Amos 8:4-6, 9-12, Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40 & 131, Matthew 9:9-13

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Amos 8:4-6, 9-12, Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40 & 131, Matthew 9:9-13

Amos 8:4-6, 9-12

My Beloved, You remind us again that we must have a preferential love for the poor, the marginalized, the victims of greed and power. So many are held hostage by the indifference or the whims of those who have sold their souls for the lust of the temporal

These verses apply to the age we live in and Your response to those who work painstakingly to wipe Your Name from the collective consciousness of the world.  To these You offer a stern rebuke and warning, "Days are coming when I will send famine upon the land, not hunger for bread or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of  the Lord.  Men will stagger from sea to sea, wander to and fro, from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it."

Have mercy on the remnant faithful Lord and for their sake spare the world that You have redeemed at so great a cost.

Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40 & 131

2 Blessed are they who treasure his word and seek him with all their heart.

10 I seek you with my whole heart; let me not stray from your commands.

20 My soul is consumed with desire for your ordinances at all times.

30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart upon your laws.

40 Oh, how I long for your precepts! Renew my life in your righteousness..

131 I gasp in ardent yearning for your commandments that I love.

Each one of these verses speak of my love for Your Word.  My desire to obey Your commands always.  My soul's hunger and thirst to be filled with the beauty, wisdom and truth of Your teachings.  I wish to walk in Your way for Your way is the way that leads to life.  Thank You for renewing, refreshing and restoring my spirit through the Sacraments You have instituted.

I know my Beloved, all this is too extravagant and ambitious for one like me for I am just Your poor little nothing.  But if You take me into Yourself then lost in You, I am all things that You are.  So let it be my Lord.  Amen!

Matthew 9:9-13

These verses speak of Matthew the tax collector who is also the writer of this Gospel.  This is his experience with regard to Your invitation to him and his response to be Your disciple.  It is a call that all who are baptized receive.

Matthew was busy with temporal things.  He made a good living by using both fair means and foul.  Tax collectors were tainted by their profession. The Pharisees labelled them as sinners because they not only worked for the enemy but they they took more than was due. You however love the sinner even though You abhor the sin.

Matthew who was looked down upon by the elite among his fellow Jews, the Pharisees, would have been astonished and overwhelmed when You looked at him and said, "Follow Me!" 

There are so many people in the world who are absolutely alone.  Some are miserable because they are enslaved by their sins and cannot rid themselves of their weakness to the various ways in which they are tempted.  Some are ostracised because their sins are public knowledge and the the whiplash of cruel glances and ostracism cause them great anguish. One kind word would perhaps win them over and they would gladly give up their sinful life in exchange for kindness, affection and acceptance.  This is why You remind the Pharisees who took offence because You surrounded Yourself with sinners that those who show mercy will be the first to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The haughty, cold and self-righteous will find themselves on the outside while those on whom we have looked at with disdain will enter heaven.

Acts 10:24-35, Hebrews 1:2-3, Psalm 42:1-2 & 4, John 20:24-29

FEAST OF ST. THOMAS - APOSTLE & MARTYR

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 10:24-35, Hebrews 1:2-3, Psalm 42:1-2 & 4, John 20:24-29

Acts 10:24-35

My Beloved, those in the Church serve.  They must never forget that only God is worshipped the rest of us are His servants.  We serve our brothers and sisters at the command and will of God. 

Verses 25-26   As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius went to him, fell on his knees and bowed low. But Peter lifted him up saying, “Stand up, for I too am a human being.”  

Peter reminds Cornelius that we do not bow before man but before God alone to whom worship is due. 

Beloved, verse 30 assures us that when we pray the heaven open and God hears and answers according to our need. In Verse 33 Cornelius who is filled with gratitude that Peter came to his home when he called believes that he and his family are blessed.  As they stay stood before Peter they believed that they were  in God's presence.  

When we stand with the Pope, the successor of Peter, we must forget our own little dreams and plans and pay attention to what God desires of us. We must listen and obey Him. Prompted by the Holy Spirit Peter speaks in truth in verse 34  “Truly, I realize that God does not show partiality  but in all nations he listens to everyone who fears God and does good.

Hebrews 1:2-3

My Beloved, at the appointed time, when all was ready, God set His plan in motion. First He had to receive the 'fiat' of a young, virgin girl whom He invited to collaborate with Him in His awesome plan of saving His poor, weak, sinful creatures. 

God spoke a Word at creation and all that is came into being.  In our time God speaks a Word and the Word descended into Mary's womb and was clothed in Human Flesh.  Through You my Beloved,  we become all that God meant him to be when He first created us.  You are the radiance and glory of God. Ten thousand time brighter than the sun.  You bear in Your Being, within and without the infinite love of God.  You make known to us all that the Father desires us to know.  You reveal the Father to us and make known to us Your mission, which is to take upon Yourself every sin from the first to the last.  Having become the Victim that made expiation for our sins You are seated at the right hand of the Father in glory, majesty and splendor.  We wait in hope for Your coming to claim us as Your own. 

Psalm 42:1-2 & 4

I long for You.  I hunger and thirst for You.  Thank You for satisfying me and granting me all I need at the Eucharistic Table, Your banquet of Love.

John 20:24-29

My Beloved, You invite us all to, "resist no longer but be a believer."  Many hear Your invitation to change their scepticism into acceptance of the Truth and responding in the manner of St. Thomas, they say they will not believe until they can see, touch, taste and experience for themselves that You are who You say You are.  In turn You say to us what You said first to those in the room and then to all who believe and to those You say what You say to all who do not believe in Verse 27   “Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer.” 28 Thomas then said, “You are my Lord and my God.” 29 Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe.” On that day all who resisted You for so long will fall before You in worship and say, You are my Lord and my God!"

Thank You that we are counted among those blessed lot who have not seen yet believe.