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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Mark 9:7, Psalm 94:14-15, Matthew 11:25-27

Mark 9:7
"This is My Son , the Beloved, listen to Him."

You are Beloved of the Father and You are my Beloved too.  I ask O Lord for the grace always and everywhere to listen to Your voice and obey You always.  To do Your will must be my delight.

Psalm 94:14-15
14 The Lord will not reject his people nor will he forsake his heritage. 
15 Justice will return to the just, and the upright will follow in its wake.

In the above verses, the psalmist assures us that You will not forsake us.  We are Your heritage.  It seems difficult to believe this Lord because Your Church is persecuted and maligned more vociferously than at any age.  You go on to say that Justice will return and the just and upright will follow in the wake of Justice.  You are Justice, Beloved and so we should not lose heart but have confidence in the knowledge that in the end You, who are Beloved of the Father, will prevail over the Enemy.

Matthew 11:25-27
• 25 On that occasion Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise you, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to simple people. 26 Yes, Father, this is what pleased you. 
27 Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Father, in the light of these verses, Your inspiration at the start of my quiet time with You makes complete sense.  When we listen to Jesus, Your Beloved Son, we hear You, for He reveals all that You have entrusted to Him, to us Your creatures who have been called from darkness into His own marvelous light.  The Light of the Word made Flesh who dwelt among us will never ever be extinguished no matter how hard the Enemy tries. Praise be to God!!!!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Isaiah 41:10, 13, 14b & 16b

My Beloved Jesus You love me passionately as You love all mankind. You love me as a person and You want me to respond to Your love just as passionately. This means that my whole life must be devoted to pleasing You. To do nothing to hurt or offend You. To understand the cost of Your sacrifice and the merit You gained for me. To love You without self-interest. You who are love, teach me to love You as You ought to be loved.

Isaiah 41:10, 13, 14b, 16b
10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will give you strength, I will bring you help, I will uphold you with the right hand of my justice.13 For I, Yahweh, your God, take hold of your right hand and say to you: “Fear not, I am your assistance.”  14 Fear not, Jacob, poor worm, and you, people of Israel, so frail. I am your redeemer, says Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, your helper. 16 You will rejoice in Yahweh and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

Thank You my Lord for all Your wonderful assurances that You will be my help and my strength always.

Matthew 11:20-24
• 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which he had performed most of his miracles, because the people there did not change their ways, 21 “Alas for you Chorazin and Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, the peo ple there would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I assure you, for Tyre and Sidon it will be more bearable on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Caper naum, will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be thrown down to the place of the dead! For if the miracles which were performed in you had taken place in So dom, it would still be there today! 24 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

My Beloved, we take You for granted.  We take the life You have given us for granted.  You have blessed us from the moment we were conceived.  Your ordained that we were born into the fullness of the faith and You have revealed to us who You are.  You have taken us by the hand, taught us, fed us with Your own Body and Blood and redeemed us. You continue to empower us with Your Holy Spirit so that it will be easier for us to obey the greatest commandment of love - the love of God made visible in our love of neighbor. Therefore how great will our fall be Lord if we remain unchanged and unmoved by all You have done solely out of Your great love?

Monday, July 12, 2010

Matthew 5:48, Psalm 50:23, Matthew 10:34-39

Matthew 5:48
48 For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect.

Beloved, You remind me once again that I am called to imitate our heavenly Father by being like Him in righteousness and perfection. I have fallen far short of the ideal and failed often. Grant me the grace to keep striving no matter how often I fall.

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

Beloved You promise to one who walks blamelessly to show the salvation of God. How can I walk blamelessly if You are not always beside me to help and support me? Stay with me Lord and help me to obey joyfully and willingly.

Matthew 10:34-38, 40
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take up his cross and come after me is not worthy of me. 40 Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.

Beloved, I do not believe that I love anything or anyone more than I love You. neither do I want to. I want You alone to be the centre of my life and the reason I live. Help me to be all that You wish me to be always. To listen to Your inspirations and act on them, to allow my love to be guided by Your own Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 45:1, 3 Hosea 14:5-10, Psalm 51:8, 14, 17, Matthew 10:16-23

Isaiah 45:1, 3 
I have taken you by your right hand,  I will give treasures hidden in darkness and stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am Yahweh, the God of Israel who calls you by your name.

Beloved, Your love for me is not impersonal. You take me by the hand, You know my name and You give me Your life giving word which sustains me and fills me with joy.

