DR Squared: Saturday Of The Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26a (DR--25a)

And he charged them, saying: I am now going to be gathered to my people: bury me with my fathers in the double cave, which is in the field of Ephron the Hethite, Over against Mambre in the land of Chanaan, which Abraham bought together with the field of Ephron the Hethite for a possession to bury in. There they buried him, and Sara his wife: there was Isaac buried with Rebecca his wife: there also Lia doth lie buried. And when he had ended the commandments, wherewith he instructed his sons, he drew up his feet upon the bed, and died: and he was gathered to his people. Now he being dead, his brethren were afraid, and talked one with another: Lest perhaps he should remember the wrong he suffered, and requite us all the evil that we did to him. And they sent a message to him, saying: Thy father commanded us before he died, That we should say thus much to thee from him: I beseech thee to forget the wickedness of thy brethren, and the sin and malice they practiced against thee: we also pray thee, to forgive the servants of the God of thy father this wickedness. And when Joseph heard this, he wept. And his brethren came to him: and worshipping prostrate on the ground they said: We are thy servants. And he answered them: Fear not: can we resist the will of God? You thought evil against me: but God turned it into good, that he might exalt me, as at present you see, and might save many people. Fear not: I will feed you and your children. And he comforted them, and spoke gently and mildly. And he dwelt in Egypt with all his father's house: and lived a hundred and ten years. And he saw the children of Ephraim to the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasses were born on Joseph's knees. After which he told his brethren: God will visit you after my death, and will make you go up out of this land, to the land which he swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And he made them swear to him, saying: God will visit you, carry my bones with you out of this place:  And he died being a hundred and ten years old.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 69 (68):33; V. 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7

R.  Let the poor see and rejoice: seek ye God, and your soul shall live. 

V.  Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name:

     declare his deeds among the Gentiles.

     Sing to him, yea sing praises to him:

     relate all his wondrous works.

V.  Glory ye in his holy name:

     let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

     Seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened:

     seek his face evermore.

V.  O ye seed of Abraham his servant;

     ye sons of Jacob his chosen.

     He is the Lord our God:

     his judgments are in all the earth.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10:24-33

The disciple is not above the master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the goodman of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household? Therefore fear them not. For nothing is covered that shall not be revealed: nor hid, that shall not be known. That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light: and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops. And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: better are you than many sparrows. Every one therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But he that shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Benedict, Abbot

First Reading:  Proverbs 2:1-9

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee, That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: Incline thy heart to know prudence:  For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence:  If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure:  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God. Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge. He will keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity. Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints. Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 34 (33):9a; V. 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R.  O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet:

V.  I will bless the Lord at all times,

     his praise shall be always in my mouth.

     In the Lord shall my soul be praised:

     let the meek hear and rejoice.

V.  O magnify the Lord with me;

     and let us extol his name together.

     I sought the Lord, and he heard me;

     and he delivered me from all my troubles.

V.  Come ye to him and be enlightened:

     and your faces shall not be confounded.

     This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him:

     and saved him out of all his troubles.

V.  The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him:

     and shall deliver them.

     O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet:

     blessed is the man that hopeth in him.

V.  Fear the Lord, all ye his saints:

     for there is no want to them that fear him.

     The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger:

     but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 19:27-29

Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

The readings form the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Friday Of The Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30

And Israel taking his journey, with all that he had, came to the well of the oath, and killing victims there to the God of his father Isaac, He heard him by a vision in the night calling him, and saying to him: Jacob, Jacob. And he answered him: Lo, here I am. God said to him: I am the most mighty God of thy father: fear not, go down into Egypt, for I will make a great nation of thee there. I will go down with thee thither, and will bring thee back again from thence: Joseph also shall put his hands upon thy eyes. And Jacob rose up from the well of the oath: and his sons took him up, with their children and wives in the wagons, which Pharao had sent to carry the old man, And all that he had in the land of Chanaan, and he came into Egypt with all his seed:  His sons, and grandsons, daughters, and all his offspring together. And he sent Juda before him to Joseph, to tell him; and that he should meet him in Gessen. And when he was come thither, Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet his father, in the same place: and seeing him, he fell upon his neck, and embracing him wept. And the father said to Joseph: Now shall I die with joy, because I have seen thy face, and leave thee alive.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 37 (36):39a; V. 3-4, 18-19, 27-28ab, 39-40

R.  But the salvation of the just is from the Lord,

V.  Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land,

     and thou shalt be fed with its riches.

