Acts 20:28-38, Psalm 68:29-30, 33-36, John 17:11-19

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 20:28-38, Psalm 68:29-30, 33-36, John 17:11-19

Acts 20:28-38

My Beloved, the Church, Your Body, is a sacred trust given by You to Peter and the Apostles who handed it down to those who came after them. You shed Your Blood for her members and countless others, faithful to You, to Your teachings and Your Word have likewise shed their blood and so it continues to this day. The Church was purchased at a price that no one can ever hope to repay. 

Ruthless wolves  from without the Church and even from within bay for the destruction of Your Church and her teaching which she received from You. She guards and defends it faithfully and teaches without error for this is what You have guaranteed through Your Holy Spirit.

Today truth is being corrupted by those in authority and power those with an evil agenda those who seek to replace innocence, beauty, wisdom and truth with lies, ugliness, depravity and knowledge is being used to corrupt and destroy rather than to nurture and build on a foundation of love made visible through service. But we must not lose hope. You have conquered, the price is paid and the victory is won.The enemies of the Church will crushed for they are already vanquished and triumphant cries of alleluia resound everywhere even though it may seem that the power of darkness are in ascent. 

Psalm 68:29-30, 33-36

The Lord has won the victory He is triumphant. Awesome is our God who rules the heavens and the earth and blesses His children with power and strength to face the enemy and overpower the rulers of darkness in His Truth.  Our God rides on the wind and speaks in the sound of the thunder. He carries His people under His wings. Blessed be our God now and forever. Alleluia!

John 17:11-19

My Beloved, Your own are kept safe in Your Name - Jesus. To us who believe in Your Word is given the joy that comes only from knowing You. We do not belong to the world but to You and just as the world hated You, so it hates those who follow You faithfully.

You have left us Your Presence in Your Living and Eternal Word and we are consecrated in the Truth of Your Word which is Yourself.  We are called to be leaven in the world carrying Your Truth and allowing that Truth to go out from us to be diffused to those around us. We thank You Beloved for making the ultimate sacrifice for which the Father sent You.In Your death we have died to sin and in Your resurrection we are born to newness of life. Thank You.

Acts 20:17-27, Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21, John 17:1-11

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 20:17-27, Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21, John 17:1-11

Acts 20:17-27

My Beloved, if any disciple can truthfully echo Paul's words as their mission comes to a close they can be at peace for they have been your good and faithful servant. Our life is the first witness of what we believe even  before we open our mouths to speak. A life lived in humility and service to ones neighbor is the mark of a true disciple. Nothing must deter us, neither trials, persecution or sorrow. The goal is clear and we must keep a steady course. This is possible only if we are completely in tune with the Holy Spirit.  We have all received the same mission to carry the Good News with us wherever we may be, You will provide all the grace we need. May I strive always to never stop to count the cost but to do all that You ask of me cheerfully, promptly and to the best of my ability.

Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21

My Beloved, You are with us always. You bless and comfort us. You feed us and strengthen us. You forgive us and are always merciful, tender and compassionate. As you deal with us grant that we deal with others. Thank You for being yoked to us and helping us carry our burdens each day.Thank You for salvation that comes to us only through You. Thank You for the promise of eternal life with You.

John 17:1-11

My Beloved, the blessed hour for which the Father sent You into the world has finally arrived. To You is given the power over all mankind. The ones chosen by the Father and entrusted to You are given the awesome  mission of establishing Your Church, preserving Your teaching and handing it down faithfully to all who will come to know you and the Father who sent You. To God is due all glory for sending us salvation and redemption through You. The Church is entrusted with the mission to ensure that Your teaching is handed down faithfully so that generation after generation will receive the truth, will come to know and believe in You and will be saved. We bear Your Name Beloved and are one in You as You are One with the Father. 

