Mark 16:15-20

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA MARY

Daily Meditation:  Mark 16:15-20

15 Then he told them, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 Signs like these will accompany those who have believed: in my Name they will cast out demons and speak new langu­ages; 18 they will pick up snakes and, if they drink anything poisonous, they will be unharmed. They will lay their hands on the sick and they will be healed.”

19 So then, after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and took his place at the right hand of God. 20 The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied them.

I believe in You my Beloved and because I am grafted in You through Baptism, I am commissioned by You to go out - in my home, in Church, in my workplace - in fact wherever I may be, and I must take You to everyone I encounter each day.  My witness must be the outcome of a lively faith and it must be eloquent in the way I live my life so that others too may come to know You, believe in You and be saved.

You make it very clear to us who will be saved, 

 

16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. 

This is the unvarnished truth and is not very welcome by those who believe that truth is relative rather than objective.  What is even more unpalatable to them is that there is eternal and unchanging truth - that Truth has a Name and it is Your Name Beloved Jesus.  No one is condemned by You except those who make a personal choice to shuffle with Judas. 

We who believe as baptized Christians that we are called to mission by a personal invitation extended by You, do not go into the world to do battle, without being well armed and equipped by You to meet any challenge.  In Your mighty and powerful Name, the Name above every other name, evil will be destroyed and those who seek to destroy us will find that their plans will fail.  You will enable us to speak the language of the Holy Spirit through His unmatched gifts, which You will give us liberally to enable us accomplish Your work.  You assure us that we will lay our hands and heal for power will flow from You to us.  

You promise that we will work even greater signs and wonders than You did because You will manifest Your power working in us as we labor in Your vineyard and help to bring about the coming of God's Kingdom on earth.  This was true in the early Church and has been true through the ages.

Beloved, I am timid and diffident, I have not reached out and seized and taken hold of the promises You have made me.  

I have not allowed myself to work in faith relying with certainty on the Gifts of Your Holy Spirit that have been poured on me.

Help me Lord!

"My grace is with you.  You are never alone."

 

Mark 8:34, Colossians 2:6-15, Luke 6:12-19, Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11

Daily Meditation: Mark 8:34

Mark 8:34

34 Then Jesus called the peo­ple and his disciples and said, “If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.

Beloved Jesus, You invite all people as well as Your disciples to a radical discipleship if we wish to be truly committed in our walk with You.  It is a free choice there is no coercion.  We can either say, 'Yes,' or 'No.'  There is no compulsion.  You will never force us to do anything.  Our free will is Your greatest gift to us and You will not revoke it.  Our loving and obedient response to Your call while striving to align our will to Your own, is so pleasing to You, our Divine Lover, that You will always outdo us in generosity.

The cost of discipleship is not easy it involves denying the self, the flesh, the senses.  Anyone who has lived a self indulgent life even in the most normal circumstances, without any grave and or sinful addictions, will know that it is virtually impossible, without grace, to curb our natural appetites which while they may be lawful, are an impediment to spiritual growth.  

How difficult it is to crucify our will 24/7, 365 days of the year.  We have to war with our lower nature and discipline ourselves to answer the divine call.

If                            :  my choice

I                             :  personally

want                      :  desire, yearn

to follow Christ     :  to be His disciple

deny yourself        :  I must curb self indulgence and align my will to His.

take up your cross :  I must accept with fortitude                
                                    whatever circumstances I am faced with each moment
                                   whether it is sickness, disappointment, loss, pain, 

                                   death, trials or anything else.

and follow Christ :    My focus must always be on Him never on myself  

                                   or on any other creature. I must focus even less on 

                                  the cross I am called to carry rather, my whole attention

                                   must be riveted on Christ, following Him as closely

                                   as can.  I will never be lost if I follow Him. In this alone 

                                    is my true, perfect and lasting peace and joy.

What do you find most difficult to deny yourself each day?

 You are called to bring your entire self under the command of My Holy Spirit aware that you cannot accomplish anything on your own.  With My help alone will you be able to follow Me.  Remember that You cannot fool Me but you can and will delude yourself so ask constantly for help and then accept it.  I am with you always so never allow yourself to get discouraged.  This is a daily and lifelong battle with small victories each day through grace.

Daily Mass Readings:  Colossians 2:6-15, Luke 6:12-19, 

                                      Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11

Colossians 2:6-15

Verse six begins with a challenge.  "If you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, let Him be Your doctrine."  Each of these verses must be savored for in them Paul discloses a wealth of truth.  The whole cosmos is subject to You my Beloved.  Everything in heaven, on earth and under the earth are Yours to command and all power has been given to You by Your Father. 

Luke 6:12-19

Verse 12 says, "Jesus went out into the hills to pray, spending the whole night in prayer with God."

Verse 17 - 19

17 Coming down the hill with them, Jesus stood on a level place. Many of his disciples were there and a large crowd of people who had come from all parts of Judea and Jerusalem and from the coastal cities of Tyre and Si­don.  

18 They gathered to hear him and be healed of their diseases; likewise people troubled by evil spirits were healed.  

19 The entire crowd tried to touch him because of the power that went out from him and healed them all.

In these verses St. Luke tells us that You spent the whole night in prayer with Your Father before You chose the twelve Apostles and on this rock sold foundation You chose to build Your Church.

Each one of us is too is personally chosen by God Himself through You, the Beloved.  On Zion's Hill, the New Jerusalem, the one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is firmly rooted and established in You.  From here Your Church descends to invite and welcome people from every  nation, creed, race, language, culture and color to a close a personal, close and total relationship with You in this Church which is also Your Bride.