jesus, You founded Your Church, You instituted the Sacraments, You have given us Your Holy Spirit who abides in us, and this is why we are already victorious. With all the spiritual help available to us, let us put on Your armor, O Lord, and stand unafraid as we proclaim the Truth for Truth alone can set us free. Help us to fight the good fight to the end, and when we stand before You, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the only righteous Judge appointed by the Father, we can hope that You will judge us kindly and mercifully.

As a man dedicated to God, you must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. Fight the good fight of the faith and win for yourself the eternal life to which you were called when you made your profession and spoke up for the truth in front of many witnesses. Now, before God the source of all life and before Christ, who spoke up as a witness for the truth in front of Pontius Pilate, I put to you the duty of doing all that you have been told, with no faults or failures, until the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who at the due time will be revealed
by God, the blessed and only Ruler of all,
the King of kings and the Lord of lords,
who alone is immortal,
whose home is in inaccessible light,
whom no man has seen and no man is able to see:
to him be honour and everlasting power. Amen.

LUKE 16:19-31

My Soul's Beloved,

In every one of the Parables that You narrated at various times in Your public ministry, it is crystal clear that Wisdom had made its home in You. With simple but meaningful, rich, and thought-provoking images, You paint a vibrant picture of eternal, divine truths. Dives, the rich man, is a perfect example of the worldly, indecently wealthy person who is spiritually dead and morally bankrupt. These people walk with blinkers and tune out all the horror and misery rampant in the world, especially against the poor, the weak, the marginalized, those that not just society but even governments turn a blind eye to. The little that they have is seized because they are voiceless and powerless.

If the little land they live on has something on it that the powerful desire for their gain, these poor people are threatened, abused, and hounded out of their poor huts and deprived of the meagre livelihood that holds their body and soul together. They are like Lazarus, covered in sores and misery, and only stray dogs have sympathy for their plight. The poor are given to us so we can share what is entrusted to us by You, O Lord, and when we fail to do so, our final judgment will be strict and the punishment meted out to us will be absolutely just.

Open our eyes, Lord, while there is yet time, for us to repent, beg forgiveness, and make reparation for our sins lest we perish eternally.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Yours. Amen.

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.”
‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them.” “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”’

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, PRIEST, SATURDAY OF WEEK 25 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death
and he has proclaimed life through the Good News. 2 TIM 1:10

ZECHARIAH 2:5-9,14-15

My Soul's Beloved,

I am Jerusalem because I belong to the Church, the new Jerusalem. I am a member of Your Body, and my life and my glory come from You. You have commanded angels to walk with me, protect me, guard me, guide me, speak to me, and fight my battles for me. I have no need to fear what anyone may do to me for You, O Lord, my God, have hedged me in on every side, and the Enemy cannot penetrate to do me harm. No matter who comes against me, I will not be moved, for I am planted on the Rock and from You, O Lord, comes my salvation and my help.

Thank You, Beloved, for the hope and the confidence I have in You. You have declared me to be Yours, and no one can snatch what belongs to You.

Raising my eyes, I saw a vision. It was this: there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked him, ‘Where are you going?’ He said, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to find out her breadth and her length.’ And then, while the angel who was talking to me stood still, another angel came forward to meet him. He said to him, ‘Run, and tell that young man this, “Jerusalem is to remain unwalled, because of the great number of men and cattle there will be in her. But I – it is the Lord who speaks – I will be a wall of fire for her all round her, and I will be her glory in the midst of her.”’
Sing, rejoice,
daughter of Zion;
for I am coming
to dwell in the middle of you
– it is the Lord who speaks.
Many nations will join the Lord,
on that day;
they will become his people.

PSALM - JEREMIAH 31:10-12,13

The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.

O nations, hear the word of the Lord,
proclaim it to the far-off coasts.
Say: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.’

For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
has saved him from an overpowering hand.
They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion,
they will stream to the blessings of the Lord.

Then the young girls will rejoice and will dance,
the men, young and old, will be glad.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console them, give them gladness for grief.

The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.

LUKE 9:43-45

My Soul's Beloved,

The mission is clear. The invitation is extended to all, and we are also warned of the cost of being Your disciples. It cost You everything, and the servant is not greater than the Master. 

