Search This Blog

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Numbers 23:19, Numbers 24:5-7, Amos 5:14-15, &21- 24, Matthew 8:28-34

Numbers 23:19, Numbers 24:5-7 

19 God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should repent. Has he said he will do something and will not do it? Has he promised something and not fulfilled it?
 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your encampments, Israel!
Like valleys stretching far,
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes planted by Yahweh,
like cedars beside the waters.
His buckets are overflowing and his seeds are always watered. His king becomes stronger than Agag, and his kingdom grows.


These verses are a snapshot of God and His Church.


Amos 5:14-15  & 21-24 

 14 Seek good and shun evil, that you may live. Then Yahweh, the God of hosts, as you have claimed, will be with you.15 Hate wickedness and love virtue, and let justice prevail in the courts; perhaps Yahweh, the God of hosts, will take pity on the remnant of Joseph.
21 “I hate, I reject your feasts, I take no pleasure when you assemble 22 to offer me your burnt offerings. Your cereal offerings, I will not accept! Your offerings of fattened beasts, I will not look upon!
23 Away with the noise of your chanting, away with your strumming on harps.
 24 But let justice run its course like water, and righteousness be like an ever-flowing river.


Beloved, in this day and age when the world seeks to run away from physical death and wish to prolong their years You tell us that if we seek good and reject evil, we will live eternally and that You will always be with us.

You hate it Lord when we offer You praise with unclean lips and our hearts are far away from You.

Matthew 8:28-34
28 When Jesus reached Ga­dara on the other side, he was met by two demoniacs who came out from the tombs. They were so fierce that no one dared to pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, “What do you want with us, you, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time?”
30 At some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding. 31 So the demons begged him, “If you drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs.” 32 Jesus ordered them, “Go.” So they left and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned.
33 The men in charge of them ran off to the town, where they told the whole story, also what had happened to the men possessed with the demons.


34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their area.

This miracle is astounding. The whole event is filled with drama.  What You did for that poor, possessed man is nothing short of jaw dropping stupendous and yet when the herdsmen reported all that had happened to the townsfolk, we are told that the whole town came to meet You and when they saw You they begged You to leave.  

They were in the business of raising pigs so we know that they were pagans.  When they saw You they knew that they were in the Presence of all that is good, holy and beautiful.  If they let You stay they knew they would have to give up their sinful lifestyle and embrace the Truth.  They were not prepared to do this.

How true this is of us too Lord.  

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Esther 7:2, Acts 12:5, Psalm 34:2-9, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, Matthew 16:13-19

Esther 7:2
"Whatever your petition is, Queen Esther, it shall be granted. Whatever request you make shall be fulfilled, even if it were half of my kingdom." 



Beloved, it pleases the Father to give me the entire Kingdom of Heaven because I have believed in Him and in the One whom He has sent, His only begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. But what I ask is this, that You give me true humility and a burning desire to be obedient to You always. Grant O Lord that I may always lift up to You a heart aflame with love for You.

Acts 12:5
.... while Peter was kept in prison, the whole Church prayed earnestly for him.


Beloved, there are people for whom I have been praying for years. Please hear and answer my prayers for them my Lord as I too am praying earnestly. Thank You.

2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18 

As for me, I am already poured out as a libation, and the moment of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteous­ness with which the Lord, the just judge, will reward me on that day; and not only me, but all those who have longed for his glorious coming.
1But the Lord was at my side, giving me strength to proclaim the Word fully, and let all the pagans hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will save me from all evil, bringing me to his heavenly kingdom. Glory to him for ever and ever. Amen!


At the end of my life, it the prayer of St. Paul can be my prayer then I shall be sure of seeing my Beloved face to face.


Psalm 34:2-9
2 I will bless the Lord all my days;
his praise will be ever on my lips.
3 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the lowly hear and rejoice.
4 Oh, let us magnify the Lord,
together let us glorify his name!
5 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
from all my fears he delivered me.
6 They who look to him are radiant with joy,
their faces never clouded with shame.
7 When the poor cry out, the Lord hears
and saves them from distress.
8 The Lord’s angel encamps and patrols
to keep safe those who fear him.
9 Oh, see and taste the goodness of the Lord!
Blessed is the one who finds shelter in him!


Beloved, I too sing this hymn of praise and thanksgiving to You along with the psalmist.



Matthew 16:13-19

13 After that Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of man is?” 14 They said, “For some of them you are John the Baptist, for others Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” 16 Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Bar­jona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.
18 And now I say to you: You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”

In a world where authority and obedience have become very unpopular and where rebellion, selfishness and self indulgence are celebrated, You have laid for Your beloved Church, which is also Your Body, the foundation upon which it will stand firm forever. You have promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against her. 

