2 Corinthians 5:17-21
 
In our journey through Lent, forgiveness and reconciliation are two gifts in our lives, to be both received and passed on.  Unfortunately, worldly laws and layers of hierarchy encourage us to not only notice, but count and record the trespasses of others –individuals, institutions, and governments - and spend large amounts of money on lawyers to help us do this! In so recycling and tracking the faults of others, we find ourselves chained by resentments and bitterness, far from the life of love Jesus promises us.  But when we live into our heritage of grace as followers of Christ Jesus, as St. Paul reminds us, “there is a new creation; everything old has passed away, see, everything has become new!  All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” As I bring to mind Jesus’ words from the cross, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and live into my ministry of reconciliation, I will stop counting the trespasses of others against them, and allow all things, including my bruised soul and troublesome relationships, to become new. Will I enter fully into the passion of Christ by releasing my own sins, and the trespasses of others against me? Will I let the old pass away and live into the new creation of God? Holy Spirit of God, help me not count the sins of others against them.
 
This poor one called, and the Lord heard, and saved that person from every trouble.  (Psalm 34:6)
 
If we are to grow in love, the prisons of our egoism must be unlocked. This implies suffering, constant effort and repeated choices.” 
― Jean Vanier, Community And Growth                                                                
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Hosea 14:1-9

 
When I stumble along the way, be it from distraction, from unfamiliarity with the path I am travelling, from inebriation or physical infirmity, I can become bruised and sore and may even lose my ‘way home’.  Similarly I can stumble spiritually in God’s ways of truth and love due to ‘sin’, that is distraction with the cares and worries of life, a disconnect with the ways of God, inebriation with the goods of this world, or any kind of spiritual infirmity. As much as I stumble along the journey of life I can end up bruised in heart and soul, and perhaps even body, and lose my way, arriving ‘home’ quite late –or not at all. But when I walk in God’s ways, with Christ Jesus as my guide, bruises and sores are minimal and I am always able to ‘see’ the way forward.  How much better it is to become familiar with God’s ways, through prayer, the study of scriptures, self discipline and spiritual exercise and then mindfully take up the journey of life walking in the footsteps of Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus, help me walk, not stumble, in your ways.  
 
Let my steps be guided by your promise; may evil never rule me. (Psalm 118:133)
 
If God sends us on stony paths, he provides strong shoes.
Corrie Ten Boom                                                                                                   
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Jeremiah 7:23-28
 
God’s commandments provide two important elements of life: Instruction on how our to make our human lives work most efficiently and most fruitfully, and secondly, how the whys and wherefores of God’s protection policy. Too often I, like the Israelites living before Christ Jesus was born into the world,  try to find ‘the path of life’ on my own, trying this strategy and that trend, or this new discovery and that old custom.  When I don’t take time to dig into sacred scripture or listen for God’s voice by prayer, I so easily dismiss ‘the commandments of God’, and set up my own set of commands in reaction to the way of my life.  God calls us through the prophets, both ancient and modern, to ‘Obey my voice’, and ‘to walk only (exclusively) in the way I command you... so that it may be well with you.’  It is most useful to not dismiss, but consider God’s commandments of love.  It is essential that I do not choose jsut any one of the paths in front of me, but go  in the way God has designed for me and my life. Then, as I align myself more with the divine design of my existence, I can be sure of God’s protection so that it might be well with me. What holy commands are the focus of the Holy Spirit’s teaching today?  Holy Spirit of God, help me walk only in the way you command me, so that it may be well with me. 
 
Let my steps be guided by your promise; may evil never rule me. (Psalm 118:133)
 
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.  Amen.
Saint Augustine of Hippo  
 
To view St. Padre Pio’s Five Point Rule of Life see:
http://www.leadustoheaven.com/blogtoheaven/5rulesforspiritualgrowthpadrepio 
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Matthew 5:17-19
 
God’s law can be summed up with one word:  Love. As much as I love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength, and love others as myself, I do the laws of God, and my life teaches them to others. On the other hand, as much as I struggle to put in place my own plans and projects, or spend my time grasping and amassing wealth, success and fame, and my energy to take vengeance and justice into my own hands, then I am not doing the laws of God. Worse still, by my example, I am teaching others to turn away from God as well. If I am truly a follower of Jesus, at each moment of everyday, in each conversation, each task at hand, I am called to  mindfully choose the way of love, in the magnitude and order  of the love of Christ Jesus.  How will I do and teach love today?  Holy Spirit of God, help me do your laws and teach them through my life.   
 
Let my steps be guided by your promise; may evil never rule me. (Psalm 118:133)
 
Where there is no love, there is no God.
Saint Padre Pio
 
To view St. Padre Pio’s Five Point Rule of Life see:
http://www.leadustoheaven.com/blogtoheaven/5rulesforspiritualgrowthpadrepio 
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Matthew 18:21-35
 
God’s forgiveness of my sins is thorough; no shred of bitterness and acrimony is meant to be left in my heart.  But if I choose to ignore areas of rot and decay in my heart, mind and soul through pride or self-centredness when I enter into the sacrament of Reconciliation, then the ‘garbage’ of judgement, complaint and resentment within continue to poison my soul. Then when I am out and about in the marketplace of life and I, like the forgiven servant in Jesus’ story, meet someone who ‘owes me’ I will so easily judge him or her and extract my ‘pound of flesh’ –whether by stinging words, ongoing reference to his/her faults, or lateral violence.  Before whom, or what, do I need to bow in a beggar’s humility, and forgive from my heart? Holy Spirit of God help me!  Help me forgive others from my heart. 
 
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. (Psalm 25:9)
 
Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.
D.T. Niles                                                                                                                 
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei