Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1:1-4 &6, Luke 9:22-25

 Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1:1-4 &6, Luke 9:22-25

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

My Beloved, God has presented us with the Truth what we do with it, whether we choose to accept or reject it, we are solely responsible for the consequences of eternal life or eternal death.

We are commanded to seek good and reject evil we must actively seek life and promote it. If any choice we make could result in death of any kind whether spiritual or physical, it is evil and must be rejected wholly not just in part.

We are called to obey the commands of the Lord which are given to us so we may live healthy, holy and fruitful lives; one with God and neighbor. The choices are set before us we can choose life, truth, goodness and pass it down to our children and from them to our descendants so they can live forever.

My Beloved, God has promised us joy in this life and eternal joy in the next however, we have the freedom to choose what we desire. We cannot blame God for our wrong choices and their consequences

Psalm 1:1-4 &6

My Beloved, God did not create us and let us loose to figure out for ourselves the best we to live joyful and fruitful lives. In fact from the moment He created us, He has been passionately involved in every facet of our lives - why? Only He knows why He lavishes such love on us who are not only less than nothing but unworthy of such love as well.

From the moment we committed the fist sin He began to plan how to restore the broken relationship. Why? Who can know the mind of God except God. To what terrible lengths He went and You obeyed. Love alone is the answer yet no matter how often we come to the why of it we can only answer dumbfounded - we don't know. He is God He chose to create us He chose to give us a free will which His greatest gift to us for with it our choices have meaning, value and consequences. It is to our good when we choose what He desires. You would think we had sense enough to desire His will and yet from the state of the world today, we can see how stupendously stupid we are.  

But we also have wonderful examples of those who chose to walk with the Lord, who delighted in doing His will, who contemplated His Word and who flourished bearing good fruit in season and out of season and who are now praised and venerated because they chose God and His will above all else.

Luke 9:22-25

My Beloved, You taught us by example. There is nothing You ask of us that You did not suffer and experience Yourself. We have no reason to grumble if it is too hared nor do we have the excuse that You ask ore from than You were willing to do or give.

You knew exactly what was in store for You. Despite all the awesome and impressive miracles You performed over the body, the spirits and nature it was still no enough to convince those whose minds were closed to the Truth.

You did not conform to their narrow idea of the Messiah and they were prepared to kill the Messiah because He did not fit the mold in which they had Him cast. 

They plotted the most dastardly evil plot and they carried it out to its most terrible, evil and gruesome end  when they unwittingly killed the Son of God in the most barbaric way one could ever imagine. And so my Beloved, when You ask us to take up the little crosses that are sent our way which can serve to strengthen and purify us we must accept them joyfully and follow You. In this alone is life - the things of the world perish but those who choose to follow You faithfully will be seated with You in the Kingdom of God.

Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20---6:2, Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14 & 17, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

ASH WEDNESDAY

Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20---6:2, 

Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14 & 17, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Joel 2:12-18

My Beloved, You call Your people to turn away from the world and the flesh for a period of time and to be purified. You call us to repentance, to put aside for a while the things of earth in order to better appreciate the things of God. If we do not understand the things of heaven how  can we get there? You desire that all of us be saved because You are tender, merciful and compassionate, You do not desire the death of the sinner.

Thank You for this time of recollection, prayer, fasting and alms giving when we spare a thought for our brothers and sisters who are in need.  At the end of this sacred period of Lent grant that I might emerge a little more like You.

2 Corinthians 5:20---6:2

Every Christian is a Christ bearer and represents You in the world. Let us not be a scandal when people look at us rather, reconciled to You and to each other, let us resolve to put an end to sin which has made its dwelling in us and strive to live holy lives pleasing to God.

We are Your laborers and grace upon grace is poured upon us in the Sacraments to live out our mission in the world. Today is the day, now is the time, open my ears to hear Your voice and soften my heart so You can mold it and make it like Your own.

Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14 & 17

My Beloved, during this period of Lent wash me so I can be whiter than snow forgive my sins forget my wrongs and restore me. I am a sinner but I desire with Your help to sin no more. Give me a new heart and a new spirit, keep me close to You for if You cast me away I will wither and die. Continue to flood by soul with grace as I frequent the sacraments and strengthen my will to walk in the light of Your truth always.  Put a song of praise in my heart so I may rejoice always in Your goodness, Your kindness and Your love.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

My Beloved, here You reveal what is pleasing to God and the manner in which we fulfill our obligations determines whether we will receive our reward from Him or whether we have already been paid by the good opinion we sought by making a public display of what essentially must be done for God's glory alone and for His eyes only.

When I give to the poor I ought not to do it ostentatiously so I will be praised by those who see me. When I pray I must not make a public display that I am praying. God desires that I go into my room, shut the door and pray to Him in secret. And finally my fasts are an act of repentance for having sinned and fallen from grace. Again I am reminded that my fasting ought to be between God and me and must not be paraded before the world in order to be praised. Rather, no one should know that I am fasting since it is a matter between God and me and He will reward me by strengthening my faith, hope and love.

Genesis 6:5-8, 7:1-5, 10, Psalm 29:1-4, 10, Mark 8:14-21

Genesis 6:5-8, 7:1-5, 10, Psalm 29:1-4, 10, Mark 8:14-21

Genesis 6:5-8, 7:1-5, 10

My Beloved, evil is like the tide there is an ebb and a flow. Sometimes it feels that man prefers to rut, grunt and mingle with swine giving in to all that is basest in him rather than to soar to the highest heights. All it requires is to let go of self discipline and self control and before one knows it everything that is decent, noble and good is swallowed and drowned in the flood of evil.

Beloved, does God look at our world today and regret having created us? Does His heart grieve when He sees how far we have drifted from the Way, the Truth and the Life that He sent into the world to save and redeem us..  Does He find anyone who is pleasing to Him as Noah was and so He stills the hand of His wrath that could annihilate us into oblivion?

Too great a price was paid my Lord. He could not do it not when we have You as our Savior and Intercessor who pleads with Him day and night.  Thank You for the Church which keeps us safe even when evil seemingly swallows the earth. The Church will bring us to safe harbor.

Thank You for the Season of Lent. We need these 40 days each year to contemplate God's unfathomable love for us sinners.

Psalm 29:1-4, 10

My Beloved, no matter how high the waves or how stormy the seas You are God You ride on the winds and You quell the waves with one command, "Be still!" You are the Master. You remain with us in the Boat of St. Peter, You will speak to us through Your Church You have established and where Your faithful gather to worship God offering Him the most pleasing and acceptable Sacrifice of His Son - the Lamb without blemish or stain. We are privileged to eat Your Flesh and drink Your Blood and become One with You our King who reigns in us and over us now and forever.

Mark 8:14-21

My Beloved, over and over again you have cause to say to us, "Do you still not understand?" Despite all the experiences we have had of Your providence in our lives we still worry about everything. We are stressed and anxious. You dwell in the fullness of Truth in the Church You founded and over 2000 years we have seen how marvelously You have worked within the Church and individually among her members and we still do not get it.

Here You are telling Your disciples to guard against false teaching using the analogy of leaven and they do not have the good sense to know that You would hardly be speaking about insufficient bread after they had witnessed two miracles of the multiplication of loaves. In the first You fed 5000 with five loaves and two fish with 12 baskets leftover and in the section You fed 4000 with 7 loaves and had 7 baskets of leftovers. Like children You had to refresh their memories.

I am just like the disciples Lord. I need to refresh my memory often recalling all the miracles You have worked for me and reminding myself that I can trust You always.

GENESIS 4:1-15, 25, PSALM 50:1, 8,16-17, 20-21, MARK 8:11-13

GENESIS 4:1-15, 25, PSALM 50:1, 8,16-17, 20-21, 

MARK 8:11-13

GENESIS 4:1-15, 25

Cain was a sinner. Sin had found a home in his heart and everything he did was tainted this is why his offering was rejected, it was offered by hands that were impure. Abel on the other hand was a good man and therefore everything he did was pleasing to God. His offering of the firstborn of his flock as a sacrifice of thanksgiving was pleasing to God. It's fragrance rose up to heaven and he found favor with God.

