Romans 8:31b-39, Psalm 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31, Luke 13:31-35

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Romans 8:31b-39, Psalm 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31, Luke 13:31-35

Luke 13:31-35

My Beloved, You have given me a mission. God created me for a purpose and He has equipped me with everything I need to accomplish it. I can be a coward or I can prefer to do what I will rather than do what God desires me to do. However, if I choose to do each day joyfully all You ask of me, then no harm can come to me until all that You wish me to do is completed. No one can harm a head on my head unless You permit it for a greater good.

My life is Yours and You have power over me. You desire only what is good for me and if I trust You in all things that I know that I will have joy in the midst of suffering and perfect joy with You in heaven.

Ephesians 2:19-22, Psalm 19:2-5, Luke 6:12-16

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Ephesians 2:19-22, Psalm 19:2-5, Luke 6:12-16

Ephesians 2:19-22

My Beloved, I belong to the family of God. I am a member of the Church where the fullness of Truth dwells. The One, Holy, Catholic Church has for its foundation the Apostles and prophets with You as the Cornerstone and in You all her members are held as one. This is the place where God dwells – we are a living temple and we are holy because Your Spirit makes His dwelling place in this Church made up of saints and sinners and helps us to become holy and perfect just as You my Beloved are holy and perfect. I am not a stranger nor am I a traveler who has to move on, I belong.  Your Father is our Father, You are our Brother and the Holy Spirit unites us in love to You and to my brothers and sisters.

My Beloved, all of creation, the earth, the sky and the oceans teeming with life and astounding in beauty are constant reminders of Your love for us. The whole world speaks of the glory, majesty and power of God who holds all things in perfect harmony. Every living creature from the greatest to the least bears the imprint of its Creator and each gives praise to God from the rising of the sun to its setting. Grant my Lord that my voice and my life joins in this beautiful song of praise because You give me life and You make it beautiful.  

Luke 6:12-16

My Beloved, just as You called the disciples and chose from among them the Twelve Apostles so too have I been chosen by God. I too have a mission. Just as all creation fulfills the purpose for which it was created so too must I, who have been called from darkness into Your marvelous light, preach the Good News in season and out of season in just living my life from moment to moment in every thought word and action. You have not withheld anything from me but poured upon me every grace, gift and blessing to help me fulfill Your purpose for my life. I have the witness of the Apostles, martyrs and Saints to encourage me. I belong to the family of God and there is a cloud of witnesses to prove to me that a life of holiness is possible for the Spirit dwelling in me and in the Church helps me to work out my salvation in fear and trembling for the hope of someday seeing You my Beloved face to face.  

Romans 8:12-17, Psalm 68:2 & 4, 6-7AB, 20-21, Luke 13:10-17

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Romans 8:12-17, Psalm 68:2 & 4, 6-7AB, 20-21, Luke 13:10-17

Romans 8:12-17

My Beloved, the road to hell is broad and easy and we find ourselves on it when we choose the path of least resistance and give free rein to the desires of the flesh. We do not battle alone in Your loving kindness and because You understand that we are constantly faced with temptation You have given us Your Holy Spirit and with His help it is possible to choose the way of life rather than death. 

We are privileged to be called children of God and so we are by virtue of our baptism. We dare to call God Abba because we are grafted to You in Baptism and Your life is given to us. You are our Brother and we have a share in Your inheritance. However, we must first be ready to suffer as You suffered without constantly complaining, whining all the while dragging our cross discontentedly behind us. Joy in the midst of suffering is possible because You count us worthy to have a share in Your suffering so we may share in Your glory in eternity.

    

Psalm 68:2 & 4, 6-7AB, 20-21

My Beloved as verse 20 reminds us You daily share our burdens as our Savior, Redeemer and Friend. You yoke Yourself to us so we find our burdens easy and our load light. You have saved us and because You took our death upon Yourself so we may receive Your life we have hope of eternal joy with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven.  This is reason to sing Your praises always as we recall Your great mercies. Thank You for sheltering us in Your Sacred Heart and for watching over us always. Thank You for Your mighty protection that keeps us safe through the power of Your Holy Spirit from the wiles of the enemy.

