Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Mark 1:29-39 . Much of Jesus’ healing ministry included ‘casting out demons’ - and he instructed his disciples to do the same as they travelled the countryside and ministered to people in His Name. Ridding people and their children of the evil spirits that had wormed their way into their lives was taken for granted as being part and parcel of the work the Jesus, the Holy One of God, and the Healer and the Saviour of human kind. How then are we disciples of Jesus so reticent to ‘drive out the demons’ from our families and homes, places of work and public spaces today? How indeed are we to do this? Jesus, himself models what the casting our of demons looks like. First of all, far from denying the existence of demons or shaking his head and turning away, Jesus witnessed the manifestation of demon activity himself, or listened to the information family members of someone experiencing demonic interference. Secondly, Jesus called them what they were: malicious spirits that were destroying the person’s dignity, sanctity and sanity., for example, spirits of profanity, jealousy, spiritual blindness, self-contempt, lust, greed, malice or acedia (despondency) to name but a few of the demonic forces at work in the world. Finally we notice that ‘he Jesus would not permit [the demons] speak’. On this final point alone, in our present Age of Relativism, we so often err. How often do we debate (with the forces of evil themselves) and try to decide for ourselves if a given behavior is evil or not – and craft all kinds of narratives for and against that result in our “letting it [the demons] be”? In addition, how often do we let the demons speak, by repeating the ‘gorey stories’ , the tales and gossip of demons at work in our own or others’ lives – rather than by proclaiming the glory stories of life that show God’s work in our midst? Any engagements with listening to demons, let alone repeating stories of demonic interference, are designed by the evil one to take our attention away from Grace of God and the fact that as followers of Jesus we have the power to ‘cast out demons’ from ourselves and those we love – as much as we remain in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of Jesus remains in us. Will I have the clarity and courage to recognize, cast out and disengage demons from my own life, and from my family? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me recognize and get rid of demons without engaging them. Sing praises to the Lord, who heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:1.3) God is so great. There is such a difference between God and everything that is not. St. Charles de Foucauld Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
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Mark 5:21-43 When Jesus raised the daughter of Jarius the Roman ruler who believed in Jesus of Nazareth, he did not say “Little girl, your parents need you so get up.” Nor did he require that her parents say a special prayer first or repeat his words. Instead we see this event of healing unfold in three simple steps. First, the girl’s father sought out Jesus and then prayed the Master to “come, and lay your hands upon her, so that she may be made well, and live”. Once he had the Master’s attention, Jarius accompanied Jesus as he made his way to the man’s house, urging him to hold onto his faith when naysayers met him to report that his daughter was dead. Finally Jarius walked with the Healer and Saviour of human kind into his home and to his daughter’s bedside accompanied by her mother to witness the healing of their 12 year old girl. Jesus simply touched their daughter’s hand and gently called her to arise from death – and she did and began walking around. So often I get in the way of the healing of myself or my loved ones by doing the exact opposite of what Jarius did. I first talk to other people woefully about the illness – the dis-ease - I am witnessing, and then cast around, researching a variety of other solutions. It is usually only when I have exhausted other possibilities that I turn to the Lord, and ask him for help, wondering what He might do this time. This is not the way of faith! Going forward, in the face of pain, injury, or disease will I ‘forget’ that Jesus is the Great Physician and turn first to the web and the folk solutions that this world has to offer? Or will I, like Jarius, prayerfully seek out Jesus to ask for his help, and then walk by faith with him, certain of Who He is, despite the naysayers and others running interference, as he comes into my experience and touches the place or person in my life that needs healing – and raises them up? Holy Spirit of God, help me (my loved one) simply be healed and arise at the behest of Jesus. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, listen to my cry of supplication. In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me. (Psalm 86: 6,7) God is so great. There is such a difference between God and everything that is not. St. Charles de Foucauld Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Mark 4:1-43 Icthus - fish in Greek – was the secret symbol of the early church. It was the acronym made up of the first Greek letters of “Jesus, Son of God, Saviour.” Early Christians scratched the fish symbol into the walls of the Catacombs, and both electric and fossil fuel vehicles of Christians bear the sign today. The message continues to resound through time and space: Jesus the Word who is the Son of God Incarnate has brokered peace with God for all people of all times. It is either true or it isn’t. If it is true, then we are challenged daily and even hourly. Do I, with my thoughts, words and actions bear witness to the fact that Jesus is the Christ at all times? Do I remember when I am confused that He is the One Savior of the world, who can and does pull us out of the clutches of the world, the flesh and the evil one? Does my being at home, at work, and at play bear witness to this fact? If Jesus truly is the Savior of the world do I live into his ability and his desire to speak the Good News of peace with God into my heart, to cleanse me from my transgressions, to release me from the prisons of sin, despair and despondency (acedia), to cast out the demons that have taken up strongholds in me, and to raise the dead parts of my existence? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me listen to You as the One with authority. Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you. At a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble and surround me with the gladness of deliverance. (Psalm 32: 6,7) All for God and for God’s glory. In whatever you do, think of the glory of God as your focus. St. John Bosco Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Mark 4:1-20 As soil receives seed, I receive the Word of God every time I read the Word of God with my lips and meditate on it in my heart, each time I ponder the words of scripture my eyes have seen or my ears have heard. But what then? Those life-giving seeds of phrases and sentences expressing the mystery of God’s Word need the watering of my attention and the sunshine of the Holy Spirit to be able to germinate and grow as they are designed to do, and to then bear fruit in my own life and in my dealings with others. Will my life be a good garden for the Creator’s life-giving words? Will my time here on earth grow the good fruits the Holy Spirit of God longs to have ripen in my home, my place of work, my friendships and my community? Holy Spirit, help me let the Word of God sprout, grow and bear fruit in my life. And these are the ones sown on good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty, and sixty and a hundredfold. (Mark 4:20) If you seek Jesus in all things you will surely find Jesus. And if you seek yourself, you will surely find yourself, but only to your ruin. Thomas à Kempis Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca 1 Samuel 15:16-23 & John 1:35-42 With God’s help, under King Saul the Israelite army won the battle yet again. The slain enemy left behind women and children, whole households and other treasure. It only made sense to Saul to let his tired troops take what they wanted from the spoils of war. Even though he had received definite word from the ‘seer’, Samuel, that the Lord forbade the Israelites from taking, and so bringing into their own lives, the possessions of the Amalekites, Saul deferred to public pressure and waffled; Well, sure, why not, just this one time. As a result the Israelites descended into a godlessness that cost them future victories, and Saul and his family were replaced by King David and his family as the royal line of the Jews. How often do I waffle the Word of God, and just this one time say something that is cruel or only half true, allow impure or violent thought patterns into my thinking, act out of greed or resentment or bring into my life any one of the godless media posts, movies or motives that surround us these days? Will I, like Saul, ignore the wisdom of God placed in my heart by the Holy Spirit, and just this once, use society’s spoils, or will I, like Jesus’ faithful eleven, listen to his Word and follow in our Redeemer’s footsteps? Christ Jesus, help me heed your word and follow your steps. Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear… Then I said, “Here I am… I delight to do your will.” (Psalm 40:6,7) Incline my heart according to your will, O God. Speed my steps along your path. Responsory, Wednesday Morning Prayer, Week III, Liturgy of the Hours Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca |
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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