Jeremiah 1:4-5, John 1:16-17,

Jeremiah 1:4-5

4 A word of Yahweh came to me, 5 “Even before I formed you in the womb I have known you; even before you were born I had set you apart, and appointed you a prophet to the nations!” 

My Beloved, You have spoken through the prophets, through the apostles, through Your Holy Word in Scripture both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. You spoke through the many signs and miracles You performed and You spoke most eloquently in Your passion, death resurrection. You continue to speak to us today through the Holy Catholic Church, Your servant and Vicar on earth our Popes through the ages and the lives of a multitude of saints and martyrs. To those believe You give the gift of eternal life. Thank You.

John 1:16-17

16 From his fullness we have all received, favor upon favor.  17 For God had given us the Law through Moses, but Truth and Loving-kindness came through Jesus Christ.

My Beloved, my hope and my trust is in You.  Not because I believe that You will act as I would like You to, but because I know that You are God almighty who so loved the world that You gave us Your only Son so that we who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 Cor 13-13

Now we have faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.

Beloved, You remind us to set our hearts on the most precious of all your gifts and that is love - love which is another name for God for You are Love and so we are called to love You with our whole heart, our whole soul, our whole mind and our whole self and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35-41

35 On that same day when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” 36 So they left the crowd and took him away in the boat he had been sitting in, and other boats set out with him. 37 Then a storm gathered and it began to blow a gale. The waves spilled over into the boat so that it was soon filled with water. 38 And Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.  They woke him up and said, “Master, don’t you care if we sink?” 39 As Jesus awoke, he rebuked the wind and ordered the sea, “Quiet now! Be still!” The wind dropped and there was a great calm. 40 Then Jesus said to them, “Why are you so frightened? Do you still have no faith?”  41 But they were terrified and they said to one another, “Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

My Beloved, right now there is a situation in our lives as a family when it seems that a storm is battering the fragile boat that we are in.  The waters of distress and anxiety seem to fill our little boat and we are afraid we will sink.  This however is not true.  You are in the boat and though it may seem that You are asleep, You are in total control.  As long as we keep our gaze on You, as long as we know that You are there, we know that nothing can sink or overwhelm us and when our faith, after being tested is strengthened, You will command the wind and the waves to be still and You will bring us safely home in the end.

Praise You my Lord.

2 Samuel 7:28-29, Mark 4:21-25

2 Samuel 7:28-29

28 So now, O Yahweh God, since you are the faithful God, and have promised me this good thing, 29 please bless my descendants, that they may continue forever before you. For you, O Yahweh God, have spoken and, with your blessing, my family shall be blessed forever.”

My Beloved, to those who have promised to serve You faithfully, You pledge to bless them and their descendants forever.  I claim this blessing my God for myself and for each member of my family.

Mark4:21-25

• 21 Jesus also said to them, “When the light comes, is it to be put under a tub or a bed? Surely it is put on a lampstand. 22 Whatever is hidden will be disclosed, and whatever is kept secret will be brought to light. 23 Listen then, if you have ears!”  24 And he also said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. In the measure you give, so shall you receive and still more will be given to you. 25 For to the one who produces something, more will be given, and from him who does not produce anything, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

My Beloved, You are the Light of the world and in receiving You, our life is kindled with Your light.  You do not want us to shy away and stay hidden, rather this light must blaze so that not only our own sins, faults and weaknessess may be revealed but that we may repent and confess, and  see all things clearly in Your light. 

Once again You remind me that there will be an accounting of the way I have used the gifts You have given me.  Help me Lord to be fruitful and so always pleasing to You my holy God.

Mark 4:10-12

Mark 4:10-12

10 When the crowd went away, some who were around him with the Twelve asked about the parables. 11 He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But for those outside, everything comes in parables, 12 so that the more they see, they don’t perceive; the more they hear, they don’t understand; otherwise they would be converted and pardoned.”

My Beloved, Your word says that when the crowd went away those who remained with the Twelve asked You what this parable meant and You interpreted what the parable meant to them.

Those who stay with the Twelve are the members of Your One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.  To its members You have given the grace and gift to understand, appreciate and accept, through faith, the teaching of Holy Mother Church.  To plumb the depths, breadth, height and length of the wonderful mysteries of our faith.  We accept the teaching authority of the Church, we submit to her guidance in matters of faith and morals. She guides us through the turbulent waters of the world safely to our eternal home. This is Your Church that has given the world so many holy men and women who shine with Your light, as Your witnesses to the world, all that is possible with You.

2 Timothy 1:7,Luke 10:1-4

2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not confer on us a spirit of bashfulness, but of strength, love and good judgement.