We are reminded that sinners who choose to wallow in sin cannot expect God to be pleased with them because their hearts are far away from Him. But the hand of God rests on those who love Him and every prayer and sacrifice they offer is pleasing and acceptable.

The Sacrament of Baptism stamps an indelible mark of God's ownership upon our soul. We belong to God even when we deliberately choose to turn away from Him,

PSALM 50:1, 8,16-17, 20-21

My Beloved the psalmist reminds us today that the earth and all in it are subject to You and are accountable to God. Each has their place, each is created for a purpose and each is required to fulfill the purpose for which they were created whether it is great or small. 

In God's plan every person has a place and a mission that no other can fill or do. When we reject it we are flying against His will and we must accept the consequences of our willful denial of God's plan for our lives.

I am called to be my brother's keeper - this is the way God has ordained it. If God is our Father as You have revealed and You are our Brother, then every human being is my brother and sister and I am called to love them just as much as I love myself.

MARK 8:11-13

My Beloved, there are some verses in the Gospel that are heartbreaking and reveal as these verses do that despite all the miracles You performed it was not enough to convince them that You were indeed who You claimed to be. Even as You hung dying on the Cross they demanded a sign in order to believe.  They were too blind to see the Sign that was before their eyes lifted between heaven and earth. The Man on the Cross was even as they watched, paying the price that redeemed all men at the cost of His Blood and His Life.

Truly Beloved to those who believe no sign is necessary and to those who don't no sign will ever convince. You turn away sadly from those who reject You because their own blindness prevents them from seeing the Light of Truth.''

Genesis 2:18-25, Psalm 128:1-5, Mark 7:24-30

Genesis 2:18-25, Psalm 128:1-5, Mark 7:24-30

Genesis 2:18-25

My Beloved God is a family of Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so God knew that to be alone means that one is not complete there must be another. God also knew exactly what the man needed so He put him to sleep while He fashioned a companion for the man. Woman was God's gift to man. God fashioned her to complement him, to fit together so the two become one.

A woman is always a gift for this is what God intended and man, in receiving her, must always respond as Adam did in verse 23, “Now this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.” 

God ordained that when a man receives a woman as his wife every other human relationship takes second place and verse 24 declares, "That is why man leaves his father and mother and is attached to his wife, and with her becomes one flesh." Just as the Triune God is One so is a man and his wife one.

Verse 25 says, "Both the man and his wife were naked and were not ashamed." The relationship between a man and his wife must be touched by the divine - they come before each other just as they are, vulnerable yet confident that each need never be ashamed of being truly themselves for there is no fear of rejection. It is in marriage that a man and his wife become truly themselves and are privileged to have a foretaste of the heavenly nuptials between God and man. 

Psalm 128:1-5

My Beloved, God intends that every marriage be blessed abundantly. Every marriage must be fruitful. The wife gives her husband purpose, serenity and contentment; she is the center to which he is anchored even as he goes about his daily duties as head of his household. 

Just as You my Beloved are Head of Your Church, Your Body, so is the husband the the head of his home while his wife is the heart of it. It is she who receives and renders what she receives fruitful. Every time a man gazes at his wife he is aware that she is God's best blessing to him and he to her.

Mark 7:24-30

My Beloved, sometimes it may be seen that God's response to the heartfelt cries of our heart are harsh and unfeeling just as the Syrophoenician woman just have felt. She heard of You and the miracles You had worked, she had complete confidence that You could heal her little daughter who was possessed by an evil spirit. Here is a pagan who believed whereas the people God chose for His own did not. 

Regarded as a pagan by the Jews, she was used to being treated as an  outcast. In coming to You she was prepared to risk humiliation and perhaps was not surprised at Your uncharacteristic cruel response to her plea as she had experienced it from Jews before. So she had come prepared to stand her ground no matter what and plead her cause.

