Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
James 5:9-12
Just as the sun is always with us, whether it is cloudy or clear, whether night or day, so God’s compassion and mercy do always surround us and infuse us if we will only recognize it! In the middle of the night of suffering, I can so easily lose sight of this eternal truth, particularly when clouds of sin or doubt move in, but that does not change the reality of divine mercy. And when I do recognize this grace of God’s love for humanity, and for my own soul, I sense the return of abundant life in every fibre of my being. Holy Spirit of God, help me, help my family, all those around me, recognize your compassion and mercy. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget his benefits. (Psalm 103: 2 ) Darkness can only be scattered by light, hatred can only be conquered by love. St. John Paul II oli gloriam dei .
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James 4:1-10
As James the Elder indicates in his letter to the early Christians, so many kinds of garbage can build up in human hearts as a result of journeying through life. While it takes the Holy Spirit to create a new heart within me, I need to take the responsibility for taking care of my own heart - tossing out the garbage, washing away the filth, and incensing my heart with prayers and praises to God. Only then will I be able to fully receive the mercy of God and let it flow through me to others. How do I need to purify my heart today? Perhaps it is time to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation or to take time to fast and pray before the Lord. Christ Jesus, help me purify my heart to love only as you do. Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you. (Psalm 55) Jesus cannot give himself to us unless we welcome him into our hearts. Jean Vanier in The Scandal of Service: Jesus Washes Our Feet Soli gloriam dei . Psalm 49
Years ago when Christ Jesus was obedient to death by torture and crucifixion and rose from the dead, he ransomed human souls from all that is evil. Today I need only return Jesus’ ransoming embrace, by opening my heart to God in repentance and hope, to receive this mercy, this ransom of my soul from all evil that has touched it. Then I am able to stand, walk and listen in Jesus’ presence to my soul’s content. Christ Jesus, ransom my soul from all evil and receive me into your presence. Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. (mark 9:50) Jesus cannot give himself to us unless we welcome him into our hearts. Jean Vanier in The Scandal of Service: Jesus Washes Our Feet Soli gloriam dei . John 21:15-19
There are many messages and ‘rights’ to proclaim in present society. It is easy to get caught up in endless articles, speeches or tweets to right the wrongs and ‘develop’ society according to best practices and lofty ideologies. But Jesus gave the Advocate, the Holy Spirit of God, to his followers at Pentecost not to ‘develop’ society and give people their ‘rights’, but in order that they as his disciples might proclaim the message of Christ’s redeeming resurrection and his mercy to all of human kind. As a follower of Jesus, I will receive his peace as much as I proclaim the good news about the mercy of God with my words as well as with my life. Am I using the gifts I have received from the Holy Spirit of God to proclaim ideologies and rights or to proclaim God’s message of redemption and mercy? Holy Spirit, help me proclaim your message and your mercy. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God… (Romans 8: 16) I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun; not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else. C.S. Lewis Soli gloriam dei . James 3:13-18
Society pressures each of us to accomplish as much as possible as quickly as possible so that our lives ‘count for something’. As a result so many of the ways and plays in society are based on ‘bitter envy and selfish ambition’ that are ‘boastful and false to the truth’, according to St. James the Elder. But when I move away from self-centredness and the hurried drive to be a human ‘doing’ I am able to make ‘gentleness born of wisdom’, or mercy, my only goal. I am called to take time to live into the wisdom from above which James tells us is ‘first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy’. Then my life will produce ‘a harvest of righteousness sown in peace’. This inevitably and immeasurably changes the lives of others around me as well as my own life. Holy Spirit of God, let my works be done with gentleness born of wisdom. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19: 20) Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. St. Augustine Soli 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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