My Beloved, there are times when I wish I could see You like many who have had visions, then I remember Your words to Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."  I want to be one of these blessed little ones.

Luke 10:1-4

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where he himself was to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. 3 Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know.

My Beloved, I too am called to be Your disciple.  I am called to be Your sign in the world - Your sign of peace, love, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, compassion.  I want to be everything that You wish me to be and I know You will provide the grace to help me.

Thank You for reminding me that You have not given me a spirit of bashfulness but of strength, love and good judgement.

Acts 22:13, Mark 16:18

Acts 22:13

Brother Saul, "Recover your sight."  At that moment I could see.

Mark 16:18

They will lay their hand on the sick and they will be healed.

"DON'T WORRY'

Beloved, as I woke up this morning I heard these words clearly within me.  I believe it was You.  I praise You and thank You my God.

Psalm 57:3-11, Mark 3:13-15

My Beloved, who do we have either in heaven or on earth to fight our battles but You?  You do not let the enemy win but You O Lord come to our aid and deliver us from the snares of the devil.  From the evil that threatens to overwhelm us and lay us down.

Psalm 57:3-11

3 I call on God the Most High, on God who has done everything for me: 4 may he send from heaven a savior and put my oppressors to shame. May God send me his love and faithfulness.  Be exalted, O God, above the hevens! Your glory be over all the earth!  7 They have set a snare for my steps; my soul was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit along my path, but they themselves fell into it.  8 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make music.  9 Awake, my soul, awake, O harp and lyre! I will wake the dawn.  10 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praise to you among the nations.  11 For your love reaches to the heavens, and your faithfullness, to the clouds. 12 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your Glory be over all the earth! 

My Beloved, today's psalm is the cry we make to You along with the Psalmist.  We place all our hope and trust in You and when this evil has passed we will sing Your praise.

Mark 3:13-15

• 13 Then Jesus went up into the hill country and called those he wanted and they came to him. 14 So he appointed twelve to be with him; and he called them apostles. He wanted to send them out to preach, 15 and he gave them authority to drive out demons.

Jesus my Lord, You call whom You want, You appoint, You send, You empower and give authority.  May our response be like Mary's, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Your word. Amen.

I will not dwell on my fears but on the awesome power of God.

1 Samuel 18:6-8, 19:1-2, Mark 3:7-12

1 Samuel 18:6-9, 9:1-2

6 When they arrived after David had slain the Philistine, the women came out from the cities of Israel to meet King Saul singing and dancing with timbrels and musical insruments. 7 They were merrily singing this song: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David, his tens of thousands.”  8 Saul was very displeased with this song and said, “They have given tens of thousands to David but to me only thousands! By now he has everything but the kingdom!” 9 From then on, Saul became very distrustful of David.• 1 Saul told his son Jonathan and his servants of his intention to kill David. But Jonathan, who liked David very much, 2 said to David, “My father Saul wants to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning and hide yourself in a secret place.

Instead of rejoicing in the wonderful things God had done through David for the nation, Saul was mean-minded and jealous.

My Beloved, how often we are foolishly jealous of those who use the gifts You have given them generously in the service of others.  Often we make our own misery.  If we could always remember that we belong to You and trust You, no harm would come to us.

Mark 3:7-12

7 Jesus and his disciples withdrew to the lakeside and a large crowd from Galilee followed him. A great number of people also came from Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, Transjordan and from the region of Tyre and Sidon, for they had heard of all that he was doing. 9 Because of the crowd, Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him, to prevent the people from crushing him. 10 He healed so many that all who had diseases kept pressing towards him to touch him. 11 Even the people who had evil spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and cry out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he warned them sternly not to tell anyone who he was.

My Beloved, many follow You to obtain some favor or other and after having received it they forget.  You want each one of us to make the personal discovery of who You are.  Initially we may come to You because of some pressing need or difficulty but after we have encountered You on the physical level, we have to move on to the far more important, experiencing You and knowing You on the spiritual level.  I must make a personal discovery of who You are and this must enable me make a radical change in my life.

1 Samuel 17:32-33,50 45-46, Mark 3:1-6

Samuel 17:32-33, 45-46, 50

David said to Saul, “Let no one be discouraged on account of this Philistine, for your servant will engage him in battle.” 33 Saul told David, “You cannot fight with this Philistine for you are still young, whereas this man has been a warrior from his youth.”  45 David answered the Philistine, “You have come against me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come against you with Yahweh, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. 46 Yahweh will deliver you this day into my hands and I will strike you down and cut off your head. I will give the corpses of the Philistine army today to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, and all the earth shall know that there is a God of Israel.  50 David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, felling him without using a sword.