You never rejected anyone who came to You. All received the healing and blessing they needed. This time would be no different. You had every intention of healing her daughter but You wanted her response to what appeared as Your rejection and repudiation of her to be noted and recorded for all time. You wanted to praise her faith to the Jews and to teach us persistence in prayer. We ought not to be disheartened but continue to pray with faith confident that at a time of His choosing God will give us all we ask for and more.

Genesis 1:1-19, Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35, Mark 6:53-56

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Genesis 1:1-19, Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35, 
Mark 6:53-56

Genesis 1:1-19

My Beloved, at the appointed time the Triune God created the world. From chaos the Father breathed forth His Spirit who hovered over the abyss of nothing and God uttered the Word what was in Him and through that Word willed and called forth light separating it from darkness and there was day and night. He created the sky and separated from the earth, He called forth land and separated it from the water. He called forth the sun and the moon and placed the stars in the sky each in its place the sun for the day the moon and stars for the night and by this the rhythm and order of life would be measured. 

God saw all that He created in union with His Spirit and His Word and declared that it was good.  Indeed, all that God does is good. 

Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35

My Beloved, this is a hymn in praise of all that God has created. We exult and give exuberant praise and thanksgiving to the Creator who called forth creation in all its variety and beauty into existence by uttering His Word in the Breath of His Spirit. Light, oceans, the wind, mountains and hills, the sun, moon and stars, the boundaries of land and seas are all ordered by God our Creator. He created the birds and the trees in which to build their nests, the world teeming with life all ruled by the Word and the Wisdom of the Most High an all was created to give God glory for He is worthy of praise.

Mark 6:53-56

My Beloved, as You have stated You came for the sick. Until You came into the world there was no tangible hope. There was hope in the coming of the promised Messiah who would liberated the Jews from foreign oppression but their vision was narrow and nothing at all as God intended the coming of His in the Incarnation to be. You walked across the length and breadth of Israel, You travelled by boat to get across to those who would not otherwise e able to reach You making Yourself available to all. Your fame as a healer and miracle had spread everywhere and wherever You went large crowds followed eager to be healed all wanting to touch even the fringe of Your cloak and indeed ALL WERE HEALED.

Today we receive You in the Holy Eucharist and we become one Body, one Spirit in You and we are healed for God Himself makes His dwelling  place in us,

Job 7:1-4, 6-7, 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23, Psalm 147:1-2, 4-6, Mark 1:29-39

Job 7:1-4, 6-7, 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23, 

Psalm 147:1-2, 4-6, Mark 1:29-39

Job 7:1-4, 6-7

My Beloved, I have experienced a time like this when anxiety, grief and overbearing sadness bore down on me and I could not escape it. Unlike Job though I had You and I clung to You in desperation. The greater my sorrow the more strongly did I cry out to You for relief and You heard and answered my cry. I am truly grateful Beloved that my overwhelming grief did not cause me to sin against You rather it brought me to You and for that I am forever in Your debt.

1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

My Beloved, unless we share the lives of those we wish to evangelize we will not be truly authentic this is why You came to us as one like us. Who would have believed that God is love if He appeared to us in all awesome splendor, power and glorious majesty? Only because You shared our human condition with all its limitations were we able to grasp in some measure the infinite love of God.

I too am called to first identify with my brothers and sisters and be willing to serve them without hope of recompense in this life. I have received the mission and I must carry it out willingly and joyfully only then can I bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. 

Psalm 147:1-2, 4-6

My Beloved, it is when we constantly sing Your praises glorifying God for His immense goodness and kindness that we give expression to what we believe in faith. Every good and perfect gift is given to us because our God is a God of abundance, He gives lavishly and without measure. 

No one can count the number of stars but God can for He made them, gave each their place and named them. He is mighty in power, glorious in majesty and in love, more tender than a father and mother, for His wayward children. We cannot fathom the depths of His infinite wisdom but we can acknowledge that without God we are nothing. It is He who raised us up and give us a place and a name just as He did with the stars but we have far more value in His sight for He gave You up, His only Son. in order to redeem us and win us back to Himself - Thank You Father, thank You my Beloved.