Hosea 14:5-10

5 I will heal their wavering 
and love them with all my heart 
for my anger has turned from them. 
6 I shall be like dew to Israel 
like the lily will he blossom. 
Like a cedar he will send down his roots; 
7 his young shoots will grow and spread. 
His splendor will be like an olive tree, 
his fragrance, like a Lebanon cedar. 
8 They will dwell in my shade again, 
they will flourish like the grain, 
they will blossom like a vine, 
and their fame will be like Lebanon wine. 
9 What would Ephraim do with idols, 
when it is I who hear and make him prosper? 
I am like an ever-green cypress tree; 
all your fruitfulness comes from me. 
10 Who is wise enough to grasp all this? 
Who is discerning and will understand? 
Straight are the ways of Yahweh: 
the just walk in them, but the sinners stumble. 

Beloved, Your loved strengthens the weak, gives courage to the fearful, makes straight the crooked, gives wisdom to the foolish, gives light so we will not stumble, gives life so we can live.  Thank You.

Psalm 51:8, 14, 17
I know you desire truth in the heart,


teach me wisdom in my inmost being.
14 Give me again the joy of your salvation
and sustain me with a willing spirit.


17 O Lord, open my lips,
and I will declare your praise.

You desire truth in the heart and so Beloved teach me wisdom, sustain me with a willing spirit so that I will obey you joyfully and willingly. Grant that I may never cease to praise Your goodness, mercy and love all the days of my life.




Matthew 10:16-23

16 Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves. You must be clever as snakes and innocent as doves. 17Be on your guard with respect to people, for they will hand you over to their courts and they will flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me, and so you may witness to them and the pagans.  19 But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. 20 For it is not you who will speak; but it will be the Spirit of your Father in you. 21 Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against parents and have them put to death. 22 Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. For sure, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Beloved, from the very beginning You warned Your disciples what would be their lot for witnessing to You.  You ask us to be wise to the ways of the world so that we will not be taken off guard.  Although innocent, we must not be naive. We must  be prepared to be ridiculed, persecuted, flogged, imprisoned and even lay down our lives if need be.  Our witness will be the light that speaks of You.  Your own Spirit will sustain us till the end and bring us to eternal life with You.




Sunday, July 11, 2010

Amos 5:14, 24, Deuteronomy 30:14, Colossians 1:15-20, Psalm 69:17, 30 & 34, Luke 10:29-37

Amos 5:14 & 24
Seek good and shun evil, that you may live.  Then Yahweh, the God of hosts, as you  have claimed will be with you.  Let justice run its course like water and righteousness be like an ever flowing river.


Beloved, Your word for me today is clear.  If I want You to be Emmanuel and if I want eternal life, I must seek good and turn my back on evil in all its forms.  May Your justice always be tempered with Your compassion, kindness and infinite love.  You are the all-righteous judge and if You come to me as such I have no hope.  Instead Beloved, I seek You as my Lord, Redeemer, Savior, Teacher, Master, Brother, Friend and Spouse.


Deuteronomy 30:14
"On the contrary, my word is very near you; it is already in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can put it into practice."


Beloved, how consoling this verse is.  You Eternal Word are very near me.  It is in my mouth and heart when I receive You in the Eucharist, or when I speak of You. You are always within me as I meditate on You and make Your word the rule of my life.


Colossians 1:15-20
• 15 He is the image of the unseen God,
and for all creation he is the firstborn,
16 for in him all things were created,
in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible:
thrones, rulers, authorities, powers…
All was made through him and for him.
17 He is before all
and all things hold together in him.
18 And he is the head of the body, that is the Church,
for he is the first, the first raised from the dead
that he may be the first in everything,
19 for God was pleased to let fullness dwell in him.
20 Through him God willed to reconcile all things to himself,
and through him, through his blood shed on the cross,
God establishes peace,
on earth as in heaven.

These verses are like music, heavenly music.  How beautifully St. Paul writes Lord.  I wish I could use words so masterfully in speaking or writing about You O Eternal Word of God.

Psalm 69
17  In your mercy, O Lord, give me a good answer; in your great compassion, turn to me.30 But I myself am humbled and wounded; your salvation, O God, will lift me up.34  For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise those in captivity.
36 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. His people shall dwell in the land and possess it;
37 the children of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell in it.

In Your time and according to Your will answer me my Lord with Your ever present help.  Your answer, what ever it may be is perfect - even if it may not be as I desired it to be.  You always hear the cry of those who seek You with sincerity.  You promise to save Your own, You promise salvation and eternal life not only to me but to my children too.  May we all live to love and honor Your most holy Name forever.

