The Lord Speaks to Us Daily in His Word

Delight in today's first Scripture reading in Mass:

Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.’ The word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘Go from here and turn eastwards, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.’ 

"So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi." (I Kings 7:1-6)
 
See how the Living Word of God proves to let God choose and guide us in all matters temporal and spiritual?  Simply follow as God wills and allows.  Let Him choose all.  Do not resist Him.

Cherish the Gospel reading for today, the Beatitudes of Matthew 5:1-12:

"‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'"


See how Jesus tells us to rejoice in such slights?   They are but temporal silliness.  The last of these "blessings" from the lips of Jesus reminds in a current, lived way, to embrace with Christ the cross when others detract, even if they do so indirectly or by insinuation.  Think on Him and love all His creatures and creation.  

The effort and reward worthy of our consideration is that of union with Christ on earth as it is Heaven.  Let the barbs of now be but little crosses that in Heaven will be woven as blessed crowns.  Wear them today as if the future beauties they shall be.

Marvel at this, from The Catechism of the Catholic Church:

901 "Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are marvelously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the Spirit may be produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit - indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born - all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  In the celebration of the Eucharist these may most fittingly be offered to the Father along with the body of the Lord. And so, worshiping everywhere by their holy actions, the laity consecrate the world itself to God, everywhere offering worship by the holiness of their lives."

 Consider the genesis of us all, as souls.  No matter our identifiable callings, our vocations, and our missions in this life, together we all are dedicated to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit:

the Holy Father, Cardinals, Bishops, priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, consecrated virgins and hermits, married, single, children, adults.  Let us each and all worship everywhere--everywhere offering worship by the holiness of our lives. 

Parsing our defined and divine calls can help grow in our individual, God-chosen specialties and assignments--including vocations--to live out holy actions.  But uniting through our connectedness by our love of Christ, and in all ways worshiping with our words and actions, can elevate us to His loving embrace.  As His children, we then may be seated as on a throne, simply, humbly, upon His lap.  
 
"O Lord, my eyes are not haughty nor my heart proud.  I do not seek after things to great for me nor things too sublime.  Nay, rather, like a weaned child, like a weaned child on his mother's lap, so is my soul within me.  O people [sic], hope in the Lord both now and forever!" (Psalm 131).

This is our divine affiliation through, with and in Him, in His Real Presence, and with one another.