Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Psalm 69 On hot summer days flowers wilt, particularly without the benefit of a good watering. So it is for us. When human beings are exposed to the heat of daily life with its pushes and pulls from the profanity of secularism and other forms of godlessness, we easily wilt in mind, body and spirit. When I am parched and weakened by the challenges of life, what am I to seek? More comfort, a different diet, and much activity or companionship? In the ‘heat of the moment’ or the draught of overwhelming circumstances, I need to seek the shade of God’s immutable Presence and the water of his abundant Grace. Then, no matter when, or how, or where, I find God, I am revived in heart, mind, soul, and strength. How dry am I these days? Will I seek God’s mercy and goodness? Christ Jesus, help me seek God, that I might be revived. As for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord... I am lowly and in pain; let your salvation, O God, protect me. (Psalm 69:13, 29) We’ve been wired for God, and God is love. Archbishop Robert Barron www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
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Matthew 10:34 – 11:1 Homes and ‘barns’ set up and organized with what we have, family members all healthy and visiting often, job or talent recognition and success –these are the things I cherish most about my passage through earth. But Jesus calls me to a different reality. In his teachings, living in love and mercy is more important than anything, and the foundation of everything. I need to grasp firmly to myself, not the possessions, income securities, personal comfort, self-satisfaction and even loving relationships that come and go in my life, but the ‘crosses’ of my life –the places of need, insecurity, discomfort, social responsibility and my deep longings for love and truth –that lead me over and again to the grace and mercy of God. Then no matter what peace or disaster befalls my life, I will remain firm in the knowledge and love of God. “[She] who loses her life for my sake will find it...” says Christ Jesus. Will I grasp firmly the securities of this life, or the mercy and grace of God? Holy Spirit, help me not fear losing the things of this world for the sake of Jesus. Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124: 8) Taking up the cross means not just being willing to suffer, but being willing to suffer as he did, absorbing violence and hatred through our forgiveness and nonviolence. Bishop Robert Barron www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Matthew 10:24-33 Jesus was the Son of God who was the Son of Man. For about three decades his ministry was in formation as he worked in his foster-father’s business and lived with his family. Around his late twenties he moved to his own place in Capernaum and began to engage his own ministry more actively, particularly after baptism by his cousin John, when the Holy Spirit of God publicly affirmed that Jesus was God’s beloved Son and ready for ministry – and that the crowds were to listen to him. For three years he preached and healed people, releasing prisoners from captivity, raising the dead, and proclaiming the mercy of God. Then he was captured, tortured and crucified by order of the status quo, as a Nazarene-nobody who was primarily an inconvenience. When I am tempted to long for human power and glory this side of heaven, it is worth remembering the short career, the lack of perceived family, and all the public indifference to the work, and the teachings, of Christ Jesus –and his ultimate Resurrection to eternal life, Kingship throughout the ages of humankind, and Glory in the kingdom of God. Am I as a follower of Jesus willing to be as marginalized as Jesus? Holy Spirit, help me be content with being like Jesus. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. (Psalm 105: 3,4) I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me" J. Hudson Taylor www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Genesis 44:18- 45:5 The story of Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob, who was sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers only to become their saving help years later during wide-spread famine, stands for all time as a redemption story of family. Although Joseph recognized his treacherous brothers when they came for a measure of grain, they did not recognize the brother whom they had treated so badly. As an Egyptian ruler, he held their fate in the palm of his hand, and seems to have been tempted to ‘get even’. The turning point away from revenge towards reconciliation came when Joseph’s brothers manifested their remorse over their own injustice to their brother years before, and were unswerving in their empathy with their father’s grief. Then Joseph revealed his identity to his older siblings and wept his forgiveness to each of them, tracing and proclaiming God’s grace to them all: “...do not be angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Am I so focused on God’s mercy that I engage empathy and forgiveness over resentment and revenge in my own family? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me deal in empathy and forgiveness as I trace your grace in my family, my community. The kingdom of heaven has come near! (Matthew 10:7) I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me" J. Hudson Taylor www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
Matthew 9:32-38 Harassed and helpless again! Unfortunately, given the fast pace of this present generation, humanity is still showing the same signs of stress and fragmentation that Jesus’ noted in the citizens of Judea in his time. Government institutions are bowing to a culture of death! The love of money trumps all! And comfort, security and pleasures of all kinds rule supreme! This is indeed life in a ‘flock without a shepherd’. But as a Christian, I do have a Good Shepherd. Jesus does not scatter or fragment, but draws all parts of (my) being together, into his koinotita his ‘body’, to be nurtured and grown up into its fullness of design, - and Grace. Jesus calls me day by day to follow him – in thick and thin, through all circumstances and despite any event. As much as I keep my eyes on him, he leads me to fresh streams and cool, lush, meadows, that nourish body, mind and spirit. Today will I mill around in the dead-ends and pitfalls of present society, or will I look to Jesus as Good Shepherd, and point others to him as well? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me not to scatter, but follow you. Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 17:8) I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me" J. Hudson Taylor 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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