1 John 4:19---5:4, Psalm 72:1-2, 14-15 & 17, Luke 4:14-22

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

1 John 4:19---5:4, Psalm 72:1-2, 14-15 & 17,  Luke 4:14-22

1 John 4:19---5:4

My Beloved,  love - true love in every instance and circumstance will elicit a response.  It can either be accepted or rejected. But the lover loves the beloved freely and gives all.  The lover delights in pouring out himself without reserve and the beloved in turn returns love for love just as the Father and You love each other.

To love God and neighbour is not an option, it is a commandment.  We cannot love one and not love the other for true love of God makes it possible to loves ones neighbour.

Luke 4:14-22

My Beloved, when we receive the Holy Spirit we must trust Him implicitly to lead us where God wants us to go.  When we open our mouths to speak of You and Your work and life in us, we must open our lips and trust Him to supply the words.

When we speak, we must speak Your Word which is Spirit, Truth and Life.  We must lay claim to the same mission to which the Father sent You for it is our mission as well. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed and announce the Lord’s year of mercy.” (Luke 18-19) The world is hungry and thirsty for the message of life that we have received and like St. Paul we must preach it or woe to us, or as the prophet Jeremiah has said,"His word in my heart becomes like a fire burning deep within my bones. I try so hard to hold it in, but I cannot do it."  Your Word when unspoken within us must become a consuming fire that our hearts cannot contain.  

Once You completed in all obedience, humility and perfection the mission the Father had given You He seated You at His right hand.  We too fix our gaze on You for we believe that all You have said is true.

There will always be those who will snidely say, "Who is this but Joseph's son." They think it gives them a plausible excuse to deny the Truth but those who do listen will be lost in wonder and awe and we will be filled as Your listeners were that day with the grace of God. 

1 John 4:11-18, Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13, Mark 6:45-52

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

1 John 4:11-18, Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13, Mark 6:45-52

1 John 4:11-18

My Beloved, the word love is used to cover a multitude of sins.  Is is used so loosely and lightly that it is easy to be deceived about the true nature of love it's origin, it's purpose, it's power, it's profound ability to make the greatest sacrifice even the sacrifice of laying down one's life for one's friend. This is God's love for us and love, true love, always evokes a response. It is never indifferent. When one discovers and experiences Your love, when one begins to fathom the greatness of the love of God for His creatures and when we have witnesses like the evangelist John testifying that they have seen Love, walked with Love, touched Love, lived with Love and heard Love speak and listen as He showed them what love is what loving truly means then we gasp in wonder and awe.

How do we know that God loves us?

We know it because He paid the ultimate price for our redemption - the price of the life of His Only Son. How could we not love such a God for deeming us worthy of such love! The best way we can show God we love Him is by loving each other as He desires us to.  If we are filled with the love of God loving our neighbor is easy for we will strive to see the Face of God in him.

How do  we know we have reached perfection in love?  When we are like the Beloved in all things and death holds no fear or dread.  If we cling to life in the world or if we love God out of fear and strive to do His will out of fear of punishment then we have never truly known God or allowed ourselves to experience the splendor of His wondrous love for us.

The surest way I know I love God is when I love my neighbor as I love myself.

Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13

My Beloved, in a world where people are used, abused and discarded like yesterday's news especially the poor in order to support the greed of the powerful, these verses are a timely reminder that the Son of God is the King of Kings.  That all dominion and power belong to You and that in You the poor have a never failing Friend.  Anyone who looks to You for help will receive it and all who put their trust in You will not be disappointed.

Every life is precious in Your sight because Your life was paid as a ransom for each one and it is this that gives it its worth. Anyone who has treated another selfishly and destroyed life with no thought except of self, will have to stand before You when they are called to account as Cain was called to account for the murder of his brother Able.

The Good News is this - Your terrible justice is tempered with infinite mercy. If we are truly sorry for ever having offended You we will be saved.

