Song of Songs 4:12

Song of Songs 4:12                          *(see note)

You are a garden enclosed, my sister, my bride; a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain. 

Mary is the garden enclosed that the writer of the Song of Songs speaks of.  She is the sister and bride of the Holy Spirit.  The power of the Father comes upon her, the Holy Spirit overshadows her, the Son becomes incarnate in her womb.  He grows there in secret for nine months embellishing this garden with every grace, blessing and virtue.  She is radiant with the radiance of God emanating from her.  Her body and her soul were conceived in the heart and mind of the the Almighty God, the God of all ages - Master Designer and Master Creator of this, His divine masterpiece.  There never was and there never shall be another creature as lovely, good, pure, sweet, gentle, noble and grace-filled as Mary - my Mother, my Mama, my Queen.

NOTE:

To highlight Mary's chastity, her effigy is surrounded by two of the classical symbols of Our Lady's virginity, namely:

Hortus conclusus

(enclosed garden)

Fons signatus

(sealed fountain)

Both symbols appear in the Song of Songs, "You are. . .my sister, my bride, an enclosed garden, a fountain sealed." (Canticle 4, 12).

The typical half-image of Mother and child form the crown of a tree which bears simultaneously, flowers and fruit. They are symbols of Mary's role as simultaneously virgin (flower) and mother (fruit).

Song of Songs 2:8-14, Psalm 33:11-12, 20-21

She

The voice of my lover! Behold he comes, springing across the mountains, jumping over the hills, like a gazelle or a young stag. Now he stands behind our wall, looking through the windows, peering through the lattice.  My lover speaks to me,

 

He

“Arise, my love, my beautiful one!  Come, the winter is gone, the rains are over.  Flowers have appeared on earth; the season of singing has come; the cooing of doves is heard.  The fig tree forms its early fruit, the vines in blossom are fragrant.  Arise, my beautiful one, come with me, my love, come.  O my dove in the rocky cleft, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice.  Your face – how lovely!  Your voice – how sweet!”

My Beloved, You always speak the words I need to hear.  Thank You for telling me once more how passionately You love me.  My life my love, my being is Yours my own true God.  I give it all to You through Mary.

Psalm 33:11-12, 20-21

But His plan stands forever, and his heart’s design through all generations.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord – the people he has chosen for his inheritance.  In hope we wait for the Lord, for He is our help and our shield.  Our hearts rejoice in Him, for we trust in His holy Name.

All that You say to me today makes my heart leap for  joy.

Genesis 49:9-10, Psalm 72:17

Genesis 49:9-10

Judah, a young lion! You return from the prey my son! Like a lion he stoops and  crouches, and like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? The scepter shall not be taken from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and who has the obedience of the nations.

Psalm 72:17

May His Name endure forever; may His Name be as lasting as the sun. All the races will boast about Him, and He will be blessed by all nations.

My Beloved, You are the young, strong invincible Lion of Judah.  You have conquered and destroyed the prey of evil.  Like a lion You stoop and crouch and You are ready to strike at all who dare to harm the poor, the outcast the weak, those with no voice.  You are the Ruler of the earth and all creation submits to Your rule in loving obedience.

As the psalmist foretold, Your Name endures forever - the sun will not last but the SON will.  All races boast about You and You are blessed by all nations.  Although many in the world wish to deny Your existence by denying You my Beloved, they cannot silence the many, who armed with Your Holy Spirit, are prepared to lay down their lives to proclaim You.

Psalm 85:11-14

Psalm 85:11-14

Love and faithfulness have met; righteousness and peace have  embraced.  Faithfulness will reach up from the earth while justice bends down from heaven.  The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its fruit.  Justice will go before him, and peace will follow along his path.

My Beloved, how clear it becomes once the Holy Spirit points out how God reached down to ask for Mary's cooperation and she reached up in faith and humility; to allow God complete freedom to accomplish His plan, using her as His instrument to bring it about.  May I too always say yes to Your will and plan for my life.