Mark 1:29-39

My Beloved, You never forgot Your mission for an instant, it was always before You. You said, "I have come to cast a fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!" There was a burning urgency that kept going. You hardly rested, You even forgot to eat but You always found time to steal away from the rest either before dawn or through the night to pray.

Prayer was the one means through which You were able to come into union with Your father, the Holy Spirit renewed You, refreshed You and replenished You. The crowd were insatiable and pressed around You constantly demanding, pleading, crying whimpering, shouting to be healed of all their sickness and You denied no one but poured Yourself out always to the point of complete exhaustion.

You were fully aware that You needed to be replenished by our Father and the Holy Spirit this is why You escaped often to pray and what was true for the Son of God and the Son of Man is even more true for us for without personal prayer and times of close union with You we will be absolutely useless in carrying out the mission entrusted to us.

Hebrews 13:1-8, Psalm 27:1-3, 5, 8-9, Mark 6:1-6

Hebrews 13:1-8, Psalm 27:1-3, 5, 8-9, Mark 6:1-6

Hebrews 13:1-8

My Beloved, we are called to live in loving fellowship with each other. We are called to show hospitality to the stranger - like Abraham we could be unknowingly entertaining angels. We are called to remember and pray for those who are suffering, the deprived, the outcast, the weak, the poor, the marginalized, the persecuted, those with diseases. We too have a body so we can and must empathise with them. We cannot be indifferent to the sufferings of others. We must rely on You to supply all our needs and not put our trust in what we possess. We must be satisfied, for God gives us enough to meet our present need and entrusting tomorrow to His providence. 

We must take God at His Word when He says, "I will never leave you or forsake you or abandon you." In the face of our worst fears we must be able to say confidently in faith,"The Lord is my Helper I am not afraid of what man can do to me." We have a whole communion of Saints who have triumphed, this encourages us that it is possible to live a godly life in an ungodly age and because most importantly of all my Beloved, we have You who are unchanging, steadfast in loving us yesterday, today and forever.

Psalm 27:1-3, 5, 8-9

My Beloved, how beautifully and completely these verses sum up all that You are to me. I exult with the psalmist as I count and recount my many blessings because You are my God and I belong to You utterly.  There is no part of my life that is not under Your loving Lordship. I can trust You even though all hell is let lose around me for You keep me safe. When You encompass me my Lord no evil and no harm shall touch me. My body may perish but my soul will live in You and with You forever.

Through the day my Beloved, my heart remains in You and Yours in me. I need nothing more. Thank You for Your love which sustains me.

Mark 6:1-6

My Beloved, truly the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians. It is wonderful my Lord the way suffering and persecution only serves to raise up men and women determined to give their lives to You completely even if it means having their head decapitated as John the Baptist did.

Evil believes that by killing the body they can have victory over good but good has always been able to prevail over evil as You have proved to the world. You will always raise up holy men and women, holy popes, priests and bishops, holy religious who will lead Your people. By their witness to the good News that saves many more will be baptized into Your Body and when You come again to celebrate the Feast of the Lamb, the faithful too numerous to count, will be  present.

Love has triumphed over hate. Good over evil. THE VICTORY IS WON!

Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24, Psalm 48:2-4 & 9-11, Mark 6:7-13

Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24, Psalm 48:2-4 & 9-11, 

Mark 6:7-13

Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24

My Beloved, nothing in the past no matter how great has prepared us for what You have accomplished for us. In the past God appeared to His people in various ways - through a burning bush, through a fiery pillar of cloud, God's voice thundered and struck terror in men's hearts. But there has not been nor will there ever be anything like this. You brought heaven down to earth on our altars. The heavenly Jerusalem is already in our midst Angels descend from heaven and join in our Liturgies as we praise and worship God. You provide Yourself as he Lamb without blemish offering to God an eternal and perfect Sacrifice as Your anointed priests, offer in Your Name, the once for all Sacrifice as atonement for the sins of the world.

