Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
John 13: 21–38 & Matt 26:14-26 Holy Spirit of Jesus, enkindle my faith to keep the Light of Christ in sign in the night… The darkness of a power outage reminds us of the darkness that enfolded the disciples as they left the Upper Room. Little knowing the significance of the Last Supper they had just experienced, Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter portray two common reactions to the redemptive sacrifice of Christ Jesus. Judas, the betrayer is like anyone of us who attends the Table of the Lord in Holy Communion, and then when darkness falls, relies entirely on his own plans, projects, and purposes to save himself/ herself. Peter on the other hand walked into the night pregnant with faith, “I will stay with you Lord”, and then, like Judas takes care of #1 by denying he ever had anything to do with Jesus. Both Judas and Peter stumbled and fell in the darkness, but the outcome for each was entirely and eternally divided; Judas condemned himself to despair out of touch with God’s mercy, and chose to dangle at the end of a short rope. But Peter, who had an undying, though small faith in his Master’s Mercy wept with repentance for his separation from his Master, and through his humility and honesty worked his way through the darkness of the crucifixion to be a present witness to his Resurrected Lord. Aside from Judas and Peter, there was a small group of other disciples whose faith in God did not waiver through all the darkness of Christ’ Passion and Death. Instead, John and Mother Mary, and two of her women friends walked with Jesus, keeping their focus fixed on his Love and his Truth. In the darkness of these day, will I stumble powerless in the night, forgetting the Mercy of Holy Communion with Jesus? Or will I choose to look to the Light no matter what the world throws out? Holy Spirit of Jesus, enkindle my faith to keep the Light of Christ in sight, in the night. I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:13,14) Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat form the chaff. But I have prayer for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers. Jesus to Peter at the Last Supper, as reported by Luke (22:31, 32) Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
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Matthew 26:14 – 27:66 When times are rough- like when your friend and Master is betrayed by a turn-coat fellow follower, and unjustly arrested, tortured and crucified – it is very easy to fall asleep, to ‘get away from it all’. Sleep can be a protective device built into our psyches, a kind of safety valve. But for the disciples of Jesus, in order to perceive, in order to witness and understand the passion of their “Teacher” in its entirety, and in order to stay faithful, they needed to stay awake and depend on their eyes of faith to see them through the stressful 24 hours of mock trials, shouting crowds and evil’s best violence that led up to the world-jarring Crucifixion of Jesus. Three times Jesus urged them to stay awake in the Garden of Gesthemene – to perceive the full mercy of God at work above and beyond, and yes, by means of, the overwhelming events of that pivotal day of the Salvation of God. On the surface, it all looked like terror and death, but really it was divine Mercy burbling up through human travesty into the Redemption of humanity, orchestrated by Father God and leading to the fullness of the Resurrection and Eternal Life. Will I stay awake and be attuned to God’s agenda of Mercy and Life throughout the terrors of my own life? Holy Spirit help me watch with Christ to see the salvation of God. I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:13,14) Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat form the chaff. But I have prayer for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when y turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers. Jesus to Peter at the Last Supper, as reported by Luke (22:31, 32) As we head into Holy Week, listen to St. Patrick’s Breastplate: https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tVP1zc0zDKuyMgqqCgxYPSSLS5RKEgsKcpMzlYvVkgqSk0sLinISSxJVciozM0DAGicEDw&q=st+patrick%27s+breastplate+hymn&rlz=1C1SQJL_enCA890CA891&oq=St+Patrick%27s+Breas&aqs=chrome.1.0i131i433i512j46i512j0i512j69i57j0i512l6.8566j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:760ce1e9,vid:dWdZ13cH5lU Soli ad gloriam Dei 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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