Zephaniah 3:9, 11-12

Zephaniah 3:9, 11-12

At that time I will give truthful lips to the pagan nations that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh and serve Him with the same zeal.  On that day you will no longer be ashamed of your deeds when you were unfaithful to Me.  I will leave within you a poor meek people who seek refuge in God.

Beloved, I have just finished reading St. Louis de Montfort's little gem  Treatise on True Devotion to Mary.  I  have renewed the consecration of myself to her in order that I  may be more pleasing to You.  If I have the fragrance of Mary I shall be better able to approach You my God through her, in her and with her - Mary my mistress and mother who will always say to me, "Do whatever He tells you."  With Your own sweet Mother beside me You will welcome my approach and be pleased to let me touch the hem of Your garment.

Numbers 24:7

NUMBERS 24:7

His buckets are overflowing and his seeds are always watered.

"My child, You know the truth but unless you apply it to your life there will be no growth.  Your will must cooperate with the grace that I freely give in order that you may produce lasting fruit.  The angels, the saints and above all my Mother are rooting for you and cheering you on because they see your desire to please Me.  But just good desires are  not enough to achieve your goal of sanctity.  To the desire must be added your will - a firm unshakeable will, only then can you become what you desire.

The seeds I plant are always well watered by My Holy Spirit but the soil must be good.  I have not told you these things to make you sad but you must know that anything worth having is worth fighting for.  In this is victory."

"Thank You my Beloved for speaking to me."

Saturday 12.12.2009

My Beloved, I thank You for both St. Alphonso Liguori and St. Louis de Montfort and most of all for Your Word where You are constantly showing me the different facets of the Jewel of God we call Mother Mary.  The Catholic Church has received and recognised the grace to plumb this inexhaustible treasure of beauty and the great things the Triune God has done in this loveliest and humblest of creatures - Your handmaid, because she gave herself to You freely and without reserve.  In heaven the angels and saints vie with each other to sing her praises and do her bidding. 

Mama Mary pray for me.  You know all that is in my heart.  Help me!  Mama. if it is God's will then I know you will reveal and make possible the work that God is probably assigning to me.  You will help to make it clear.  Thank you.

Psalm 1:2-4, Isaiah 48:17-19

My Beloved, the psalmist says that we are blessed when we find our delight in Your law and meditate on Your commandments day and night.  We will find ourselves like a tree beside a brook producing fruit in due season and everything we do will be a success. The same thought is expressed by the prophet Isaiah but differently.

Isaiah 48:17-19

Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:  I, Yahweh your God, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go.  Had you paid attention to my commandments, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.  your descendants would have been like the sand and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from my Presence.

My Beloved, for a long time I have had this desire to tithe on my heart.  I have been praying about it as You know - if this is something that You wish me to initiate my Lord, then I as Your slave as well as Mama's, desire to carry out Your will.  I believe that if this is from You then You will be with me and help me.  Time will tell.  Thank You my Lord.

"Be like the child who gave his 5 loaves and 2 fish to Me and with it I was able to feed a multitude."

Isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God.  I will give you strength I will bring  you help, I will uphold you with the right hand of  my justice.

My Beloved, I thank You for all that is happening to me spiritually right now.  I do believe my Beloved that Your Mama and mine, our dearest Mother Mary is praying for me for she is my benefactress.  She has my hand firmly in hers for I have placed my hand in her own and I ask that she never lets go of it.  Mary my mama pray for me.

Isaiah 40:28-29, 31, Matthew 11:28:30

Isaiah 40:28-29, 31

Have you not known, have you not heard that Yahweh is an everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth?  He does not grow tired or weary, His knowledge is without limit.  He gives strength to the enfeebled, He gives vigor to the wearied.  Those who hope  in Yahweh will renew their strength.  They will soar as with eagle's wings; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and never tire.

Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said to the crowds: "Come to me, all you who work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of  heart; and you will find rest.  For my yoke is easy and my burden light.