Mark 6:45-52

Whatever good we do it is because the grace of the power of God is working in us. We do good and we leave. This must be our modus operandi. We do not linger in order to be patted on the back and praised. In fact, if there is any evidence of undue adulation for doing God's work, we must flee in the opposite direction for there is a danger of appropriating for ourselves the glory that is due to God alone.  This is why You sent Your disciples away. You put them into the boar while You Yourself went to be alone with Your Father to pray.  

Our eyes must always be fixed on You knowing that we receive the power to do great things because Your Spirit is at work in us.

Beloved, we are told in verse 45 that You 'made' or in another translation You 'obliged' Your disciples to get into the boat. The boat is a symbol of Your Church. Anyone who believes himself to be a disciple is obliged to get into the Boat - if he refuses he is not a true disciple. 

The reason why You did so is because You saw that the adulation of the crowd could go to their heads although it was undeserved and all glory was to be directed to God alone. You also see that only in the Barque of Peter will be be safe from the winds of evil that toss the world around. The night of sin makes it impossible to see our way. But in the Boat, no matter how dark the night or how terrible the storm, dawn will surely come and with it hope of a new day. The Lord's Day when You will ride the winds and walk victoriously over the turbulent waves and enter the Boat to claim Your Own for Yourself and all evil will be crushed under You heel with just a word of command.

Until now our minds are dull if we truly understood the Gift of God given to us through You and the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, we would strive to sin no more.

Help us Lord as we place all our hope and confidence in You.

1 John 4:7-10, Psalm 72:2-4, 7-8, Mark 6:34-44

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

1 John 4:7-10, Psalm 72:2-4, 7-8, Mark 6:34-44

1 John 4:7-10

My Beloved, true and perfect love can only be understood in the context of God's love for us. God who created us in love, who loved us into existence, who did not abandon or destroy us when we sinned because He cannot go against His nature which is Love. Instead He showed us once and for all the depths of His love by sending You into the world to become the perfect sacrifice that would atone for the sins of all men from the first to the last. No matter how grave the sin or how many times we have sinned, if we are truly sorry and turn to You in repentance, Your Blood will cleanse and restore our soul to to is baptismal purity and innocence.

Such is the power of Your Sacrifice offered to the Father in perfect love and obedience. It's value is infinite and available to all. The Eternal Love of the Father for You Yours for the Father has drawn us into the divine life and love of the Trinity and our happy destiny is to live in Eternal Love.

Psalm 72:2-4, 7-8

My Beloved, God has appointed You as Sovereign Ruler over all. No matter how powerful or strong mortal men may appear to be, they are still nothing more than creatures whose life comes from God and who are answerable and accountable to Him.

To You has been given all authority and dominion and You rule with justice. All men look to You to care for them and they have a powerful Friend and Helper in You and Your Holy Spirit. Anyone who causes Your little ones to suffer will answer to You. Your justice is swift and sure. The measure of mercy shown will be in proportion to the mercy that we have shown to others.

No one sins with impunity although they think they do since retribution for their pride has not yet come. But You show pity and mercy to all especially the hardened sinner and all are given time for repentance and conversion but in the end time will run out for all.

We know that Justice and Peace came into the world at Your birth and it is ours to receive if we desire it. For You rule in our midst and make our hearts Your throne.

Mark 6:34-44

These verses bring to mind powerful images of You, Your disciples and the crowd that had left everything behind to listen to You.

Five Loaves + Two Fish = A Miracle

Here is a lesson for us all to learn and imitate. You always teach by example as we see in these verses written by the evangelist Mark. You saw the crowd and had compassion on them. They hungered and thirsted for spiritual bread and so You fed them with the Word. It was late and the disciples, showing concern for the crowds, asked You to send them away so they could go and take care of their needs as they would surely be hungry. It was a concern that had not a shred of personal involvement. They wanted to people to go away and fend for themselves as best they could considering the late hour.

Not so You my Beloved in verse 37 You teach us an unforgettable lesson. To the disciples' request to send the crowds away You say, "You yourselves give them something to eat." You want us to get involved, to get down on our knees and get dirty if necessary. You want us to have Your divine vision not the tunnel vision of the disciples who only saw the problem as vast, hopeless and impossible. God was in their midst but they did not see Him nor did they recognize Him although they walked with Him every day.

