Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Hebrews 2:5-12 & Mark 1:21-28
When a man with an ‘unclean spirit’ yelled out at Jesus, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? I know who you are, the Holy One of God!”, our Lord dealt swiftly with the Accuser and told him to be silent and come out of the man. Today, when they hear the story of Jesus, like the man with the unclean spirit, many individuals recognize him as someone special and add in their hearts that same phrase, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus of Nazareth?’ Contrast this reaction with true followers of Christ Jesus, who ask instead, “Where do you live?” and embrace Christ as their Teacher and Lord, allowing him to sanctify them, and bring them to glory. Will I react to Jesus ‘interference’ in my life, or will I welcome his presence within me? Come, Christ Jesus, come into my life and sanctify me. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters... (Hebrews 1:11) A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, But a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul. Author Unknown www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
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Mark 1:14-20 The Good News this new year, and every Year of Grace since the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, is that forgiveness and healing are possible, life lives beyond death, and that love trumps fear. When I turn my back on God, whether in January or December, whether for one hour or twenty four, and choose the mediocre news of present society, it is hard to comprehend the depths of the unique, whole and complete design of my life. That is when materialism, comfort contracts, and endless race for success offered by this present civilization can seem to have a strangle-hold on me. But when I ‘repent’ (from the Latin to balance out ) and choose to embrace the Good News of reconciliation with God and the victory of love through life, brokered by Christ Jesus, then I can smile into the face of God –and find the mercy I am designed to receive. When will I turn more fully to God in repentance so that I can live into the Good News of grace? Christ Jesus, help me repent and live into the Good News. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:3) A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, But a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul Author Unknown www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Acts 10:34-38 & Luke 3:15-22 Without the presence of Christ Jesus, the devil can have a field day in the world, striking the hearts and minds of God’s beloved sons and daughters with his arrows of passive deceits and paralyzing fears. But as much as I turn to Him, the presence of Christ Jesus transforms my passions into divine patience, deceits wither in the face of vibrant truths, paralysis gives way to lively movement and growth, and fears are dissipated by love. Through my baptism and continuing conversion (or turning), Christ continues to release me and all those baptized with faith in his saving grace from all oppression by the devil. Will I, as a baptized Christian, bear witness to all the good Jesus does by releasing and healing us from the oppression of the devil? Christ Jesus, release me from all oppression by the devil, for God is with you. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:3) A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, But a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul. Author Unknown www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei 1 John 4:18 - 5:4 Why be soft-hearted and fool-hardy by forgiving and taking time to be kind to others, when taking control of other people and situations leads to so much more personal empowerment and gain? Why? Because God is love and has designed us as his beloved daughters and sons to be his co-creators, co-healers and cultivators of the fruits of his Holy Spirit within and throughout all of humanity. Will I live my life my way or God’s way, using love or being love to others? Holy Spirit help me love others as God is love. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. (Psalm 118:26) “Love doesn't mean doing extraordinary or heroic things. It means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness.” ― Jean Vanier, Community and Growth www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei 1 John 4:11-18 Human instinct would have us fear first and love later. But Jesus (and St. John) showed us a better way to live –to love first as well as lastingly. When I fear abandonment and the deceits of Satan before I love, I am forced into a prison of godless-ness, marked by judgement, resentments and despair and holiness or whole-i-ness seems but a dream. But if I choose to find Christ’s way to love others despite their entanglements with evil, God can freely abide in me, and I can freely abide in him. Today will I react to people and events out of fear or with (God’s) love? Holy Spirit, help me engage not fear but love. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. (1John 4:11) Life is love, enjoy it. Life is mystery, know it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. St. Mother Teresa of Kalcutta www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei |
AuthorBeverly Illauq lives in Kemptville, Ontario, where she greets each morning by seeking the Gospel Mystery of the Day - the Word of the Lord for direct and practical application to the specific challenges & joys of the day. Archives
March 2024
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