My Beloved, You have called me to holiness and I must respond.  What does it mean to be holy?  It means modelling my life on that of Mary, Your Mama and mine, the holiest of all Your creatures.

Desiring to be holy is only the first step, I must live each moment aware of this great calling.  You  know perfectly well my Beloved, that I cannot do this alone and so You make available to me the sacraments.  You give me Yourself as food for my soul and You gave me Your Father and Mother for my own for it is You who taught me to call God Abba.

Philippians 1:8-11, Luke 3:4-6

Myra, I love you.  You are Mine.  Not only do I know you by your name, I have given you a secret name that only I know. You are precious to me.  You are my possession.  I love you with an everlasting love.  Love me in return.  Be Mine.  Give me all of yourself, hold nothing back.  Be as simple as a child.  I will supply all your needs.  I will hear and answer your prayers for yourself and for those you love.  Belong to Me.  Hold nothing back.  I have loved you even before the creation of the world and I  have made a place for you with me, so that where I am you may be as well because I want you to be with Me forever.

Philippians 1:8-6

God knows that I love you dearly with the love of Christ Jesus, and in my prayers I ask that your love may lead you each day to a deeper knowledge and clear discernment, that you may have good criteria for everything.  So you may be pure of  heart and come blameless to the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of holiness that comes through Christ Jesus, for the glory and praise of God.

My beloved Jesus, my own true God, grant that I may lose myself in You - may I be be so lost in You that You cannot find me.  My Beloved, how tenderly St. Paul loved the people whom he ministered to.  How much more tenderly do You love me.  Thank You for not only loving me but for the great joy and comfort I feel in my being to know that I am loved so much. 

Luke 3:4-6

It was just as is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:  listen to this voice crying out in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make His path straight.  The valleys will be filled and the mountains and hills made low.  Everything crooked will be make straight and the rough paths smooth, and every mortal will see the salvation of God.

What a great promise and it has come to pass, for all mortals have seen the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 26:3-4, Psalm 118:1

Isaiah 26:3-4

You keep in perfect peace the one who trusts in You.  Trust in Yahweh forever, for Yahweh is an everlasting Rock.

Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good His loving kindness endures forever.

My Beloved, thank You for all You  have done for me especially for loving me and assuring me that You love everyone with a different kind of tenderness.  My weaknessess make You feel a tenderness for me different from anybody else.  I love You my Jesus.  You make me smile.  You make my eyes well with tears because You love me.  My Beloved, I want to love You with every fibre of my being and I want the visible sign of my love to be that I strive to be holy and perfect with the grace You so readily make available to me.

Isaiah 25:7-10, Matthew 15:36-37

Isaiah 25:7-10

On this mountain He will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations, and death will be no more.  The Lord will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; He will take away the humiliation of His people all over the world: for Yahweh has spoken.  On that day you will say: This is our God.  We have waited for Him to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation.  For on this mountain the hand of Yahweh rests.

My Beloved, the pall of sin, death, sickness and evil shroud the world like a deadly fog.  You promise to destroy it.  The clutches of the death of sin You will loosen.  You will set us free to love You, adore You and worship You.  You will wipe away every tear and You will fill  with every grace and blessing those who follow You.  Thank You Beloved for the tiny pin pricks of humiliation for then I can experience in a small way what You suffered. 

Matthew 15:36-37

Then He took the seven loaves and the small fish and gave thanks to God,  He broke them and gave them to His disciples, who distributed them to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied, and the leftover broken pieces filled seven wicker baskets.

My Beloved, You do not exhaust Yourself when You give us Your Body and Blood.  All can eat and be satisfied and You will always be available to give us this banquet of love.

DANIEL 1:5, 8-9, LUKE 21:1-4

DANIEL 1:5, 8-9

The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favour and compassion from the palace master.

