Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Mark 8:14-21 The disciples thought too small. They had just witnessed Jesus feeding first 5000, then 4000 men, women and children, with baskets and baskets of leftovers each time. Yet they were worried that Jesus was chastising them for bringing only one loaf of bread for the 12 of them in the boat, because it ‘wouldn’t be enough’. No wonder Jesus became frustrated with their lack of trust in Him to provide for their needs beyond their own provision. In my own life, I like the disciples have witnessed extraordinary provision – of food, money, clothing, and the right person at the right time, not to mention inner healing, peaceful resolutions to complex conflicts and life in the Spirit in the midst of a global pandemic. And yet like the disciples I too, so often, agonize over my own failings and focus on what I don’t have, forgetting Who it is who walks beside me. All too often I fail to understand that God is able to provide so much more than I need or can even imagine. Will I live in the darkness of my own anxiety and shame, or in the light of trust in God’s mercy and provision? Holy Spirit, help me to continually trust in your Grace and provision. When the cares of my soul are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94: 19) Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing away. God never changes. St. Teresa of Avila Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
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Mark 6:17, 20 -26 We arrive in this world naked, and naked we return to God our Father at the end of our lives. In essence each of us human beings is ‘impoverished’, that is ‘poor’, from the beginning to the end of our lives. Yes! We are each born into families with parents who, to the best of their ability, clothe us, and teach us language and other skills to help us along our life’s journey. The world and the flesh would have us think that any one of us can be ‘rich’ in fame, fortune and success, if we only try hard enough and are ‘lucky’. A second message we privileged people are given is that If you need it and you want it enough, then you can get it! But the best the world has to offer in terms of comfort, fame and wealth are precarious at best and death-dealing at worst. With his teachings Jesus brings us back to the reality of God’s ways and the true riches that satisfy the human spirit: “Blessed are the poor – the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs!” When I concentrate on my right to be rich and comfortable in this world, I spend my talents, time, treasure and energy doing what I can do for myself, and dealing with false currencies of fear, greed and so called securities. But when I relax into my own innate poverty, and depend on the guidance, the riches, and the mercy of God to give me what I need in due season - and in particular a heart, mind, soul and strength ready to be freely spent for the love of God and others - then, indeed, I do inherit the kingdom of God here on earth and all earthly wealth pales by comparison. This is how all my deep hungers of spirit can be fulfilled, how I can laugh despite the sorrows that wash over my life, and find inclusion with the company of Saints in the family of God, when I am hated, excluded, reviled and defamed by others who have turned away from the face of their Creator. Indeed, embracing my own intrinsic poverty, along with spiritual chastity and obedience to God’s ways of love, become the high way to the kingdom of God. Will I accept my own poverty and handle all riches of this world as lightly as possible, so that I find entry into the kingdom of heaven? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me live into my poverty. Blessed in the man … whose delight is in the law of the Lord. (Psalm 1: 1-3) The things that we love tell us what we are. St. Mother Teresa Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Mark 7, 14-23 If we are what we eat, then it seems that we do what we ‘eat’ in our hearts, that is what we contemplate. Jesus tells us that all sins and abominations of human character - his list of 12 undeniably harmful and anti-social behaviors - come from evil human intentions that have been allowed to take over our hearts. King Solomon experienced this. Although he had been gifted by God with wisdom and great riches of all kinds, under pressure from his ungodly wives he chose to ‘burn incense’, that is to pray, to idols and foreign gods that had nothing to do with the life and breath that God had given him. As a result he sacrificed to these gods, giving over more and more of his own power and substance to evil, false and ungodly – and arguably inhuman – practices, such as those listed by our Lord. Today in this age of Grace brokered by Christ Jesus, we still have the choices of Solomon before us. We (I) will become what we (I) eat! And my heart will do, and my lips speak, what I contemplate! Will I ‘burn incense’ , that is pray and contemplate, in my heart the love and the mercy of God, or will I turn my heart over to thoughts of vengeance, power, possessions and self-centered plans dictated by the gods of our present day society? Will I expend my time, treasure, talent and strength to follow these false gods, or will I follow in word and deed the One who is true, the Living, Loving Redeemer of humankind? Holy Spirit of Christ, help me clean up my heart to follow only You. Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times. (Psalm 106:3) The things that we love tell us what we are. St. Mother Teresa Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Mark 6:7-31 As Jesus sent out his disciples two by two to proclaim the Good News, heal the sick and release the captives he gave them one thing –simply the authority over evil spirits. Knowing that each disciple carried within him a wealth of scripture burned into his heart and mind, he then ordered them to take only one thing with them – not a bag, no food, not even a change of clothes – no holy oil, no communion vessels, not a “Guidebook for Ministry” – just a staff . Like Jesus’ contemporaries, the men in my Inuit family know the value of a staff. They carry with them a niksiq, a gaff with a large hook on the end, that accompanies them on every hunting trip or journey across the land. It acts not only as a support when walking, but also as a multi-purpose tool, and a weapon when needed. A staff gives one courage and strength beyond one’s own physical frame. Jesus then advised his disciples to wear sandals, and sent them on their way. For Jesus’ disciples and for us, as we too carry out His ministry on earth, with scripture written on our hearts and minds, our staff of faithful courage and strength at hand, and sandals of peace on our feet (from which the dust and sand of antipathy can be easily shaken), are all we need to go and minister in the name of Christ Jesus to anyone we encounter. Do I have a store of scripture in my heart and mind sufficient to prepare me for ministry? Will I accept Jesus’ authority over unclean spirits? Will I take a staff of righteousness and discipline in my hand, and deliberately put sandals of peaceful connections on my feet? Will I set out to minister to others in Jesus’ name? Holy Spirit help me put on sandals of peace, and journey with a staff of faithful courage and strength. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. (I Chronicles 29:12b) The things that we love tell us what we are. St. Mother Teresa Soli ad gloriam 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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