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26, Psalm 113:1-8, John 15:9-17

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26, Psalm 113:1-8, John 15:9-17

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

My Beloved, the Church is a community of believers with a hierarchy - there is a visible head and there is the invisible Head, Yourself. The Church receives her life from You and she is guided by the Holy Spirit, by Scripture and by the Living Tradition that the Apostles who were with You from the time of John's baptism, who lived with You for 3 years and finally were witnesses to Your resurrection.

As long as the Church abides by these three principles she will stay the course and remain true and faithful. Thus it was how the two were chosen to take Judas' place. Lots were cast for Joseph and Matthias who fit the criteria and in the end the final choice was left up to You. It was You who chose Matthias.

Psalm 113:1-8

My Beloved, You choose whoever You wish and You equip the one chosen to carry out the mission. We are to be attentive to Your voice and to accept Your choice in obedience and humility.

You are intimately involved in the life of Your Church, constantly stooping over her and granting her Your protection. We praise You Lord for Your Church, for her leaders and for all her members who form Your Body.

John 15:9-17

Me Beloved, there are no degrees to divine love as there is in human love and affection which is often flawed because we are sinners. How consoling and wonderful it is to know that You love us as much as You love the Father who returns that love in equal and infinite measure. 

Beloved, the only one way to know if my love for You is genuine is if I am willing to obey Your commands. This is how we know that Your love for Your Father is perfect, You obeyed His command to lay down Your life for us. You have revealed to us everything that the Father Himself revealed to You. In believing all that You have revealed You have made us Your friends for there are no secrets between true friends. You chose us, You have sent us to tell the world how much God loved us He sent You to save us and give us hope of everlasting life. True love makes only one demand that we make a complete self donation to one another in imitation of the Divine Lover.

Acts 16:22-34, Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8, John 16:5-11

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 16:22-34, Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8, John 16:5-11

Acts 16:22-34

My Beloved, Paul and Silas were flogged, received blows, their clothes were torn off and they were not only thrown into prison but their feet were chained. One would imagine that they would have been caught up in their physical pain and spiritual disappointment tat their preaching of the Gospel only brought them persecution and imprisonment yet we read that they were praying and singing hymns late into the night. Nothing and no one could steal their joy of being thought worthy to suffer for Your sake and for the sake of the Kingdom. 

So it must be for us - we ought not to become morose when things don't go as we had planned rather we are called to sing, pray and praise God and we will see God work miracles' rewarding us for our faith in Him despite our circumstances. A joyful Christian will attract many more souls to the Kingdom than a sour faced one. 

Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;

in the presence of the angels to you I sing.

I bow low toward your holy temple;

I praise your name for your mercy and faithfulness.

For you have exalted over all

your name and your promise.

On the day I cried out, you answered;

you strengthened my spirit.

Though I walk in the midst of dangers,

you guard my life when my enemies rage.

You stretch out your hand;

your right hand saves me.

The LORD is with me to the end.

LORD, your mercy endures forever.

Never forsake the work of your hands!

John 16:5-11

My Beloved, the Father sent You and when You returned to Your place in His bosom, You sent us Your Holy Spirit so we who are the children of the Father would not feel we had been orphaned after You left. We needed to be connected to You and through You to the Father. What better way than to send us the Spirit of both Father and Son since He is the love that binds us all and makes us one with You who in the Spirit is One with the Father. The Holy Spirit who alone knows God since He is the Spirit of God is able to reveal to us the truth about Him this is why You sent Him to us. 

We sin when we do not believe Your Word. We share in Your righteousness  when we follow You who are the way to the Father. We know that the Devil who is a thief, a liar and a murderer who sought to steal our inheritance has himself been struck down and is condemned. He no longer has a claim on those who share in Your victory over sin, the flesh and the world. Thank You and praise Your Lord!