LUKE 21:1-4

Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’

My Beloved, to do the right thing no matter what the cost is never easy.  Daniel was prepared to risk his life rather than defile himself with the food and wine from the king's table. 

The widow's act of putting all she had is quite incomprehensible to the worldly wise and yet we see how pleased God is with both of these characters one in the Old Testament and the other in the New.

My Beloved, today the Church celebrates Your Kingship.  You are the King of the universe, of the heavens and the earth.  You are the Lord of life.  You rule over all things and Your Kingdom will never end.  You rule from age to age and Your Kingdom which is eternal will last forever.

You my Beloved are the Lord and Master of my life.  You rule over my home.  You are King of our family.  I acknowledge Your Kingship over every area of my life.  I bow down in worship and adoration that You whom the heavens cannot contain and for whom the earth is a mere footstool loves me and wants me to be in intimate union with You.  I can only say, "Yes, Lord.  Unworthy as I am You can have all that I am.  Rule me, fill me. sanctify me.  Thank You for all the riches You lavish on me from the treasury of Your graces - love, joy, peace, faith, hope and every other good gift and virtue. Amen."

My Beloved, grant me this grace, to believe and live by this truth that says, 'In life and in death I am Yours.'  I belong to You, first, last and forever.  Yours to do with as You will.  My life is Yours, My love is Yours, my heart, soul, mind, body and spirit are Yours.  Every heartbeat, every pulse beat, every breath I breathe is Yours.  I am all Yours my Beloved.

Luke 19:48

Luke 19:48

All the people were listening to Him and hanging on His words.

My Beloved, I can imagine the scene all the people in the temple area were listening to You and hanging on to every word.  The place was packed as they listened to Your mellifluous voice, Your splendid Presence, the love emanating from You.  The charm and wisdom of Your words which all made such perfect sense.  You stirred their souls, You fired their imaginations. The wicked stood on the side lines filled with envy, wickedness and hatred.  They chose to stand stand outside the circle of Your love and refused the salvation, hope and joy You offered.  The same is true of us today as well.

Psalm 50:15, Luke 19:41

Psalm 50:15

Call on me in time of calamity; I will deliver You and you will glorify me.

Beloved, thank You for this assurance.  Please hear my prayers for my family and for everyone I pray for every day.  Console, comfort and bless each one my Lord.

Luke 19:41

When Jesus had come in sight of Jerusalem, he wept over it.

My Beloved Jesus, You wept over Jerusalem.  Do You weep over the world today?  It seems that despite all that we know of You and of the truth, we still refuse to live it.  We deny it, we compromise it.  We make truth a lie and lie the truth.  Have pity on us Your foolish children and help us.

Psalm 17:5-6, 8 & 15

My Beloved, what wonderful reassuring loving verses these are. 

Psalm 17:5-6, 8 & 15

Hold firm my steps upon Your path that my feet may not stumble.  I call on You, You will answer me, O God, incline Your ear and hear my word.  Keep me as the apple of Your eye, under the shadow of Your wings hide me.  As for me, righteous in Your sight, I shall see Your Face and awakening, gaze my fill on Your likeness.

My Beloved, Your love for me must kindle a response.  A whole hearted generous response.  Your love for me must flow out from me to others for it to bear fruit or else it remains sterile.

Psalm 3:3-6, Luke 19:1-10

Psalm 3:3-6

You are my shield O Lord, my glory, You lift up my head.  Aloud I cry to the Lord, and from His holy hill He answers me.  If I lie down to sleep, again I awake, for the Lord supports me; no fear of the thousands standing against me.

Beloved, I bring my little trials and disappointments to You and from Your holy hill on Calvary, You answer me and I can see my own difficulties in perspective.

Luke 19:1-10

When Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycomore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ 9Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’

Zacchaeus may have been a sinner but he still recognised goodness incarnate.  He was not content with just looking and wishing.  When Jesus called him by name and invited him into a deeper relationship with God, he responded gladly and whole heartedly.

Every conversion experience should be like this.  God seeks and finds us and we respond without reserve.