God has made a New Covenant of Love with us and it is sealed in Your Blood.  We are not yet citizens of heaven but we taste it in every Eucharistic celebration as we walk through this valley of tears to the place we shall one day dwell with You in peace and happiness eternally.

Psalm 48:2-4 & 9-11

My Beloved, when we gather as a community of believers to praise and worship You who are all worthy and deserving of our love, we are in the Kingdom of God established by You. It is founded on the Rock and no harm shall ever come to it. In You we are kept safe, in You we have the freedom of the children of God. Set high on a mountain, Your Church serves as a beacon of hope to all who desire to shelter in safety beneath her wings. 

All that God had promised in the past, all the marvellous things foretold have found their perfect fulfillment in You. United in love with the God of love and with each other we are Your Body one with You we offer the one Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. We are victorious in Your victory and we rejoice in all that you have accomplished for us.  Thank You!

Mark 6:7-13

My Beloved, here we see how You call Your disciples to mission, equip them with everything they need. Instruct them on how to act so they will not be confused. They were not defenseless for You armed them with knowledge, truth, power and authority. 

First You called them, then You sent them in twos not alone for we need friendship, companionship and someone to give witness to what each accomplished. You gave them Your authority over the spiritual realm. They were not to burden themselves with things but travel lightly so they could cover more territory and not worry or be weighed down by possessions. They were to trust in providence for food carrying no money with them as security- God Himself would be their security. 

They were to be content - eating what is placed before them. They were not to be troubled if they were received unkindly or rejected. It is God's business how He would deal with them. They were to be at peace and leave quietly shaking the dust off our sandals before moving along. Their response was to go out in obedience to proclaim the Good News of repentance and forgiveness of sins. Sin so often is the reason for all our spiritual and physical ills - demons fled at their word and bodies were restored to health.

The Church Your ministers and Your faithful continue this glorious mission and will do so until You come again. Maranatha Lord Jesus! Maranatha!

Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15, Psalm 103:12-14, 17-18, Mark 6:1-6

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15, Psalm 103:12-14, 17-18, Mark 6:1-6

Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15

My Beloved, the same question put to me yesterday is repeated today. "Have you already shed your blood in the struggle against sin?" The answer is no my Lord. I only fight weakly against temptation and I give in very easily to self-indulgence.

If this is true of me and it is, then I must be prepared to be disciplined by God who is a loving Father.He desires that I walk in truth and because I have yielded my life to You and I have asked that my will be aligned to yours, I must be prepared to receive and accept all correction with a submissive and contrite heart.

By Beloved, the fruit of correction and discipline is peace which trains us in holiness.  We must not be discouraged but lift up our hands to the Lord in supplication to strengthen us against our fight with the forces of evil.  I must walk where sin does not lurk lest I be tempted beyond my ability to overcome and I stumble. Rather, may I be healed of every spiritual infirmity because I choose to walk  in the paths of peace that leads to holiness for without it I cannot hope to receive the beatific vision.

My Beloved, we were baptized into You through grace but we can lose this gift from God if we willfully choose to sell our soul for a life lacking in  virtue  and grace.

Psalm 103:12-14, 17-18

My Beloved, we know that God loved us so immensely that He sent You into the world to redeem us.  Our sins when we repent of them, He forgives and remembers them no more, no matter how grievous.

The Father loves us with the same intensity of love with which He loves you for He does not love by degree but completely. He has compassion on us for He knows that we are weak, prone to sin through the first sin we inherited from our parents. His kindness for us is ever present before Him in You who are seated at His right hand. To those who love You and fear to lose You He will show mercy to us and to all the generations that will follow.

Mark 6:1-6

My Beloved, small minded, mean spirited bigots will never have the generosity, the imagination, the faith to look up and grasp the vision of God. When our preconceived biased ideas are set in concrete and we refuse to take into account the proof that contradicts our false assumptions, we fall into the same trap that the people of Your hometown fell into. They asked all the wrong question and naturally came up with all the wrong answers and they were actually satisfied that they had managed to squeeze a square peg into the round holes of their spurious intellect.