You draw our attention to what we already possess even if it is only as little as five loaves and two fish - when we offer it to You in hope and trust, You will take our faith tiny as a mustard seed and with it You can and will do the impossible.

We see here how dramatically faith works. Believing that God will act we must prepare for it expectantly. We must raise our heart to God our Father certain that He will provide and as we distribute and share God's gifts He will increase and multiply them and we will discover that not only have we not run out but there is plenty left over. Such is our God!

1 John 3:22---4:6, Psalm 2:7-8, 10-13, Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

1 John 3:22---4:6, Psalm 2:7-8, 10-13, Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man

1 John 3:22---4:6

My Beloved, You are true to Your promises.  When You ascended into heaven You sent Your Holy Spirit upon Your Apostles so they would recall all that You said and did. We too receive the same Holy Spirit who enables us to grow in faith and love as we receive grace upon  grace to keep the commandments to love God and neighbour.  

Love is the first step we take in response to Your love - because we believe we love and because we love we obey. Our journey from this life to the next can be easy if we yield to You completely or it can be as difficult as the strength of our resistance to the Holy Spirit.

This is Your promise that whatever we ask we shall receive provided we keep Your commands and do what pleases You.  Obedience is easy when we love and loving is easy when we understand that God loved us first. God loved us so much that He sent You to lay down Your life for us in turn Your love for Your Father was so great that You obeyed Him and became the willing Victim for our sins.

We live in a world that is constantly coming at us with all kinds of ideas and ideologies promising instant gratification, instant, quick fix relief and solutions to problems and if we are not grounded in the truth it is easy to go astray and be tossed about by every idea that appeals to our flesh and our senses.

We are called to discern whether any inspiration we receive comes from the Spirit of God or the spirit of the world.  You are the Son of God who came into the world as a Man to save us; this is the foundational truth upon which everything we believe in stands or falls. This is how we know if we are of God or of the world. Anyone who professes to know God listens to Him and is guided by His Holy Spirit.  

The fullness of Truth is found when these two components are present - the Word of God and Apostolic Tradition handed down in an unbroken line to the successors of Peter. This Sacred Deposit of our Faith is found in the Church which has these four marks One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.  

When in doubt go to Peter there You will find the Spirit of Truth.

Psalm 2:7-8, 10-13

My Beloved, begotten by God eternally You are God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God. To You has been given all authority, all power and dominion over all that is was and ever shall be.  It is right and fitting that everything on the earth, in the heavens and under the earth bow down before You and acknowledge Your Lordship. All kings, rulers, powers and principalities are subject to Your authority.

We are all called to serve God by serving one another in a spirit of love. All those who do,  have God as their Father, Brother and Spouse.

Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

My Beloved, we find sometimes that those who believe in God can be rigid, narrow minded, self righteous bigots. They try to mold God into their own perceived idea of Him and anyone who do not conform to their way of thought are rejected.  Perhaps this is why You went first to places where You knew the people would be more receptive and open to the grace of God's Presence among them. Not being hidebound by the various religious groups and their concept of who God is and how He involved Himself in the affairs of man, they are able to accept more freely and be amazed when God makes Himself known to them by the works that He does among them.

When You began Your public ministry You went to those who would receive Your message of complete conversion because they saw the work You did and understood that such power must surely be divine.

Those who heard You and saw all You did were so excited that they carried the message of the Good News of the Kingdom eagerly wherever they went and soon people began to bring all those who were sick in mind body soul and spirit to You for healing.  

Our works are the visible fruit and testimony that God's power is in us as we live out the faith we believe in and profess.

Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6, Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13, Matthew 2:1-12

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6, 
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13, 
Matthew 2:1-12

Isaiah 60:1-6

My Beloved, You are the Light of the World sent by God to dispel the darkness and night, the fear and the shame of sin forever.

