Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Hosea 14:1-9 We all start out within the love of God our Father. For those who are baptized or confirmed, we have the added stamp of the family pressed into our souls; each of us started out in the nearer presence of God. But as life happens and other relationships and loves unfold, it is easy to turn away from our Father, ‘just for a while’, we say – and then find ourselves far from our Father’s presence and caught up with all kinds of schemes of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Just as with the Israelites of old, we can imagine our Father in heaven, waiting for us to return to him from all the highways and byways of the world, longing to enfold us with his love and his mercy. Will we come back to our Father God? Will I come back to my Abba, Father, with all my heart, my mind, my soul, and my strength? Father God, I come back to you with all my heart. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. (Psalm 51) To love God is something greater than to know him. St. Thomas Acquinas www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
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Matthew 9: 18-26 There is nothing as distressing as having a child die, whether literally from physical accident or ailment, or figuratively from psycho-social or spiritual distress. No matter what the degree of relationship to us, if we have experienced the mortal illness of any child close to our hearts, we can identify with the Roman official who knelt down to beg Jesus to heal his daughter. When all other hopes have been exhausted, all other treatments have been tried, and a child is still desperately ill, we recognize that our only hope for having our child ‘raised from the dead’ is Christ Jesus. Only Jesus has the power over time to tend a child, nearby or from a distance, and hold his/her hand, to call him/ her (and their parents!) back to life. Will I go to Jesus to ask him to heal the suffering children in my life, so that they, too, might rise from their death-beds and live? Christ Jesus! Come and raise my child from the dead. One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4) Rest in the goodness of God, for that goodness reaches to the depths of our needs. Julian of Norwich www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Ephesians 4:29-32 When I speak, I never know who will be listening to what I am saying. And every time I open my mouth, I have opportunity to release grief or grace into the world around me. Will every word I say today –every exclamation and greeting, every response, every comment, whether by voice, letter, email or text –be foul-full or grace-full? God, may my word give grace to those who hear. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart… (Psalm 19:8) Rest in the goodness of God, for that goodness reaches to the depths of our needs. Julian of Norwich www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Matthew 9:1-8 The role of intercessory prayer is to do what the friends of the paralyzed man in Nazareth in Jesus’ time did for him. They brought him to Jesus for healing. Our prayers are like a stretcher that can carry a a man, woman, or child , who is paralyzed for whatever reason – with sin, suffering or short-sightedness – to Christ Jesus for healing. Yes, I can try to ‘carry’ my family member , friend, or neighbour, to Jesus on my own, but how much better it is to have at least two people carry a stretcher together – to pray with one other, or a few others, who are willing to help carry that person on a ‘litter of prayer’ into God’s healing presence. Who is helping me carry the paralyzed ones to Christ Jesus for restoration of spirit, soul, and strength? Will I be faithful in bringing others to God for healing? Christ Jesus, we bring to you N. _________ for healing. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul… (Psalm 19:7) Rest in the goodness of God, for that goodness reaches to the depths of our needs. Julian of Norwich www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Hosea 8:4-13 Pharisees and Scribes, regarded as the most learned Jews of their day, leaned on their own ego-centric understanding of life and so focussed on critical judgement rather than the mercy of God that is the heart of a theo-centred mind-scape. As a result, they analyzed, criticized and dismissed Jesus’ teachings and ministry – and eventually maltreated, tortured and crucified the Son of God who was the Son of Man. On the other hand, the common folk of the day came to Jesus simply seeking God’s mercy through his teaching and healing grace. As a result they experienced miracle after miracle as their bodies were healed, their spirits restored and their lives set back on course into the heart of God’s love. Will I, like the Pharisees defer to my own faithless and fickle understanding of God’s ways or simply come to Christ Jesus with faith in his love and mercy? Holy Spirit of God, help me simply realize your mercy. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! (Psalm 115:11) Rest in the goodness of God, for that goodness reaches to the depths of our needs. Julian of Norwich 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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