They assumed they knew You from a few external facts - they knew Your Mother, the knew Joseph Your father a carpenter by trade, they knew Your relatives who were ordinary people still living among them lives the same ordinary lives that they did.  Despite admitting that they heard never heard Scripture preached and taught with such wisdom. They had heard of the many miracles You had worked everywhere You went yet they simply refused to accept that perhaps in their midst was one greater than any they or anyone else had ever known. They actually took offence  and perhaps saw You an upstart.

The evangelist tells us You were astounded at their stupidity,their hidebound prejudices and crassness Their lack of faith denied them the grace of being healed in body, soul and spirit. You prophesied then that You would be despised by Your own

Do I astound You sometimes my Beloved by my lack of faith? Do I sometimes resemble those people in Your hometown? For all those occasions my Beloved I beg pardon and ask for forgiveness Lord. I do believe help my unbelief. 

Hebrews 12:1-4, Psalm 22:26-28 &30-32,Mark 5:21-43

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Hebrews 12:1-4, Psalm 22:26-28 &30-32,Mark 5:21-43

Hebrews 12:1-4

My Beloved, Holy Mother Church is wise with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. She holds up the lives of holy men and women who were ordinary people like us but who lived lives of extraordinary holiness.  They are witnesses to the truth that it is possible to love You exclusively and for Your sake to love everyone, even our enemies, who seek to destroy us. They mirrored You. They drew their strength from You. They were able to suffer gladly because they united their sufferings with Yours. There is no hardship, no cruelty, no abomination that we suffer that You did not experience first.

The writer of Hebrews asks if we have shed our blood yet in our struggle against sin? My sad answer is no. I wage war against my own evil inclinations and weaknesses and fail repeatedly, it is a struggle that will last till my final breath. This is why I need to know that I am not alone. The Saints suffered heroically and were victorious because they cooperated fully with the grace made available to them and they triumphed.

I can too my Beloved with Your help.

Psalm 22:26-28 & 30-32

My Beloved, the psalmist proclaims what You will accomplish for all who believe in You long before You became incarnate. All who come to know You will serve You and they will handover the Good News of our salvation from one generation to the next until You come again.

At every Liturgy all who believe will come together to worship and adore You and they will feast on food that brings strength and life, renewal and refreshment.  All those who know You will seek You and You will grant us eternal life in You.

Thank You Lord!

Mark 5:21-43

My Beloved, news of Your arrival spread like wild fire so wherever You went crowds were already waiting when You arrived.  You were the miracle worker and so they clamored for You. Jairus had a little girl who was dying, the woman with the issue of blood hid herself in the crowd carrying her own sorrow and terrible secret shame - yet she came with hope. You were her last resort.

Jairus pleaded with You to come to his home and heal his dying daughter. The large crowds accompanied You pressing on every side. The woman saw her chance - she who had suffered shame for 12 long years would not dare to come to You openly. What was she afraid of? What had made her so timid? What had she suffered at the hands of the doctors who had robbed her of all her money yet had not healed her? What had she suffered at the hands of family, relatives, neighbours? She crept almost furtively and reached out and managed to just touch the hem of Your garment with her finger tips and immediately she felt a rush of power surge through her convincing her that at last she was healed. Joy would have raced through her heart.

You knew who touched You my Beloved but You wanted her faith to be acknowledged, recorded and praised for as long as time shall last. This poor woman who had suffered shame and disgrace You wanted to praise and raise up and You did. No one who comes to you with faith will ever be disappointed.

When You are not present there is commotion, noise and disturbance it is an environment where evil thrives. When Jairus reached his house he was informed that his daughter had died and there was no need to trouble You. But it is precisely when there is no hope that we come to You who are our only hope. Taking with You the child's parents and Peter James and John You entered the room, took the little girl by the hand and asked her to get up. She did and You gave her back to her delighted parents reminding them to give her something to eat in case in all they excitement they overlooked the fact that the now healthy child would be hungry.

Nothing is too small for You. You take care of every need and You are concerned about every little detail of our lives because You love tenderly and compassionately.