"My Beloved, You seem so distant, my love so puny, there is a feeling of sadness inside.  Help me!"

"Don't go by feelings they come and go.  Go by My Word which is unchanging which is the same today, tomorrow and forever.  My Word says, ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.  Anyone who who comes to Me with a humble contrite heart will find Me because I am already standing at the door and knocking, waiting for an invitation to come into a deep and abiding relationship with anyone who desires it.  Do not be disheartened or dismayed just believe.  All things are possible to those who believe."

My Beloved, deliver me from false humility.  Yes, I am nothing but I want You to fill me with all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that You wish to give me.  Give me a receptive heart and a willing spirit.  Teach me Your ways.  Let me walk in Your path.

My Beloved, You constantly call all souls to conversion but we live in a world of noise and so we cannot hear You.  Then suddenly some event occurs and all the sound comes to a grinding halt and we hear the Voice that has been calling all the time, "This is the way, come walk in it."

Wisdom 7:22--8:1

Wisdom7:22--8:1

For in her is the spirit of understanding; holy, one, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent, Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure, subtile: For wisdom is more active than all active things; and reacheth everywhere, by reason of her purity. For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh into her.  For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.

And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets.  For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.  For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.  For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom.  She reacheth, therefore, from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.

My Beloved, what a beautiful hymn to wisdom and You embody it.  The good news is that wisdom can penetrate all things and so she can enter my soul with her light and grace.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit in and grant me this gift that I may be possessed by her. 


Wisdom is the jewel that is pinned to Mary's breast.


The Holy Eucharist is an experience.  It is an entering into the Person of Jesus Christ in His divinity and  humanity and becoming one with Him.


My verbal skills lack the ability to enunciate the wonder of this Sacrament but my heart knows because it has experienced it and I pray that my life bears witness to it.

Wisdom 6:10-11, Luke 17:16 & 19

Wisdom 6:10-11

For those who keep the holy laws in a holy way will be acknowledged holy, those who accept the teaching will find in it their defence.  Welcome my words, desire them and they will instruct you.

Luke 17:16 & 19

One of them, as soon as he saw he was cleansed, turned back praising God in a loud voice, and throwing himself on his face before Jesus, he gave him thanks.  And Jesus said to him, "Stand up and go your way; your faith has saved you."

Beloved, every good and perfect gift comes from You.  I ask O Lord that I may be given the grace to love like You, think like You, act like You.  To be like You in all things.  Teach me to become nothing in order that You may so possess me that there is no longer any I - it is all You in me.

My Beloved, like the leper who returned to give thanks I too fall on my face and thank You for Your graciousness in stooping down, loving me and raising me up to new life and making me one with You.  Thank You Lord.

Wisdom 2:23 -- 3:1, 5-6 & 9, Psalm 34:15, 18-19, Luke 17:10

Wisdom 2:23--3:1, 5-6 & 9
God created man to be immortal in the likeness of His own nature...
The souls of the just are in the  hands of God and no torment shall touch them.  After slight affliction will come great blessings, for God has tried them and found them worthy to be with Him, after testing them as gold in the furnace, He has accepted them as a holocaust.  Those who trust in Him will penetrate the truth, t hose who are faithful will live with Him in love, for His grace and mercy are for His chosen ones.

Psalm 34:15, 18-19
He who fashions the  heart of each, observes all their deeds.  The Lord's eyes are upon those who fear Him, upon those who trust in His loving kindness to deliver them from death and preserve them from famine and distress.

Luke 17:10
When you have done all that you have been told to do, you must say:  "We are no more than servants; we have only done our duty."

My own Beloved God, today I wept copious tears as it is the birthday of our first born who is now home with You.  Thank You for your consolation in today's verses.  They bring me comfort and hope.  You speak to me through Your Word in Scripture and You wipe away my tears.  All that happens in my life is ordained by a good God who has the power to draw good and make right all the things that I do wrong.  Surrendering all to You my Beloved, I can trust You to write straight on the crooked lines of my life.  In the end, if I am faithful - it is only the faithfulness of a servant who has done her duty in serving her Master well - which I hope in grace I will do.