Acts 16:1-10, Psalm 100:2-3, 5, John 15:18-21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 16:1-10, Psalm 100:2-3, 5, John 15:18-21

Acts 16:1-10

My Beloved, the Church today follows the same pattern that the Apostles and elders did from the very beginning. The hierarchy of Bishops with the Pope as the Vicar of Christ leads, guides and directs Your Church through Your Holy Spirit. She remains true and faithful to Your teaching. She preserves and hands it down teaching without error, for she has Your solemn promise that she cannot do so in matters of faith and morals. You have given her the authority to bind and loose. 

When her members obey her and are faithful to her teachings the Church grows strong and vibrant and she draws many more into her fold as they believe the Good News through her witness and testimony. If all her  members  rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance none will stray. 

Psalm 100:2-3, 5

My Lord, we are called to be a people of joy. We must serve the Church gladly attentive to the needs of those around us. We are called to minister in whatever way is required knowing that God who calls us will equip and supply all we need to be effective. 

You are true to all Your promises. Your love endures forever and all who come after us will also taste the sweetness of Your divine love.

John 15:18-21

My Beloved, we ought not to get sad and discouraged when people reject us, hate us and persecute us. Your enemies hated You precisely because You showed them up for the hypocrites they were. Although they were powerful You were not afraid to name their sins to their faces.

We acknowledge You as our Lord and Master and if the world rejected You we can expect no less from it. To those whose hears are open to the Truth You will grant the gift of faith and life through our witness. Teach us Lord to be patient in tribulations never losing our love, joy and peace because You have won the victory.

Acts 15:7-21, Psalm 96:1-3, 10, John 15:9-11

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 15:7-21, Psalm 96:1-3, 10, John 15:9-11

Acts 15:7-21

My Beloved, Peter reiterates what the Apostles and earliest disciples knew quite well, that of the 12 You chose Peter to be the Rock, he was to be Your Vicar on earth and the visible head of Your Church. We hear the Good News not only through the Gospels but from Peter as well who guides the Church. The Holy Spirit is not restricted to a select few but is Your awesome Gift to all who believe with no discrimination. In Baptism we are made the children of God we are saved through the immeasurable merit that You won for us and the infinite grace poured upon all those who believe in Your Name.

To all who preach the Good News God will work through signs and wonders for the Father desires that all may come to know Him and You whom He sent. To all who believe is given the Holy Spirit who comes from You and reveals the secrets of the Kingdom of God.

The only reason for these restrictions that James put forth for non-Jews who have embraced Christianity is to avoid scandalizing the ultra conservative Jews who had become Christians. It was all still very new and the Church to this day has always been most sensitive and thoughtful of all her children.

Psalm 96:1-3, 10

My Beloved, truly we ought to rejoice always for all that the Father has done for us through You. Thank You for Your reign upon the earth. In His perfect time God will bring all things under Your rule and command; for Lordship has already been given to You. In the end all will bow down and worship You as Lord, Savior and Redeemer of all mankind.

John 15:9-11

My Beloved, there are no degrees to the love God has for You and for us. As the Father loves You He loves us it is an unfathomable love and it is a mystery that He loved us even while we were still sinners. The intensity of Your love for the Father is also the same as Your love for us who have been redeemed and sanctified by Your great Sacrifice.

Obedience in all things will keep us united to You. It is a choice we make over and over again for as long as we are alive. Only in You Beloved is our joy made complete because You alone give meaning and purpose to our life. Thank You.

Acts 15:1-6, Psalm 122:1-5, John 15:1-8

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 15:1-6, Psalm 122:1-5, John 15:1-8

Acts 15:1-6

My Beloved, we see in these verses that no matter how strongly we feel about some pet belief or theory we could be mistaken. What is acceptable in one context may not be so in another. The Jewish faith required circumcision according to the Mosaic Law of Moses to distinguish themselves from the rest of the nations. This changed when You came into the world. Now what distinguishes Christians from the rest of the world is Baptism. We see in the early Church how disputes which arose were resolved. They were brought to the elders in the Mother Church in Jerusalem, gathering together they prayed about it, discussed it and led by the Holy Spirit decided on the right course of action. This is how it is done to this day. "Rome has spoken the case is closed."  And so it will be until the end of the age for You guarantee that the Church cannot teach error on matters of faith and morals.