     Delight in the Lord,

     and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.

V.  The Lord knoweth the days of undefiled;

     and their inheritance shall be for ever.

     They shall not be confounded in the evil time;

     and in the days of famine they shall be filled:

V.  Decline from evil and do good,

     and dwell for ever and ever.

     For the Lord loveth judgment, and will not forsake his saints:

     they shall be preserved for ever.

V.  But the salvation of the just is from the Lord,

     and he is their protector in the time of trouble.

     And the Lord will help them and deliver them:

     and he will rescue them from the wicked, and save them,

     because they have hoped in him.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10:16-23

Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles:  But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak. For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. The brother also shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and shall put them to death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved. And when they shall persecute you in this city, flee into another. Amen I say to you, you shall not finish all the cities of Israel, till the Son of man come.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Thursday Of The Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5

Then Juda coming nearer, said boldly: I beseech thee, my lord, let thy servant speak a word in thy ears, and be not angry with thy servant: for after Pharao thou art, My lord. Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you a father or a brother? And we answered thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead: and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him tenderly. And thou saidst to thy servants: Bring him hither to me, and I will set my eyes on him. Except your youngest brother come with you, you shall see my face no more. Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father, we told him all that my lord had said. And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat. And we said to him: We cannot go: if our youngest brother go down with us, we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare not see the man's face. Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore me two. One went out, and you said: A beast devoured him: and hitherto he appeareth not. If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow unto hell. Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by: whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be present at their knowing one another. And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians and all the house of Pharao heard. And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph: is my father yet living? His brethren could not answer him, being struck with exceeding great fear. And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for your preservation.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 105 (104):5a; V. 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

R.  Remember his marvellous works which he hath done;

V.  And he called a famine upon the land:

     and he broke in pieces all the support of bread.

     He sent a man before them:

     Joseph, who was sold for a slave.

V.  They humbled his feet in fetters:

     the iron pierced his soul,

     Until his word came.

     The word of the Lord inflamed him.

V.  The king sent, and he released him:

     the ruler of the people, and he set him at liberty.

     He made him master of his house,

     and ruler of all his possession.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10:7-15

And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: freely have you received, freely give. Do not possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses:  Nor scrip for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff; for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town you shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till you go thence. And when you come into the house, salute it, saying: Peace be to this house. And if that house be worthy, your peace shall come upon it; but if it be not worthy, your peace shall return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words: going forth out of that house or city shake off the dust from your feet. Amen I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, And Companions, Martyrs

First Reading:  1 John 5:1-5

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him. In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not heavy. For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 126 (125):5; V. 1-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6-7

R.  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

V.  When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion,

     we became like men comforted.

     Then was our mouth filled with gladness;

     and our tongue with joy.

V.  Then shall they say among the Gentiles:

     The Lord hath done great things for them.

     The Lord hath done great things for us:

     we are become joyful.

V.  Turn again our captivity, O Lord,

     as a stream in the south.

     They that sow in tears 

     shall reap in joy.

V.  Going they went and wept,

     casting their seeds.

     But coming they shall come with joyfulness,

     carrying their sheaves.   