 

My Beloved, like David let me be confident of Your love and concern for me.  Let not the size of the the problem discourage me.  You are God and You can rescue Your people from any difficulty and trouble.  All I need to do is put on Your armor not the armor of the world.  All our battles and struggles in life can be fought victoriously for You do battle alongside us.  Thank You.

Mark 3:1-6

• 1 Again Jesus entered the synagogue. A man who had a paralyzed hand was there 2 and some people watched Jesus: Would he heal the man on the sabbath? If he did they could accuse him.  3 Jesus said to the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand here in the center.” 4 Then he asked them, “What does the Law allow us to do on the Sabbath? To do good or to do harm? To save life or to kill?” But they were silent.  5 Then Jesus looked around at them with anger and deep sadness because they had closed their minds. And he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was healed. 6 But as soon as the Pharisees left, they met with Herod’s supporters, looking for a way to destroy Jesus.

My Beloved, Often I am like the man with the paralysed hand.  I am so bound up in fear or shyness and I want to stay in the background where it is safe.  I do not want to be challenged. You were not afraid of confrontation.  You were doing the work of God and nothing would stop You.   Help me to be like You Lord.  Armed with Your strength may I always stay on the side of truth. Amen.

1 Samuel 16:1, 7, 10, 12-13

1 Samuel 16:1, 7,10, 12-13

 1 Yahweh asked Samuel, “How long will you be grieving over Saul whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have chosen my king from among his sons.” 7 But Yahweh told Samuel, “Do not judge by his looks or his stature for I have rejected him. Yahweh does not judge as man judges; humans see with the eyes; Yahweh sees the heart.”10 Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel who said, “Yahweh has chosen none of them.12 So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him to Samuel. He was a handsome lad with ruddy complexion and beautiful eyes. And Yahweh spoke, “Go, anoint him for he is the one.” 13 Samuel then took the horn of oil and anointed him in his brothers’ presence. From that day onwards, Yahweh’s Spirit took hold of David. Then Samuel left for Ramah.

My Beloved, often I cling to the past and I get bogged down in it but You want me to move forward.  You have great plans for me.  Old mistakes and sins once forgiven become millstones if we do not let them go and allow Your ocean of mercy and love to obliterate them.  Another important thing is to remember that we must learn to look at people through Your eyes - the eyes of love.   When seeking Your will we must wait patiently in prayer and expectation for You to reveal it to us for Your choice is always perfect.

Psalm 89:27 says, "You are my Father, my God, my Rock, my Savior.

My Beloved, all creation and all creatures serve You and You are Lord.  Lord and Master of all that is seen and unseen in heaven, on earth and under the earth and You are my Love, my Life, my Lord and my God.

1 Samuel 15:23, Psalm 50:23, Mark 2:18-22

1Samuel 15:23

Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and stubbornness like holding onto idols. Since you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he too has rejected you as king.”

My Beloved, it is a terrible thing to go against God's command.  It might appear we are doing what God wants us to do but often there is pride and ego involved.  Help me never to go against Your will but to always be humble, obedient, submissive.

Psalm 50:23
Those who give with thanks offerings honor me, but the one who walks blamelessly, I will show him the salvation of God.”

Teach me my Mama Mary to walk like you, blamelessly before my God.  I know I will fail constantly because I am weak.  I need you to be always by me praying, interceeding and helping me.

Mark 2:18-22

One day, when the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees were fasting, some people asked Jesus, “Why is it that both the disciples of John and of the Pha¬risees fast, but yours do not?”  Jesus answered, “How can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.  But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them and on that day they will fast.  No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat, because the new patch will shrink and tear away from the old cloth, making a worse tear.  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, for the wine would burst the skins and then both the wine and the skins would be lost. But new wine, new skins!”

My Beloved, we have to be careful whose disciples we choose to be.  I have chosen to be my Mama Mary's disciple.  I want to imitate her in her walk with You.  Like her I want to receive the Word, ponder over it, love it, embrace it, obey it, live it and find my joy and peace in making the Word the rule of my life as she did.

Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Cor 12:4-11, Psalm 96:7-10, John 2:1-5

Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace,

for Jerusalem I will not keep silent,

until her holiness shines like the dawn

and her salvation flames like a burning torch.

The nations will see your holiness

and all the kings your glory.

You will be called by a new name

which the mouth of Yahweh will reveal.

You will be a crown of glory

in the hand of Yahweh,

a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

No longer will you be named Forsaken;

no longer will your land be called

Abandoned;

but you will be called My Delight

and your land Espoused.

For Yahweh delights in you

and will make your land his spouse.

As a young man marries a virgin,

so will your builder marry you;

and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride,

so will your God rejoice in you.