Your popularity was at its peak when You warned the Apostles about the suffering You would have to undergo at the hands of Your enemies. of what found it hard to understand the warnings about what would come to pass, what would occur concerning You, and that for a while it would seem evil had won, we who have the privilege of seeing the whole picture now know that there can be no glory without suffering. No crown without the cross. Redemptive suffering is the only sure road to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Lord Jesus, if we truly wish to be Your disciples, there is but one way, the narrow way, the way of suffering, the way of the Cross. It is only through the Cross that the authenticity of our discipleship is revealed. Grant us the grace, O Lord, when we are tested in the furnace of suffering, that we will be deemed worthy to be called Your disciples.

At a time when everyone was full of admiration for all he did, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: “The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.”’ But they did not understand him when he said this; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had just said.

WEDNESDAY OF WEEK 25 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The kingdom of God is close at hand:
repent and believe the Good News. MK 1:15

EZRA 9:5-9

My Soul's Beloved,

This reading is a commentary on the life of the world as it stands today, the culture of the day, in so many of our personal lives, as well as the lives of those who govern us morally, spiritually, and politically. Too many are corrupt, sinful, full of wickedness and moral turpitude, even those we hold to a greater moral standard. All of us have sinned, O Lord. We have sinned in thought, word, and in deed, and we have been brought low to our knees. Our baptismal garments are in ruins around us. Our souls are weighed down by sin. Our peace has fled. We are the most miserable of people living in a most wicked age where ordinary common sense has fled, and absolute stupidity and blathering, incoherent, nonsensical blabbering has become the current narrative, which fools pretend is wisdom. We are guilty of yielding to the strength of the wicked instead of standing up fearlessly for what is noble, true, good, and beautiful, and we are paying the price for our cowardice.

But You, O Lord, have not forgotten Your faithful remnant. You have paid the price for our redemption, and while evil may have won the hour, the battle belongs to You, and You have won the day by the power of the Cross. Thank You, Lord, for not disowning and condemning us in our sins but for showing us loving kindness, remembering with compassion that we are but dust and ashes, and showing us mercy. Thank You, for the Church, thank You for the Sacraments, thank You for Your abiding love and faithfulness.

At the evening sacrifice I, Ezra, came out of my stupor and falling on my knees, with my garment and cloak torn, I stretched out my hands to the Lord my God, and said:
‘My God, I am ashamed, I blush to lift my face to you, my God. For our crimes have increased, until they are higher than our heads, and our sin has piled up to heaven. From the days of our ancestors until now our guilt has been great; on account of our crimes we, our kings and our priests, were given into the power of the kings of other countries, given to the sword, to captivity, to pillage and to shame, as is the case today. But now, suddenly, the Lord our God by his favour has left us a remnant and granted us a refuge in his holy place; this is how our God has cheered our eyes and given us a little respite in our slavery. For we are slaves; but God has not forgotten us in our slavery; he has shown us kindness in the eyes of the kings of Persia, obtaining permission for us to rebuild the Temple of our God and restore its ruins, and he has found us safety and shelter in Judah and in Jerusalem.’

TOBIT 13:2,4,6-8

Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

God punishes, he also has mercy,
he leads men to the depths of the grave,
he restores men from the great destruction.
No man can escape his hand.

It is he who scattered us among the nations.
Among them must we show forth his greatness
and exalt him in the presence of all living;
for he is our Lord and our God,
our Father and our God for ever.

Now think what he has done for you,
give thanks to him with all your voice.
Give praise to the Lord for his justice
and exalt the king of all ages.

In this land of exile I will thank him,
and show forth his greatness and might
to the race of sinful men.

Sinners, come back to him,
do what is right before him.
Who knows but he will receive you with pity?

Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

LUKE 9:1-6

My Soul's Beloved, 

We live in a divided world where some embrace the Truth while many more hate it and reject it with diabolical hatred. Within a household, those who are for You are treated with contempt, they face persecution, and are denied their legitimate right to worship You. There are not just whole countries but even individual homes where You are denied entrance. 

You gave Your Church Your power and authority. You have given them Your Holy Spirit and assured them that they would do even greater things than You, for You are now with Your Father in heaven interceding for them and for us. Yet, O Lord, in the Church, false shepherds abound, and they have little or no regard for the flock that is being attacked by wolves and have become easy prey to the ravenous, rabid animals who are constantly seeking the sick and the weak to kill and devour.

