Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Ezekiel 47:1-12 As a ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’, it is possible that the river of life and of healing, described by Ezekiel from his vision, can figuratively flow from my being as it did from the ancient temple of the Jews. In Ezekiel’s vision, a small stream of water trickles out from under the sanctuary to become a full river of water gradually gaining volume and depth as it finds it way on the landscape. Similarly, when I stay still and surrender my heart, mind, soul and strength to the Holy Spirit at work in and through me, a small trickle of holiness can gain amplitude as it flows out from me and out into the world, to become a torrent of life and healing. As I wait and watch, I notice that people and relationships begin to take on new life, as much as I allow the Spirit of holiness – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – to flow out to from me by word and deed. Leaves of joyful liveliness grow where there was only survival before; the stagnant waters of resentment are freshened by forgiveness and mercy; many vestiges of life-giving activity and care-giving begin to reveal themselves; and I notice that the lives of others are beginning to produce the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit as well. Sometimes I even find myself ‘swimming in gratitude’ along with others who are also drawn into the Holy Spirit’s flow of life and of healing. Will I stay still and surrender my being to the Spirit’s river of life and healing that can flow out of my being? Holy Spirit of God, let your river of life and healing flow out from me into the world. All who are thirsty, come to the waters, says the Lord. Though you have no money, come and drink with joy. (Isaiah 55:) Prayer is a heart to heart conversation with the One whose love I am sure of. St. Theresa of Avila See Episode (#4), Seven Prinicples of Prayer in the series Catching Fire, Becoming Flame by Fr. Albert Hasse, OFM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf8Rzd6DqLI Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
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Luke 11:14-23 In any congregation two kinds of people will gather. There will be those who, like the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable, ‘trust in themselves that [they are] righteous and regard others with contempt’, and those who, like the tax collector, trust – and know, and converse with - God as their Father. In my own prayer life, I am at times a Pharisee and at times a Tax Collector. When I trust in my own powers and regard others with a judging eye and a self-inflated heart I, like the Pharisee, become filled with my own “I am(s)...” and cannot enter into the loving presence of the “Great I Am”. Although I might go through ritual actions there seems to be no substance to my prayers, and I will leave the sanctuary unchanged, ‘unjustified’ as Jesus says. But when I, like the tax collector, open my heart and turn to God, the lover of my soul, to enter into a dialogue of forgiveness with him, then I find that I am loved and that in being loved am inwardly healed by the Creator of my being. Then, like the tax collector, I walk out of synagogue or church in a prayer-full place of right relationship with God and others. Will I wrap myself up in my own self-righteous perceptions, or will I bare my soul to God to be embraced by his love and mercy? God, be merciful to me, a sinner! Holy Spirit of God, help me trust, not in myself, but in You. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51: 2) Prayer is a heart to heart conversation with Him whose love I am confident of. St. Theresa of Avila See Episode (#4), Seven Prinicples of Prayer in the series Catching Fire, Becoming Flame by Fr. Albert Hasse, OFM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf8Rzd6DqLI Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Luke 11:14-23 ‘Divide and conquer’ has been the mantra of the forces of power and control for millennia. As Jesus pointed out, a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. It doesn’t work. Unfortunately the powers of wealth and prestige in order to promote their own agendas, do always divide kingdoms, communities, work places, families and indeed individuals in their hearts. Humanity is designed by God for unity and solidarity, to solve problems together, and to work together to bring about the common good of purity and purpose. Human actions and conversations need to be, more than anything else, rooted and grounded in the holiness – the whole-ness – of God’s ‘kingdom’, that embraces all Truth in love. As much as I allow pride, envy, greed, etcetera to dictate my time, treasure and talents, I will promote the agendas of power and prestige, and will create divisions between others driving human kind from God. As much as I embrace the truth and do – and say - things with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, kindness, generosity and self-control I gather, with Jesus, the hearts, minds and souls of others into the arms of God, into his kingdom. Will I scatter people, or gather others into God’s way of love and truth? Holy Spirit, help me gather, not scatter. O that today you would listen to His voice! (Psalm 95) Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer [disengages] anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit and raises a person to heaven. St. Ephrem Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Daniel 3:25-43 What to do when by circumstances or by the consternation of others I am thrust into the fire. It is difficult with the flames of judgement licking at my integrity and the acrid smoke of deceits and dark directives filling my nostrils and choking all that is good and righteous, to know what to do. Azariah whose name means “God has helped”, demonstrates what you and I can do when it seems that our lives are being consumed by evil: we can stand still, and pray. Like Azariah, I can stand still, instead of fleeing, fighting, freezing or submitting to the ‘heat’ of the day. Then I can pray, as Azariah did – by stating the truth of God’s mercy and love for his people, next by recounting the facts of the situation we are in, and finally by summoning a contrite heart and a humble spirit in order to unreservedly follow God’s will and God’s way with all my heart. Azariah, the Jewish young man in exile in Babylon, along with two of his friends was delivered from the fiery furnace alive and well, not even smelling of smoke. I too can be delivered from the fire as a child of God, and bring glory and honour to my Father’s Name. When I find myself “thrust into the fire” will I panic, or will I stand still and pray? Holy Spirit, help me stand still in the fire and pray. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. (Psalm 25:2) Holiness is a life-long process it is not a destination. It takes time and commitment. … There is no spiritual microwave oven. To become a saint you have to jump into the crockpot of life. Fr. Albert Hasse, OFM, in Episode #1 of Catching Fire, Becoming Flame See The Examen episode (#3) in the series Catching Fire, Becoming Flame by Fr. Albert Hasse, OFM For a prayer process that helps us to find God’s power and wisdom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf8Rzd6DqLI Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 & 2 Kings 5:1-15 Without a doubt, God’s power and wisdom are very different from mine! Without my Father’s influence, I often forge ahead on my own steam, thinking, saying and doing what I think is best in any given moment, any given relationship – and often end up running aground on the shoals of pride, envy, or resentment, and etcetera. Naaman, a Syrian noble afflicted with leprosy thought he knew what power was, how to apply it, and how to benefit from it. In his own ‘wisdom’ he lashed out at Elisha’s message to wash in the Jordan seven time, using his own experiences and knowledge to as his reference point for diminishment, ridicule and rage. But a Hebrew servant, who was used to God’s surprises and disguises, gently encouraged him to look beyond his own power grid and trust the Living God’s omnipotence. Naaman was healed and found out who God is, and who he was in God’s sight. Will I cling to my own perceived powers and minimal wisdom, or will I seek God’s power and God’s wisdom to guide me through my life’s journey, to guide my being? Christ Jesus, help mem embrace God’s power and wisdom. O send your light and your truth; let them lead me. (Psalm 43:3) Holiness is a life-long process it is not a destination. It takes time and commitment. … There is no spiritual microwave oven. To become a saint you have to jump into the crockpot of life. Fr. Albert Hasse, OFM, in Episode #1 of Catching Fire, Becoming Flame See The Examen episode (#3) in the series Catching Fire, Becoming Flame by Fr. Albert Hasse, OFM For a prayer process that helps us to find God’s power and wisdom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf8Rzd6DqLI 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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