Monday, December 4, 2017

Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122:1-9, Matthew 8:5-11

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Come and save us, LORD our God;
Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. 

Ps 80:4


Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122:1-9, Matthew 8:5-11


Isaiah 2:1-5

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Those who walk with You, the Light of the World will never walk in darkness. Today we are reminded by the prophet Isaiah that there will be a time of universal peace. Nation will not take up arms against nation but all shall know the Father and the Son whom the Father sent into the world. You have established the new Jerusalem and to her will all the nations stream so they may come together to worship God in the only truly acceptable Sacrifice pleasing to the Father, the Sacrifice of His Son. Death no longer has the power to terrify those who believe in You, hope in You and  love You. 


Psalm 122:1-9

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

I cannot thank You enough that I was born into a Catholic home. Half the battle was won for me when God in His infinite wisdom and mercy desired this  for me. Who knows Beloved, had He in His tremendous mercy not done so I may have never accepted the Truth that salvation comes from You alone, there is no other Name by which we may be saved but Yours. 

Thank You for the Catholic Church and for the welcome that she extends to all sinners. Her gates are thrown open for everyone to enter and all will find a home in her. Thank You Beloved for peace in the midst of conflict, for love in the midst of violent virulent hate, thank You for Your Presence in the world that is determined to turn its back on You who came into it, was rejected by it, yet redeemed and sanctified it. Maranatha Lord Jesus we long for Your coming again in glory. Maranatha!

Matthew 8:5-11

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Faith as that of the Centurion in the power of God and confidence that He has only to speak and it will be done is the kind that all Christians must have. The Centurion was a foreigner and yet he believed that You came from God and in fact possessed the power of God. 

Beloved, often it is the non Christian, the non Catholic who  puts us to shame, for their faith in You is greater than ours despite the fact that our faith is given to us as a gift in Baptism. Most of us are ignorant of the treasures we bear in our earthly body. 

The Centurion had genuine love for his servant; how genuine is my love for those less fortunate than I? You are tender-hearted and at the Centurion's request You were prepared to set out immediately to his home and cure his servant. But he stopped You and instead asked only that You speak the words of healing, that was enough, his servant would get well. You commended the faith of the Centurion and remarked for the benefit of those around You, Your disciples and fellow Jews that You had not found such faith in Israel. That was a terrible indictment against those who walked with You, ate with You, heard You, witnessed Your miracles, heard your teaching. Is it the same with me Beloved? Is my faith weak and shallow despite all that I have personally experienced of your love and faithfulness? the miracles wrought in my own life and the lives of those around me? I do believe Beloved, increase my Faith, my hope and my love. 

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Isaiah 63:16-17, 19, 64:2-7, Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:33-37

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Show us Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation. Ps 85:8


Isaiah 63:16-17, 19, 64:2-7, 
Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, 
Mark 13:33-37



Isaiah 63:16-17, 19, 64:2-7

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

O Lord my God the piercing lament of the prophet Isaiah is mine today as well. Why Beloved have we strayed so far from the path of righteousness? Have pity on us and do once again the awesome deeds You did in the past. Work even greater signs and wonders so that our hard hearts may soften and turn to You and be saved.

How wonderful this world of ours would be Beloved if we walked the way that You have marked for us, if we followed in Your footsteps. Joy would be ours and peace would follow in our wake. But we live in a world that is steeped in sin whose eyes do not see, whose ears are deliberately closed because those of the world refuse to acknowledge that You O Lord are our God, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Messiah, our Hope.

Look upon Your remnant Beloved and do not let us grow arrogant, boastful, or self-righteous but keep us mindful that no matter how faithfully we serve in Your vineyard we are only doing our duty. May we never parade our good works as deserving of praise and recognition for they are nothing but filthy rags before You.  All You ask from us is a deeply contrite and repentant heart. Keep us humble and grant us the grace to fight the good fight, to run the race, to keep the faith, as St. Paul as urged us to do. Continue to shape us in Your image and likeness for we are Yours to do with as You will.

Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

You are our Good Shepherd, You left Your throne to walk among us as one of us. Thank You for saving us. Thank You for graciously permitting Your Face to shine upon us. Thank You for staying with us and not leaving us orphans. Thank You for Your constant love, Your saving help, and for strength granted to us freely through the Sacraments.

We are the people whom You have made Your Own, we are called Christians because we follow You the Anointed One as sheep follow the shepherd.

Thank You for the new life we receive from You over and over again. Thank You for new beginnings. Thank You that we are a new creation in You. Thank You for the gift of faith and the hope of eternity with You.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mark 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.

What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'"