Today, beloved Lord, I want to thank You for faithful shepherds who are truly a father to their flock. Bless them abundantly, Lord, and hear our prayers for them and grant them a long, happy, and fruitful life, nurturing those entrusted to their care.

Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money; and let none of you take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there; and when you leave, let it be from there. As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave their town shake the dust from your feet as a sign to them.’ So they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.

THURSDAY OF WEEK 24 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord. MT 11:28

1 TIMOTHY 4:12-16

My Soul's Beloved,

The lives of so many young people, some really young like Carlo Acutis, are a reminder to all of us of every age that it is possible to live a vibrant spiritual life that is filled with a life of grace of the Holy Spirit. It is a magnet that draws souls to You. God chooses and uses anyone willing to say yes to Your call. To every soul, at some point in our lives, You say, 'Follow Me.' Sadly, too many of us in our youth stifle that voice and allow the cacophony of the sounds and the allure of the bright lights of the world to beguile us. But You never give up. Thank You, Lord, for not giving up on me.

Timothy is a young man whose heart has been captured for You. St. Paul, writing to Timothy, gives him good, wise, fatherly advice, and all that Paul says to Timothy applies to every Christian who takes their faith seriously. We were not created for the world, Beloved, God, our Father, created us for You - to give You glory, honor, worship, and to make known to the whole world what You, the only Son of the Living God, have done for the whole human race. Help us never forget that we are called to be witnesses to the Truth, Life, Beauty, Goodness, and to love always as You have loved us.

Do not let people disregard you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity. Make use of the time until I arrive by reading to the people, preaching and teaching. You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not let it lie unused. Think hard about all this, and put it into practice, and everyone will be able to see how you are advancing. Take great care about what you do and what you teach; always do this, and in this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

PSALM 110(111):7-10

Great are the works of the Lord.

His works are justice and truth,
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm for ever and ever;
they are made in uprightness and truth.

He has sent deliverance to his people
and established his covenant for ever.
Holy his name, to be feared.

To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom;
all who do so prove themselves wise.
His praise shall last for ever!

Great are the works of the Lord.

LUKE 7:36-50

My Soul's Beloved,

The parables of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan are a master class in the wonder of God's love and the tender compassion always shown to the sinner. Today, we have a real-life demonstration of how You, God incarnate, see us and how You relate to us, which is in stark contradiction to how we, priggish and self-righteous human beings with a holier-than-thou attitude, treat those perceived as sinners, and harshly judge, condemn, and ostracize them.

All that Simon the Pharisee, who had invited You as one of the guests for a meal at his house, saw was a prostitute, a fallen woman, a public sinner. He judged and condemned her for her reputation and the public perception of who she was. Not You, Lord. You saw her heart, and that heart was broken with sorrow and contrition for her sins, many though they were. This whole beautiful scene is recorded by St. Luke with stunning clarity and pathos just as it occurred. We can imagine the entire dramatic scene as it unfolds. So much is learned from this unnamed woman who silently but eloquently demonstrates for all time how we are to approach God when we have sinned, sinned with impunity, and sinned grievously. She does all this without uttering a single word, and yet has inspired generation after generation to come to a deeper and greater authentic understanding of the love, goodness, compassion, and tender mercy of God. 

Reading Simon's mind and his harsh judgment and condemnation of the woman, based on only what was externally visible, You revealed his secret, dismissive thoughts about You to those around the table, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then You drew the attention of everyone present to the woman, and to each of her actions as she wept in sorrow for her sins and wanted nothing more than to be forgiven.

The breaking of the alabaster jar was symbolic of her broken heart, and the expensive perfume that she poured over Your feet was symbolic of her contrition, and the fragrance that filled the room was Your absolute and complete forgiveness of all her sins, because as You stated, she had loved much.

You then compared each of her loving actions to You with Your host's, and You shamed him publicly for his lack of displaying the most common courtesies that are normally shown to a guest. ‘Simon, you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.’

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, when I sin, I desire to approach You as simply and boldly as this woman did, be as vulnerable as she was before You, exposing myself with no attempt to hide who I was, and what I had done, and having done so, receive a superabundance of Your blessings, healing, peace, and complete restoration into You and Your Church.