700 years before Your coming into the world the prophet Isaiah wrote about You and all the promises of God that would find their fulfillment in You.  You are the Glory of God, this glory would rise like the sun and You will herald a new dawn. Just as the sun sheds its greatest light and covers the whole earth at noonday so will all nations  be bathed in Your radiance.  All will hear Your invitation and all will come to You just like the shepherds and the wise men did.  You will come into he world and in You the Father's infinite love will be revealed, a love that will redeem and save the world.  As we lift up our  hearts to  you we will be filled with the plenitude of God's grace as vast as the sea.  True worship to the one true God will be offered to You from one end of the world to the other as we ascend Your holy mountain to worship You bringing with us our lives as our offering, pleasing and acceptable to You my Beloved, my Lord and my God.

Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6

My Beloved, You choose the least likely, the one most unexpected so it is clear that the one chosen is truly sent by You.  Human wisdom will find such a choice unbelievable, impossible, bewildering and bordering on the absurd. 

Who would have ever believed that You would choose the fiercest enemy of the Church, who had made it his life's mission to seek out the followers of the Way in order to persecute, imprison and kill them? But then, You are the God of the impossible. Having chosen Paul and You channelled his burning if misplaced zeal into true apostolic, missionary hunger and thirst for souls. 

How wonderfully God prepared the world to receive You and those who received You in turn have received the awesome mission and challenge of revealing You to those around them until Your light and truth reach the farthest ends of the earth. All receive Your call however we may choose either to accept or reject it. You are the Promise of God and all are invited to take their place prepared by You in the Kingdom of God - this is indeed Good News.

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13

My Beloved, the world has always had its share of the rich, the powerful, the arrogant, the disdainful, the proud, the boastful.  They crush the poor, the weak, the voiceless under their heels.  They are deaf to their whimpering cries, their pain, their suffering, their quivering fear, their tremulous voice for justice that they know they will not receive.  And yet, the Sun of Justice has risen  The Son of God and the Son of man has been endowed by God with power and might He ears every cry and collects every tear of those who have been discarded like refuse and are forgotten.  

You my Beloved are our Deliverer to You we lift up our eyes and seek justice and every sigh will find vindication in You.  Woe to those who gave cause to Your little ones to suffer.  Their punishment will be great.  In the end all will bow before You.

Verse 12-13

He delivers the needy who call on him,

the afflicted with no one to help them.

His mercy is upon the weak and the poor,

he saves the life of the poor.

Matthew 2:1-12

We do not believe in legends, myths or fairy tales.  We know that in the fullness of time, God rend the heavens, piercing the veil of time and space and entered human history.  You were born in Bethlehem in the days when Herod ruled as king.  The Kingdom of God is about to be established.  God sent His Messenger to a young Virgin, Mary to reveal her role in making God's plan of salvation possible.  She was the first to be taken into God's confidence and after her fiat, Joseph was drawn into the inner circles.  Next it was turn Elizabeth and Zechariah and after Your birth it was the shepherds who heard the Good News and finally came the wise men.  This is how it first began.

In our own journey God sends messengers to us, the star is the Church, His Word, His Holy Spirit, as long as we keep these in sight we will not lose our way.  However, if we seek Him in the ways of worldly wisdom, we will lose sight of Him as the wise men lost sight of the star. There are many who pretend to walk on the side of Truth but like Herod they deceive.

When we come back after we have strayed God will gain receive us and reveal Himself to us.  The star will become visible again and will continue to guide us and when we find You Beloved, we will find Your Mama with You.  Anyone who thinks he has found You and does not see Your Mama with You is terribly mistaken.  She who carried You first in her womb and then always in her heart and when we find her she points to You and says, "Do whatever He tells you to do."

Just as the wise men offered gifts so doe we offer ourselves to You and once we do we cannot remain the same.  We cannot haunt the old ways of sin but must be transformed there must a total metanoia that makes possible our journey to God to the end in the Way, the Truth and the Life of Christ.

Act of Consecration - 25 October 2009, Sunday 0515 a.m.