He who sows will reap

My Beloved, the Prophet Isaiah sees the new Jerusalem, Your Bride without spot stain or wrinkle.  Your bride for whom You poured out Yourself to the very last drop of Your precious Blood.  The Bride for whom You lay down Your life as her Bridegroom in order that You may present her proudly to Your Father.  Your most holy, beautiful Bride adorned with your treasures of grace and virtue. 

It is a long slow process for Your Bride the church is made up of sinful individuals but the days is dawning when all You wish holy Mother Church to be she will be, with all the grace You make available to her and the spirit filled leaders You give to guide her, beginning with our Pope and Bishops. 

1Cor 12:4-11

There is diversity of gifts, but the Spirit is the same.  There is diversity of ministries, but the Lord is the same. There is diversity of works, but the same God works in all.  The Spirit reveals his presence in each one with a gift that is also a service. One is to speak with wisdom, through the Spirit. Another teaches according to the same Spirit. To another is given faith, in which the Spirit acts; to another the gift of healing, and it is the same Spirit.  Another works miracles, another is a prophet, another recognizes what comes from the good or evil spirit; another speaks in tongues, and still another interprets what has been said in tongues.  And all of this is the work of the one and only Spirit, who gives to each one as he so desires.

All the gifts with which You endow Your Church is for the building up of Your Body, each gift to each member is to be used in service of the rest of her members, in order that we might build up not be puffed up.  We use what You give us in obedience and humility  in order that Your light may shine through the Church and be a guide for a world that is getting steadily darker.  All that we are and have must celebrate God in our life and in His Church which is Your Body.

John 2:1-5

Three days later there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus was also invited to the wedding with his disciples. When all the wine provided for the celebration had been served and they had run out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus replied, “Woman, what concern is that to you and me? My hour has not yet come.”  However his mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

No matter how much wine we think we may have, eventually it will run out - our lives become dry and joyless with life's daily burdens.  Sin dries up the fountain of life giving waters.  Praise God we have a Mother who notices our difficulties and problems and even before we can verbalise our needs, she approaches her Son and makes them known to Him.  She directs us in turn to do all that God wants us to do in order to have the wine flow in our life again.

1 Samuel 9:3-4, 17-18, 1Samuel 10:1, Mark 2:13-17

1 Samuel 9:3-4, 27-18 & 1 Samuel 10:1

It happened that the asses of Kish were lost. So he said to his son Saul, “Take one of the boys with you and go look for the asses.” They went all over the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah but did not find them. They passed through the land of Shaalim and the land of Benjamin, but the asses were nowhere to be found.  So, when Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh told him, “Here is the man I spoke to you about! He shall rule over my people.”  Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and said, “Tell me, where is the house of the seer?” Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on Saul’s head. And kissing Saul, Samuel said, “Yahweh has anointed you to rule over and to lead his people Israel. And this will be Yahweh’s sign to you that he has anointed you.

My Beloved, through all the events that happen to us in the course of our lives Your purpose is accomplished.  All the time while Saul was looking for his father's asses he was drawn closer and closer to his destiny - the call of God for him.

Mark 2:13-17

When Jesus went out again beside the lake, a crowd came to him and he taught them.  As he walked along, he saw a tax collector sitting in his office. This was Levi, the son of Alpheus. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And Levi got up and followed him.  And it so happened that while Jesus was eating in Levi’s house, tax collectors and sinners were sitting with him and his disciples for there were indeed many of them. But there were also teachers of the Law of the Pharisees’ party, among those who followed Jesus, and when they saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why! He eats with tax collectors and sinners!”  Jesus heard them and answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

My Jesus, You made Yourself available.  You went out and the crowds knowing how accessible You were came in great numbers.  Thank You for inviting me to follow You just as you invited the tax collector.

My Beloved, You had a great many disciples.  You healed many in every town and village and if every one of these had come out when You were arrested, every soul You had touched, every ravaged body healed, every spirit that You made whole, those jealous of You would have been powerless to kill You.  But we are fickle, our emotions see-saw, our memory is short and our fears overwhelm and paralyse us.  Had You not died for us and redeemed us we would still be trapped and helpless.  Thank You Beloved that the purpose of the Father was fulfilled, His plan to save us was accomplished through You.

1 Samuel 8:4-7, Psalm 89:16-17, Mark 2:11-12

1Samuel 8:4-7

 Because of this, all the chiefs of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel in Ramah. They said to him, “You are already old and your sons are not following your ways. Give us a king to rule over us as in all the other nations.”  Samuel was very displeased with what they said, “Give us a king to rule us,” and he prayed to Yahweh.  And Yahweh told him, “Give to this people all that they ask for.

