Genesis 22:1-19, Psalm 115:1-6, 8-9, Matthew 9:1-8

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Genesis 22:1-19, Psalm 115:1-6, 8-9, Matthew 9:1-8

Genesis 22:1-19

My Beloved, a time of testing comes to us all. Abraham is a model of faith for all times and in every age. He believed in Your promise to him even in the most impossible situation and he was prepared to do what was asked of him, even to the sacrificing his only son.

My Beloved, when You call me may my response always be, "Here I am." And when you reveal Your will to me, may my response always be a prompt wholehearted, joyful yes even if it be through tears. The sacrifice of  Isaac is a foreshadow Your  own, Abraham is a figure of the Father who offered up His only Son to atone for the sins of the world. The wood that Isaac carried on his back signifies the wood of the Cross that would be place on Your shoulders. The burning coals is the fire and the holocaust of Your passion and suffering in expiation for our sins.

God spared Abraham the grief of slaying his only son but He did not spare Himself nor did He spare You, the perfect Victim. The Lamb of God without blemish who revealed through perfect humility and perfect obedience the love of the Father for His wayward children.

Beloved, when we do Your will in all things we can be certain that You will bless us abundantly.  

Psalm 115:1-6, 8-9

My Beloved, every cry reaches Your ears and You make haste to help us. You are loving, kind, tender, merciful and compassionate. You bless all who trust You and come to You for help. Death no longer holds any fear for us for You have removed its sting. It is but a doorway to the life You have prepared for us with You in heaven.

As long as I live my Beloved, grant that I keep my feet firmly on the road that leads to eternal life, to You.

Matthew 9:1-8

My Beloved, these beautiful words of healing that You spoke to the paralytic are heard each time we go for Confession, "Your sins are forgiven." Peace is Your gift to us it is a gift that the world does not have and so cannot give.

Our world is torn by evil on every front. We are paralyzed by the unleashing of violence and terror on every side. The teachers of the Law accused You of insulting God, however, today the world, its leaders, the rich, and the powerful insult God brazenly and with impunity. Fire and brimstone does not rain upon us as it did on Sodom and Gomorrah and so we fool ourselves that God is a myth and the Son of God just a good man who lived 2000 years ago.

One of these days Beloved, at Your Word, we will have to stand up. We will have to cast aside our paralysis, pick up our cross and lead the way so that others too may come to the Father's house.