Psalm 122:1-5

My Beloved, I thank You for Holy Mother Church who receives all her children and cares for each lovingly and respectfully.

 All find their place in her despite the rich diversity of her children who come from every nation. language and race and all offer You praise, thanksgiving and worship in every tongue. Your life in her keeps her holy and safe from all the attacks and wiles of the Enemy. Within her embrace all are safe for she is built on the Rock of Peter and You are her Cornerstone.

John 15:1-8

My Beloved, You are the true Vine - many have come claiming to be what they are not, they flourished for a while and are now either long gone or will be forgotten eventually. The Father who tends the Vine will not permit parasites to cling as dead weight contributing nothing and yielding nothing, these the Father will remove from You and cast away. The branches that He permits to remain in You He will tend, clean and prune. He will do everything necessary to enable the branch to yield fruit to its potential. Many have begun well but because they were neither humble nor obedient they have inevitably broken from the Vine and withered slowly and died.

Keep us faithful Beloved. Keep us close to Your Church nourished by the Holy Eucharist and by Your Word we will receive life and grace. Through the life giving Sacraments found only in Your Church we are guaranteed happiness in this life and eternal bliss in the next.

Acts 14:19-28, Psalm 145:10-13, 21, John 14:27-31

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 14:19-28, Psalm 145:10-13, 21, John 14:27-31

Acts 14:19-28

Beloved, in these verses we see how Christian disciples must lead their lives. We are called to strengthen and encourage one another in the faith in order that we may remain firm in it. You revealed that we must expect trials for they will surely come our way and through them we will enter the Kingdom of God. Prayer and fasting should be the norm. We must share our common experiences so that all Christians will know how powerfully God is at work in us and in His Church.

Psalm 145:10-13, 21

Praise and good works in accordance with Your will my Lord must be an integral part of our life. You are constantly at work blessing us and giving us all we need to live lives pleasing to God.  All creation rightly gives You praise and as Your creatures we ought to never cease praising You. In this way all will know how good, kind and loving You are.

May every breath I breathe until my last give You glory, praise and honor my Lord and my God.

John 14:27-31

My Beloved, You have taught us that obedience is better than sacrifice. We are called to do exactly what God desires us to. In order to know His will we need to be attentive. We ought to be at peace, we ought to receive the peace that You came to give us. Peace in a world that is in discord. A peace that is so imbued in us that nothing can take it away. We need not be afraid or troubled because You ask us not to fear. 

There is no need to permit the world to steal what belongs to us. You showed us how to love - perfect love conforms our will to the will of the Beloved just as You conformed Your will to that of Your Father because You love Him. You came to teach us God's will for us, to reveal the Father's love for us and to lay down Your life in perfect obedience to His will. Your love was not just talk You accomplished all that the Father sent You into the world to do.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Thank You.

Acts 13:13-25, Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 & 27, John 13:16-20

Acts 13:13-25, Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 & 27, John 13:16-20

Acts 13:13-25

My Beloved, we ought never to forget that God is at the head of human affairs. He is the Creator and it is He who commands and orders all things according to His Providence. As long as we are led by His Spirit and by His Eternal Word, as long as we remain docile and childlike, we will enjoy peace and plenty even in the midst of turmoil, tribulation and want, for God never abandons His own.

We see in these verses as Paul speaks in the synagogue how it is God  who always takes the first step. God chose a people, God led them out of slavery by the most powerful signs, God fed His people for 40 years in the desert, God destroyed nations in order to give the land as an inheritance to the people He chose. God gave them prophets to rule them and when they asked for a king, God gave them kings and from among them was David of whom He said, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all I want him to do." These are words more aptly applied to You my Lord, for from the line of David we received the Son of God made Incarnate by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Your Virgin Mother, Mary. In You Beloved, every prophecy ever made is fulfilled.

Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 & 27

My Beloved, we the faithful who belong to the Church You established, who have experienced Your love and unwavering faithfulness, ought to sing your praises always. We thank You for our Holy Father Pope Francis Your Vicar on earth, whom You have chosen and anointed and on whom Your favor rests. Your hand has made Him firm and we have Your powerful assurance that nothing will every harm your Church or prevail over her. Despite all the turbulence in the world You vow to keep her steady over perilous water. You are truly our Rock, our God, our Savior and our Help.

John 13:16-20

My Beloved, Your Word is clear to those who believe. The Truth is this, "Truly, I say to you, whoever welcomes the one I send, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me.” Christians today are divided into a multitude of denominations because they  cherry pick those passages in the Bible that suits them. The Gospel they preach is more often than not according to their own human interpretation rather than the interpretation handed down by Your anointed Apostles to the Church who with the powerful help of the Holy Spirit, guards this Sacred Deposit of faith .  

In verses 16 & 17 You say, "Truly, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his master, nor is the messenger greater than he who sent him. Understand this, and blessed are you if you put it into practice." Here You tell us plainly that we are the servants and this is most especially true of the Ministers of Your Church. You are our Master. 

In verse 18 You tell us that it is You who have chosen the ones to whom the Good News is entrusted, "I am not speaking of you all, because I know the ones I have chosen and the Scripture has to be fulfilled that says, 'The one who shared my table has risen against me.'"  Those who belong to the Church You have founded are blessed for they are preserved by every one of Your promises.

Acts 12:24-25, 13:1-5a, Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8, John 12:44-50

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 12:24-25, 13:1-5a, Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8, John 12:44-50

Acts 12:24-25, 13:1-5a

My Beloved, the disciples did not chalk out a plan for the mission to which they were called neither did they choose their team members. We see clearly how they carried out their mission which was to preach the Word of God that You had entrusted to the Apostles. They knew each other, they visited the churches that were already established in the area. In the church were prophets and teachers who came from all walks of life. They prayed and fasted which is an important element of the spiritual life if one truly desires to discern God's will. Through prayer and fasting they were attentive to the Voice of God and when God's will was revealed, they carried it out boldly and with conviction. The Apostles sent out disciples by praying, fasting and laying hands on the ones chosen and sent by God.  Prayer, fasting and the Holy Spirit are an unbeatable way if one seriously desires to live and grow in the way of the Lord which is the Way of Truth.

Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8

My Beloved, a Christian must be easily recognized by the love of God and the favor of God which rests on him and illumines his whole being. A Christian is one who walks unhesitatingly in the Way of the Lord which is the narrow way. Christian nations must be characterised by their unquenchable joy that is contagious. Rulers of Christian nations ought to be an example to the world for they govern as servants and rule with justice for all. Praise ought to flow constantly and unceasingly from Your anointed and God, our God must be worshipped, honored and revered through the ends of the earth only then will the Kingdom of God be in our midst.

John 12:44-50

My Beloved, the Father sent You in order to make Himself visible to us in You. It was the Father's love that longed to restore the broken and wounded relationship that had created a chasm between God and His creatures a chasm that only You could bridge by becoming the means through which  man, made one with You through Your incarnation, passion, death and resurrection could once more become one with the Father. You revealed only that which the Father instructed You to reveal and we carry on the mission revealing to the world the same instructions that were entrusted to You, that eternal life is possible and available to all through You who are the visible image of the invisible God. Anyone who believes walks in the light of truth. If we deny You we deny the Father and in doing so we condemn ourselves to a life of darkness.

Thank You my Beloved for coming into the world for saving us and entrusting to us the awesome message and mission to which our whole lives must be conformed thus making us witnesses of the Light and the Truth.