Luke 13:10-17

My Beloved, sin robs us of our dignity as children of God. What sin had this poor crippled woman committed in her youth when she stood tall and beautiful – what grave sins did carry the burden of which had bent her double giving Satan power over her? We will never know but You did when You saw her on the Sabbath in the synagogue – man made rules were not going to stop You from releasing her from the clutches of evil that had weighed on her for years – all she could see was the dust of the earth while her whole being yearned to stand tall and gaze once more with wonder at the sky and see once more the beauty of the world around her. Your heart was moved to pity and compassion and although You knew that the narrow minded authorities would be up in arms at what they considered work on the Sabbath You called her and when she came before You she heard You speak, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” You then lay Your hands on her and she was healed. Praise and thanksgiving filled her whole being as she  exultantly gave glory to God.

I too can be a hypocrite Lord. I find fault because I am jealous, self righteous, or because I am too busy looking for specks in my neighbors eye and refusing to acknowledge the glaring planks in my own. I pretend to want what is good while secretly harboring selfish thoughts. I am called to do good and to always choose tenderness, mercy and compassion over any law that would restrict me from doing what I can to ease another’s burden.

Jeremiah 31:7-9, Psalm 126:1-6, Hebrews 5:1-6, Mark 10:46-52

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Jeremiah 31:7-9, Psalm 126:1-6, Hebrews 5:1-6, Mark 10:46-52

Jeremiah 31:7-9

My Beloved, we ought to be a people of exultant praise to our God who never tire of proclaiming all the wonderful things that God our Father has done for us in and through You. Every promise that He made through the mouths of the prophets in the Old Testament has been fulfilled in You. All that was hinted at, all that was veiled in oaths, promises and Covenants find their perfect expression in this amazing and awesome truth. The Father loved us so much that He sent You into the world to be our Savior. Sin made us exiles and orphans but we rejoice because You healed the breach created by sin and You won for us mercy, forgiveness and pardon.

You have restored our sight, You have gathered us from every corner of the globe, You have healed our wounds and our spiritual disabilities. You have saved us. You give us living water that never runs dry and You take us by the hand and walk with us every step of the way as You lead us in the Way that will take us to the Kingdom of God. Thank You.

Psalm 126:1-6

My Beloved, as Your followers, Your disciples, as people who are called Christians because we belong to the One anointed by the Father and sent into the world to redeem us we must be joyful always. Despite suffering, hardship and whatever cross the Lord sees fit and necessary to lay one us we must never lose sight of this truth – that we are created by God to know Him, love Him, serve Him and to be happy with Him not only in the hereafter but in this life as well.

This is possible because You give Yourself to us as Food in the Holy Eucharist. You grant us forgiveness of all our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You have given us the Gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to do what would otherwise be impossible on our own strength  - strive to live holy lives with His help and the grace that He channels into our hearts.

We are the people of God who rejoice always because we have been saved.

Hebrews 5:1-6

It will do us well to always remember my Beloved, that we are called. We do nothing of our own accord. Whoever we may be, all the baptized are given a mission. God has a plan for each one of us some are called to have greater responsibility to lead, preach, teach and serve but all of us are part of the mission to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth. Each according to our vocation is priest, prophet and king although we are sinners and we have the sinless High Priest who redeemed us as our example. We must fix our gaze on You always and follow in obedience where You lead no matter where it make take us.

Mark 10:46-52

My Beloved, we are told that You were leaving Jericho to go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival and a large crowd along with Your disciples were with You. What was the motive of those in the crowd who accompanied You? Some would have been there only because being part of a large group would ensure that they were safe from thieves and robbers who often lay in wait for pilgrims. Some would have been there because they had heard about You and were curious. Still others may have been there because they were attracted to Your message and wanted to follow You. But I am sure it is safe to say that many were only there because it was convenient to make the journey from Jericho to Jerusalem in a large group.