Luke 10:29-37
29 The man wanted to keep up appearances, so he replied, “Who is my neighbor?” 
30 Jesus then said, “There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. 
31 It happened that a priest was going along that road and saw the man, but passed by on the other side. 32 Like wise a Levite saw the man and passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, too, was going that way, and when he came upon the man, he was moved with compassion. 34 He went over to him and treated his wounds with oil and wine and wrap ped them with bandages. Then he put him on his own mount and brought him to an inn where he took care of him. 
35 The next day he had to set off, but he gave two silver coins to the innkeeper and told him: ‘Take care of him and whatever you spend on him, I will repay when I come back.’” 
36 Jesus then asked, “Which of these three, do you think, made himself neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The teacher of the Law answered, “the one who had mercy on him.” And Jesus said, “Go then and do the same.”

In the homily Fr. Franco said that we must move from pity to compassion to commitment.  Our lives must be ruled by love of God which must express itself in love for neighbor.  

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Jeremiah 31:3- & 25, Isaiah 6:5-8, Matthew 10:27-33

Jeremiah 31:3-4, 25
I have loved you with a love everlasting so I have kept for you my mercy. I will restore you again and you shall be rebuilt. I will refresh the weary and lift up the downhearted.

Beloved thank You for Your words of consolation and comfort.  You renew my hope.  


Isaiah 6:5-8
5 I said, “Poor me! I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips living among a people of unclean lips, and yet I have seen the King, Yahweh Sabaoth.” 
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me; in his hands was a live coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, 
“See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” I answered, “Here I am. Send me!”


Mother dearest, my Mistress and my Queen, have pity on me and intercede for me for I am a sinner.  My lips are unclean - brush your sweet lips against mine - those lips red with the Blood of my Savior when you pressed your lips to kiss His nail pierced feet, so that my lips too,  reddened with the Blood of Christ, may purify my mouth and my entire being, cleanse me of all my sins and fill me with His grace so that I may be  submissive to His holy will always.

Matthew 10:27-33
27 What I am telling you in the dark, you must speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops. 
•28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul. Rather be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. 29 For only a few cents you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 As for you, every hair of your head has been counted. 31 So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows. 
•32 Whoever acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 Whoever rejects me before others I will reject before my Father in heaven.
Beloved, I belong to You. Your Word is my life and my strength.  You love me and protect me.  I am worth more to You than many sparrows because You laid down Your life for me.  Help me always to speak boldly - to draw courage from You and help me never to hesitate to speak  because I am too afraid of the consequences.  If I am right You will vindicate me.  If I am wrong You will correct me.  Either way Lord, it is You who will prevail. Amen.




Thursday, July 8, 2010

2 Maccabees 6:26(b)-28, Hosea 11:3-4, 8-9, Matthew 10:7-15

2 Maccabees 6:26(b)-28 

I cannot – whether living or dead – escape from the hands of the Almighty. 27 I prefer to bravely sacrifice my life now, as befits my old age. 28 So I shall leave an excellent example to the young, dying voluntarily and valiantly for the sacred and holy laws.”  Having said this, he gave himself over to death.


When faced with physical death one can be overcome with fear and dread.  But what about spiritual death?  Many of us are walking corpses.

Hosea 11:3-4, 8-9

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; yet little did they realize that it was I who cared for them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with leading strings of love, and I became for them as one who eases the yoke upon their neck and stoops down to feed them.
.  My heart is troubled within me and I am moved with compassion. I am God and not human. I am the Holy One in your midst and I do not want to come to you in anger.

How marvelously, tenderly and generously God loves His poor, weak, sinful creatures.  He give us every opportunity to repent and come back to Him.  He witholds His righteous anger and looks at us through the wounds of His Son and has pity on us.

Matthew 10:7-15


Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift. Do not carry any gold, silver or copper in your purses. 10 Do not carry a traveler’s bag, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or walking-stick: workers deserve their living.
11 When you come to a town or a village, look for a worthy person and stay there until you leave.
12 As you enter the house, wish it peace. 13 If the people in the house deserve it, your peace will be on them; if they do not deserve it, your blessing will come back to you.
14 And if you are not welcomed and your words are not listened to, leave that house or that town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 I assure you, it will go easier for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than it will for the people of that town.

Beloved, there are many who have a nodding acquaintance with You. They have some idea of who You are and they know holy men and women who serve You in the priesthood and religious life. They may even know Christians in the secular world who try to live their lives modeled on You, yet they relegate You to the position of just another spiritual guru.  They are afraid to find out more about You.  They know about Your miracles, they know some of Your teachings and can even quote some Scripture texts.  They know about Your passion, death and resurrection but they prefer to stand on the sidelines.  They are not true seekers of the truth.  Anyone who seeks the Truth honestly and with a sincere heart, will find his or her way to You who are the Way, the Truth and the Life.  How terrible for these people who were not willing to welcome the Truth for they will have to face You on judgement day.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Psalm 27:1, 3-5, Psalm 105:4-5, 7, Hosea 10:12, Matthew 10:1-7


Psalm 27:1, 3-5
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation
– whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the rampart of my life;
I will not be afraid.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fail;
though war break out against me,
I will still be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the Lord, one thing I seek –
that I may dwell in his house all the days of my life,
to gaze at his jewel and to visit his sanctuary.