Acts 11:19-26, Psalm 87: 1-7, John 10:22-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 11:19-26, Psalm 87: 1-7, John 10:22-30

Acts 11:19-26

My Beloved, we see how persecution of Christians led to the spread of the faith. As the believers went to neighboring places taking the Good News with them they made new disciples just as You had commanded.  When we ourselves are persecuted, let us not look at it negatively but allow God's work to be fulfilled through us.

The Church in Antioch would soon flourish as new disciples came to know the one, true God and You whom He had sent. One sure sign that a church is validly founded is when it is united to Holy Mother Church. The Apostles sent Barnabas to find out if all the wonderful stories they heard from Antioch were true and it was. 

What a fine testimonial of character to have as the one Barnabas had. Verse 24 says of him, "he himself was a good man filled with Holy Spirit and faith." He and Paul who once was Saul and a great enemy of the Church formed a great team as they preached the Good News and spread the Kingdom of God wherever they went.

Psalm 87: 1-7

All God's children are born in Holy Mother Church. They are fed by her, instructed by her, are sent out into the world from her with the same mission - to preach the Bridegroom and the Good News that He has saved us and won for us eternal life..

John 10:22-30

My Beloved, it is almost 3 years since your public ministry and still the Jews doubt. This is why You said that they were not Your sheep. Those who believe are the ones that recognize You because they belong to You. Your voice is dear and familiar to those whom You call by name and they follow You wherever You may lead. They may not know where You are leading them but it is enough that You are ahead of them. Eternal life is Your promise to Your sheep. No harm will come to those who belong to You for they have been entrusted to You by the Father Himself.

You are One with the Father and we are one in You and so we too are one in  You with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20, John 6:44-51

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20, John 6:44-51

Acts 8:26-40

My Beloved, the soul of the Ethiopian like good soil was prepared to receive the seed of the Word. Every Christian disciple must be attentive to the Holy Spirit and prepared to act in obedience when the Spirit reveals God's will. Like Philip, when we obey we will have the joy of bearing witness to the Good News.  Relying on the wisdom of God we will be able to speak God's Word with such clarity and power that like the Ethiopian those who desire to know You will be open to receiving the Good News of Salvation.

Where the Spirit is there is always joy when we are ready to be guided by Him. On our journey through life there will be many Ethiopians and God will send His Spirit to guide us to them. May we be ready to obey no matter what obstacles come our way.

Psalm 66:8-9, 6-17, 20

God has never failed me. I praise Him and rejoice in His love and faithfulness to me. He has forgiven my sins and renewed my spirit. He has given me grace and strength to avoid temptation and has always answered me. Every time I cried out to Him for help He reached out in loving kindness to save me.

John 6:44-51

My Beloved, Philip would never have evangelized  the Ethiopian had he not been prompted by the Holy Spirit and the Ethiopian would never have known You unless God, our Father, had not drawn him to You. Those who hear and believe and those who because they believe, witness to You by preaching the Good News will be raised by You in the end. 

It is always the Father who moves, plans, who accomplishes and who sets in motion all the events that will bring about the fulfillment of His perfect will if only we are attentive and obedient. 

The Father desires that we know Him and so He sent You into the world for no one knows Him but You. The Father desires that we receive spiritual sustenance so we do not perish by the wayside as we journey towards the Kingdom so He gave us the Bread of Life. The Father gives us Your Flesh as food and Your Blood as drink so that by eating and drinking the Flesh and Blood of the Son of Man, we become like Him. In this is perfect bliss.

Acts 6:8-15, Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30, John 6:22-29

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 6:8-15, Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30, John 6:22-29


Acts 6:8-15

My Beloved it would seem that not much has changed between those who believe in You and those who are opposed to you. The good news is that we can count on the Holy Spirit to grant us the wisdom and the words to refute our enemies and confound them just as You promised. St. Stephen the first martyr worked signs and wonders in Your Name. Filled with the grace and power of Your Spirit he worked zealously to spread the Kingdom of God but the devil never tires of working against Your anointed servants and so they conspired by foul means to discredit him with the authorities with lies false witness and testiony he was accused. Evil continues to work against those who live out the faith against all odds and persecution. Our faith sustains us for Your Word and Your promises are true.

Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30

My Beloved, more and more clearly we see how the world works against Christianity. There is a strong opposition because the Church upholds the divine and natural law which are both ordained by God. Those who preach the Good News both by word and example are persecuted and many lives are destroyed simply because they refuse to denounce their faith. But the light of Truth is our delight and the source of our strength.

John 6:22-29

My Beloved, even to this day men pursue food that will perish with a kind of fevered frenzy that consumes all their waking moments. They keep seeking to sate the flesh which is insatiable and so they are never satisfied. After the miracle of the loaves the people were prepared to go to any lengths to find You and the disciples so they could have more of it failing to see, as You put it so well, the sign behind the miracle. The power of God at work in You.

You remind us to seek the things that are of God which will last forever and not sweat and toil for that which will give only momentary satisfaction. Only You can give food that guarantees everlasting life according to the will and plan of the Father. To the world who pose the same question, You give the same answer as in verse 29, “The work God wants is this: that you believe in the One whom God has sent.”

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19, Psalm 4:2, 4, 7, 9, 1 John2:1-5a, Luke 24:35-48

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19, Psalm 4:2, 4, 7, 9, 1 John2:1-5a, 

Luke 24:35-48

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

My Beloved, when man committed Deicide , when they crucified You, one would have imagined that it would be end of the story of our relationship with God. But God does not think like man He began a new chapter in our history. From the foundations of the world God saw what we would do to You and sought a way to save us and in doing so to demonstrate His great love for us.

As St.Peter says, the people acted out of ignorance - had they known who You were, they would not have demanded that You be executed and a known murderer be released. You took the place of a  convicted felon while he was set free. In fact the crowds demanded that Barabbas be set free while they  bayed for Your Blood, the same Blood that would wipe away the sins of all mankind and restore the inheritance we had lost. Scripture had to be fulfilled and now every time we sin we can repent and begin anew through Your act of salvation. Thank You. 

Psalm 4:2, 4, 7, 9

Who do we have but You my Lord, You answer when we call. You console when we are in distress, You forgive our sins, You grant us Your peace. We can count on Your mercy and compassion always and in You we find shelter from the storms that would otherwise destroy us.

1 John 2:1-5a

My Beloved, You are the eternal Word of the Living God. When the Word makes His dwelling place in us, when we keep the Word and obey It, we are united with God our Father and to You through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

All sin is displeasing to God and because we have such a loving Father we ought never to sin but we are frail, weak creatures this is why You became the Sacrificial Lamb that bore our sins and redeemed the world. 

Grant us the grace my Lord to witness to Your love for us by obeying Your command to love God above and before all and our neighbor as ourselves.

Luke 24:35-48

My Beloved, we are called always to witness to all that You do in our lives. The joy of knowing You and being loved by You is the source of our deepest peace and confidence. We must share with others what we ourselves have experienced. The joy of the Eucharist, the source of our strength, is the Food we receive at the Eucharistic table where we become one with God and our neighbor which is a foretaste of our eternal union in heaven.

Peace is Your gift to us - a peace that we have even in the midst of turmoil and difficulty for we trust in You. We touch You, we eat You, You make Your dwelling place in us what more could we desire my Lord and my God - we have everything when we have You.

Acts 5:27-33, Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20, John 3:31-36

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 5:27-33, Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20, John 3:31-36

Acts 5:27-33

My Beloved, the truth is often unpalatable because the revelation of our sins displays us in a most unsavory light. This is why dishonest people react with such hatred and violence when their true self is unveiled and put on display for all to see. In order to hide under a camouflage of deceit they try to repress those who unflinchingly stand up for the truth. They ban, they make unjust laws, and enforce them by foul and violent means. The truth on the hand cannot be hidden - by its very nature it rises and shines brightly and all who testify to the Truth live in its light and grace as the Apostles and early Christians and Christians down the ages have done.