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’
Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

WEDNESDAY OF WEEK 24 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;
you have the message of eternal life. JN 6:63, 68

1 TIMOTHY 3:14-16

My Soul's Beloved,

The essence of our faith, hope, and joy in this life is that the Son of God became the Son of Man. You endured all that we endure in the flesh, taking upon Yourself the human condition in all its weakness, misery, suffering, and death, and in exchange giving us eternal life. This is the truth that God so loved the world that He made Himself visible and tangible to us in You so we could know God as He truly is,  in His essence and in His being, GOD IS LOVE. This is indeed the Good News of our faith, faith that saves, faith that gives life, faith that endures under all circumstances, and triumphs.

We are chosen, blessed, and privileged to be Catholic, to be born into the faith of our fathers, and because to us, to whom much has been given, much is demanded, and the greater our accountability for our stewardship of the riches entrusted to us. Beloved, a stricter judgment will be ours if we have taken the blessings freely bestowed on us, lightly squandering the wealth of God's mercies in ways displeasing to Him and to You. Grant us wisdom, Lord, to be good stewards of the great riches given to us, so that when we stand before You, we will be confident of hearing You call us good and faithful servants and invite us to receive our inheritance in the Kingdom of God.

At the moment of writing to you, I am hoping that I may be with you soon; but in case I should be delayed, I wanted you to know how people ought to behave in God’s family – that is, in the Church of the living God, which upholds the truth and keeps it safe. Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is very deep indeed:
He was made visible in the flesh,
attested by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed to the pagans,
believed in by the world,
taken up in glory.

PSALM 110(111):1-6

Great are the works of the Lord.

I will thank the Lord with all my heart
in the meeting of the just and their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who love them.

Majestic and glorious his work,
his justice stands firm for ever.
He makes us remember his wonders.
The Lord is compassion and love.

He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He has shown his might to his people
by giving them the lands of the nations.

Great are the works of the Lord.

LUKE 7:31-35

My Soul's Beloved,

We are truly a perverse generation; we happily follow blind, ignorant leaders, the popular mantra of the day, and the latest fads, but there are few true followers of the way of suffering. We are like the people You describe in Your time, but it applies to all times. We laugh when we should weep, we cry when we ought to rejoice, we mourn when we should be dancing. 

Like the people of Your day, we too readily criticize those who stir our conscience, causing real discomfort. We prefer living life on our terms rather than being reminded that sacrifice, suffering, and self-mastery are an integral part of growth in the spiritual realm. They were angry, and they raged, and acted like ignorant children because of their lack of wisdom, just as we do today when we try to drown out every sane voice that calls us to wake up to the spiritual battle that is taking place all around us.

Intervene on our behalf, Lord, and for the sake of the faithful few, have compassion and save the many.

Jesus said to the people:
‘What description can I find for the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market-place:
‘“We played the pipes for you,
and you wouldn’t dance;
we sang dirges,
and you wouldn’t cry.”
‘For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet Wisdom has been proved right by all her children.’

STS. CORNELIUS, POPE AND CYPRIAN, BISHOP - MARTYRS, ON TUESDAY OF WEEK 24 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

A great prophet has appeared among us;
God has visited his people. LK 7:16

1 TIMOTHY 3:1-13

My Soul's Beloved,

All the good and noble qualities that St. Paul lists to Timothy as requirements for those who wish to be presiding elders and deacons are qualities that should be the standard for every Catholic Christian who is baptized and grafted into Your Body. We can only be salt and light in the world if we strive always to lead holy lives and not be a source of scandal to anyone within the Church or outside it. The blueprint for our lives must be the Beatitudes. We are called to be like You, and the lives of the great saints, men, women, and even children, whom the Church invites us to honor and imitate, because they are perfect examples that it is not impossible to do so.

"Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy" is a command, not a suggestion. This is not possible unless we lead a sacramental life, which means frequently attending the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receiving the Holy Eucharist daily if possible. Unless we are in close intimacy with You, Lord, we will not be able to withstand the lure of the world, the wiles of the Enemy, and above all, our own concupiscence.

