Reading 1, Jeremiah 20:7-9, **You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; You were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. **Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; The word of the LORD has brought me derision and reproach all the day. **I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones… **I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.
***I, AM, On Fire with our Lord God. I “Feel” what Jeremiah is feeling. To be fair I haven’t always paid attention, the way I have these past 20 years, and even more so now that I’m terminally ill. True Love is like that though, ask any newly lovers. They want to shout their love from the roof tops… Or is that a bygone era? Well, I’m in tremendous love with God the Blessed Trinity and just like King David, I don’t care who knows… Wooo-Hooo!!
Responsorial Psalm: 63:2-9, My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek; For you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. **Thus, have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary, to see your power and your glory, for your kindness is a greater good than life itself; my lips shall glorify you. **Thus will I bless you while I live; Lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied. **With exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
**Thirst, I Thirst, Life & Death, quiet desperate yearning… Such is my Love for Thee, Lord.
Reading 2, Romans 12:1-2, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
Gospel, Matthew 16:21-27, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes. Then be killed and on the third day be raised up. **Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” **Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, But, whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. **For what profit would there be for one to gain the whole world, and forfeit his eternal life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
**For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory and then, he will repay all according to his conduct.”
**Both the second reading and the Gospel just drip of listening to God, to Christ, even if difficult or most undesired. **Picking up my Cross every day in obedience to Christ’s instruction is the new way that I must view my life. To remain JOY-filled, I must offer all pain & weakness for the blood and crucifix of Jesus my Lord. **Lift High the Cross, To Jesus Christ proclaim… JOY- JOY- JOY- Thank You for reading, contemplating & BEING with God. Mark Gates… aka: Bro. BLU.