You, my Beloved, are all this and more to me. You are the Priceless Jewel that I gaze at and adore in Your Holy Sanctuary. You hide in humility and love behind the substance of bread in order that we can approach You without fear but in confidence.
Hosea 10:12
12 Plow new ground, sow for yourselves justice and reap the harvest of kindness. It is the time to go seeking Yahweh until he comes to rain salvation on you.

It is high time the world turns away from its madness and godlessness and returns back to You or we will all be annihilated. Our wickedness makes nature tremble in fear and anger at the terrible wrath that is to come upon us if we do not return to You.

Psalm 105:4-5, 7
4 Look to the Lord and be strong; seek his face always.
5 Remember his wonderful works, his miracles and his judgments,
7 He is the Lord our God; his judg ments reach the whole world.

Beloved, may my gaze be turned to You always and looking at You may I receive the strength I need to follow You and not to be tempted by the fleeting allure of the world. Let me remember the kindness You have shown me, the answered prayers, the many little miracles each day and may my heart bless and adore You the live-long day. 
Matthew 10:1-7
1 Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; 3 James, the son of Zebe dee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thad daeus; 4 Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him. 5 Jesus sent these twelve on mission with the instruction: “Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. 6 Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. 7Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift. 9 Do not carry any gold, silver or copper in your purses. 10 Do not carry a traveler’s bag, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or walking-stick: workers deserve their living.


Dearest Jesus, when You call us to do Your work, You empower us just as You did the 12. You continue to give us authority over all things in Your Name. We see in today's Scripture how Judas has been branded as the man who would betray You. How many continue to betray You today.

The Church continues Your work of healing, preaching and teaching. The light of Your Church right now is made dim by the terrible sins of a few who have caused her shame by harming Your little ones. The Church is being pilloried right now because of the few who have betrayed You like Judas. Have mercy on us all my Lord, we cling to Your promise to remain with us until the end of time.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

John 10:26-30, Hosea 8:7, Matthew 9-32-38

MY SHEEP  HEAR MY VOICE
John 10:26-30

26 The works I do in my Father’s name proclaim who I am, but you don’t believe because, as I said, you are not my sheep.
27 My sheep hear my voice and I know them; they follow me 28 and I give them eternal life. They shall never perish and no one will ever steal them from me. 29 What the Father has given me is above everything else and no one can snatch it from the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

How true Beloved, all Your works proclaim to the world who You are.  Only one with the power of God could heal, raise to life and forgive sins as You did 2000 years ago and continue to do to this day.  I am grateful that through no merit of mine, but by sheer grace, I am Your sheep.  I know Your voice and I will follow You from here to eternity when I shall be united with You forever.


Hosea 8:7

 As they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind. Like the erect ear of corn they will bear no grain and produce no flour, or if they do, foreigners will devour it.




Matthew 9:32-38

32 When they had just left, some peo­ple brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon. 33 When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” (34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”)
 35 Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. 36 When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were ha­rassed and helpless like sheep without a she­pherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. 38 Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.”
Beloved what amazing miracles You performed before many witnesses.  The blind had their sight restored to them, the lame walked, lepers were cured, the dead You brought back to life.  You cured every form of illness and disease of t hose who were brought to You, and yet t here were some Pharisees who said You did what You did with the help of demons.
If our minds are closed to the truth we will continue to walk in darkness.  If we acknowledge You to be who You say You are, then we have no option but to believe and say, "My Lord and my God."  And then we must live our lives obedient to Your will.

You went around preaching and curing every sickness and disease because Your heart was moved to pity.  Your heart continues to watch over us Lord.  The world is even more treacherous today and it is hard for many because they do not want to believe that You are the only answer to all the world's pain and illness.  We pray that You send laborers into Your vineyard to carry out Your work.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Sirach 43:26b, 28-30, Hosea 2:16, 21-22, Psalm 145:2-9, Matthew 9:18-26

Sirach 43:26b, 28-30, 

everything is held together by his word.
28 Where shall we find the strength to glorify him? For he is the Mighty One, greater than all his works.
29 The Lord is awesome and sovereignly great, and admirable in his power.
30 Let your praise exalt the Lord as best you can, he is greater than you could even express.
Honor him with all your strength and do not tire, for you can never praise him enough.