Jericho represents the place that we are at as sinners and Jerusalem represents the place where we are prepared to sacrifice our lives for our neighbor as You did. Bartimaeus represents every sinner who genuinely repents of his sins and desires to encounter God. He is prepared to rid himself of every attachment that holds him back from truly embracing God’s will just as Bartimaeus who jumped up when he was told that You called him, threw his cloak and ran joyfully to You. You asked him what he wanted You to do for him just as You ask all who seek You not for Your sake but for ours since You are God and know all things. We need to know what we truly want and then in all humility, faith, hope, and trust ask for it. “Master, that I may see.” Bartimaeus yearned for more than physical sight. He recognized You as the Messiah when he called out, “Son of David have pity on me.” He wanted to know You and have a personal relationship with You. He wanted to be Your disciple and this is why, once You granted him his sight he followed You.

http://bridegroomofmysoul.blogspot.com/2012/04/bartimaeus-and-i-mark-46-52.html

Romans 7:18-25A, Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 93-94, Luke 12:54-59

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Romans 7:18-25A, Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 93-94, Luke 12:54-59

Romans 7:18-25A

My Beloved, this is the eternal cry of both sinner and saint. We long to do what is good, right and noble. We want to choose to do what God wills and yet we allow our flesh to drag us in to the miry depths of sin. Our struggle is universal. Saints, cooperating with the grace that you make freely available to all, slowly but surely gain mastery over their will because they allow Your love to dictate their actions because they love You more than they love themselves.

Every one of us struggles against concupiscence. Many fall by the wayside. For all it is a lifelong battle and our victory or our loss depends on how much freedom we allow You and Your Holy Spirit to act in us, move in us and have Your way with us.  It is all grace my Lord; grace that is made available to all who desire it. The Saints knew this. To live in the freedom of the children of God and not to be conformed to the world and enslaved to the flesh for some of us often seems a losing battle yet this is not true. God stoops over us tenderly and will always grant us all the grace we need if we ask.

Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 93-94

My Beloved, verse 94 says, “Save me for I am Yours.” Yes, I belong to You. You have redeemed me. You have ransomed me. You have written Your law of love on my heart. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit and the gift of Wisdom that He freely grants us along with all the other gifts. Thank You for Your unfailing love and mercy even though I sin and fall several times a day.  Grant me the grace to keep Your commandments of love and I will be pleasing to You all the days of my life.

Luke 12:54-59

My Beloved, the consequences of sin is death. You came to give us life in abundance but we refuse to choose life and love we would rather live a life that offers temporary satisfaction and pleasure rather than working out our salvation with fear and trembling. There is a day of reckoning whether we believe in it or not. You have fulfilled the plan of God to perfection and having done all that the Father asked You are now seated in glory at the Father’s right hand. It is now up to us to follow You in the Way You have shown us, to believe in the Truth that You have revealed and to receive Your Life through the Sacraments.

It is up to me now to choose either life or death.

Romans 6:12-18, Psalm 124:1B-8, Luke 12:39-48

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Romans 6:12-18, Psalm 124:1B-8, Luke 12:39-48

Romans 6:12-18

My Beloved, sin enslaves but You set us free. When we give into temptation we allow sin to gain mastery over us as we give ourselves over to the wiles of the enemy who knows our weaknesses. In You I am a new creation – the past is dead and I receive new life in You. I call You Lord, Teacher, Master, God and I am now a child of God I must reflect this truth and live a life of service for true love is made visible through service. You shower grace upon grace on me from the rising of the sun to its setting and even when I am asleep I rest in You. I belong to You and I freely, gladly and willingly give You complete power and control over me.

Psalm 124:1B-8

My Beloved, if You did not come into the world to redeem us we would have been lost forever. The Enemy would have devoured us. But You are always attentive to the sound of our voice. We cry out to You  and You make haste and save us. Our help comes from You who made the heavens and the earth. The Enemy does not rest and we are assailed constantly with his wiles. We are weak Lord remain with us all the days of our life and have pity on us when we are unable to help ourselves and reach out and save us.