The enemy continues too try to destroy Your one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church from within and without as we have seen in these last years and in the present time, but You, our Bridegroom, will not allow Your Body to be destroyed by the enemy. Through every tribulation she will emerge stronger and more beautiful because You have espoused her.

Monday, June 28, 2010

2 Samuel 22:7, 17, 20, 26-27a, 28-34, 36-37 & 41, Proverbs 30:5, Matthew 8:18-22


2 Samuel 22:7, 17, 20, 26-27a, 28-34, 36-37 & 41

7 In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried out to my God; From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry reached his ears. 17 "He reached out from on high and grasped me; he drew me out of the deep waters. 20 He set me free in the open, and rescued me, because he loves me. 26 "Toward the faithful you are faithful; toward the wholehearted you are wholehearted; 27 Toward the sincere you are sincere; 28 You save lowly people, though on the lofty your eyes look down. 29 You are my lamp, O LORD! O my God, you brighten the darkness about me. 30 For with your aid I run against an armed band, and by the help of my God I leap over a wall. 31 God's way is unerring; the promise of the LORD is fire-tried; he is a shield to all who take refuge in him." 32 "For who is God except the LORD? Who is a rock save our God? 33 The God who girded me with strength and kept my way unerring; 34 Who made my feet swift as those of hinds and set me on the heights; 36 "You have given me your saving shield, and your help has made me great.
37 You made room for my steps; unwavering was my stride. 40 "You girded me with strength for war; you subdued my adversaries beneath me. 41 You have put my enemies to flight. 

Beloved I sing David's hymn of praise to You. My Lord and my God. Abba, Father, do not abandon Your little one. Have pity on me and console me. Wipe away my tears and comfort me.

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is true, he is a shield in whom man can find refuge. 

Thank You O Eternal Word of God, my most beloved Lord Jesus Christ, for assuring me that every word that issues forth from the mouth of God is true.  You are my shield and my stronghold in You I will always find protection and help.


Matthew 8:18-22

18 When he saw the crowd press around him, Jesus gave orders to cross to the other shore. 19 A teacher of the Law approached him and said, “Master, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, let me go and bury my father first.” 22 But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus, today's Scripture passage tells us that when You saw the crowds your departed to the other shore.  Why Lord?  

"A crowd has a herd mentality.  It is often mindless.  It looks for sensationalism.  It looks for a circus.  The emotions of a crowd are unpredictable.  But sometimes I deliberately walked into the crowd to seek out the individual that needed Me.  I felt the hunger and thirst for Me and I reached out to satisfy that longing.  But more often than not I wanted to run away from the crowds and the mob because their agenda was so different from the one I wanted to set."

Beloved, today's word continues to speak about the teacher and the disciple who were caught up in the emotion of the moment.  You gave them both a reality check.  The same message holds true for me and for all potential disciples.  When You say, "Follow Me."  I must leave everything and follow You immediately.  No excuses.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

1 Kings 19:19-20, ,Luke 9:61-62, Galatians 15:1



Beloved, I can always find a hundred and one excuses for not doing what You call me to do. It is human nature to want to take the easy path, not to rock the boat, to go with the flow rather than take a stand. To get lost in the crowd rather than stick out like sore thumb. Yet, if I run away from You I will never know true happiness or peace. Being Your disciple is not easy, but it is exciting and fulfilling. It is joyful and exhilarating to love You and experience Your love.

1 Kings 19:19-20
Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah and said, "Let me say goodbye to my father and mother; then I will follow you".

Luke 9:61-62
59 To another Jesus said, “Follow me.” But he answered, “Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Another said to him, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” 62 And Jesus said to him, “Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.” 


Elijah passed his cloak over Elisha as a sign of his calling to be a prophet after he Elijah, had gone. Elisha wanted to say goodbye to his parents and immediately Elijah told him to go back and not to worry about what he had done. Jesus, You too said, "Follow Me," to the man in today's Gospel reading and in the following verse we see another who wanted to follow You, but like Elisha he too wanted to say goodbye to his family first.

Nothing in the whole wide world is more important than responding to Your call and accepting Your invitation to be Your disciple. No human tie must be more binding that it has the power to dilute our commitment and that is why You say, "Whoever has put his hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.


Olds griefs, old attachments, even old, forgiven sins should be cast into the sea of oblivion . If we keep looking back, reliving old, hurtful memories and revisiting old griefs it has the power to render us into pillars of salt like Lot's wife. 


Galatians 15:1
Christ freed us to make us really free. So remain firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. 


St. Paul reminds us that if You have set us free then we are free indeed.  Free to live as sons and daughters of the Most High God.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Luke 16:15,Luke 15:18, Matthew 8:7-8, 10-11, 13

Luke 16:15
What is highly esteemed in human sight is loathsome to God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to them: You are they who justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts; for that which is high to men, is an abomination before God.