My beloved God holds and sustains all creation.  You who are the Word made flesh and who came to dwell among us to show us the way to the Father, You empower us with Your own Holy Spirit so we are made strong in the strength of the Lord.  


Hosea 2:16, 21-22, 
16 So I am going to allure her,
lead her once more into the desert,
where I can speak to her tenderly.

21 You will be my spouse forever,
betrothed in justice and integrity;
we will be united in love and tenderness.
22 I will espouse you in faithfulness and you will come to know Yahweh.

No earthly love can speak more sweetly, more lovingly and more tenderly than You do Beloved.  You make a covenant of love that will last forever.

Psalm 145:2-9

I will praise you day after day and exalt your name forever.
Great is the Lord, most worthy of praise; and his deeds are beyond mea­sure.
Parents commend your works to their children and tell them your feats.
They proclaim the splendor of your majesty and recall your wondrous works.
People will proclaim your mighty deeds, and I will declare your greatness.
They will celebrate your abundant kindness, and rejoice in singing of your justice.
Compassionate and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in love.
The Lord is good to everyone; his mercy embraces all his creation.

I sing aloud with the Psalmist to tell of Your goodness, Your majesty and Your awesome love.  


Matthew 9:18-26

18 While Jesus was speaking to them, an official of the synagogue came up to him, bowed before him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples.
20 Then a woman who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 For she thought, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned, saw her and said, “Cour­age, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from that moment the woman was cured.
23 When Jesus arrived at the offi­cial’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said, 24 “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!” And they laughed at him. 25 But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. 26 The news of this spread through the whole area.


You are always available and accessible to all who call on You.  Even when we grope in the darkness, You will helps us find You and You answer and give us all we need.We have to only put out a hand in silence and touch the edge of Your cloak and Your power overflows to heal.  Thank You.




Sunday, July 4, 2010

Jeremiah 15:16, Jeremiah 16:19, Galatians 6:14, Psalm 66:20, Luke 10:2-4, 17-20

Jeremiah 15:16
I devoured Your words when they came.  They were my happiness and I felt full of joy when You made Your Name rest on me.

Jeremiah 16:19
Yahweh my strength and my fortress, my refuge in times of distress.

Isaiah 66:10-14
1“Rejoice for Jerusalem and be glad for  her, all you who love her. Be glad with her, rejoice with her, all you who were in grief over her, 11 that you may suck of the milk from her comforting breasts, that you may drink deeply from the abundance of her glory.”
12 For this is what Yahweh says: I will send her peace, overflowing like a river; and the nations’ wealth, rushing like a torrent towards her.
And you will be nursed and carried in her arms and fondled upon her lap.
13 As a son comforted by his mother, so will I comfort you. 14 At the sight of this, your heart will rejoice; like grass, your bones will flourish. For it shall be known that Yahweh’s hand is with his servant, but his fury is upon his enemy.

Galatians 6:14
14 For me, I do not wish to take pride in anything except in the cross of Christ Jesus our Lord. Through him the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.15 Let us no longer speak of the circumcised and of non-Jews, but of a new creation. 16Let those who live according to this rule receive peace and mercy: they are the Israel of God! 17 Let no one trouble me any longer: for my part, I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.
18 May the grace of Christ Je­sus our Lord be with your spirit brothers and sisters. Amen.

Psalm 66:20
20 May God be blessed!
He has not rejected my prayer;
nor withheld his love from me.

Luke 10:2-4, 17-20
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. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know.
 17 The seventy-two disciples returned full of joy. They said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we called on your name.” 18 Then Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 You see, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the Enemy, so that nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the evil spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.”

In all three readings of the day You speak of the Church You have established on earth.  In Isaiah when You speak of the blessings the comfort and joy that shall flow from Jerusalem, it is an image of the New Jerusalem.  St. Paul reminds us that nothing is more important that following You my Lord and the  Cross.  The world is well lost for those who embrace You.  Why should we boast in Your Cross Beloved?  Because through it You have won for us the crown of eternal life.  Without Your passion, death and glorious resurrection, we would have no hope.  Thank You for the hope we have because of You.

If we choose to put all our faith and trust in You, nothing will be lacking, for You will provide for all our needs.  When we surrender all to You Beloved, You in turn give us all we need.  We will lack nothing. 

Here You demonstrate how Satan is powerless before Your Holy Name.  Let us not be afraid but step out boldly in faith for no evil can touch those who belong to Your Kingdom. Those whose names You've written in the Book of Life.