Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Genesis 3:1-8 & Mark 7:31-37
When Adam and Eve listened to the half-truth, the deceit, of the serpent, “You shall not die”, they became deaf to the perfect will and love of God –and indeed died to innocent harmony with the Lord God. Ingesting the deceit of the “knowledge of good and evil” they proceeded to deceive, and hide themselves. When I ingest primarily the deceits and half-truths of finite and century-sensitive human knowledge, I can become deaf to the perfect will and love of the Holy Spirit of God and hide myself from the simplicity of Christ’s salvation and intimacy with God. Preserve me from deceit, O Lord. Happy are those whose sins are forgiven. (Psalm 32:1) Soli ad gloriam dei
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Genesis 2:18-25 & Mark 7:24-30
God’s ways often take us into surprising places. Adam, longing for a helpmate fell asleep and awoke to a Woman, from his side, at his side. A Gentile woman longing for healing for her daughter approached a Jewish Rabbi who healed her little daughter and affirmed her faith in God. Am I open and flexible enough for God to lead me in his ways? Lord God, help me walk in your ways. Happy is the one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. (Psalm 128) Soli ad gloriam dei Mark 7:1-13
My heart can be turned to many customs or habits (or addictions), delights or sorrows, any ideology or fear, or even bitter resentments. Or I can soften my heart to be created anew, shaped and turned to do the will of God, the same will manifested in the life, death, and life again of Christ Jesus. Lord God, turn my heart to do your will. Turn my heart to do your will; teach me your law, O God. (Psalm 119) Soli ad gloriam dei Hebrews 12:1-4 & Mark 5: 21-43
Just as we ask God for help, so a leader of the synagogue asked Jesus to heal his sick –his beloved 12 year old daughter. Then, just as now, there were naysayers who ran to cast doubt and promulgate fear, calling to Jarius (and to us) to give into doubt and face the reality of death. But when I, like Jarius, stay close to Jesus and bring him into my ‘house’, I hear him say into my heart, as he raises Jarius’ daughter and the dying in my life, “Do not fear, only believe”. At Jesus’ side, the reality of death is chased away by the deep mystery of resurrection to new life. Christ Jesus, help me to not fear, only believe. Let us instead consider Jesus who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3) Soli ad gloriam dei Hebrews 2:10-18 & Luke 2:22-40
Holy Spirit, help me speak to everyone waiting for healing, about Jesus – God saves . . . Although everyone perhaps needs healing of one kind or another, not everyone is ‘waiting for healing’. Only when a person is aware that as a human being they are designed to become whole, unique and complete in God’s eyes, in heart, mind, soul and strength, will she or he begin to seek and to wait for healing. And to heal, what do [I] need to know above all else? Do I need to know all about trauma, or cancer, or supplements or the latest therapies? Each human being needs to know Jesus, ‘God Saves’ and that God, our Creator, has designed each human being and all of creation to be redeemed by the death and resurrection of his Son. Holy Spirit, help me speak to everyone waiting for healing, about Jesus – God saves. My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all peoples. (Luke 2:30, 31) 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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