My Beloved, how often we hunger and cry out for what will only be our ruin and downfall and yet we continue to clamor for all the wrong things.  We reject You and all the good things that come from following You and Your commands.  Forgive me Beloved for displeasing You in the past, for desiring anyone or anything other than You.  I want to be oen of thos epeople whom the Psalmist writes about in today's Psalm in vs 16-17 Blessed is the people who know Your praise.  They walk in the light of Your Face.  The celebrate all day Your Name and Your protection lifts them up.

Beloved, I want to be counted among one of these.

Mark 2:11-12

And He said to the paralytic, "Stand up, take up your mat and go home.  The man rose, and in the sight of all those people, he took up his mat and went out.  All of them were astonished and praised God says, "We have never seen anything like this."

One way of looking at this miracle my Lord, is to see myself before I encountered You - paralysed with inertia, but after my personal encounter and conversion, after my spirit and my life was touched by You - You gave me strength to stand up, pick up the daily crosses of my life and witness to Your saving love in my home and in all the familiar places I go each day.  My life must be one long hymn of praise to You my glorious God.

1 Samuel 4:3-4, Psalm 44:10-11,14-15, 24-25, Mark 1:40-45

1 Samuel 4:3-4

When the troops retreated to their camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has Yahweh allowed us to be defeated by the Philistines? Let us take the ark of God from Shiloh and bring it here so that Yahweh may be with us and save us from our enemies.” So the people sent messengers to Shiloh to take the ark of Yahweh who is seated on the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, accompanied the ark.

My Beloved, the Israelites thought if they brought the Ark of the Covenant into the battlefield, You would be obliged to  help them.  May I never commit the sin of presumption.  You are not obliged to do anything for me.  Rather, I am Yours to do with as You will.

Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25

Yet now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go forth with our armies.  You have let our enemies drive us back and our adversaries plunder us. You have made us the butt of our neighbors’ insult, the scorn and laughingstock of those around us.  You have made us a byword among the nations; they look at us and shake their heads. Awake, O Lord! Why are you asleep? Arise! Reject us not forever.  Why hide your face from us? Why forget our misery and woes?

The Psalmist is lamenting that You have abandoned him.  Sometimes it may seem like that - but I know that You will never abandon Your own.

Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and begged him, “If you so will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.”  The leprosy left the man at once and he was made clean.  As Jesus sent the man away, he sternly warned him,  “Don’t tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest and for the cleansing bring the offering ordered by Moses; in this way you will make your declaration.”  However, as soon as the man went out, he began spreading the news everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter any town. But even though he stayed in the rural areas, people came to him from everywhere.

In this Gospel passage the sinner knows that if he begs You Beloved, You will be moved to pity, You will relent, You can and will cleanse and heal the broken hearted sinner.

 

After awareness of sin, sorrow, repentance and conversion, it is still not over, we must not only make reparation but we must let the world know that we are made anew.  The past life is over and done with, a new life in You has begun.  I must witness to everyone I meet how You have changed my life.

1 Samuel 3:1, 10, Psalm 40:2-9, Mark 1:29-34

1 Samuel 3:1, 10

The boy Samuel ministered to Yahweh, under Eli's care in a time in which he word of God was rarely heard.  Visions were not seen.  Then Yahweh came and stood there calling as before, :Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak , for your servant listens.

My Beloved, Samuel ministered to God under the care of Eli.  I want to minister to You my God under the loving and watchful eye of my Mama Mary.  Whenever You speak to me, may my response also be like Samuel's, "Speak, for Your servant listens."

Psalm 40:2-9

With resolve I waited for the Lord; he listened and heard me beg. Out of the horrid pit he drew me, out of deadly quicksand. He settled my feet upon a rock and made my steps steady.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and be awed and put their trust in the Lord.  Blessed is the one who relies on the Lord and does not look to the proud nor go astray after false gods.  How numerous, O Lord, are your wonderful deeds! In your marvelous plans for us you are beyond compare! How many they are – I cannot tell them or count their number.  Sacrifice and oblation you did not desire; this you had me understand. Burnt offering and sin offering you do not require.  Then I said, “Here I come! as the scroll says of me.  To do your will is my delight, O God, for your law is within my heart.”

My Beloved I am Yours and Yours alone - when I call, when I cry out to You for help You always answer.  I can rely on You always.  Creatures are unreliable I do not place my trust in them but on You my God.  Grant that my response will always be like that of the Psalmist, "To do Your will is my delight, O God, for Your law is within my heart."