Gospel Reading:  John 12:24-26

Amen, amen I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, Itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to me, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a

And when there also they began to be famished, the people cried to Pharao for food. And he said to them: Go to Joseph: and do all that he shall say to you. And the famine increased daily in all the land: and Joseph opened all the barns, and sold to the Egyptians: for the famine had oppressed them also. And all provinces came into Egypt, to buy food, and to seek some relief of their want. And they entered into the land of Egypt with others that went to buy. For the famine was in the land of Chanaan. And Joseph was governor in the land of Egypt, and corn was sold by his direction to the people. And when his brethren had bowed down to him, And he knew them, he spoke as it were to strangers somewhat roughly, asking them: Whence came you? So he put them in prison three days. And the third day he brought them out of prison, and said: Do as I have said, and you shall live: for I fear God. If you be peaceable men, let one of your brethren be bound in prison: and go ye your ways and carry the corn that you have bought, unto your houses. And bring your youngest brother to me, that I may find your words to be true, and you may not die. They did as he had said. And they talked one to another: We deserve to suffer these things, because we have sinned against our brother, seeing the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear: therefore is this affliction come upon us. And Ruben one of them, said: Did not I say to you: Do not sin against the boy: and you would not hear me? Behold his blood is required. And they knew not that Joseph understood, because he spoke to them by an interpreter. And he turned himself away a little while, and wept:

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 33 (32):22; V. 2-3, 10-11, 18-19

R.  Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in thee.

V.  Give praise to the Lord on the harp;

     sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.

     Sing to him a new canticle,

     sing well unto him with a loud noise.

V.  The Lord bringeth to naught the counsels of nations;

     and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.

     But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever:

     the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

V.  Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him:

     and on them that hope in his mercy.

     To deliver their souls from death;

     and feed them in famine.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10:1-7

And having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities. And the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying: Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 32:23-33 (DR--32:22-32)

And rising early he took his two wives, and his two handmaids, with his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of Jaboc. And when all things were brought over that belonged to him, He remained alone: and behold a man wrestled with him till morning. And when he saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the sinew of his thigh, and forthwith it shrank. And he said to him: Let me go, for it is break of day. He answered: I will not let thee go except thou bless me. And he said: What is thy name? He answered: Jacob. But he said: Thy name shall not be called Jacob, but Israel: for if thou hast been strong against God, how much more shalt thou prevail against men? Jacob asked him, Tell me by what name art thou called? He answered: Why dost thou ask my name? And he blessed him in the same place. And Jacob called the name of the place Phanuel, saying: I have seen God face to face, and my soul has been saved. And immediately the sun rose upon him, after he was past Phanuel; but he halted on his foot. Therefore the children of Israel, unto this day, eat not the sinew, that shrank in Jacob's thigh: because he touched the sinew of his thigh and it shrank.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 17:1b, 2-3, 6-7ab, 8b and 15

R.  But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice:

V.  Hear, O Lord, my justice:

     attend to my supplication.

     Give ear unto my prayer,

     which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.

V.  Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance:

     let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable.

     Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast tried me by fire:

     and iniquity hath not been found in me.

V.  I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me:

     O incline thy ear unto me, and hear my words.

     Shew forth thy wonderful mercies;

     thou who savest them that trust in thee.

V.  Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.

     But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice:

     I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:32-38

And when they were gone out, behold they brought him a dumb man, possessed with a devil. And after the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke, and the multitudes wondered, saying, Never was the like seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, By the prince of devils he casteth out devils. And Jesus went about all the cities, and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease, and every infirmity. And seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them: because they were distressed, and lying like sheep that have no shepherd. Then he saith to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 28:10-22a

But Jacob being departed from Bersabee, went on to Haran. And when he was come to a certain place, and would rest in it after sunset, he took of the stones that lay there, and putting under his head, slept in the same place. And he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and the top thereof touching heaven: the angels also of God ascending and descending by it; And the Lord leaning upon the ladder, saying to him: I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land, wherein thou sleepest, I will give to thee and to thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth: thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and IN THEE and thy seed all the tribes of the earth SHALL BE BLESSED. And I will be thy keeper whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land: neither will I leave thee, till I shall have accomplished all that I have said. And when Jacob awaked out of sleep, he said: Indeed the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. And trembling he said: How terrible is this place! this is no other but the house of God, and the gate of heaven. And Jacob, arising in the morning, took the stone, which he had laid under his head, and set it up for a title, pouring oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of the city Bethel, which before was called Luza. And he made a vow, saying: If God shall be with me, and shall keep me in the way by which I walk, and shall give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, And I shall return prosperously to my father's house: the Lord shall be my God:  And this stone, which I have set up for a title, shall be called the house of God:

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 91 (90):2b; V. 1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab

R.  (M)y God, in him will I trust.

V. He that dwelleth in the aid of the most High,

     shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob.

