Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Psalm 51 & Matthew 6:1-18
During the challenges of crossing the desert Moses laid it out for the Israelites: “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity... Choose life so that you may live, loving God, obeying him, and holding fast to him.” The same choices faces you and me today. By my thoughts, words and actions, what am I choosing today, life or death, blessing or adversity? Holy Spirit guide me to choose life and blessing over death and adversity. Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, but delight in the ways of the Lord. (Psalm 1) Soli ad gloriam dei
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Ash Wednesday
Psalm 51 & Matthew 6:1-18 For generations humankind has been turning back to God for healing, for re-creation. Through all the pushes and pulls of daily life, the ‘operating system’ that runs heart, mind, soul and strength needs cleaning up and ‘de-fragmenting’. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, the forty days of Lent provide a time of maintenance and restoration, a time of healing and re-creation, a time of renewal and righting that which is askew. It is then that I turn myself into the repair shop to allow the Lord to ‘defragment my hard-drive’. Christ Jesus, put a new and a right spirit within me. Create in me a clean heart, O God. (Psalm 51:5) Soli ad gloriam dei Genesis 6:5-10 & Mark 8:14-21
Even an old loaf of bread left in the warmth and humidity of the disciples’ boat became an object lesson for Jesus. Doubtlessly smelling the acrid alcohol scent of over-fermented yeast bread, Jesus strongly warned his disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod” – that which inebriates us into the stupor of our own self-centred ideologies and passions. This same sin, that is, separation from our identity in God, was the cause of the Lord’s anger towards the people of Noah’s time as well. Holy Spirit, help me, like Jesus, and Noah, and all the saints, live to find favour, not in the world and the flesh, but in the sight of the Lord. Turn my heart to do your will; teach me your law, O God. (Psalm 119) Soli ad gloriam dei 1 Corinthians 10:31 – 11:1
Jesus, as the eldest brother of our ‘family’, carved out for us the way to live in this world, in each of our various roles. Like Jesus, we are to be intimately connected at all times with God, our Father; use lightly the resources of land, sea and sky; and be merciful to every other human being, applying truth in love and love in truth. At any time it is helpful to pause and ask Jesus, the wisest of our family, what he would do, or say, or think given the present circumstances. Christ Jesus, let me imitate you, help me be like you. Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. (Psalm 90) Soli ad gloriam dei Mark 8, 1-10
When faced with 4, 000 hungry people, the disciples were ready to give up, yet Jesus urged them to take stock of what they did have. The disciples found seven loaves of bread and a few small fish and offered these to their Master. This offering of their all, no matter that it seemed too small, when blessed, broken and distributed at the hand of Christ Jesus became not only sufficient but plenteous. Even within the affluence of North American society there are similar pressing hungers –for food and shelter, for employment and dignity, for belonging and joy. Christ Jesus, help me find –help us find- what I/we have and offer it up to you. Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. (Psalm 90) 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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