Peter, our first Pope spoke wisely when he said, "It is better for us to obey God than men". He proceeded to speak boldly of the crime that they had all colluded together to commit, Your cruel crucifixion and death but the power of God continues to draw the most powerful good through it - the salvation and redemption of the whole world. It got the same response that is elicited to this day, demonic rage with a murderous desire to kill those who stand for You who we profess to be the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20

I will bless the Lord all my days;

his praise will be ever on my lips.

Oh, see and taste the goodness of the Lord!

Blessed is the one who finds shelter in him!

The Lord hears the cry of the righteous

and rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves the distraught.

Many are the troubles of the just,

but the Lord delivers them from all.

John 3:31-36

My Beloved, God sent you into the world so that whoever believes in you will be born again through water and the Holy Spirit. We have a share in your life - the life of God and the Holy Spirit.  To the children of men has been revealed the secrets of the Kingdom of God and believing in these divine truths, revealed by You who are one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, we too come to the knowledge of the truth.

We accept Your testimony witnessed to us through Your life, passion, death and glorious resurrection.  We believe You were sent by God and after returning to Him You have poured upon Your Church the fullness of Your Holy Spirit who is Your Gift to us.  To You the Father has given all, entrusting to You all that is, was and ever shall be, the visible and invisible, thrones,, dominions and principalities are all Your to reign over and command for this is the Father's good pleasure.  All who are privileged to believe receive eternal life.

Acts 5:17-26, Psalm 34-29, John 3:16-21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Acts 5:17-26, Psalm 34-29, John 3:16-21

Acts 5:17-26

My Beloved, when we are jealous of those who do good and put obstacles in their way or restrict them in any way because their lives are a contradiction to our own we are prepared to go to any lengths to silence them. Hate and envy make us blind to the truth. The High Priest and his cohorts thought they had won when they put You to death but they discovered to their dismay that You had grown even more powerful in death through the bold and fearless preaching of men who were recently so frightened they fled and deserted You.

They arrested the Apostles but there is no prison strong enough to stand against the power of the Almighty. Your Angel released them and they continued to preach the Good News in the temple  The message has not been silenced in over 2000 ears and we have Your guarantee that despite persecution, the gates of hell shall not prevail. So the mission goes on. The Gospel is preached to the ends of the earth despite persecution, imprisonment, flogging, and bloodshed. The greater the persecution the more bright does the Light of the Gospel shine illuminating the whole world with its message of love and peace.

Psalm 34-29

MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME - Psalm 34

Let’s magnify the Lord together,

Come join me as we glorify His Name,

In distress I called to Him to save me,

He came in haste and took away my shame.

Let’s  celebrate His never ending mercy,

We’ll clap and sing aloud in grateful praise,

Reflecting the radiance of  His beauty

Our joyful hearts will stream abundant grace.

He commands His angels to surround us,

They guard us so we never need know fear,

God stoops low so we can taste His goodness,

He shelters in His heart those He holds dear.

Seek the Lord and You will lack for nothing,

He alone can satisfy your soul,

He is the Living Bread that comes from heaven,

To  sanctify, to nourish and make whole.

If you desire life in all its fullness,

Seal your lips from falsehood and deceit,

Turn away from every form of evil,

Take refuge in His love and pursue peace.

Myra D’Souza / 27^th June 2012

John 3:16-21

My Beloved, evil flourishes in the shadows and in the dark. The most dastardly deeds are often done under cover of the night. Evil doers mistakenly believe that they are unseen but there is no darkness that cannot be penetrated by the Light of God and nothing is hidden before Him. 

God loved the world and so He sent You to save it. In You there is no condemnation - we condemn ourselves when we refuse Your love and salvation.  In You we have eternal life, Yours is the Name there is no other by which we can be saved. We who believe and have received the gift of faith are children who walk in the light of truth and grace and all that we do is pleasing in Your sight.