Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
John 15:12-17 When I develop communications with someone, care about his/her well-being, faithfully keep that person in mind and heart, and share mutual consolations and desolations with him/her, then that one becomes an extraordinary person to me, that is, a ‘friend’. Jesus invites me and you to not only serve his as Prince of Peace, as our Master and Redeemer; he also calls us to become friends with him, now and forever. Jesus holds up his side of our friendship through the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful events of life –will I faithfully be-friend him? Am I willing to enter into the life of Jesus, to know him more clearly and love him more dearly? Christ Jesus, teach me how to be great friends with you. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make music. (Psalm 57:7) Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do in love. St. Teresa of Lisieux www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
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John 14:21-26 In his intimate conversations with his disciples leading up to his arrest, Jesus explained how to remain close to him, and ‘rooted and grounded’ in God’s mercy. It is simple, and it all turns on love. As much as [I] love God, and make [my] relationship with him [my] primary goal, [I] follow his principles of life with [my] heart, mind, soul and strength, simply out of love. Then my thoughts, words and actions become so aligned with the Holy Spirit, that the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus, that God, finds place and space within me. Do I real-ly love God and keep his commandments with all my being? Holy Spirit of Jesus, Holy Spirit of God, come and make your home within my being. We put our hope in the Lord; he is our protector and our help. We are glad because of him. We trust in his name. (Psalm 33:20-21) Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do in love. St. Teresa of Lisieux www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei John 14:1-12 & Psalm 116:10-15 I would like to trace the Grace that I experienced this last Sunday morning. Riding waves of grief for the past week, I arose as I often do to pray around 3:30 in the morning. My mother, in her 90th year was laboring to breathe her soul to birth from her body that was so weakened by cancer and other age-related maladies. By grace, My sister and my brother (a priest) and I had been allowed one by one to watch at her bedside in a retirement home that was otherwise shut down by the pandemic. By ‘happy accident’ the reading was Psalm 116:10-15 and the Psalm prayer that goes with it in the breviary (see the full text below). Could it be, I wondered, that the soul of my faithful mother would go to be with the Lord today? I checked my phone. Indeed, my mother had died at 3:00 am, at the beginning of the Hour of Mercy – on Mother’s Day, that day when we remember all mothers, during the month of our Blessed Mother, Mary. The Psalm for Sunday’s Mass, Psalm 33, was a fitting response to this great grace of God. “Let your love be upon us, Lord, even as we hope in you. Rejoice in the Lord ...” And the Gospel for the day? Jesus’ discourse to his disciples about death: Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes)...” Surely a loving Father, by the ministry of Christ incarnate, had touched my life, our lives with profound mercy. Thank you for allowing me to trace this grace for you. We put our hope in the Lord; he is our protector and our help. We are glad because of him. We trust in his name. (Psalm 33:20-21) Precious in your sight is the death of your faithful ones, but precious above all is the love with which Christ suffered to redeem us. In this life we fill up in our own flesh the completion of the sufferings of Christ; accept this as our sacrifice of praise, and we shall even now taste the joy your dwelling place. Psalm Prayer for Pslam 116: 10-19, Sunday evening prayer, Week II, Shorter Christian Prayer www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei John 14:1-6 Approaching the death of a loved one or even one’s own death, can be a troubling matter to say the least. However, Jesus shared even this troubling time with us. A few days before his own end of life scenario, Jesus prepared his followers for what was coming. His advice? Firstly, “Do not let your hearts be troubled!” Secondly, “Believe in God, believe also in me!” Jesus then went on to tell his disciples what was driving this counsel: “I am preparing a place for you in my Father’s house so you can be with me. You know the way to the place where I am going!” Like anyone of us, Thomas questioned Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going! How can we know the way?” It was only as Jesus’ own death unfolded that the disciples really understood Jesus’ profound answer: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except by me.” Is it my troubled heart, or my trust in Christ Jesus that is upper most in my mind, soul and strength these days? Christ Jesus, keep my heart from being troubled and help me simply believe in you. Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 42:10 ) We do not have to wait for the hereafter - it is now that we are one with Christ. Catherine Doherty www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei John 10: 11-18 All good leaders, whether he or she is a boss, a coordinator, a captain, a king, a parent, professor, priest, or president – of a shepherd – have two characteristics in common. They are entirely dedicated to their responsibilities, and they know, and are known by, those whom they lead. By identifying himself as a ‘good Shepherd’, Jesus not only underscores his dedication to us as his ‘sheep’ (he gave up his life for us) and his personalized interest and care (he knows us by name) but he also demonstrated his unflinching and lively care for us – to protect, guide, and nurture us (me) day in and day out. Like every ‘good’ leader, Jesus knows what we need – what I need –and lays down his life to provide it. Do I trust Jesus more than any other leader with my life? Holy Spirit, help me have faith in Jesus as my ‘Good Shepherd’. O send your light and your truth, let them lead me. (Psalm 42: ) We do not have to wait for the hereafter - it is now that we are one with Christ. Catherine Doherty Listen to “the best explanation of Psalm 23” by Ray Varden Laan from “Walking with God in the Desert” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIrS3h7cH_A www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad 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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