Judges 6:34, Ephesians 2:19-22, John 20:24-29

Judges 6:34

Then the Spirit of Yahweh clothed Gideon with strength.

Beloved, today marks 3 months since You called Sandy home to Yourself. I remember reading this verse in the last weeks of her illness and I began to pray, "The Spirit of Jesus clothes Sandy with strength." I asked Pam to pray this verse too.  I imagined You covering Sandy with strength  You  healed her body.  Yet, this was not Your plan.  But now this prayer is true, for Sandy is clothed in Your own perfection, health, strength and beauty.  You did answer our prayers my Lord. She offered all her terrible suffering in expiation for her sins and for the conversion of each of us whom she loved.  In heaven we will see how great her reward is.

The tears still flow Beloved,we miss her but on the heels of this sorrow is the joyful certainty that she is where there is no more grief, no tear dims her eyes, no more pain, only the wonder and immeasurable joy of being in Your adorable Presence.  

The Spirit of God clothes Sandy in bridal attire and she rejoices in Christ who is her Lord, God, King and Spouse.  Her gaze is raised and locked in the gaze of One who is all love.  Jesus Christ Himself is her reward.  Where our Sandy is now, we hope to be someday - safe in the arms of Jesus.

Ephesians 2:19-22

19 Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of God. You are the house20 whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.

We know this now by faith, a time will come when like Sandy we will know in truth when we too behold the beatific vision.

John  20:24-29

We know this now by faith, a time will become when like Sandy, our faith will be rewarded and we will behold You face to face.

24 Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer.”

28 Thomas then said, “You are my Lord and my God.” 29 Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe.”

Beloved, I love this Gospel passage.  Thomas was not going to believe so easily.  He had to see for himself the marks of the crucifixion.  Verse 26 says, "that despite the locked doors, You came into their midst.  May my prayers for so many open the locked doors to enable You to enter.

Sandy's faith is rewarded and she is now counted among the blesses.  She now beholds with awe what she believed.  With her I pray, "My Lord and my God."

Sirach 32:13-14, Sirach 33:11 & 13, Psalm 19:8-11, Matthew 9:1-8

Sirach 32:13-14
Sirach 33:11 & 13

13 And thank your Creator for the enjoyment of all good things.

14 Whoever fears the Lord will ac­cept his cor­rection, and those who rise at dawn will win his favor.

13 As clay in the hand of the potter to be molded as he pleases, so are all in the hands of the Creator to be dealt with as he sees fit.

14 Good is the opposite of evil, and life, of death, and the sinner is the opposite of the upright. 


Eternal Word, my Beloved, thank You for all that You say to me today in Proverbs 32:13-14 and Proverbs 33:11 & 13.


"M--- come to Me always, run to Me.  Who can help you but I?  Who can heal, save I?  Who can love you as tenderly as I do?"


Psalm 19:8-11

8 The law of the Lord is perfect:

it gives life to the soul.

The word of the Lord is trustworthy:

it gives wisdom to the simple.

9 The precepts of the Lord are right:

they give joy to the heart.

The commandments of the Lord are clear:

they enlighten the eyes.

10 The fear of the Lord is pure,

it endures forever;

the judgments of the Lord are true,

all of them just and right.

11 They are more precious than gold –

pure gold of a jeweller;

they are much sweeter than honey

which drops from the honeycomb.

Beloved, how beautiful are the verses of the Psalmist today. You the Word are holy and perfect and You delight as nothing and no one can.


Matthew 9:1-8

• 1 Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown. 2 Here they brought a paralyzed man to him, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, “Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven.”

3 Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, “This man insults God.” 4 Jesus was aware of what they were thinking, and said, “Why have you such evil thoughts? 5 Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 You must know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” He then said to the paralyzed man, “Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home.” 7 The man got up, and went home.

8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

You performed this miracle my Lord and You gave a three-fold answer; one to the friends of the paralytic, two to the paralytic himself and three to the Pharisees.  

The faith of the friends was rewarded through the healing.

The sins of the paralytic were forgiven.

To the Pharisees You demonstrate that You  have the power to heal both body and soul.  A power that only God possesses..

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?

 5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your encampments, Israel!

6 Like valleys stretching far,

like gardens beside a stream,

like aloes planted by Yahweh,

like cedars beside the waters.

7 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.  

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 

6 As for me, I am already poured out as a libation, and the moment of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 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.

17 But 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.

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

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.