Mark 1: 29-34

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the home of Simon and Andrew with James and John.  As Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever, they immediately told him about her.  Jesus went to her and taking her by the hand, raised her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.  That evening at sundown, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had evil spirits:  the whole town was pressing around the door.  Jesus healed many who had various diseases, and drove out many demons; but he did not let them speak, for they knew who he was.  

My Beloved when I receive  You in the Eucharist I must bring You with me where ever I go. I must allow You to live and act through me.  To touch and heal through me.

1 Samuel 1:9-10, 15-18 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8, Mark 1:21-28

1 Samuel 1:9-10, 15-18

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah stood up not far from Eli, the priest: his seat was beside the doorpost of Yahweh’s house.  Deeply distressed she wept and prayed to Yahweh.  But Hannah answered:  "No,  my lord, I am a woman in great distress, not drunk. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I am pouring out my soul before Yahweh.  Do not take me for a bad woman. I was so afflicted that my prayer flowed continuously.”  Then Eli said, “Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what you asked for.”  Hannah answered, “Let your maidservant deserve your kindness.” Then she left the temple and when she was at table, she seemed a different woman.

My Beloved, several sentences strike me.  You stand at the right hand of the Father and You see and hear me.  When I cry to You in my distress and pour out my soul continuously before You, Your heart is moved to pity, compassion and kindness and in Your great love You hear and answer me.

1 Samuel 2:1,4-8  -  Hannah’s Prayer

“My heart exults in Yahweh, I feel strong in my God. I rejoice and laugh at my enemies for you came with power to save me. Yahweh alone is holy, no one is like you; there is no Rock like our God.  The bow of the mighty is broken but the weak are girded with strength.  The well-fed must labor for bread but the hungry need work no more.  The childless wife has borne seven children but the proud mother is left alone.  Yahweh is Lord of life and death; he brings down to the grave and raises up.   Yahweh makes poor and makes rich,  he brings low and he exalts.   He lifts up the lowly from the dust,  and raises the poor from the ash heap;  they will be called to the company of princes, and inherit a seat of honor. The earth to its pillars belongs to Yahweh and on them he has set the world.

Hannah's hymn of praise is mine too my Lord for You have been exceedingly good to me.  You have opened Your hand anad given me freely of Your grace and blessings. 

Mark 1:23-28

It happened that a man with an evil spirit was in their synagogue and he shouted, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: You are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus faced him and said with authority, “Be silent and come out of this man!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and, with a loud shriek, came out of him.  All the people were astonished and they wondered, “What is this? With what authority he preaches! He even orders evil spirits and they obey him!” And Jesus’ fame spread throughout all the country of Galilee.

My Beloved Jesus, the sprit of the world draws us away from You.  It is a lying spirit but it has the power to entice us with the temporary goods of the world and draw us away from You.  The spirit of this world and of this age knows exactly who You are and is afraid of You.  It lays traps and snares especially for the youth in the world and seeks to suck their spiritual hunger and replace it with the love of things and for transitory pleasure.  Have mercy O Lord.  Have mercy.

1 SAMUEL 1:8, PSALM 116:12, MARK 1:19-20

1 SAMUEL 1:8

Why do you weep instead of eating?  Why  are you sad?  Are you not better off with me than with many sons?

My Beloved, often I am not content with what I have. I wonder if circumstances were different whether my life would be better.  The truth that I must acknowledge is that I am better of with You than with having many of the world's earthly possessions.  How foolish we are - we have You, the almighty God, who makes Himself available to us in the intimacy of the Eucharist and yet we hanker after useless, foolish things that could be detrimental to our soul.

Psalm 116:12

How can I repay the Lord for His goodness to me?

My Beloved, I can love You whole heartedly, seek to do Your will always, trust You completely, imitate You in every aspect of my life,  strive to be as generous and loving to all as You are with me - in this way I can repay Your goodness to me. Offering You love for love.

Mark 1:19-20

Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets.  Immediately, Jesus called them and they followed Him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.

My Lord, the sons of Zebedee were able to leave immediately in response to Your call because they were free, they were sons.  The hired men could not because they had already committed themselves to work for another.  Am I free to follow You or have I hired myself out in the  service of the world?  Through baptism I am a daughter of the Most High and I am free to answer Your call for You are my Brother, and my Lord.  I want to respond to Your call as quickly and wholeheartedly as Simon, Andrew, James and John did without hesitation and without stopping and pondering the cost in imitation of Mama Mary.  Grant me this grace O Lord.

Psalm 104: 27-30, Isaiah 40:11, Luke 3:21-22

Psalm 104:27-30

They all look to you for their food in due time.  You give it to them,  and they gather it up;  you open your hand, they are filled with good things.  When you hide your face they vanish, you take away their breath, they expire and return to dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and the face of the earth is renewed.

