June 23 - “Enter through the narrow gate..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Again, we hear strong words of Jesus in His Gospel for today’s Mass – to strengthen and encourage us in these difficult days:

Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.” (Mt 7:6, 12-14)

The First Reading is too long to post entirely but it too gives us God’s Word as He spoke to the Faithful who were longing for the coming of our Savior. Let me share the ending which helps to link the two passages from Scripture today:

…Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah:
“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria:
I have listened!
This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him:

“‘She despises you, laughs you to scorn,
the virgin daughter Zion!
Behind you she wags her head,
daughter Jerusalem.

“‘For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant,
and from Mount Zion, survivors.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.’

“Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:
‘He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it,
nor come before it with a shield,
nor cast up siege-works against it.
He shall return by the same way he came,
without entering the city, says the LORD.
I will shield and save this city for my own sake,
and for the sake of my servant David.’”

That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down
one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.
So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp,
and went back home to Nineveh. (From the 2nd Book of Kings, chapter 19)

and the Resposorial Psalm:

Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth…(from Psalm 48: 2-11)

Mary our Mother, “Virgin Daughter of Israel” has also been called “The City of God” and the “Gate of Heaven” for God has created her for her unique role in His Divine Plan to save us. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit, today for all the Graces God graciously gives us thorogh Mary from Jesus our Saviour. Let us trust Him as Mary did, let us remain in His Word as Mary did, pondering all in her heart that she might remain in His Love forever.

Let us rejoice hearing the words of the Alleluia Verse today:

I am the Light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows Me will have the Light of life.

Jesus we trust in You! Mother of Light and Life, pray for us!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Greenfields and stoplooklisten,

Thank you both so very much for your “faithful and loving hearts” which help us all to love God and all He is and does. We love Him not just for His Gifts which are innumerable but for Who He is! He so loved the world He sent His Only Son through Mary by the power of His Holy Spirit to save us.

Jesus His Incarnate Son came to us, became one of us in all except sin in order to suffer and die that we might be free from the original sin of our first parents and be born again of water and the Holy Spirit. In baptism we were taken out of Adam and incorporated into the Body of Christ becoming adopted sons and daughters of God and children of Mary.

Jesus and Mary are the New Adam and the New Eve. By God’s Grace, may we grow daily in the supernatural gifts of our Baptism that we may remain in Jesus, in His Word and in His Love now and into eternity, through Mary.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear AlbMagno and Stephie,

Thank you both for your “faithful and loving hearts” as you listened to the Scriptures posted today. There were so many beautiful references to Mary as I heard them and pondered in my own heart, the wonder of God’s Light and Life shining even today amid darkness.

How grateful we can be for our God who loved us so much He sent His Son, and His Son, the Word made Flesh in Mary’s Womb, loved us unto the end on the Cross giving to us His precious and Perfect Mother.

Come Holy Spirit; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Fill us as You filled Mary:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear DisorientingSneeze,

Thanks so much for your “heart” for it lets us know you have been in some way blessed by God’s Word. It is always encouraging to find another soul who wants to listen to God, for He is so Loving and He speaks to us each day through Holy Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium of His Church.

Today is the Solemnity of St. John the Baptist and I am about to begin a new thread, on the Scriptures for today’s Mass. St. John the Baptist, as you know was the son of St. Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin. The readings for today are beautiful and I hope you can find time to listen and ponder what God says to us!