Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Acts 20:28-38 For three years Paul had been based out of Jerusalem, preaching and teaching in the (new) Church, the message of God’s grace. When Paul realized he was leaving everyone behind as he headed to Rome to face certain death, his parting advice to all the disciples of Jesus there was “Be alert! And remember.., the message of God’s grace.” Staying awake is the best antidote to being stupefied by acedia and all the deceits of the world, the flesh and the devil. Remembering all the wisdom, mercy and connection contained in the message of God’s grace is, still today, the one message that is able to build anyone up to meet the challenges of life’s journey. When I am ready to leave ‘my’ people through a period of transition or even death, what will I say to them? Will I encourage them to stay alert to opportunities for fame, fortune and success and to remember me with all of my spots and wrinkles, or will I, like Paul, counsel my loved ones to stay alert and remember the message of God’s grace? Holy Spirit of God, help [me] remain alert and remember your message of grace. Father protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them in your truth. (John 17:18) Let us claim the truth that we are loved and open our hearts to receive God’s overflowing love poured out for us. And living fully each day, let us share that love in all our wonderful and difficult relationships, responsibilities, and passages. Henri Nouwen, Finding My Way Home www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
0 Comments
Acts 20, 17-27 For anyone two questions constantly run in the background of our consciousness: What am I to do? And how is it going to turn out? The Holy Spirit answered the second question for St. Paul. “The Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.” As a follower of Christ, I can to expect nothing more and nothing less than Paul, either figuratively or literally: not much success in worldly terms and my fair share of rejection, abandonment, false accusations and hardships of all kinds. So what am I to do – in times of success or in times of demotion, rejection, serious health conditions, financial crisis or simply being ‘put on the shelf’? I need to do what St. Paul did – finish the course of his life and the ministry he received from the Lord – and testify to the good news of God’s grace. Will I finish the course of my life stressfully attempting vindicate and save myself, or will I consistently and continually testify to the good news of God’s grace? Holy Spirit, permit me to testify to the good news of the Grace of God. Blessed the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Psalm 68:19) How then should I live? (Given the Gospel of Life)... in the DAY, devoid of all expectation, with absolute CHILDLIKE TRUST ... so to Love as Christ loves, giving endless praise and thanksgiving’ .... that’s all. Father Will Howard www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
Luke 24:44-53 After putting his departure into the context of the broad story of salvation history, and commissioning his disciples to go out and tell all the nations the good news of God’s grace, Christ Jesus ascended into heaven and left them. Similarly, the Lord teaches us the history of our salvation story, and tells us to tell the good news –and then leaves us. What the disciples did next teaches me the fundamental step in following Christ as disciple and evangelist. The disciples didn’t mope around grieving their losses; neither did they jump onto the closest horse and race into their mission field. After leaving the mountain, the disciples followed Christ’s counsel to ‘wait to be clothed in the power from on high’, that is, to be clothed with the peace, joy, love, patience, faithfulness, self-control and perseverance of the Holy Spirit of God, by returning together to ‘Jerusalem’ with great joy spending time praying and blessing God in the temple. When I sense the ascension or distancing of Christ in my life, will I mope in self-reflective grief, jump into hyperactivity - or wait to be clothed with the vestments of the Holy Spirit? Christ Jesus, help me wait to be clothed in power from on high. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. (Psalm 34:8) With the eyes of your heart enlightened, may you know what is the hope to which he has called you...what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe. Paul of Tarsus, Letter to the Ephesians 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
Categories |