Romans 10:9-18, Psalm 19:8-11, Matthew 4:18-22

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Romans 10:9-18, Psalm 19:8-11, Matthew 4:18-22

Romans 10:9-18

My Beloved, today You tell me that true righteousness comes from believing in You and in the Resurrection. If I believe in You then I shall do nothing, think nothing and say nothing that will make me ashamed.  Sin shames.  Beloved we have Your assurance that anyone who calls on Your Name will be saved for You are generous and merciful and the greater the sin our confidence in Your infinite mercy.  Here St. Paul reminds us of the duty of every believer for there are many who have never heard of You how then can they be saved? I am called to preach about You for through Baptism and Confirmation I have been given my mission. You send me to speak about You and be Your witness so those who hear me will believe in You and be saved. I have been empowered with Your help I shall not fail.

Psalm 19:8-11

The law of the Lord is perfect for it is the law of love and with love comes life. God’s commandments are neither vague nor are the suggestions – He speaks clearly and we who are created by God who knows us and desires our good must obey them if we are to live happy and fruitful lives. Wisdom comes from knowing God’s Word which is alive and active and has the power to penetrate every heart.  To fear God is the beginning of wisdom for when we know God and how awesome His power and yet who is humble and stoops constantly over His little ones, we ought to tremble in fear from ever offending our God of Love. God alone is the righteous judge there is no other – we will be wise to leave all judgment to Him alone. God’s Word made Flesh and Blood in the Eucharist is sweeter than honey which drops from the honeycomb and gives us life that wells up to eternity.

Matthew 4:18-22

My Beloved, You are constantly looking for disciples. You seek us and when You find us You extend the same invitation that You extended to the disciples, “Come follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Our mission is to spread the Good News that we are saved by Your Cross and Resurrection. No matter how caught up we are in the things of the world our response to Your Call must be immediate and total. We leave everything that would hinder us behind – possessions, family and the fleeting pleasures of the world and follow You. In this is perfect happiness. When You call You also make available the grace to respond to the call all we have to do is be attentive and obey.         

Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28, Daniel 3:62-67, Luke 21:12-19

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28, Daniel 3:62-67,  Luke 21:12-19

Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28

My Beloved, it often happens that when we take too much of anything that will cloud our judgment we do things that in normal circumstances we would not dream of doing. We lose control of our senses and do atrocious things that are displeasing and in Your sight. We take what is holy and desecrate it and we cannot excuse ourselves because we willingly used and abused alcohol or any other substance and became victims of our folly.

When we are called to reap the suffering that which we have sown through infidelity to You we have no right to whine and complain but accept the righteous judgment of God. My Beloved, do not permit me to sin so grievously that I lose my immortal soul.    

May I like Daniel never be tempted to use the gratuitous gifts I have received for personal gain.

Daniel 3:62-67

My Beloved, in this beautiful hymn of praised composed by the prophet Daniel he is aware that everything in the heavens and on earth is created by You for Your glory and pleasure. We are indeed blessed for we are given the privilege of enjoying the beauty of creation. Like the prophet may the joy and delight we receive in nature prompt us to sing out loud in praise, worship, adoration and thanksgiving recognizing that You are truly an awesome God and worthy of our praise.

 Luke 21:12-19

My Beloved, all suffering, persecution and hardship that results from our faith in You should lead us to testify our belief in You so others too are encouraged to do the same. Our joyful witness to our faith must cause those who persecute us to wonder about the source of our strength.

You pledge that You will give us words of wisdom to silence the enemy. You warn us that perhaps those who are closest to us may betray us, imprison us or even put us to death but we need not fear those who can kill the body and after that do nothing us. Our soul is inviolable and You promise eternal life to those who remain true to the end.

We live in an age where many in the world suffer because they are Christians. They can count on Your promises. Continue to give them joy and peace despite their suffering knowing that the crown of glory will be granted to them.

1 Kings 17:10-16, Hebrews 9:24:24-28, Psalm 145:7-10, Mark 12:38-44

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

1 Kings 17:10-16, Hebrews 9:24:24-28, Psalm 145:7-10, Mark 12:38-44

1 Kings 17:10-16

My Beloved, when we put our faith and trust in You we will always find that our needs are met. When we share what You in Your bounty have given us then we can be sure that like the widow of Zarephath we will find that You will supply all we need for as long as we need it.