Today I have consecrated and pledged my life to the Holy Spirit.  In the Presence of our Heavenly Father, Jesus my Beloved Brother, Spouse and Friend and the Holy Spirit, I stand at the foot of the Cross with Mama Mary, in the company of the disciple whom Jesus loved and Mary Magdalen  who both represent me, and my Guardian Angel, as well as all the angels and saints in heaven I ask You my Beloved Jesus to appoint the Holy Spirit as my Teacher, Advocate, Paraclete, Guide and Comforter.

Today begins the first step of my journey as Your disciple on the Way to eternity.  My life - all that I am and have I surrender unconditionally to You my God and my Savior in return I ask only for  that which You wish to give me.  Amen.

Song of Songs 4:12

Song of Songs 4:12                          *(see note)

You are a garden enclosed, my sister, my bride; a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain. 

Mary is the garden enclosed that the writer of the Song of Songs speaks of.  She is the sister and bride of the Holy Spirit.  The power of the Father comes upon her, the Holy Spirit overshadows her, the Son becomes incarnate in her womb.  He grows there in secret for nine months embellishing this garden with every grace, blessing and virtue.  She is radiant with the radiance of God emanating from her.  Her body and her soul were conceived in the heart and mind of the the Almighty God, the God of all ages - Master Designer and Master Creator of this, His divine masterpiece.  There never was and there never shall be another creature as lovely, good, pure, sweet, gentle, noble and grace-filled as Mary - my Mother, my Mama, my Queen.

NOTE:

To highlight Mary's chastity, her effigy is surrounded by two of the classical symbols of Our Lady's virginity, namely:

Hortus conclusus

(enclosed garden)

Fons signatus

(sealed fountain)

Both symbols appear in the Song of Songs, "You are. . .my sister, my bride, an enclosed garden, a fountain sealed." (Canticle 4, 12).

The typical half-image of Mother and child form the crown of a tree which bears simultaneously, flowers and fruit. They are symbols of Mary's role as simultaneously virgin (flower) and mother (fruit).

Song of Songs 2:8-14, Psalm 33:11-12, 20-21

She

The voice of my lover! Behold he comes, springing across the mountains, jumping over the hills, like a gazelle or a young stag. Now he stands behind our wall, looking through the windows, peering through the lattice.  My lover speaks to me,

 

He

“Arise, my love, my beautiful one!  Come, the winter is gone, the rains are over.  Flowers have appeared on earth; the season of singing has come; the cooing of doves is heard.  The fig tree forms its early fruit, the vines in blossom are fragrant.  Arise, my beautiful one, come with me, my love, come.  O my dove in the rocky cleft, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice.  Your face – how lovely!  Your voice – how sweet!”

My Beloved, You always speak the words I need to hear.  Thank You for telling me once more how passionately You love me.  My life my love, my being is Yours my own true God.  I give it all to You through Mary.

Psalm 33:11-12, 20-21

But His plan stands forever, and his heart’s design through all generations.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord – the people he has chosen for his inheritance.  In hope we wait for the Lord, for He is our help and our shield.  Our hearts rejoice in Him, for we trust in His holy Name.

All that You say to me today makes my heart leap for  joy.

Genesis 49:9-10, Psalm 72:17

Genesis 49:9-10

Judah, a young lion! You return from the prey my son! Like a lion he stoops and  crouches, and like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? The scepter shall not be taken from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and who has the obedience of the nations.

Psalm 72:17

May His Name endure forever; may His Name be as lasting as the sun. All the races will boast about Him, and He will be blessed by all nations.

My Beloved, You are the young, strong invincible Lion of Judah.  You have conquered and destroyed the prey of evil.  Like a lion You stoop and crouch and You are ready to strike at all who dare to harm the poor, the outcast the weak, those with no voice.  You are the Ruler of the earth and all creation submits to Your rule in loving obedience.

As the psalmist foretold, Your Name endures forever - the sun will not last but the SON will.  All races boast about You and You are blessed by all nations.  Although many in the world wish to deny Your existence by denying You my Beloved, they cannot silence the many, who armed with Your Holy Spirit, are prepared to lay down their lives to proclaim You.

