Daily Meditation: Baruch 5:1-9
Baruch 5:1-9
1 Jerusalem, put off your garment of mourning and unhappiness, put on the splendor and glory of God forever.
2 Wrap yourself in the mantle of holiness that comes from God, put on your head the crown of glory of the Eternal One.
3 For God will show your splendor to every being under Heaven.
4 He will call your name forever, “Peace in Justice” and “Glory in the Fear of the Lord.”
5 Rise up, Jerusalem, stand on the heights. Look towards the East and see your children gathered together from the setting of the sun to its rising, by the voice of the Holy One, rejoicing because God has remembered them.
6 They left you on foot, taken away by the enemy. God will lead them back, carried gloriously like royal princes.
7 For God has resolved to bring low every high mountain and the everlasting hills, to fill up the valleys and level out the ground, in order that Israel may walk in safety under the Glory of God.
8 Even the forests and the fragrant trees will give shade to Israel at God’s command. 9 For God will lead Israel with joy by the light of his Glory, escorting them with his mercy and justice.
My Beloved, today 117 children from our Parish, St. Therese, will be receiving their first Holy Communion . I claim each one of these beautiful verses as a promise for them. These children are the future of Your Church. I pray this prayer of blessing and promise for them. I thank You Beloved for the grace to answer Your call to become a catechist. In some small way, I pray that I have had an influence for good in their lives and that they have come to know and love You more because of the instruction given to them by us catechists. May they continue to be faithful in all their religious observances. As they grow in wisdom and grace, continue to be their best Friend all the days of their lives. Thank You.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily Mass Reading: Acts 5:34-42, John 6:1-15, Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
Acts 5:34-42
My Beloved, we live in an age when Christianity and Christians are persecuted every where. In countries where there is an organized state religion, there is a terrible discrimination against Your followers. They are not permitted to have a place of worship. They cannot gather in public places to worship You. They cannot display symbols of their faith. Even in the west, where the countries have a Christian heritage and culture they want to erase all traces of their Christian roots and live licentious lives, free from the moral and spiritual code laid down by the Commandments that are so necessary, if we are to live happy and fruitful lives.
39 If, on the other hand, it is from God, you will not be able to destroy it and you may indeed find yourselves fighting against God.”
This verse is very heartening because we are reminded that we follow You, the Son of God and You are triumphant. We need never fear the Enemy. The next verses are a reminder that we can and must expect persecution for the sake of the Gospel. Give us courage and grace to be bold witnesses of the faith.
40 They called in the apostles and had them whipped, and ordered them not to speak again of Jesus Savior. Then they set them free.
41 The apostles went out from the Council rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name. 42 Day after day, both in the Temple and in people’s homes, they continued to teach and to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah.
John 6:1-15
God sits among His people as one of us. He sees all of our sicknesses - moral, physical and mental and He heals each one of them. He feeds us with His Word. He sustains us with His Spirit and He gives us His own flesh as food for our soul. Bread for the journey of life. All are welcome at the table of the Lord. To all who believe, the Beloved gives eternal life.
My Beloved, as catechists, we are called to provide food for Your little ones. Mould us and fill us with the Holy Spirit and the gifts we need in order that we in turn may feed those entrusted to us with the finest wheat and the sweetest honey. Many of the children are being raised in good Catholic homes and their parents are excellent teachers and are good examples and role models to their children. Let us take the five loaves and fish that the children already possess and build on it to feed the multitude; as we add to their knowledge and help them to increase their love for You.
Beloved, I crown You as King of my heart and my life. Rule over me and establish Your Kingdom in me forever.
Psalm 27: 4, 14
4 One thing I ask of the Lord, one thing I seek –
that I may dwell in his house all the days of my life,
to gaze at his jewel and to visit his sanctuary.
You are the Priceless Jewel in the Sanctuary, in the Monstrance, in the Tabernacle and in my heart. I dwell in Your Holy Presence all day long for You live and reign in me.
vs. 14
14 Trust in the Lord, be strong and courageous
– yes, put your hope in the Lord!
