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.