Those in a position of leadership in the Church who become a source of scandal give the weak in faith an excuse to live unholy, unchaste lives. Too often, the weaknesses of those who are our shepherds scatter the flock rather than keep them from going astray. May we support them with our prayers, our sympathy, our charity, our affection, and our friendship rather than criticize, complain, and make their vocation difficult and burdensome. Let us encourage them and let them know that we love them and how greatly we appreciate their sacrifices. 

Here is a saying that you can rely on: To want to be a presiding elder is to want to do a noble work. That is why the president must have an impeccable character. He must not have been married more than once, and he must be temperate, discreet and courteous, hospitable and a good teacher; not a heavy drinker, nor hot-tempered, but kind and peaceable. He must not be a lover of money. He must be a man who manages his own family well and brings his children up to obey him and be well-behaved: how can any man who does not understand how to manage his own family have responsibility for the church of God? He should not be a new convert, in case pride might turn his head and then he might be condemned as the devil was condemned. It is also necessary that people outside the Church should speak well of him, so that he never gets a bad reputation and falls into the devil’s trap.
In the same way, deacons must be respectable men whose word can be trusted, moderate in the amount of wine they drink and with no squalid greed for money. They must be conscientious believers in the mystery of the faith. They are to be examined first, and only admitted to serve as deacons if there is nothing against them. In the same way, the women must be respectable, not gossips but sober and quite reliable. Deacons must not have been married more than once, and must be men who manage their children and families well. Those of them who carry out their duties well as deacons will earn a high standing for themselves and be rewarded with great assurance in their work for the faith in Christ Jesus.

PSALM 100(101):1-3,5,6

I will walk with blameless heart.

My song is of mercy and justice;
I sing to you, O Lord.
I will walk in the way of perfection.
O when, Lord, will you come?

I will walk with blameless heart
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
whatever is base.

The man who slanders his neighbour in secret
I will bring to silence.
The man of proud looks and haughty heart
I will never endure.

I look to the faithful in the land
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of perfection
shall be my friend.

I will walk with blameless heart.

LUKE 7:11-17

My Soul's Beloved,

We do not know the name of the widow or the name of her son whom You raised to life. As the funeral procession made its way on the street for burial, Your heart went out to her in sympathy. You approached her full of tenderness and compassion. You understood her grief, and You said to her softly, and lovingly, ‘Do not cry.’ You took the time to comfort and console her before You performed the miracle that would restore her son to life. You are a God who loves tenderly, and You empathise with us in all our troubles and sorrows. Even before we call, You hasten to come to our aid. You console and bless us and restore to us what we were certain was lost forever.

What You could not do for Your sorrowful Mother, who would have to endure watching You to the bitter end, until You gave up Your Spirit to Your Father, You did for this poor widow of Nain. It is of such great comfort to all of us who suffer great loss that You know, You understand, and You restore.

You raised so many from the dead during Your short ministry, Lord, something that was impossible for man but only for God, and yet You were rejected and put to death. Let us not lose heart when life becomes difficult for us. Without suffering, there can be no glory. Without the cross, there can be no crown. Thank You, for assuring us that we are never alone. You are right beside us, You are with us, and we are never alone. You are our strength, our help, and our consolation. Let us always run to You for comfort. Stay with us, Lord, the night is here. Stay with us until the dawn appears and we are given the light of a beautiful new day.

Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.

OUR LADY OF SORROWS, ON MONDAY OF WEEK 24 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Happy is the Virgin Mary,
who, without dying,
won the palm of martyrdom
beneath the cross of the Lord.

HEBREWS 5:7-9

My Soul's Beloved,

All through Your Mama's life, she suffered. Aware with every cell of her being that You were God, it would have wounded her and St. Joseph to have to give You so little of the material comforts of the world. As she contemplated, meditated, and prayed about all that she experienced from the moment of the Annunciation, with the help of her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, she would have received insight and knowledge of things yet to come. You, as well, as gently as You could, would have prepared her for all that You would have to undergo in Your passion. Even in Your public ministry, every rejection directed against You was directed to her tender heart. All the blasphemies and calumnies directed at You wounded her, too. No mother can bear for her innocent child to suffer unwarranted suffering. If You, O Lord, were a Man of Sorrows, she was a Woman of Sorrows.

