Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Song of Songs 2:8-14 & Luke 1: 39 – 45 Like the most respectful of all lovers, God waits for us -for me- to turn and notice his gaze of joy in creation, of love for human beings, and of longing for our attention. Looking through from the other side of the lattice work, otherwise known as the ‘veil of unknowing’, we are - I am - not always aware of his attention, nor of his devoted love, nor of his unabashed joy in us – in me. It is an awareness of this gaze of God’s joy, of love and of longing that drew Gabriel to Mary, that quieted Mary’s fearful heart so that she should say Fiat,”Yes”, to the Lord; that prompted Mary to visit Elizabeth; and that made John leap in Elizabeth’s womb at the nearer presence of the Christ Child. Am I ready and willing to turn to God and behold his gaze of joy, love and longing for my being? Help me notice you through the lattice, Lord, and receive your love. His name will be called Emmanuel, because he will be God-with-us. (Isaiah 7:8 ) O Come, Emmanuel, God’s presence among us, our King, our Judge: Save us, Lord our God! O Antiphon. Common Lectionary for December 21th www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
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Matthew 1:26-38 It is good that nothing is impossible with God! As a virgin, it seemed impossible that Mary would become pregnant, let alone give birth to a holy child, the Son of God. And yet, by the infilling of the Holy Spirit of God, Mary not only conceived and gave birth to the most holy Son of God, but she also lived to bring Jesus up through adolescence and early adulthood, and to accompany him through his redeeming crucifixion and resurrection. Like Mary, I too am a woman, but more foolish, more dissipated and more sin-full than she. It seems impossible that my life could produce anything of consequence given all the givens of my life. And yet, by the infilling of the Holy Spirit through my on fiat my life can give birth to amazing fruits of God’s mercy, just like Mother Mary. Am I, like Mary, ready to welcome the Holy Spirit into every fiber of my being so holy things can be born from my life? Come, Holy Spirit, birth holy things from my life. You will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name him “God Saves”, Jesus. (Luke 1: ) O Come, Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal kingdom: free the prisoners of darkness! O Antiphon. Common Lectionary for December 20th www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Matthew 1:1-17 Finally after millennia of the unfolding of relationships and events – indeed three times fourteen generations and the rise and fall of several major civilizations – the stage was set for the coming of the Son of God into the history of humankind. Jewish people were under the oppression of the Roman Empire, temple worship had denigrated into a major business venture, and there was a small remnant of Israelites who were simply faithful and simply obedient to the deep-seated love of a loving God. All major players in the Salvation story, Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Joseph, and Anna and Simeon, who had learned to trust the timing of God in their lives, were listening to his guidance for the shepherding the Son of God, as infant, as preacher, and as Sacrifice through his redeeming path. As relationships and events unfold in my own life will I ‘chomp on the bit’ as an impatient victim of a divine comedy, or will I simply be faithful and obedient to God’s laws of love, ready to live into the dénouement of his saving grace, no matter how, or when, or through whom it comes to pass? Father God, teach me to trust your timing. In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. (Psalm 72) O come, Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love; teach us to walk in the path of knowledge! O Antiphon, Common Lectionary for December 17 www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Zephaniah 3:14-18a & Philippians 4, 4-7 Holy Spirit, remind my heart to rejoice and exult in God... I can rejoice and exult in all kinds of earthy people and projects –my grandchildren, marks in a university course, a business plan that plays out well, success beyond all expectations, etcetera, etcetera. But no matter how special they are the excitement each of these brings is passing at best and more often fleeting. Only in God are unshakable joys and wisdom to be found. Only the Holy Spirit of God can lead us into profound and enduring exultation, that is available in some measure in every person, place, or event on earth. If my default is set at rejoicing and exulting in God, then no matter what sorrows or challenges come my way, I will be able to weather the storms and keep grounded in all events and circumstances. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!” counsels St. Paul. Will I choose to rejoice in God my Saviour no matter what happens? Holy Spirit, remind my heart to rejoice and exult in God. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice...Then shall all of the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes... (Psalm 96:11-13) O come, Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love. Teach us to walk in the path of knowledge. O Antiphon for Dec 17th www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Isaiah 48:17 – 19, Psalm 1, Matthew 11:16-19 Scientific laws are to the physical world what God’s laws are to the spiritual world: they respectively describe the way the physical and the spiritual world are designed to unfold and move through time and space. If I am to understand and engage the spiritual realm in a good way, I need to base my words and deeds on the wisdom of God expressed in the teachings and directions of the Lord. Unfortunately it is much easier to sit in the ‘seat of the scoffers’, the detractors, (complainers) than to ‘delight in’ the laws of God. Too often I find myself like a whiny child complaining incessantly about the minutiae of life, consumed with the inadequacies of projects or people and focused on physical comforts. The way I should go, the prophet Isaiah, the Psalmist, and Christ Jesus remind me, is to pay attention to the commandments of God and delight in the laws of the Holy Spirit. Will I sit in the easy chair of scoffers, or stand up and walk in knowledge and delight of God’s laws? Father God, help me not sit in the seat of the scoffers, but delight in your law. Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:2) The greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love. 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
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