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.
‘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.
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