My Beloved, I take these words from  Isaiah 40:11 as Your promise to me,  "Like a shepherd he tends his flock:  he gathers the lambs in his arms, he carries them in his bosom, gently leading those that are with young."  My Lord, I entrust each one of my children into Your loving care.  All I can do is pray and fast for them and plead with You to care for them and protect them.

My Beloved, all living things look to You to be fed.  You open Your hands filled with treasures of grace and mercy and You pour out Your blessings on us.  Life and death are Yours to give.  Through Your most Holy Spirit renew our family and fill us with Your most Holy Spirit in order that we may l ive to please You always. 

Luke 3:21-22

Now, with all the people who came to be baptized, Jesus too was baptized. Then, while he was praying, the heavens opened:   the  Holy Spirit came down upon him in the bodily form of a dove and a voice from heaven was heard, “You are my Son, this day I have begotten you.”

My Beloved at Your baptism, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came upon You and God proclaimed to all the world that You were His Son.  In baptism we too become adopted children of God and so we can trust You to watch over us and protect us as our Elder Brother.

Psalm 149:4. 1 John 5:14, John 3:27-30

Psalm 149:4

For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the lowly with victory.

1John 5:14

Through Him we are fully confident that whatever we ask according to his will, he will grant us.  If we know that he hears us whenever we ask, we know that we already have what we asked of him.

My Beloved, it is wonderful to know that You take delight in Your people.  We are a joy to You.  We can be confident that whatever we ask for, if it is according to You will and for our good You will grant it to us.

John 3:27-30

John answered, “No one can take on anything except what has been given him from heaven.  You yourselves are my witnesses that I said: ‘I am not the Christ but I have been sent before him.’  Only the bridegroom has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom stands by and listens, and rejoices to hear the bridegroom’s voice. My joy is now full.  It is necessary that he increase but that I decrease.

My Beloved,  it is clear from today's Gospel passage that we all have our mission.  Each one has to fulfil the purpose for which we are born.  There is no need for envy nor sadness if we are taken away when we have done all we are supposed to do.  Great as his mission was, St. John the Baptist fulfilled his task and then had to die in prison. 

Our time on earth is but a time of preparation for the life to come.  Help me Beloved to get my wedding garment ready in the time that you have allotted to me.  Thank You.

1 John 5:5-13, Luke 5:16, Psalm 147:11, 13-15

1John 5:5-13 

Who has overcome the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  Jesus Christ was acknowledged through water, but also through blood.  Not only water but water and blood.  And the Spirit, too, witnesses to him for the Spirit is truth.  There are then three testimonies:  the Spirit, the water and the blood, and these three witnesses agree.  If we accept human testimony, with greater reason must we accept that of God, given in favor of his Son. If you believe in the Son of God, you have God’s testimony in you.  But those who do not believe make God a liar, since they do not believe his words when he witnesses to his Son.  What has God said? That he has granted us eternal life and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has life, the one who do not have the Son of God do not have life.  Keep yourselves from idols  I write you, then, all these things that you may know that you have eternal life, all you who believe in the Name of the Son of God.

My Beloved, the simple, unshakeable, unvarnished truth is this, "Those who have You have eternal life.  How do we know this?  We know this because God Himself has said that He has granted us eternal life - this life which is in His Son.  You my Beloved, are acknowledged as the Son of God by the testimony of God Himself through the waters of baptism, the sacrifice of Your most precious Blood and the Holy Spirit.

May the fruit of love abound in my life since You my Beloved live and reign in me.  May all taste of Your goodness, sweetness, gentleness and kindness.

Luke 5:16 As for Jesus, He would often withdraw to solitary places and pray.

How good it is to pray - to be alone with You Beloved and have You wrap Yourself around my entire being.

Psalm 147: 11, 13-15

The Lord delights in those who fear him and expect him to care for them. For he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your children within you. He grants peace on your borders and feeds you with the finest grain.  He sends his command to the earth and swiftly runs his word.

You delight in those who fear You and expect You to care for them.  You strengthen us and bless our children.  He grants peace to the sould and feeds us with His own Body and Blood.  How then can I not serve Him joyfully and willingly?

1 John 5:4, Luke 4:18, 21

My Beloved and my God You have loved me who are unworthy and underserving of Your love.  I love You in return but the proof of my love for You is my love for my brothers and sisters.  The evangelist says in 1 John 5:4 that "the victory which overcomes the world is our faith."  Yes, my Beloved the stronger our faith the greater our ability to stand against the world.

Luke 4:18, 21

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.  Today these prophetic words come true even as you listen.