Psalm 85:11-14

Psalm 85:11-14

Love and faithfulness have met; righteousness and peace have  embraced.  Faithfulness will reach up from the earth while justice bends down from heaven.  The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its fruit.  Justice will go before him, and peace will follow along his path.

My Beloved, how clear it becomes once the Holy Spirit points out how God reached down to ask for Mary's cooperation and she reached up in faith and humility; to allow God complete freedom to accomplish His plan, using her as His instrument to bring it about.  May I too always say yes to Your will and plan for my life.

Zephaniah 3:9, 11-12

Zephaniah 3:9, 11-12

At that time I will give truthful lips to the pagan nations that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh and serve Him with the same zeal.  On that day you will no longer be ashamed of your deeds when you were unfaithful to Me.  I will leave within you a poor meek people who seek refuge in God.

Beloved, I have just finished reading St. Louis de Montfort's little gem  Treatise on True Devotion to Mary.  I  have renewed the consecration of myself to her in order that I  may be more pleasing to You.  If I have the fragrance of Mary I shall be better able to approach You my God through her, in her and with her - Mary my mistress and mother who will always say to me, "Do whatever He tells you."  With Your own sweet Mother beside me You will welcome my approach and be pleased to let me touch the hem of Your garment.

Numbers 24:7

NUMBERS 24:7

His buckets are overflowing and his seeds are always watered.

"My child, You know the truth but unless you apply it to your life there will be no growth.  Your will must cooperate with the grace that I freely give in order that you may produce lasting fruit.  The angels, the saints and above all my Mother are rooting for you and cheering you on because they see your desire to please Me.  But just good desires are  not enough to achieve your goal of sanctity.  To the desire must be added your will - a firm unshakeable will, only then can you become what you desire.

The seeds I plant are always well watered by My Holy Spirit but the soil must be good.  I have not told you these things to make you sad but you must know that anything worth having is worth fighting for.  In this is victory."

"Thank You my Beloved for speaking to me."

Saturday 12.12.2009

My Beloved, I thank You for both St. Alphonso Liguori and St. Louis de Montfort and most of all for Your Word where You are constantly showing me the different facets of the Jewel of God we call Mother Mary.  The Catholic Church has received and recognised the grace to plumb this inexhaustible treasure of beauty and the great things the Triune God has done in this loveliest and humblest of creatures - Your handmaid, because she gave herself to You freely and without reserve.  In heaven the angels and saints vie with each other to sing her praises and do her bidding. 

Mama Mary pray for me.  You know all that is in my heart.  Help me!  Mama. if it is God's will then I know you will reveal and make possible the work that God is probably assigning to me.  You will help to make it clear.  Thank you.

Psalm 1:2-4, Isaiah 48:17-19

My Beloved, the psalmist says that we are blessed when we find our delight in Your law and meditate on Your commandments day and night.  We will find ourselves like a tree beside a brook producing fruit in due season and everything we do will be a success. The same thought is expressed by the prophet Isaiah but differently.

Isaiah 48:17-19

Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:  I, Yahweh your God, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go.  Had you paid attention to my commandments, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.  your descendants would have been like the sand and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from my Presence.

My Beloved, for a long time I have had this desire to tithe on my heart.  I have been praying about it as You know - if this is something that You wish me to initiate my Lord, then I as Your slave as well as Mama's, desire to carry out Your will.  I believe that if this is from You then You will be with me and help me.  Time will tell.  Thank You my Lord.

"Be like the child who gave his 5 loaves and 2 fish to Me and with it I was able to feed a multitude."

Isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God.  I will give you strength I will bring  you help, I will uphold you with the right hand of  my justice.

My Beloved, I thank You for all that is happening to me spiritually right now.  I do believe my Beloved that Your Mama and mine, our dearest Mother Mary is praying for me for she is my benefactress.  She has my hand firmly in hers for I have placed my hand in her own and I ask that she never lets go of it.  Mary my mama pray for me.