We tend to hoard and store afraid to give lest there will be nothing left for ourselves but the Gospel principle is different from that of the world.  We are called to give generously and in return we will receive a full measure, shaken together and running over.  But we lack the spirit of generosity and so we are stuck in our own stinginess unable to allow the Holy Spirit to demonstrate to us what it means to live by faith and not by sight..

 Psalm 145:7-10

My Beloved, Your Word constantly reminds us that God is a friend to the widow and the orphan. Those who put their trust in You lack no good thing. We are called to welcome the stranger and to stand by those who are poor and do what we can to alleviate their misery. If we give as we have received God will ensure that our own needs are met in this life and in the  hereafter we will share in Your inheritance.

Romans 14:7-12, Psalm 26:1, 4, 13-14, Luke 15:1-10

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Romans 14:7-12, Psalm 26:1, 4, 13-14, Luke 15:1-10

Romans 14:7-12

My Beloved, we all belong to You in life or in death. You died for all and so without exception every man and woman and child is ransomed by You.  You entered into our death and You took away its sting. We now have hope of life because of Your Resurrection. This is why St. Paul reminds us that we dare not be contemptuous of those we consider sinners for You are the only righteous Judge. In fact we will all stand before You to be judged by You and no other. You remind me in no uncertain terms that the measure I use to judge will in turn be used to judge me.

Let me leave all judgment to You where right judgment belongs. For my part You require me to love my neighbor as I love myself. Grant me the grace to always me kind, merciful and compassionate to others.

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

My Beloved, no one who has placed their hope in You will ever be disappointed. Heaven is mine and I am destined to spend eternity with You for this is what God intended since He laid the foundations of the earth. I savor heaven on earth even now when I receive You in the Holy Eucharist, when I spend time with You face to face in the Adoration Chapel. I have a taste of the divine while still in my mortal body. I have this confidence my Beloved that once this perishable body turns dies my soul will see what my faith believed.

You are my Light and my salvation I fear nothing and no one. You are the foundation of my life, You hold me secure.  You are my Lord and my God and I worship and adore You.

Luke 15:1-10

My Beloved, we tend to shun those whose  grievous sins are public knowledge. They provide fodder for gossip and self righteous judgment on the part of those whose sins are perhaps just as grievous but are hidden.  No wonder the public sinners of the day – the tax collectors and other sinners flocked to You. They found in You a welcome that not only surprised them as they were used to be treated as unclean and outcasts that their bruised spirits found comfort in Your love and acceptance. Treated harshly and coldly the warmth of Your friendship and understanding would have been balm to them.

We are no different my Beloved. We are happy to disclose to all and sundry the sins of those we know and its gets embellished in the telling rather than showing mercy and compassion we revel in all the gory details of their faults. Forgive me Beloved for the times when I too may have been like the Pharisees and Scribes. Only God could leave the 99 who are safe in search of the one who is lost and afraid and probably in grave danger of death.  Thank You for being such a compassionate and merciful God.

Romans13:8-10, Psalm112:1-2, 4-5, 9, Luke14:25-33

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Romans13:8-10, Psalm112:1-2, 4-5, 9, Luke14:25-33 

Romans13:8-10

Love is the fulfillment of the law. Love your neighbor as yourself. If you do this you will always do right by your brothers and sisters. Because the love of God has been poured into your heart and you strive to love Me in return with all of your being, I the Lord Your God will be Your Help and Strength all the days of your mortal life. 

Psalm112:1,2, 4-5, 9

----  My Own, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Not a servile fear but a fear born of love. Worshipful, grateful love for God will cause you to tremble in fear of ever wounding Him who is reason you exist and whose end is in the Bosom of Love eternally.

Luke14:25-33

My Beloved, grant me the grace to give my all and not to count the cost. What I give up for love of Your is nothing but selfishness, greed and concupiscence what I receive in gladly giving up everything for You and the sake of the Kingdom is nothing short of the fullness of the God of Love who willingly gave up His life in order that I may live. All glory, honor and power to You forever. Amen.