DEDICATION OF ST. JOHN LATERAN

THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH FOUNDED BY

 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

My Beloved, I thank You with humble gratitude for the Church.  It is a place where millions like me find a home.  In Your house there is a welcome for all; the rich, the poor, the beggar and the thief.  You draw all to Yourself in love.  You bathe  us in the waters of baptism.  You restore our souls freed from sin and death in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You feed us and give us strength for the journey with Your own most precious Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.  One day You will welcome us home in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.  For all this my Beloved I offer You my most humble thanks. 

1Kings 17:10-16

1Kings 17:10-16

So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, ‘Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.’ As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, ‘Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.’ But she said, ‘As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.’ Elijah said to her, ‘Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

My Beloved, too often I am like widow, I think have nothing to give.  The little I have I keep for myself.  But You challenge me to share a little of all that I have.  To give it without fear and if I obey, You bless me abundantly.  Help me Lord to accept every challenge.  To put out into the deep as You command.  All You ask is obedience the results are up to You.

My Beloved, everything You did, You did for me.  You died that I may live.  Your resurrection gives me hope in my own resurrection.  You are now in heaven where You plead and intercede for me night and day so that where You are I too may be.

Myra, learn to give of yourself.  That is the hardest thing to do.  Once you master this giving other things become easier.  Remember my promises.  Hold on to them.  I have promised never to leave you.  I have promised to remain with my Church until the end of time. There is  no cause for you to be discouraged because I am in control.  Like the widow, give me your mite of time, and love.  Place them in the treasury of my heart and I will bless you a hundredfold.  Don't look at the sins of the world, rather, focus on Me and my love.  Stay by Me so that where I am You too may be.

Luke 16:10, 13-15

Luke 16:10, 13-15

"Whoever can be trusted in little things can also be trusted in great ones, whoever is dishonest in slight matters will also be dishonest in greater ones.  No servant can serve two masters.  Either he does not like the one and is fond of the other, or he regards one highly and the other with contempt.  You cannot give yourself both to God and money."  The Pharisees, who  loved money, heard all this and sneered at Jesus.  Jesus said to them, "You do your best to be considered righteous by people.  But God knows the heart, and what rises high among humans is loathed by God."

My Beloved, so often we are not faithful in little things and that is why we make little or no progress at all.  We remain where we are and cannot become holy and perfect - in short saints, as You have invited each one of us.  We have to struggle all the time to overcome our sinful natures.  This is the sacrifice most pleasing to You - the daily sacrifice of fighting and overcoming and making progress however small in our growth in You.  It is the struggle that is so pleasing to You.

My Beloved, You are the Eternal Bridegroom, I, along with the members of the Body of Christ, Your Church, am the eternal bride.  Our honeymoon will  never end and our marriage will be consumated in heaven where we will feast at the eternal banquet.

Although we  have our God-given human natures they can be corrupted through sin. This is why life is a constant struggle to direct and  channel our natures properly so that our nature serves God and His purposes.  Thank You Beloved for the steady supply of grace You supply through the Sacraments.

Romans 14:8, 10,12

A TRUE CHILD OF GOD WOULD HURT NO ONE EITHER IN THOUGHT WORD OR DEED.

Romans 14:8, 10, 12

If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord.  Either in life or death we belong to the Lord.  Then, why do  you criticize your brother or sister? And you, why do you despise them? For we will all appear at the tribunal of God.  So each of us will account for himself before God.

Beloved, thank You for reminding me that my only duty is to love and to forgive.  I can leave the judging of my neighbor to You, for as You rightly point out to me, each of us will account for himself before You. 