She experienced a taste of that terrible suffering when both she and St. Joseph believed You to be lost. For three agonizing days, she sought You in vain. Only God knows what terrible thoughts came to her. All mothers can understand to some extent what she suffered and the great joy and relief she felt on finding You again.

Beloved Jesus, grant us the grace to know what it would mean to us to lose You so utterly that we would be damned eternally. May we never cease to look for You, no matter how difficult life gets. May we never lose faith, hope, and trust in Your infinite love for us, and may we always run to Mama Mary for consolation and comfort when life becomes too much for us.

During his life on earth, Christ offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.

PSALM 30(31):2-6,15-16,20

Save me, O Lord, in your love.

In you, O Lord, I take refuge.
Let me never be put to shame.
In your justice, set me free,
hear me and speedily rescue me.

Be a rock of refuge for me,
a mighty stronghold to save me,
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.

Release me from the snares they have hidden
for you are my refuge, Lord.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
It is you who will redeem me, Lord.

But as for me, I trust in you, Lord;
I say: ‘You are my God.
My life is in your hands, deliver me
from the hands of those who hate me.’

How great is the goodness, Lord,
that you keep for those who fear you,
that you show to those who trust you
in the sight of men.

Save me, O Lord, in your love.

Sequence

Stabat Mater

At the cross her station keeping
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last;

through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
all his bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother highly blessed
of the sole begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs;
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother’s pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender child
all with bloody scourges rent;

for the sins of his own nation
saw him hang in desolation,
till his spirit forth he sent.

O you Mother, fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with yours accord:

make me feel as you have felt;
make my soul to glow and melt

with the love of Christ our Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through;
in my heart each wound renew
of my Saviour crucified.

Let me share with you his pain
who for all our sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with you,
mourning him who mourned for me
all the days that I may live:

by the cross with you to stay,
there with you to weep and pray,
is all I ask of you to give.

Virgin of all virgins best,
listen to my fond request:
let me share your grief divine;

let me to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of yours.

Wounded with his every wound,
steep my soul till it has swooned
in his very blood away;

be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die
in his awful judgement day.

Christ, when you shall call me hence,
be your Mother my defence,
be your cross my victory.

While my body here decays,
may my soul your goodness praise,
safe in paradise with you.

JOHN 19:25-27

My Soul's Beloved,

We take Mary for our Mother because You desired that we ought to have her to assist us in our pilgrim journey from heaven to earth. In this life, Lord, we are faced with temptations, suffering, heartache, loneliness, and we are often discriminated against because we believe in You. We, too, are called vile names, and lies are spread against us, and we are vilified because we are easy targets. In moments like these, Lord, may we run to Mama Mary and bury ourselves in her lap. She knows, she understands, she will console. Just seeing her stand steadfast with her sorrowful and loving gaze unwaveringly on You was a great comfort to You. You are aware that we, her poor, sinful children, will often need that loving comfort, and so You generously gave her to us as Your last and most precious gift.

May our love for her console her for the many wounds directed against her by an ignorant world, which continues to break her tender heart. Thank You, Lord, for giving her to us. At the end of our life, may she come for us and lead us to You, and joyfully speak of our steadfast love for her, and may Your judgment of us be easy because we have loved her most dearly and, taking You at Your word, we have made a home for her in our heart and in our lives.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.

ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, BISHOP, DOCTOR - ON SATURDAY OF WEEK 23 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him. JN 14:23

1 TIMOTHY 1:15-17

My Soul's Beloved,

Today's first reading is a timely reminder that we cannot write anyone off as too far gone to save. St. Paul uses himself as an example of what You can do with the most hardened soul. You have the power to raise up to new life even the most incorrigible of sinners. No one is beyond Your power to save. No one is so lost except those who deliberately, willfully, and purposefully turn away from You and refuse to be wooed by You to receive new life through You.

We must never cease praying for our loved ones who have fallen away from the path of righteousness, holiness, and truth. There is infinite power in our prayers, our tears, our grief-stricken groans and tears. St. Monica is living proof that perseverance in prayer can bring about conversion and salvation, even in the most hardened sinner. Grant me the grace never to lose hope, my Lord, even when it seems that despite years of prayer, nothing changes. I do not see as You see, and what I cannot see is that grace is constantly at work, and the Holy Spirit will reclaim the soul that we are sure is lost. Every prayer for the salvation of lost souls is heard and answered. You will make a way where we see none. By the power of Your Name, You will save.

