Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Luke 9:7-9 When I know Jesus simply as a vaguely good man who lived about 2,000 years ago, the Lord`s life has little impact on mine. But when I begin to know Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God who is the Son of Man and the Redeemer of human kind, then his saving grace begins to seep into my heart, mind, soul and strength, and I, too, gradually come to life in its fulness. When I know who Jesus is, I know who I am in the grand scheme of creation. Then even the sufferings of life begin to make sense, even when `not knowing’ leads to the gruesome death of an innocent person on a cross of humiliation and torture. As much as I know Christ more clearly, my own identity and place in the world make sense, no matter how senseless the challenges I face seem to be. How well do I know who Jesus truly is? Christ Jesus, help me to know you more clearly. Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14) When we reveal to someone our belief in them, their hidden beauty rises to the surface where it may be seen more clearly by all. Jean Vanier www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
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Luke 8:19-21 Neither social status, nor even family connections assure my intimacy with Christ Jesus. Even Jesus’ mother and his relatives had no inside track when it came to seeing Christ and having a word with him. Jesus made it clear to both his family and the crowd with him that, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’ It is only inasmuch as I follow Jesus with faithful endurance, aligning my being with his and his Father’s word, that I am able to come into a full and familiar relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, has my life been marked with envy and selfish ambition (see James 3:16) or with faithful endurance in keeping God’s word? Christ Jesus, help me hear your Word and do it. I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8) What constitutes our dignity is the sacred shrine where God speaks to us to show us the way to good, and to turn us away from evil. Jean Vanier, A Cry is Heard: My Path to Peace www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Ephesians 4:1-13 By the grace born into my being by God, I ‘can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” But at any given season of my life, I am not called to do everything. I am called to fulfill the responsibilities of one or two roles that are near at hand in my life, and to lead a life worthy of those callings. When I am engaged in the calling God has truly called me to then with prayer in general, and lectio divina in particular, I can fulfill that role ‘with all humility, and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’ Then, like Christ Jesus, who showed us this perfect way of doing God’s will, I will contribute to, rather than break down, the kingdom of God. What is the calling to which I am called? Am I leading a life worthy of that holy calling? Christ Jesus, help me grow up into the fullness of your love. Let your steadfast love be upon us, even as we hope in you.(Psalm 33:22) I yield to you my entire liberty, O Lord. Take my memory, my intellect and my will. All that I am and have come from you. I give it all back to you to stand under only your will. Your love and your mercy are enoughfor me. I ask for nothing more. St. Ignatius of Loyola. Sucipe www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei I Corinthians 13:1-13 Child-ish behaviour sees me insisting on my own way, making impatient decisions that can hurt others with unkindness and selfish choices that push others away. The child-like character of a true child of God, however, exhibits more and more the character of Christ Jesus, who rejoiced in the truth, who bore all things, and endured all things including death on a cross. As an adult, my growing hope is to bring my child-ish ways (aka sins) to Jesus and follow his lead into perfect compassion. Then I can grow into adulthood as a beloved daughter or son of God. Am I committed to putting away child-ish things to grow up into patience, kindness, and self-lessness? Christ Jesus, help me grow up into the fullness of your love. Let your steadfast love be upon us, even as we hope in you.(Psalm 33:22) The world needs an invasion of love and this depends on each one of us Chiara Lubich www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei I Corinthians 12:12-31 & Luke 7:11-17 To the widow of Nain whose son had just died, Jesus said, “Do not weep!” and to the young man himself, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” Both of these commands of Jesus also apply to us who are members of the Church, of the Body of Christ. How quick I am to complain about the Body of Christ, ruing the “ruin” of the institution of Church, and weeping, or perhaps even raging, over the death of the Body of Christ as we know it should be. When I bring this grief to Jesus, he says to me, “Do not weep!” and then comes forward to touch my pallet, where I lie flattened by the inherent unfaithfulness of the world – and says, “Young (wo)man, I say to you, rise!”. I too have the responsibility to genuinely live my part in the Body of Christ. I need to ask the Lord what is the (one) role he has given me, in this season, in bringing life to his flock. Then it is time to fulfill that role with the liveliness of the Resurrection and wisdom born of obedience, poverty (humility) and chastity (purity). When all of us as followers of Jesus allow ourselves to be raised to new life in this way, then the Body of Christ will again become the force of redemption it is meant to be in the world. What is prompting me to weep about the Church, when I am meant to rise and live into my vocation as a beloved child of God with a role to play in the Body of Christ? Christ Jesus, help me live into my place in your Body. I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8) Our true challenge is to return to the center, to the heart, and to find there the gentle voice that speaks to us and affirms us in a way no human voice ever could. Henri Nouwen, The Selfless Way of Christ 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 2023
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