     He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge:

     my God, in him will I trust.

V.  For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters:

     and from the sharp word.

     He will overshadow thee with his shoulders:

     and under his wings thou shalt trust.

V.  Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:

     I will protect him because he hath known my name.

     He shall cry to me, and I will hear him:

     I am with him in tribulation, 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:18-26

As he was speaking these things unto them, behold a certain ruler came up, and adored him, saying: Lord, my daughter is even now dead; but come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus rising up followed him, with his disciples. And behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment. For she said within herself: If I shall touch only his garment, I shall be healed. But Jesus turning and seeing her, said: Be of good heart, daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus was come into the house of the ruler, and saw the minstrels and the multitude making a rout, He said: Give place, for the girl is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. And when the multitude was put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand. And the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that country.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Fourteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time (Year C)

First Reading:  Isaiah 66:10-14c

Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her. That you may suck, and be filled with the breasts of her consolations: that you may milk out, and flow with delights, from the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring upon her as it were a river of peace, and as an overflowing torrent the glory of the Gentiles, which you shall suck; you shall be carried at the breasts, and upon the knees they shall caress you. As one whom the mother caresseth, so will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. You shall see and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb, and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants,

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 66 (65):1; V. 1-3b, 4-5, 6-7a, 16, 20

R.  Shout with joy to God, all the earth,

V.  Shout with joy to God, all the earth,

     Sing ye a psalm to his name;

     give glory to his praise.

     Say unto God, How terrible are thy works, O Lord!

V.  Let all the earth adore thee, and sing to thee:

     let it sing a psalm to thy name.

     Come and see the works of God;

     who is terrible in his counsels over the sons of men.

 6 Who turneth the sea into dry land,

     in the river they shall pass on foot:

     there shall we rejoice in him.

     Who by his power ruleth for ever:

V.  Come and hear, all ye that fear God,

     and I will tell you what great things he hath done for my soul.

     Blessed be God, who hath not turned away

     my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Second Reading:  Galatians 6:14-18

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me; for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

And after these things the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come. And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest. Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house. And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.  But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say:  Even the very dust of your city that cleaveth to us, we wipe off against you. Yet know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand. I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom, than for that city. And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying: Lord, the devils also are subject to us in thy name. And he said to them: I saw Satan like lightning falling from heaven. Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you. But yet rejoice not in this, that spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice in this, that your names are written in heaven. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

Three Squared Times The Fourth Prime

If the title of my posts have some strange numerical or mathematical connotation, it usually means just one thing:  I have made it to another birthday.

That is more than enough reason to commemorate this day.

As I thank God for the gift of my life, I hopefully have become more appreciative of what that really means. I know I have cursed the darkness I have created in it more than I have lit candles from the Light of the World to show me the Way. I think that will probably be what the rest of my life's work--to allow Him to re-create me. I just need to learn to cooperate with His grace.

Be that as it may, I still look ahead to what lies before me. Maybe with more fear and trepidation than faith and trust, but that is a life-long lesson I am only beginning to learn. There is a lot more healing of psyche and soul that needs to be done, but it is all a part of reclaiming me. I am going forward; how boldly is a question for discussion.

But the most important thing is that I am here. And that I am, flawed and imperfect as my existence has been. But I am working on taking to heart a phrase from Revelation (21:5a) proclaimed on the Fifth Sunday of Easter. (I also have to admit the timing of some Scripture the past two years has been music to me and of great consolation.)

In Latin:  Et dixit qui sedebat in throno : Ecce nova facio omnia.

In English:  The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

May I embrace that promise.

So that at this time next year I can concoct another cryptic post title.