Here is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I myself am the greatest of them; and if mercy has been shown to me, it is because Jesus Christ meant to make me the greatest evidence of his inexhaustible patience for all the other people who would later have to trust in him to come to eternal life. To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

PSALM 112(113):1-7

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.

Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dungheap he raises the poor

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore!

LUKE 6:43-49

FRIDAY OF WEEK 23 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your word is truth, O Lord:
consecrate us in the truth. JN 17:17

1 TIMOTHY 1:1-2,12-14

My Soul's Beloved,

Today, we are reminded by none other than St. Paul that we ought not to write off anyone too quickly. Sinners can become great saints, as we have seen in the history of the Church. The grace of God can touch anyone at any time and transform lives into something beautiful for You.

No one who knew Saul, and most of all he himself, would have ever believed for a moment that he who hated early Christians with a hatred so great and so all-consuming because he thought he was doing God's will, would become the greatest missionary of all time. My Lord, You can penetrate the hardest, most evil heart and fill it with grace and love. I will not lose hope, Lord, but will continue to pray, hope, and trust that my prayers are aligned with Your will. You desire that all be saved and come to the knowledge of Truth, the Truth that saves.

I believe, Lord, that in the end Your Sacred Heart and will, will triumph gloriously.

From Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus appointed by the command of God our saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, true child of mine in the faith; wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, and who judged me faithful enough to call me into his service even though I used to be a blasphemer and did all I could to injure and discredit the faith. Mercy, however, was shown me, because until I became a believer I had been acting in ignorance; and the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that is in Christ Jesus.

PSALM 15(16):1-2,5,7-8,11

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.’
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

LUKE 6:39-42

My Soul's Beloved,

The parable reminds us not to rush too quickly to judgment and condemnation of anyone. All of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, but we are all too quick to exonerate ourselves, yet are not so generous with the faults and failings of others. As disciples, we cannot pay Your teaching and doctrines just lip service while judging others by them; instead, we are to follow them so closely that it becomes our way of life. Unless we make Your teaching the rule of our life, we will always fall short of the goal, which is authentic discipleship, and the easier it will be to nitpick the little faults of others.

Daily examination of our conscience will give us a greater awareness of our shortcomings. With true contrition, a firm purpose of amendment, and with the help of grace, we will be able to focus on being holy and perfect like our heavenly Father, and be less occupied with the shortcomings of others. 

Jesus told a parable to the disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’

THURSDAY OF WEEK 23 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

As long as we love one another
God will live in us
and his love will be complete in us. 1JN 4:12

COLOSSIANS 3:12-17

My Soul's Beloved,

It is so reassuring to know my Lord that what I read in Your Word as Your personal message to me is always reconfirmed in the Liturgy of the Holy Mass of the day. Your love for me is not just a universal love; I am not just part of the whole, but Your love for me is personal. You see me, You see only me as if there were no one else in the whole wide world but me alone. True love is always reciprocal, and it is always self-sacrificial when worthy of the name. 

Today, St. Paul, who was graced to penetrate and know things no eye has seen or no ear has heard, shares with us not only for our edification but also to our supreme joy who we are as believers. As members of Your Body, Lord, called to be children of God, grafted to You, and heirs to the Kingdom, we are a chosen race. We are saints called to be holy and perfect as our Father is holy and perfect. We share in the divine life because the Holy Spirit abides in us. 

Now that we know who we are, Lord, we are to be bearers of Your Light and Life in a world that is lost to sin, to corruption, and death. We are called to be Your witnesses by our lives, so when they see us, they will say as they did of the early Church, 'See how they love one another.'  You have forgiven the unforgivable in us, and we are called to do the same for one another. We are loved much; we are to endeavour to love much in return. We must nourish our hearts and souls on Your Word, and as the Word of Life makes its home in us, we will be able to share that Word in all its richness so others, too, may believe and live.

The world is desperately in need of authentic Catholics, not cafeteria ones; the world and our pews are full of these and are anathema to You. We are called to live our faith and the Gospel boldly, courageously, in season and out of season, no matter what the cost, only then, O Lord, can we turn the world upside down and win souls for the Kingdom of Heaven.

