Blood of Christ

“Bulls’ blood and goats’ blood are incapable of taking away sins, and that is why he said, on coming into the world:
‘You wanted no sacrifice or cereal offering, but you gave me a body. You took no pleasure in burnt offering or sacrifice for sin; then I said, ‘Here I am, I am coming,’ in the scroll of the book it is written of me, to do your will, God.’
He says first you did not want what the law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the cereal offerings, the burnt offerings and the sacrifices for sins, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to do your will. He is abolishing the first sort to establish the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ made once and for all.” (Hebrews 10: 4 – 10)

It is God’s will for me to be made holy through the Mass. The Mass is for me the source of sanctification. It is the Mass which fulfills for me the promise of Isaiah 12: 3, “Joyfully you will draw water from the springs of salvation.” During the epiclesis, I will ask the Holy Spirit to make me holy as he consecrates the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Scatter Seeds

Scatter Seeds


“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain of in the ear.” (Mark 3: 26)

The seed is the word of God. The seed contains life and dynamism. We do not know how it sprouts and grows but it does.
Lord Jesus, make me one who scatters seeds.

Smile at Jesus

“Look up at the Lord and smile; your face will never be ashamed.” (Psalm 33:6)

Where can we look up at the Lord today? We know and we believe that the Lord is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. We know and we affirm that he is truly present body, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. These things we know by faith.

How can we smile at the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and in the Eucharist? Sometimes I come to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Eucharist with a lot of burden. But I make it a rule that before I step into the presence of the Lord, I leave my despondency behind. I recognize him whom I am going to meet.

Being self-employed has helped me appreciate the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in a very concrete manner. As a salesman, I have ‘often toiled the whole day and caught nothing.’ I know how looking up to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament at the end of my day has restored my spirit again and again. Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness. Surely no one who looks up at the Lord and smile will ever be ashamed. I have experienced this and I guarantee it.

Parallel Text

"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and trust shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30: 15)

New Revised Standard Version

"These are the words of the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In calm detachment lies your safety,
your strength in quiet trust."
Revised English Bible

"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
By waiting and by calm you shall be saved,
in quiet and in trust your strength lies."
New American Bible

"For Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, says this,

'Your salvation lay in conversion and tranquility,

your strength in serenity and trust."

New Jerusalem Bible

Inventory of Gifts

"Go out to the whole world, proclaim the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16: 15)

This is the great commission.

'But Lord, how am I to do this?'

'You are learning now. You will be told what to do at the right time.'

What are the gifts I am likely to need to fulfill the great commission in my life?

• Knowledge
  
• Teaching
  
• Writing
  
• Faith
  
• Prophecy
  
• Discernment of Spirits
  
• Wisdom
  
• Evangelical simplicity
  
• Administration
  
• Intercessory prayer
  
• Encouragement
  

'Lord, this is a long list. Bless me with these gifts and help me to deploy them in the work of my life.'