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.