Revised Standard Version
But he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 

Beloved, different versions of this verse brings out its meaning with greater clarity. How true my Lord, we look at the rich, the powerful, the popular, the beautiful exterior and we judge and esteem people based on these frivolous, worldly standards.  The Gospel standards are so different.  The beatitudes tell us most clearly, simply and powerfully what pleases You.

Luke 15:18
18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and before you.

Whenever I sin and fall short, may this be my attitude always, to run to You in confession, tell You my sins and receive pardon, strength and reconciliation with You and Your Body, the Church.


Matthew 8:7-8, 10-11, 13
Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
The captain answered, “I am not worthy to have you under my roof. Just give an order and my boy will be healed. 
10 When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those who were following him, “I tell you, I have not found such faith in Israel. 11 I say to you, many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven; 
13 Then Jesus said to the captain, “Go home now. As you believed, so let it be.” And at that moment his servant was healed.

Beloved, You are always ready to come to us when we call, to meet us at the point of our need.  We see here how the faith of the captain was rewarded.  It is the kind of faith that moves mountains.  The captain did not expect You to come to his home, he believed that all You had to do was speak a word of healing and the Eternal Word full of beauty, grace and power would accomplish the work of God.

Give me this total, childlike faith in You my Lord.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Matthew 14:35-36, 2 Kings 25:12, Matthew 8:1-4

Matthew 14:35-36
They brought all the sick to Him, begging Him to let them touch just the fringe of His cloak.  All who touched it became perfectly well.

My Beloved, the world is sick today and getting sicker.  It is ignorant of You.  Those who do know You want to strip You of Your power and make You like other men- they do not want to acknowledge You as the Man-God because it would mean having to turn away from sin.  There are some who pretend they do not know You, they think it is safer then they can ignore Your will for their lives. 

Give the world an awareness of its sickness and its hopelessness without You.  Let us touch the fringe of Your cloak so that we can become perfectly well again.

2 Kings 25:12

12 But he left those among the very poor who were capable of working in vineyards and cultivating the soil.

There is always a poor, humble, remnant.  The few who are faithful God raises up mightily.

Matthew 8:1-4
 1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.
Then a leper came forward. He knelt before him and said, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to, be clean again.” At that very moment the man was cleansed from his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you do not tell anyone, but go to the priest, have yourself declared clean, and of fer the gift that Moses ordered as proof of it.”

Beloved, very few have the desire to ascend the mountain to You and so You who who are full of compassion, mercy and love, come down to seek those who are sick and You reveal Yourself to them and invite them into a relationship with You.  Many reject You, but there are a few sinners who see their misery, their emptiness, their utter lack of peace and joy and like the leper recognise that in You they  can have a new beginning.  You gave the leper fullness of life as You give me and all sinners like me who repent and turn to You.  All find in You loving mercy and compassion.

Matthew 14:35-36, 2 Kings 25:12, Matthew 8:1-4

Matthew 14:35-36
They brought all the sick to Him, begging Him to let them touch just the fringe of His cloak.  All who touched it became perfectly well.

My Beloved, the world is sick today and getting sicker.  It is ignorant of You.  Those who do know You want to strip You of Your power and make You like other men- they do not want to acknowledge You as the Man-God because it would mean having to turn away from sin.  There are some who pretend they do not know You, they think it is safer then they can ignore Your will for their lives. 

Give the world an awareness of its sickness and its hopelessness without You.  Let us touch the fringe of Your cloak so that we can become perfectly well again.

2 Kings 25:12

12 But he left those among the very poor who were capable of working in vineyards and cultivating the soil.

There is always a poor, humble, remnant.  The few who are faithful God raises up mightily.

Matthew 8:1-4
 1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.
Then a leper came forward. He knelt before him and said, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to, be clean again.” At that very moment the man was cleansed from his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you do not tell anyone, but go to the priest, have yourself declared clean, and of fer the gift that Moses ordered as proof of it.”

