Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Hebrews 10:19-25 When hope wavers, we human beings often descend into our addictions, to numb the pain of deep grief and disappointment, to freeze the fires of rage and revenge, or to deaden the darkness of anxiety or despair. The good news is that hope is more of a choice than a feeling. As choice, hope is founded in a decision to face the truth and love of God with a fully engaged heart and mind, no matter what lies to the contrary the enemy whispers into our ears or flicks by our sight. As much as I ruminate on the imbalances and interruptions, discomforts and dissipations that litter my past, that much, my hope wavers, and I am tempted to curl up in a corner and die. But as much as I notice and study God’s goodness and provision, woven into the tapestry of my life experiences to date, I realize that hope in God’s mercy is inextinguishable and ever life-giving when it is accompanied by faith and love. Will I choose to sink into the oblivion of addictions of any kind, or choose, like Jesus, to hope beyond every wind of change in this earthly life? Holy Spirit of God, help me be unwavering in hope. They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek him. (Psalm 24:5,6) Be doers of the Word and not hearers only. St. James, the Apostle Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
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Mark 4:1-20 The Words of God – both Jesus, as the Word, and the teachings he proclaimed – all are meant to become so integrated into human lives that they ‘bear good and plentiful fruit’. When I casually hear the Words of God, letting them come and go like so much information, they can’t take root in my life and grow into my thoughts, words and deeds. But when I actively listen to, and receive – and plant deep, cover up, expose to the Sun of righteousness, and watch over - the Words of God, then I open my heart, mind, soul and even my body to receive them. Then they become for me special and treasured seed for my life’s journey to be carefully cultivated as I walk and talk my way through my days and ways. It is then that the fruitfulness that is built into the ‘DNA’ of each Word of God is able to germinate and grow into my own being and touch the world around me with life-giving Love. Will I welcome the Words of God into my life so I might bear abundant and Good fruit of love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, faithfulness and self-control? Holy Spirit of God, help me hear, receive and grow to fruition your Words in my life... . Make me to know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me. For you are the God of my salvation. (Psalm 25:1,2) Be doers of the Word and not hearers only. St. James, the Apostle Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca 2 Timothy 1:1-8 My office is chilly; I shiver. Oh no! I forgot to plug in the heater yet again. Just as a heater is designed to be plugged in to function well, so I am designed to function well by being connected into the Holy Spirit of God. St. Paul encouraged his trainee, Timothy, to rekindle (a.k.a plug into) “the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.” After a life-time of dynamic missions and teaching, culminating in writing twelve letters that continue to inspire and instruct millions of Christians around the world today, Paul told his student the secret of his liveliness – the spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline that was in Christ Jesus. Although power is also a component of the spirit of the world, the power that was in Christ Jesus was founded not in control or triumph over others, but rather in the deep understanding of who he was in God’s eyes. The Love of the Spirit of Christ is also different from the ‘love’ that gives license to passions and projects that often lead to the harm of self of others. The Love of Christ is unconditional, and good for all concerned. And the self-discipline Paul preached was the holy occupation of constantly choosing thoughts, words and actions that give a glimpse of the glory of God, the Holy Father of our family. Will I ‘plug in’ my life to the Holy Spirit of God so that my life might be warmed up by God’s love and regulated by his commandments, that I might be transformed into the likeness of Christ Jesus, enlivening the world by God’s Mercy? Christ Jesus, help me live into your spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. . Ascribe to the Lord, o families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. (Psalm 96:7) As you walk through the valley of the unknown, you will find the footprints of Jesus both in front of you and beside you. Charles Stanley Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Mark 1:14-29 To follow Jesus, Peter and Andrew left their nets behind, and James and John left behind not only their nets but their father and their family business as well. As for the disciples of old, Jesus’ calls to us often to follow him in the midst of what we consider ‘our work’ –until he compels us to follow him on journeys in and amongst people and situations that are perhaps unfamiliar to us, but where he needs to go, with our help. After leaving all to follow their Master, Peter and Andrew took up their nets again from time to time to provide fish for Jesus and his followers, or for a much needed break from the crowds – but fishing for men became their primary vocation. James and John remained the “Sons of Thunder’, the sons of Zebedee, but became primarily committed members of God’s family helping others to find, like they had, an identity and life-style rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus, the Son of God who was the Son of Man. When Jesus calls me to leave my ‘work’ for my vocation, and to leave behind my family business for the mercy-business of Father God, will I be able and ready to leave behind my ‘nets’ and my relatives? Holy Spirit of God, teach me what to leave behind. . Make me to know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me. For you are the God of my salvation. (Psalm 25:1,2) As you walk through the valley of the unknown, you will find the footprints of Jesus both in front of you and beside you. Charles Stanley Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Mark 3: 13-19 Being with Jesus is not a passive synchronicity, but an active choice. Although I know, as a disciple of Jesus, that He promised to be with us to the end of the world, it is clear from this reading that Jesus chose for his disciples men who would ‘be with him’ through thick and thin and eventually through death and resurrection. If I am truly committed to being a disciple, I, too, will seek to be with Jesus. St. Mark’s Gospel is direct and to the point: Jesus appointed twelve men “whom he wanted…to be with him, to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons.” It was because the fishermen, the tax collector, the common folk who became the Disciples of Jesus were with Jesus, that they learned what to do - to proclaim the message, and cast our demons, and take a leadership role in the Church as Jesus’ Apostles for all time. Today, followers of Jesus are encouraged to think, ‘What would Jesus do?’ to make good choices. Perhaps we also need to ask ourselves, ‘Where is Jesus’?, and then to look for Him. When I find Jesus in any relationship, any event, or circumstances of any kind, I need to go and be with him. Then I will find out what he is doing – and what I am to do. Today, will I look for Jesus in every part of my life, and then go to be with him, to learn from him how to be his disciple? Holy Spirit of God, show me where Jesus is in my life and give me the courage to go and be with him. . Righteousness will go before him and make a path for his steps. (Psalm 85) As you walk through the valley of the unknown, you will find the footprints of Jesus both in front of you and beside you. Charles Stanley Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca |
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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