Isaiah 40:28-29, 31, Matthew 11:28:30

Isaiah 40:28-29, 31

Have you not known, have you not heard that Yahweh is an everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth?  He does not grow tired or weary, His knowledge is without limit.  He gives strength to the enfeebled, He gives vigor to the wearied.  Those who hope  in Yahweh will renew their strength.  They will soar as with eagle's wings; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and never tire.

Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said to the crowds: "Come to me, all you who work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of  heart; and you will find rest.  For my yoke is easy and my burden light.

My Beloved, You have called me to holiness and I must respond.  What does it mean to be holy?  It means modelling my life on that of Mary, Your Mama and mine, the holiest of all Your creatures.

Desiring to be holy is only the first step, I must live each moment aware of this great calling.  You  know perfectly well my Beloved, that I cannot do this alone and so You make available to me the sacraments.  You give me Yourself as food for my soul and You gave me Your Father and Mother for my own for it is You who taught me to call God Abba.

Philippians 1:8-11, Luke 3:4-6

Myra, I love you.  You are Mine.  Not only do I know you by your name, I have given you a secret name that only I know. You are precious to me.  You are my possession.  I love you with an everlasting love.  Love me in return.  Be Mine.  Give me all of yourself, hold nothing back.  Be as simple as a child.  I will supply all your needs.  I will hear and answer your prayers for yourself and for those you love.  Belong to Me.  Hold nothing back.  I have loved you even before the creation of the world and I  have made a place for you with me, so that where I am you may be as well because I want you to be with Me forever.

Philippians 1:8-6

God knows that I love you dearly with the love of Christ Jesus, and in my prayers I ask that your love may lead you each day to a deeper knowledge and clear discernment, that you may have good criteria for everything.  So you may be pure of  heart and come blameless to the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of holiness that comes through Christ Jesus, for the glory and praise of God.

My beloved Jesus, my own true God, grant that I may lose myself in You - may I be be so lost in You that You cannot find me.  My Beloved, how tenderly St. Paul loved the people whom he ministered to.  How much more tenderly do You love me.  Thank You for not only loving me but for the great joy and comfort I feel in my being to know that I am loved so much. 

Luke 3:4-6

It was just as is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:  listen to this voice crying out in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make His path straight.  The valleys will be filled and the mountains and hills made low.  Everything crooked will be make straight and the rough paths smooth, and every mortal will see the salvation of God.

What a great promise and it has come to pass, for all mortals have seen the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 26:3-4, Psalm 118:1

Isaiah 26:3-4

You keep in perfect peace the one who trusts in You.  Trust in Yahweh forever, for Yahweh is an everlasting Rock.

Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good His loving kindness endures forever.

My Beloved, thank You for all You  have done for me especially for loving me and assuring me that You love everyone with a different kind of tenderness.  My weaknessess make You feel a tenderness for me different from anybody else.  I love You my Jesus.  You make me smile.  You make my eyes well with tears because You love me.  My Beloved, I want to love You with every fibre of my being and I want the visible sign of my love to be that I strive to be holy and perfect with the grace You so readily make available to me.

Isaiah 25:7-10, Matthew 15:36-37

Isaiah 25:7-10

On this mountain He will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations, and death will be no more.  The Lord will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; He will take away the humiliation of His people all over the world: for Yahweh has spoken.  On that day you will say: This is our God.  We have waited for Him to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation.  For on this mountain the hand of Yahweh rests.

My Beloved, the pall of sin, death, sickness and evil shroud the world like a deadly fog.  You promise to destroy it.  The clutches of the death of sin You will loosen.  You will set us free to love You, adore You and worship You.  You will wipe away every tear and You will fill  with every grace and blessing those who follow You.  Thank You Beloved for the tiny pin pricks of humiliation for then I can experience in a small way what You suffered. 

Matthew 15:36-37

Then He took the seven loaves and the small fish and gave thanks to God,  He broke them and gave them to His disciples, who distributed them to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied, and the leftover broken pieces filled seven wicker baskets.

My Beloved, You do not exhaust Yourself when You give us Your Body and Blood.  All can eat and be satisfied and You will always be available to give us this banquet of love.

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.