1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28, Mark 2:23-28

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

FEAST OF ST. AGNES - VIRGIN & MARTYR

1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28, Mark 2:23-28

1 Samuel 16:1-13

 My Beloved there are many things that You reveal in these verses.

1. We are not to lock ourselves and grieve over the past but we  must always be ready and alert to hear what You desire us to do next.  Putting past failures behind us we must look to You with hope and expectant faith.
2. We must be unafraid when we are doing Your work in obedience to Your call.  We must be have confidence in You knowing that You will reveal to us what needs to be done.  We must take time to listen to what You have to say and how You desire us to act in any given situation.
3. We cannot offer You a sacrifice pleasing to You if we approach You with unclean hearts; this is why the Church invites us in the Penitential Rite of the Liturgy to ask for forgiveness and pardon for our sins, only then will our sacrifice be pleasing and acceptable to God.
4. You remind us that You do not judge as man judges by outward appearances, rather You look at the person's heart.  We are called to do the same.
5. God's choice must be our choice as well, in this is wisdom.  We must not rest until we discern God's will and then we must act on it.
6. Once we have acted in accordance with the will of God blessings will surely follow.

Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28

 My Beloved, the kingship of David and his reign over Your people was a foreshadow of Your own rule and Kingship over all nations.  You are the Chosen One, the Anointed, the Christ, the Light of the Word, the One who redeems all.  God has given You the Crown, the Shepherd's Crook and the Scepter.  To You is given all glory, power, honor and authority. Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and Your rule is eternal.  You are the Firstborn of all who through the waters of baptism have become the adopted children of the Most High God.  You are our God, our Rock, our Redeemer, our Hope, our Peace, our Love and our Life.  You are the Light that illumines the world, we no longer walk alone in the dark.  Your Light has made the darkness flee and the terrors of the night are no more.

Mark 2:23-28

My  Beloved, sometimes we become rigid and hidebound by rules and regulations.  We become obsessed with theories  and get caught up in man made traditions, laws and customs and we forget to see what is most important - the person who is need of our compassion, understanding and charity.  There are times when we must cast aside all the externals that we stubbornly cling to and get down on our knees and serve.

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20, Psalm 40:2, 7-10, Mark 1:29-39

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS:

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20, Psalm 40:2, 7-10, Mark 1:29-39

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20

May I like Samuel stay close to You my Beloved.  Awake or asleep may I remain by You.  May I be attuned to the sound of Your voice and each time You call me, may my response like Samuel's be, "I am here."  May I desire to hear all You have to say to me attentively.  

Through the years that are granted to me before You call me home, stay by me and grant that I too remain by You.  

Just as the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel by giving him His word, so too has God revealed Himself to me through His Eternal Word.

 

Psalm 40:2, 7-10

May my attitude be like that of the Psalmist in verse 2, 

With resolve I waited for the Lord; he listened and heard me beg.

You always hear the prayers of Your faithful and I know that You hear my prayers as well.  What pleases You is a heart attuned to Your voice and a will ready to yield to Yours.  Your law, my Beloved, is the law of love, may I delight in obeying it gladly for this law is written on my heart.  Grant me the grace to witness gladly and openly to all that You have so graciously and lovingly done for me.

Mark 1:29-39

These verses are a snapshot of a typical day in Your life when You walked among Your people and should be a typical day in the life of Your disciples and followers, in short every Christian's life.  After You left the synagogue You did not go off for some downtime on Your own, rather You went to the home of Peter in the company of the other disciples.  On entering Peter's home and discovering that his mother-in-law was sick, they had the good sense to bring their concern to You knowing that You would not be indifferent to her need.  They were right.  You reached out and took the woman by her hand and instantly Your power, strength and health poured into her and infused her body with it.  Immediately all that ailed her vanished.  Her response must be ours as well. Once we have encountered You, are touched by You, we must get up at once and minister and serve You who are present in those around us.

Your concern was not limited to those closest to You but reached out to all who came to You and each received healing.

At the end of a physically and emotionally exhausting day it would have been understandable if You sought rest for Your body instead You woke up before the sun and went away from the crowds to pray.  This is a reminder to us that without God we can do nothing.  We need You as much as we need air to breathe, food to eat and water to drink.  We must not linger after we have served in order to receive praise and thanks for what we have done, rather, we have to move on and continue reaching out touching others too that they may also encounter You through us.