Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12, Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9, 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17, John 2:13-22

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord,

that my name may be there forever. Chr 7:16

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12,  Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9, 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17, 

John 2:13-22

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

My soul's beloved, we believe that One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church founded by You on the Rock that is Peter and You the Cornerstone, is the House of God and the Gate that opens to heaven.

Today the Church celebrates this House and the Church which is represented by the Chair of Peter. Long before You established Your Church, the prophet Ezekiel gives a beautiful description of it as we read in today's first reading. It is here that the streams of life giving water flow out springing forth from the Cross on Calvary, streams into the empty tomb and flows in torrents through Your Resurrected Body which is the Church and the life giving Sacraments dispensed by her. 

In these waters the sinful soul is washed clean and is regenerated. Life overflows from her and here the dead come to life and begin to bear good fruit in abundance. Here sinners are healed from every disease and they in turn bear fruit for the glory of God.

Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

My soul's beloved, every faithful Catholic has experienced new life that comes from You and from forgiveness of our sins. In Your Church, Your Body to which we are grafted we have found You to be our refuge and strength, our ever present help in times of trouble. In You we are unshaken no matter what troubles assail us. We are grounded in You, our roots are deeply embedded in You so even if the mountains plunge into the sea we will be unshaken. You gladden our hearts with the Wine of Joy, the Cup of our Salvation, and the Bread of Life. No harm can come to us, nothing can disturb our peace for our hope and our confidence come from You. We rejoice because not only did God send You into the world to save us, God feeds us with Himself and we are made children of the Most High and heirs to the Kingdom. 

1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17

My soul's beloved, thank You for the privilege and the free gift of being part of Your Body, the Church. You are its foundation and grace upon grace is poured upon us and we take part in the life of the Church, the life of Grace, a life in Your Holy Spirit. Only in You and through You are we saved, salvation comes from no other. This is how the Father desires that it will be and so it is.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If anyone destroys God’s temple,

God will destroy that person;

for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Thank You my souls' beloved, keep me safe in the cleft of the Rock.

John 2:13-22

My soul's beloved, it must grieve You so to see how even today we make a market place of God's holy dwelling. We buy, sell, barter, we are irreverant of things that are holy and sacred and we make a mockery of divine teaching. 

Help us who are faithful to be pray without ceasing, to be vigilant, and to do what we can to clear out the rubbish that accumulates due to false teaching, false interpretation, leading to to a distorted practice of the faith. God's house is always a house of prayer, a place where all things holy are treated as holy. You died for Your Church and You raised her up. She has a divine call, and she a divine mandate. May all who are born of her do their part in cleansing her by cleansing themselves of all that is evil through the Gifts of the Sacraments.

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14, Psalm 34:3-4, 18, 23, 27 & 29, Luke 17:7-10

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Whoever loves me will keep my word, 
and my Father will love him, 
and we will come to him. Jn 14:23

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14, Psalm 34:3-4, 18, 23, 27 & 29, Luke 17:7-10

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14

My soul's beloved, St. Paul gives all Christians sound advice in keeping with all the things we believe as children of God, the Most High and as taught by Jesus our Savior. The Holy Spirit provides all the grace we need to live holy, pure, and upright lives free from all deceit, and immorality. However, in every age and even more so in ours we have begun to  pick and choose what suits us and to discard what requires discipline and self control. We are cafeteria Catholics and Christians. Your Word is clear. Your Word tells us very clearly that  All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. But we prefer to follow our own flesh, the devil, and the world. We are willing to sell our immortal soul for momentary pleasure and gain. We have lost sight of the eternal as we wallow in slime of sin. We have so blinded ourselves to the good, the true, the Godly, and the beautiful that we can no longer recognize it. This is why the world mocks all things holy and sacred. 

If all men, women, and youth modeled their lives on the lines recommended by St. Paul the Kingdom of Heaven would already be among us and all those who have not yet believed would come to do so. You lay down Your Life for us but we live lives that are no different from those who are not espoused to You. Our sin is greater because even though we know the Truth we choose to be blind to it. In Your great mercy Lord, have pity on us and grant us a new outpouring of Your Holy Spirit so we may return to You with all our hearts and be saved.

Psalm 34:3-4, 18, 23, 27 & 29

My soul's beloved, I thank You for the wonderful encouragement in the verses if this Psalm . You alone save.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Trust in the LORD and do good,

that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will grant you your heart’s requests.

The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;

their inheritance lasts forever.

By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,

and he approves his way.

Turn from evil and do good,

that you may abide forever;

The just shall possess the land

and dwell in it forever.

Luke 17:7-10

My soul's beloved, we expect to be rewarded for any good that we do, even though as Your followers we are called to be serve and not to be served. We are given a mission and we have to be out in the field helping to bring in the harvest without murmuring. We are called to carry out our mission according to our vocation in life without expecting to be complimented, without expecting to be applauded, without expecting to be favored for doing our duty. You are our Lord and our Master. You came to serve and You gave us a wonderful example of the laying down Your life for us while we were yet sinners and still are. We are unworthy servants Lord called by You and empowered by Your Holy Spirit to live a life of grace, of holiness and above all of joyful service.  Help us Lord to remember this when we expect recognition. Keep us humble and keep our hand firmly on the plow as the Lord of the harvest desires.