You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

PSALM 150

Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.

Praise God in his holy place,
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his powerful deeds,
praise his surpassing greatness.

Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.

O praise him with sound of trumpet,
praise him with lute and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipes.

Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.

O praise him with resounding cymbals,
praise him with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that lives and that breathes
give praise to the Lord.

Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.

LUKE 6:27-38

My Soul's Beloved,

We have been loved radically; we are invited to love radically in turn. The world has always had false teachers who propagate ideas and religions that tickle the ears. People who are unwilling to embrace the Cross and the Way of Suffering, which is the only Way to the Kingdom of Heaven, are giddily pursuing the next new thing that will distract them. Nothing satisfies their soul, and the vacuum and hell within it leave them hungry and unsatisfied. They grope in the dark, looking for a foothold, for a hand that will reach out and pull them out of this miasma that is killing the life in them, and yet they refuse to accept the Good News that will save them. They are addicted to the sins of the flesh and are afraid of the demands of living a Christlike life built on divine love.

The world will not believe unless we who do are prepared to be alter Christus. Only when we actively live the Gospel principles, the Beatitudes, choosing the narrow way and always putting the good of the other before our own, can we draw others to You. You have not only told us the way, and pointed it out to us, but You have also walked it. You do not ask of us anything that You have not done first Yourself. 

Teach us to give and not to count the cost. A life lived for others is a life worth living, a life well-lived. A life that will be a leaven to the world with Your help and grace.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

TUESDAY OF WEEK 23 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I chose you from the world
to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will last,
says the Lord. JN 15:16

COLOSSIANS 2:6-15

My Soul's Beloved,

Why have we Catholics made such a poor job as parents, adults, and the Church herself in handing down the richness of our Catholic faith? All have failed and failed miserably. Few who have been educated and raised in the wondrous teachings and the life of the Church ever depart from it, for then it would have been part of our identity, of who we truly are.

Yet, O Lord, we cannot wring our hands in despair and give up. If we did, then we would deny the power of grace, the power of God, the power of the Holy Spirit in breathing life into dead bones. Those of us who are aware of our own shortcomings in raising good, holy, Catholic children into adults can now spend the years God will grant us in fasting, prayer, and sacrifice, pleading before the throne of grace and mercy to penetrate their souls and regenerate them by Your saving grace.

You must live your whole life according to the Christ you have received – Jesus the Lord; you must be rooted in him and built on him and held firm by the faith you have been taught, and full of thanksgiving.
Make sure that no one traps you and deprives you of your freedom by some second-hand, empty, rational philosophy based on the principles of this world instead of on Christ.
In his body lives the fullness of divinity, and in him you too find your own fulfilment, in the one who is the head of every Sovereignty and Power.
In him you have been circumcised, with a circumcision not performed by human hand, but by the complete stripping of your body of flesh. This is circumcision according to Christ. You have been buried with him, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins.
He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross; and so he got rid of the Sovereignties and the Powers, and paraded them in public, behind him in his triumphal procession.

PSALM 144(145):1-2,8-11

How good is the Lord to all.

I will give you glory, O God my king,
I will bless your name for ever.
I will bless you day after day
and praise your name for ever.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures.

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God.

How good is the Lord to all.

LUKE 6:12-19

My Soul's Beloved,

You have given us a perfect example of how we ought to approach anything of importance. You spent the whole night in prayer with Your Father before You chose the Twelve who would be the bedrock on which You would build Your Church. Were they perfect men? No. They were flawed just as every human being is, except You, the perfect Man. Simon, the man You would choose to be Your Vicar on earth, was a rough fisherman, prone to act impulsively and speak brashly; the others, too, were not the kind of men that the world would pick to be leaders of men. All but one would flee at the first sign of real danger, and one would betray You treacherously, resulting in Your passion, crucifixion, and excruciating death. But You picked them after long hours of prayer despite knowing their flaws and weaknesses.

Once You came down the hills to where a large crowd from every region was waiting for You to touch and heal them, You did. No one who came to You was sent away without experiencing the touch of God.   

Thank You, Lord, for calling us out of darkness into Your own marvelous light. Thank You for never tiring of healing us and filling us with Your power. Thank You, for the hope we have in You.

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.

He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.