Thank You my Beloved.

Malachi 3:1-4, Hebrews 2:14-18, Psalm 24:7-10, Luke 2:22-40

FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Malachi 3:1-4, Hebrews 2:14-18, Psalm 24:7-10, Luke 2:22-40

Malachi 3:1-4

My Beloved, it is no wonder that You taught us to call God Abba, Father. Long before Your coming into the world He foretold through the prophets His wonderful plan for His poor, sinful creatures. Instead of annihilating us as we deserved He was going to send His only Son as a little helpless Baby. He desired that You would be the Victim for our sins. You would walk though the blazing fires of hell and agony taking our place. He would crush You in the wine press of suffering so that Your Blood would purify Your priests and refine them through the furnace of Your suffering.  The only Victim He would find acceptable.Yours the only Sacrifice whose pleasing fragrance would rise up to the highest heavens until earth was no more, would delight Him as it revealed His infinite love for us.

God foretold it all from the coming of the Messenger John the Baptist who would be Your herald preparing the way for You, Your entrance into the Sanctuary to the House of Your Father and there through the horrific and cruel death God was going to make an everlasting Covenant with us sealed in the Blood of His Son, our Redeemer and Savior.

Thank You Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 2:14-18

What love is this my Beloved that despite our unworthiness God our Father asked of You so great a Sacrifice. Taking our place, taking upon Yourself our punishment because You loved Him and was willing to reveal to us this great love for us. 

What manner of love is this that You who are God, one with Father and the Holy Spirit took upon Yourself our human nature, frail, weak, poor, subject to all the limitations that we are subject to yet fully divine and fully human. You were cold, hungry, thirsty, tired, You were rejected, mocked and ultimately killed in a death reserved for murderers and scoundrels. No one can dare say that You do not know what it means to suffer for You drank the bitter cup of suffering held to Your lips to its very dregs.

You came to take me by the hand because You are my Brother, human like me in every respect save sin so I could become a daughter of God. In union with You our Eternal High Priest Sacrifice is now offered day and night so God will continue to show us mercy and forgive us our sins.

Thank You Beloved.

Psalm 24:7-10

The doors that were shut with the sin of Adam and Eve are now opened through the gateway of the Cross. Seated in glory and majesty, You now make intercession for us who You have redeemed and saved.  You took on the powers of darkness and shattered evil rendering it ineffectual. You have vanquished the Enemy and to You the Father has given dominion, authority and power over all.  

ALLELUIA!

Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9, Mark 1:21-28

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, 
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9, Mark 1:21-28

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

My Beloved, no mortal man can look at God and live for He is awesome His brilliance is greater than a thousand suns; yet God wanted us to know Him intimately. He wanted to touch us, talk to us, walk among us, reveal His infinite love for us, become accessible to us, though not in a way that would cause us to tremble in fear in His Presence. So He sent You to us incarnate of the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit. What He promised  through Moses in verse 18 "I shall raise up a prophet from their midst, one of their brothers, who will be like you. I will put my words into his mouth and he will tell them all that I command," He fulfilled through You.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

My Beloved, there are some whom You call both men and woman to have an intimate union with You, free from all the worldly distractions that would take away their focus from You and called to serve You in perfect abandonment. Forgetful of self but only of You such blessed men and women are invited to keep their gaze on You while they go about in the world strengthened by this divine  union to show the world how glorious it is to live in perfect union with You.

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9

My Beloved, God has made a new Covenant with man and it is sealed in Your Blood. God, clothed in human flesh has walked among us and we have been given a foretaste of heaven.  You have saved us from slavery to sin and our joy comes from recognizing the infinite love of God for His creatures, it is a joy that drives us to our knees in worship and adoration. Chosen by God and led by Him as a shepherd leads his flock. We have an eternal destiny which is perfect and ecstatic union with You. Keep us humble, obedient and loving always.

Mark 1:21-28

My Beloved, You spoke with authority because You are God - this very same authority is given to Your Church as we who belong to her listen to her.