Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
John 16: 16-20 Jesus made a point of reminding his disciples at least three times in the weeks leading up to his death to remember that death, and sorrow, and suffering do not have the last word in neither his life, nor ours. ‘I’m going away from you, but I will come again … You will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.’ was repeatedly his message to his followers as he prepared them for the sufferings and sorrows that lay ahead of them when he would be arrested, beaten and put to death. Jesus knew then, and reminds us now, that there are times of great sorrow and suffering in our human experience this side of heaven. It is not up to us to avoid or even heal these times – that is God’s work. It is up to us to simply walk through such times, following in the footsteps of Jesus and all the saints, and find the joy in the unfolding of God’s will and the great mercy of God that wait for us around the ‘bend in the road’. When sorrows and sufferings visit my life, will I remember to remember that ‘you will weep and mourn … but your pain will turn into joy’ ? Holy Spirit remind me that sorrow can always lead to joy. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. (Psalm 126:5,6) It looks like death… but really, it is life! Fr. Ronald Rohlheiser referring to the crucifixion. Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
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Acts 16, 22-34 & John 15: 25- 16:4 When Paul and Silas were first stripped and beaten, then jailed ‘securely’, shaken by an earthquake and finally had opportunity to speak to their jailer who with trembling bowed before them, what did they say in the press of the moment? The word of the Lord – words proclaiming the love and truth of God – is what they sang and spoke 24/7 and it led them through throngs of listeners, imprisonments, earthquakes, mighty deeds, mini moments of grace and tricky conversations. By listening to the Holy Spirit of God breathing through their hearts and minds, they knew what the Lord would have them speak into each situation. The Advocate, (same root as the word ‘lawyer’), that is the Holy Spirit, - the one who has studied long and hard and knows all the complexities of the ‘word’ of God – can inform us, just as Paul and Silas were informed, of all the intricacies of God’s truth and mercy, if we will only listen. When I hear the word of God explained by the Holy Spirit into my life, then I am able (unlike the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day) to discern the truth about sin, righteousness and judgement, the three main aspects of our faith. The Advocate declares that active sin is the only thing that can separate me from God, and thus I need to receive Jesus as sin-sacrifice, as Redeemer, to remove sin far from my soul. The Advocate teaches that living in righteousness, that is being aligned with God, is a choice I make on my own (neither the devil nor Jesus ‘make’ me do anything). And the Advocate explains to me that the ruler of this world, that is the devil that lures me away from God through human pride and passions, stands condemned for eternity because Christ Jesus, the Holy One of God, submitted to the agonizing – and sacrificial –death of a criminal and lives again. At every turn in life’s journey, in every choice, every conversation, every action, it is useful to ask the Advocate of the Father to teach me to ‘speak’, that is to live into, the word of the Lord and no other. Will I open my heart, mind, soul and strength to learn from the Holy Spirit of God, the Advocate, the ‘lawyer’ who has a thorough knowledge of God? Advocate of the Father, teach me to speak not my own words, but the word of the Lord. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. (Psalm 138:3) There’s a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve him, boldness to share him and contentment within him. J.I. Packer, Knowing God www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei John 12:27-31 One of the most emphatic statements of Jesus to his disciples in the weeks before his death by crucifixion was that they were to ‘remain in his love’. How can I remain in the love of Christ Jesus? I can picture myself being enfolded in a mantle of the mercy of God walking Jesus’ journey through my life, despite weather and wind, battles or bumps, attacks or archipelagos. I can speak of Jesus’ love to others with stories and words born of experiences of Jesus’ faithfulness and help. And I can reach back into the love of Christ for strength and wisdom and reach out in Jesus’ love to others, with a deep, divine and ‘diving’ compassion like the love I myself have received from God. Will I draw my life-force from human knowledge and my own ideals, or remain in the love of Christ Jesus? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me remain in your love. Sing to the Lord a new song; Tell of his salvation from day to day. (Psalm 96:1-3) My friends, instead of arming yourselves with words, extend your hands in prayer. St . Athanasius Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca John 12:27-31 The whole purpose of a vine is to bear much good fruit. In order to form up a bud, then a blossom, then a fruit with the seeds of propagation buried deep inside, a branch needs to draw from the main vine the particular nutrients, enzymes and elements needed at each stage of growth. Like the branch of a vine, I too needed to ask God for what I need to produce the fruit of my life. What is the fruit I am producing in my life? Am I producing books and buildings, plans and projects, or a ‘good reputation’ and respect? Or am I primarily producing a bountiful crop of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Generosity, and Self-Control, that lead to Faith, Hope and Love in this world? Jesus taught that when I am focussed on producing the Fruits of the Spirit, I can ask God for anything I wish, and it will be granted! What do I need today to produce much good Fruit of the Holy Spirit of God? Holy Spirit of God, help me to ask for what I need to bear much good fruit. And now we follow you, O Lord, with our whole heart. No one who trusts you will ever be disappointed. (Daniel 3:17) My friends, instead of arming yourselves with words, extend your hands in prayer. St . Athanasius Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca John 12:27-31 When Jesus was heading to Jerusalem for certain death, he gave his disciples specific instructions to “Let not your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid. “ Easy to say, strange to hear, and hard to do. But Our Lord went on to give his friends, including us, the key to being able to stay untroubled and unafraid through anything. “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father!...” Jesus lived so enrobed in the love and mercy of God each day of his life, that he had learned long before his Passion that first trusting, and then rejoicing in the will of God unfolding through all circumstances, both great and small, both ugly and beautiful, both easy and hard, was the path to sanity and life. He encouraged his disciples to embrace, first their love of Jesus, then to trust the Father that His will would be done beyond any evil that may occur, and then to rejoice in this fact of God overcoming all evil. In these times when our world is slipping and sliding in the grips of global pandemic events, will I choose to love God and to trust Him so that I, too, can rejoice and be not troubled or afraid? Holy Spirit of God, help me rejoice in the unfolding of your will. And now we follow you, O Lord, with our whole heart. No one who trusts you will ever be disappointed. (Daniel 3:17) Our greatest fear in life should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter. Francis Chan 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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