The Fires of Mercy

Reading IWisdom 3:1-9The souls of the just are in the hand of God,and no torment shall touch them.They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;and their passing away was thought an afflictionand their going forth from us, utter destruction.But they are in peace.For if before men, indeed, they be punished,yet is their hope full of immortality;chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,because God tried themand found them worthy of himself.As gold in the furnace, he proved them,and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.In the time of their visitation they shall shine,and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,and the Lord shall be their King forever.Those who trust in him shall understand truth,and the faithful shall abide with him in love:because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,and his care is with his elect.Responsorial PsalmPsalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.or:R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose;beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.or:R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.He guides me in right pathsfor his name’s sake.Even though I walk in the dark valleyI fear no evil; for you are at my sidewith your rod and your staffthat give me courage.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.or:R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.or:R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;and I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.or:R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.Reading IIRomans 6:3-9Brothers and sisters:Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.For a dead person has been absolved from sin.If, then, we have died with Christ,we believe that we shall also live with him.We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;death no longer has power over him.AlleluiaMatthew 25:34R. Alleluia, alleluia.Come, you who are blessed by my Father;inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.R. Alleluia, alleluia.GospelJohn 6:37-40Jesus said to the crowds:“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,because I came down from heaven not to do my own willbut the will of the one who sent me.And this is the will of the one who sent me,that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,but that I should raise it on the last day.For this is the will of my Father,that everyone who sees the Son and believes in himmay have eternal life,and I shall raise him on the last day.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aarona851065.substack.com