Luke 12:39-48

My Beloved, when You ask us to pay attention to what You are about to say we better sit up, listen and obey. To us who have received the gift of faith and to whom the Sacraments are given to help us live out our faith with the help of the abundance of grace made available to us through them much is required. We have no excuse not to live with expectant faith for we know the One who called us from darkness into Your marvelous light. We do not know the day or the hour when You will come again nor when death will come to us this is why You warn us to live as if that moment can come anytime perhaps when we least expect it this is why we must be always ready, alert and on guard.

I keep whining that life is not as I wish it to be rather than thanking You for all the blessings You shower upon Me and praising You in all the circumstances of my life. I have been called by name and have been entrusted with a mission to which I must be faithful and diligent in carrying out. I am often lax and self indulgent I waste time on useless pursuits help me Lord to bear in mind that the day and hour of reckoning can come at anytime and I must remain watchful and vigilant always.

Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21, Psalm 40:7-10, 17, Luke 12:35-38

Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21, Psalm 40:7-10, 17, Luke 12:35-38

Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21

My Beloved, we belong to God for He created us for Himself. The Enemy is a thief, a murderer and a liar and while he caused the fall by tempting man to disobey God and thus infecting the whole human race with the effects of sin God did not abandon us. He sent us a Savior, His Son and through Your obedience we now have a share in Your holiness. We are justified and made righteous through You. Having stepped into the breach You healed and restored our broken relationship with our Creator.

We life in a sinful world but hope is not lost for have a Redeemer and He lives. True sin abounds but infinite grace is made available to us through You and Your Holy Spirit. Neither sin nor death has triumphed rather the Cross has won the victory.  Help me to embrace all the little crosses in my life my Lord and to learn from You to be meek and humble of heart.  Only in obedience to Your will shall I gain victory and mastery over myself. Help me Lord I place all my hope and trust in You.

Romans 4:20-25, Luke 1:69-75, Luke 12:13-21

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Romans 4:20-25, Luke 1:69-75, Luke 12:13-21

Romans 4:20-25
My  Beloved, Abraham put his trust in the Lord. He believed in the promises that God made and although he did not live to see the Covenant fulfilled yet he did not doubt that all that God had promised him and his descendants would come to pass. He had unshakeable faith, he trusted God’s word and he acted on it. His faith made him righteous before God and St. Paul tells us that it is so with us as well. Our faith in God and in You whom He sent into the world in order that we may be raised to life through Your Resurrection makes us righteous as well.

Abraham’s faith glorified God in comparison my own faith is a puny, poor, sickly thing. I have so much more reason to have a strong vibrant faith for You have been exceedingly good to me. I have experienced Your favor from the moment I first drew breath and yet I am a miserable, weak willed sinner. I do not know have the strength of will to deny myself the things that take me away from You and instead do what You ask of me. Help me Lord without You stepping into the breach and literally saving me from myself I am lost.

Luke 1:69-75

My Beloved, every promise made to Abraham and the prophets has been fulfilled in You. They were not privileged to live in the age of the fulfillment of the Covenant of Love that God has made with us in You. You have vanquished the enemy. You opened the gates of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven is being realized on earth by men and women from every nation and race who believe,  live and preach the Good News of our salvation won for us through Your passion, death and glorious resurrection.

We can live holy and righteous lives because of the grace that You make available to us through the Sacraments and the merits that You have won for us. I can be holy because You make it possible for me to be holy. All I need to do is to trust You and walk in the way that You shown me. Help me!

Luke 12:13-21

My Beloved, if we spend just a portion of the energy and time we spend in amassing earthly wealth on the things of heaven we would be far happier in this life and we would be storing up treasures in heaven. Yet we are so consumed with having, getting, and acquiring we have no time for spiritual things. We want to be acclaimed, to be recognized, to be honored and we take great pleasure in being given a place among those whom the world favors. Yet the way to the Kingdom is the narrow way. We are called to pick up our cross daily and to be a friend, sister and neighbor to all whom we meet each day. We are called to share all we have both our spiritual and temporal treasure with those who are in need instead of spending all our days getting, hoarding and spending until we draw our final breath. When we die all our toil and sweat for earthly treasures will be for nothing for we can none of it with us. Open our eyes Lord to the truth so that we can be set free.