To the extent I open myself to Your love - whether consciously or unconsciously, to that extent alone can I experiece Your love.  It is I who limit You.  I don't want to - I want all of You my Beloved but You must teach me how to hunger, thirst and yearn for You every moment of every day.  This is what I want in my head.  Sweet Spirit of God grant me the grace to let the desire in my head become the desire of my heart and my very being.

I know I can trust my God to seek the lost, to save the sinner, to leave nothing unturned in the seeking and to triumphantly carry the sinner home on His shoulders.  My responsibility is to pray.

Romans 13:8, 10, Luke 14:27, 33 and Psalm 112:1-2

Romans 13:8, 10

Let this be the only debt of one to another:  Love.

Love cannot do the neighbor any harm; so love fulfils the whole law.

My Beloved to love You in response to Your unfathomable and infinite love for me.  To let that love fill me and overflow from me to all around me.  This would be most pleasing to You.  Help me to love!

Luke 14:27, 33

Whoever does not follow me carrying his own cross cannot be my disciple.  In the same way, none of you may become my disciple if he doesn't give up everything he has.

To be a true disciple is to empty oneself of everything and be ready to imbibe and follow the way of the Master.  I must think like Him, have faith in Him.  His way must become my way, my rule of life and I must be a witness to Him.  I must be prepared to pay the price of my discipleship.

Am I willing?  To what extent am I prepared to embrace the Master and all that such a discipleship involves?

Psalm 112:1-2

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds delight in His word.  His children will be powerful on earth; the upright generation will be blessed.

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Charles Borromeo.

Dear St. Charles Borromeo - today I wish to entrust my sons to your intercession before Jesus.  Pray for them that they may be worthy children of God.

Dear St. Catherine of Siena - I entrust my daughter to  your prayers and intercession before Jesus that she may be a worthy daughter of God. 

Thank you.

Romans 12:8, 16, Psalm 131:1-2, Luke 14:16-17

Romans 12:8 & 16

Beloved, what wonderful advice St. Paul gives those who are serious about living the faith. We are one body in You and therefore we must be kind and considerate to one another.

Verse 8 says, "Give with an open hand."
and
Verse 16 says, "Do not dream of extraordinary things."

I must be content to be who I am - the person You created me to be with no delusions of grandeur. I am called to be in solidarity with my sisters and brothers in Christ.

Beloved, I love today's  Psalm 131:1-2

O Lord my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do  not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me.  But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.

Lord, give me a child's quiet trust and confidence in You. 

LUKE 14:6-17

Then Jesus said to him, "Someone gave a great dinner and invited many.  At the time of the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, "Come; for everything is ready now."  But they all alike began to make excuses.

In order to feast at the Banquet in the Kingdom of God I must first respond to Your invitation.  How often in the past I have made excuses and I continue to do so because I am weak.  Help me Lord to always respond to Your call obediently, gladly, promptly and humbly- Amen.

My Beloved, the way we live our lives now will have eternal consequences.  I thank You for my conversion.  Had You called me home when I was in sin I may have been lost  eternally, or I would most certainly have had to spend a long, long while in purgatory. 

More than the fear of eternal damnation and punishment is that my knowledge of You and my love for You are such wonderful experiences.  The exciting, new, personal discoveries I make daily about the depth and extent of Your boundless love, Your amazing humility in loving me, waiting for me, longing for me to spend time with You are such a source of delight that I wish to spend all my waking moments with You. 

Thank You my Beloved.

Matthew 5:1-12

MATTHEW 5:1-12

I am a child of God.  This dignity is conferred on me by the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit.  It is through the Sacrament of Baptism that I have died in Christ. I am grafted into Him and I am born again - I am a new creation and it is the Spirit that enable me to cry out, "Abba, Father."  It is the work of the Triune God that confers on me the dignity of being a daughter of the Most High God.  This is what I am through the merits won for me by Jesus.