Beloved, very few have the desire to ascend the mountain to You and so You who who are full of compassion, mercy and love, come down to seek those who are sick and You reveal Yourself to them and invite them into a relationship with You.  Many reject You, but there are a few sinners who see their misery, their emptiness, their utter lack of peace and joy and like the leper recognise that in You they  can have a new beginning.  You gave the leper fullness of life as You give me and all sinners like me who repent and turn to You.  All find in You loving mercy and compassion.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Mark 9:35-37, Isaiah 49:1-6, Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15, Luke 1:59-65

Mark 9:35-37

 35 Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, “If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child, placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me.”
The Gospel principle turns logic on its  head.  If I want to be first then I must make myself the least of all and be ready to serve everyone.  We have to be especially kind to the little ones in order to find favor with You. Those who are helpless, like children must find a welcome and kindness from us in order to for us to to find a welcome from You.
Isaiah 49:1-6

 1 Listen to me, O islands,
pay attention, peoples from distant lands.
Yahweh called me from my mother’s womb;
he pronounced my name before I was born.
He made my mouth like a sharpened sword.
He hid me in the shadow of his hand.
He made me into a polished arrow
set apart in his quiver.
He said to me, “You are Israel, my servant,
Through you I will be known.”
“I have labored in vain,” I thought
and spent my strength for nothing.”
Yet what is due me was in the hand of Yahweh,
and my reward was with my God.
I am important in the sight of Yahweh,
and my God is my strength.
5 And now Yahweh has spoken,
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
to gather Israel to him.
He said: “It is not enough
that you be my servant,
to restore the tribes of Jacob,
to bring back the remnant of Israel.
I will make you the light of the nations,
that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth.”

Once again, You affirm to me that the entire plan of salvation was formed in the heart of the Abba, Father.  He it is who chooses, it is He who forms, it is He who sets the course and it is His love that sets the whole plan into motion.  He brings into fulfillment and He joyously celebrates with us the fruit of His plan Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  

Psalm139:1-3, 13-14
 O Lord, you know me:
you have scrutinized me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
beforehand you discern my thoughts.
You observe my activities and times of rest;
you are familiar with all my ways.
13 It was you who formed my inmost part
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I thank you for these wonders you have done,
and my heart praises you for your marvelous deeds.
15 Even my bones were known to you
when I was being formed in secret,
fashioned in the depths of the earth.

I rejoice in the knowledge that You know me intimately. Nothing is hidden from You. Knowing me Lord, You know how weak and helpless I am and this very helplessness moves You to loving compassion for me.  

Luke 1:59-65

59 When on the eighth day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. 60 But his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” 61 They said to her, “No one in your family has that name”; 62 and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give. 63 Zecha riah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, “His name is John,” and they were very surprised. 64 Immediately Zecha riah could speak again and his first words were in praise of God. 

65 A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the Hills of Judea the people talked about these events. 66 All who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, “What will this child be?” For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.



In the Gospel we see that if we are obedient You release great power in us to carry out the mission that You have assigned to us.  People normally are surprised and critical when we do not follow the herd but  have the courage of our convictions and live in humble and joyful submission to You, freely choosing to give You authority over us.  It is then that You can do marvellous things in our lives.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Job 13:23, Wisdom 9:13, 14, 15, 7, 2 Kings23:1-3, Psalm 119:33-37 & 40, Matthew 7:15-20

Job 13:23
What are my faults, what are my sins? Make them known to me.

Wisdom 9:13, 14, & 15 
Indeed who can know the intentions of God?  Who can know the plan of the Lord?  For Him human reasoning is timid, our notions misleading; a perishable body is a burden for the soul and our tent of clay weighs down the active mind.  Who has ever known Your will unless You first gave him wisdom and sent down Your Holy Spirit to him?

The sum of all these verses Beloved are that I need Your Holy Spirit to live in You, know You and have my being rooted in You. Grant me O my Lord a full measure of Your most Holy Spirit in order that I may be pleasing to You.

2 Kings 23:1-3
The king stood by the pillar; he made a covenant in the presence of Yahweh, promising to follow him, to keep His commandments and laws, and to respect His ordinances.  He promised to keep this covenant according to what was written in the book with all his heart and with all his soul. And all the people promised with  him.

King Josiah heard the word and was moved by it - the word of the Law in the Old Testament.  We have the Eternal Word in the New Testament - the Living Word, the Word made Flesh who dwelt among us.  You my Beloved, the anointed of God who give us new life.  To You I pledge my heart, my soul and my life.

Psalm 119:33-37 & 40
33 Explain to me, O Lord, your commandments, and I will be ever faithful to them.

34 Give me understanding, that I may observe your law with all my heart.
35 Guide me in obeying your instructions, for my pleasure lies in them.
36 Incline my heart to follow your will and not my own selfish desire.
37 Turn my eyes away from vanities and direct them to your life-giving word.
40 Oh, how I long for your precepts! Renew my life in your righteousness.

Lord, I make the prayer of the psalmist my own today.


Matthew 7:15-20

15 Beware of false prophets: they come to you in sheep’s clothing but inside they are wild wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Do you ever pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 A good tree always produces good fruit, a rotten tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. 20 So you will know them by their fruit.

May the fruit I produce be the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. May I be known as Yours because the fruit I produce is good fruit.  

Grant me the discernment of Your Spirit so that I may not be deceived.  May I remain in You always as the branch of the true vine.