My Beloved, You announced Your mission 2000 years and what was true then continues to be true today.  You are our Savior, Redeemer, Healer, Brother Spouse, Messiah and our very best Friend.  If we know You, if we have faith in You my Lord, then we know that nothing can separate us from You.  We are Yours eternally.

1 John 4:11-18

1 John 4:11-18

Dear friends, if such has been the love of God, we, too, must love one another.  No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love comes to its perfection in us.  How may we know that we live in God and he in us? Because God has given us his Spirit.  We ourselves have seen and declare that the Father sent his Son to save the world. Those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in them and they in God.  We have known the love of God and have believed in it. God is love. The one who lives in love, lives in God and God in him.  When do we know that we have reached a perfect love? When in this world, we are like him in everything, and expect with confidence the Day of Judgment.  There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives away fear, for fear has to do with punishment; those who fear do not know perfect love.

My Beloved, the Father has proved His love for us beyond the shadow of a doubt in Your incarnation, passion and death.  There was no other way that would speak so clearly of His love for us.  I in turn must love - I can do nothing less.  It would a slap in the face of God if I did not love my neighbor.  In loving my neighbor, God comes alive in me.  The closer I embrace You my Beloved to myself as the Son of the all Holy God, the closer will I become one with God. 

God is love.  How simple, how profound, how comforting.  If I live in love, I live in God and He lives in me.  Two important facts are revealed to me about love - 1) I know that I love perfectly when I am like You my Beloved in everything and 2) my ongoing, sincere effort to be like You, my daily struggles will be most pleasing to You. 

Lastly, there is no fear in love.  I will know that I have reached the ability to love perfectly when I am unafraid because then, I will have truly understood the love of God for me.

1 John 3:22, and 1 John 4:4, Matthew 4:17

1 John 3:22 and 1 John 4:4

Then whatever we ask we shall receive, since we keep his commands and do what pleases him. You, my dear children, are of God and you have already overcome these people, because the one who is in you is more powerful than he who is in the world.

My Beloved, I have made a resolution for this new year which I pray with the help of the Holy Spirit I will be able to keep.  Your Word assures me that I will receive what I ask since I keep Your commands and do what pleases You.  Grant that this is so.  You in me my Beloved are more powerful than the evil in the world.

Matthew 4:17

From that time on Jesus began to proclaim his message, “Change your ways: the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Repentance and conversion are at the heart of realising the Kingdom of God which is within us.  Grant me awareness of the present moment my Lord, so that through the intercession of Mary my Mother, and through the grace received from the Holy Spirit in answer to her prayers for me to You, may I live each moment aware of Your Presence in me.

1 John 4:7-10, Mark 6:42-44

1 John 4:7-10

My dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  Those who do not love have not known God, for God is love.  How did the love of God appear among us?  God sent His only Son into this world that we might have life through Him.  This is love:  not that we loved God but that He first loved us us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

My Beloved, You  loved me first, You love me last and You love me always. You love me passionately - I want to return that love just as passionately - but You are infinite, I am small and finite.  I must love my neighbor dispassionately and disinterestedly so that in my love for my friend there is nothing of self.  I must love horizontally simply because I love vertically.  You stoop down to me in tender passion.  I respond gratefully and with all the fervor of my being and I must lover everyone else because I overflow with love.

Mark 6:42-44

They all ate and everyone had enough.  The disciples gathered up what was left and filleld twelve baskets with broken pieces of bread and fish.  Five thousand men had eaten there.

My Beloved, if only we would share the good things You have given us everyone will have enough and there will be plenty left over.

The measure of my life is the measure I am ready to give of what I am and what I have. My own Beloved, give me a generous heart and a generous spirit. Amen.

Isaiah 60:4-5

Isaiah 60:4-5

Lift up your eyes round about and see: they are all gathered and come to you, your sons from afar, your daughters tenderly carried.  This sight will make your face radiant, your heart throbbing and full; the riches of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you. 

Thank You my Beloved for Your promise in the above verses to gather  my sons from afar and to tenderly carry my daughter and bring them safely home to You.  My heart is too full with love and joy at this wonderful promise that brings me peace.

NEW YEAR'S DAY 2010

My Beloved, during Holy Mass today I was wondering what resolution I could make that would help me grow spiritually, after just a moment I felt an awareness that I must embrace my Mama Mary more closely during the year.  In loving her more I would try to imitate and model my life on hers - no matter how imperfectly.  My desire and my will to do so would please You my Lord.  Mary my dearest Mother is the surest way of drawing even closer to You.  I will try with the help of Your grace to image and model my life on her and imperfect though I be, I know I will be more pleasing to You.