As a daughter of God and through the rich graces bestowed on me and with the help of the Holy Spirit available to me all the time, I can strive to be pure with the help of His grace.  My beloved Jesus, as the new Moses, You have shown Your disciples and the whole world how to live as one chosen by God in the world through the beatitudes.  Help me Jesus to make the beatitudes a way of life for me.  Amen. 

Psalm 94:18, Luke 14:11

Psalm 94:18

No sooner did I say, "My foot is slipping," Your kindness O God  held me up.

Luke 14:11

Whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be raised.

Humility is a coin of great value and is appreciated greatly in God's Kingdom.  The more we are willing to offer ourselves in humble service to God and to one another, the greater will God be able to move and act in us.  The marks of a follower of Christ are humility and obedience.  Sometimes my Beloved, pride gets in the way and it is hard to bend in submission.  I try Beloved, but You who know all things know that I experience a little resentment.  Help me O my God to be truly humble all the time.  Amen.

Romans 9:1, Psalm 147:13, Luke 14:1-6

Romans 9:1

I tell you sincerely in Christ, and my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit that I am not lying: I have great sadness and constant anguish for the Jews.

My Beloved, after reading this Scripture verse I realise that I feel the same sadness because some of my own family members are not only far away from You but are quite uninterested in getting any closer.  Thank You for speaking a word of consolation to me in Psalm 147:13 "He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your children within you."  I know that I can trust You to keep Your word my Lord and King.

Luke 14-1-6

My Beloved, the pharisees deliberately set out to trap You on that Sabbath by bringing that man sufffering from dropsy and making sure You saw him.  Their intentions were evil - but it was possible for You to draw good from their evil intentions.  You  healed him.  The pharisees were not prepared to answer Your questions because it would show them up for what they really were.  How often we too are like that.  We wait for people to trip up and fall and then we are ready to criticize.  Forgive me my Lord.

ROMANS 8:31-38, Luke 13:34

Luke 13:34

How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Romans 8:31-39

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My Beloved, even before I read these beautiful verses You have spoken to me telling me that I am Yours.  You have spoken to me saying,

"Call Me and I will answer, look for Me and you will find me.  Ask anything for the salvation of your soul and you will receive it for I love you.  I have poured out my life for you in order that you might be saved and find a place with Me now and in eternity.  Nothing can separate you from My love save sin.  Lean your head against My breast, hear my heart beat with love for you.  My pierced heart still pours out streams of grace to empower you and help you to be all that God has called you to be."

Beloved there is something wonderful happening in the Church - give to Your servant Pope Benedict XVI the grace, strength, courage and the continuing vision to see it through supported by the prayers fo Your Holy Church.

Ephesians 2:19-22, Psalm 19:1-4, Luke 6:12-13

Ephesians 2:19-22

Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people; you are of the household of God.  You are the house whose foundations are the apostles and prophets and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus.  In Him the whole structure is joined together and arises to be a holy temple in the Lord.  In Him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.

Beloved, sometimes in the human family we are made to feel like strangers and aliens for different reasons.  But in the family of God it is not so.  All can come and sit at the table, all receive grace, all are fed at the banquet of the Lord, all are made to feel at home.  All are loved.  We belong to a family of saints who in imitation of You my God laid down their lives and they are a powerful witness to the truth.  It is through their faithful witness that we know You and we know that You are the firm foundation not only on which the Church is built but of our lives as well.  The Church draws her life from You the one true God Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Psalm 19:1-4

The heavens are telling the glory of God;and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no seech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

My Beloved grant that I may hear and absorb through my senses the beauty and wonder of creation in order that I may praise You with a beter understanding of Your love, wisdom, goodness and power.

Luke 6:12-13

Jesus went out into the hills to pray, spending the whole night in prayer to God.  When day dame, He called His disciples to Him andn chose twelve of them whom He called apostles.

Beloved, whenever You had something really important do You spent the whole night in prayer.  This is an example to me too.  I want to have this union with You that You and with Your Father.  The whole night in complete union with You Father energised You and You came away from Your encounter with Him radiant and powerful.