Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
1 John 3:7-10 & Mark 1:29 -39 The tussle between good and evil, light and dark, God and Satan, is a old as the hills, and not dusty; this battle for human will is still, perhaps more than ever, a reality. As human beings gifted with free will, we have always had the ability to draw into ourselves the darkness of the deceitful instigations of the evil one or the light from the Holy Spirit of God. It is the despondency of darkness that shrouds and minimizes the effects of demonic activity in our lives and prevents us from taking in the Message of God’s mercy. Dispositions to addictions, malice, violence, depression hard heartedness, and illness of body, mind and spirit are signs of demonic activity in our lives today. Jesus spent a good part of his ministry “proclaiming the message and casting out the demons” that destroy our ability to enter into God’s mercy-full presence and holy rest. Will I hold onto the demons in my life? Or will I ask Christ Jesus to cast them out of my life so that I can integrate his Message, his Word of salvation, of Light and Life, into my being? Christ Jesus, cast out the demons and fill me with your Message. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. (1John 3: 8 ) Holy Spirit of Jesus, Help me put on the helmet of Salvation, The shoes of Peace, The belt of Truth, The chest protector of Righteousness, And take up the shield of Faith, And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, To stand beside you in Truth and Love, As you bring souls to heaven. Amen See Ephesians 6:10-17 Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
0 Comments
1 John 4;1-6 & Matt 2:1-12 It took months if not years for the wise men from the east to find Jesus. “Why do that?” Their friends may have asked – just as the world asks us today –“You say you seek a King, but you don’t know where he is. You are trusting the testimony of ancient writings and signs of nature??! And this promise of Light in the world, what is that?? It’ll take precious hours (if not weeks and years as it was for the Magi) for the journey. It’s a waste of time!” But the three Wise Men from afar packed their treasured gifts for the promised King of Kings, the Messiah, loaded their camels, and left home. Their journey was even more challenging than they expected. The star disappeared from their view when they arrived in Judea; the King of Israel seemed ‘off’ and of ill intent; there seemed to be no local astrologers reading the stars; the common folk of Israel didn’t seem to care that a King of Kings could be born in their midst; and eventually the house where they found the child was not only plain, but empty of other worshippers. But the journey was worth it! No matter the times of uncertainty, when the three travelers found the child, they realized that they were beholding God face to face. Truly the Child was worthy of all time, all worship and their priceless gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In this present age, heralded by the mantra, I don’t have time, discouragements to the journey inward are just as plentiful as they were in the days of the first Epiphany. Wise men and women still seek Jesus, but we are perhaps just as few and far between as in the days of Herod. Will I, like the naysayers of Jesus’ day, turn a blind eye to his presence in my own life and times? Or will I, like the wise men from the east, take the time and effort to search for Jesus in the events, the places and people of my life – and find the Messiah, the King of Kings? Will I offer up the minutes, the hours, and perhaps the days it takes to not only seek, but find, Christ Jesus -– find the promises of God fulfilled? Holy Spirit of God, help me always to take time to find the King of Kings. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (St Matthew 5:8 ) 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 John 2:29-3:6 A dusting of snow this morning certainly brightens up the scenery! In mid December a popular discussion started – will we be having a white Christmas? Innumerable surveys, call-in show guests, and social media posts weighed in on how, when and why Christmas needed to be snowy, or not. But the true question of the Christmas season was not addressed – will my heart be white –that is pure enough –to see God, and behold the Christ Child, the Son of Man who is the Son of God? In his epistle St. John encourages us to live into our heritage as God’s children, and so to purify ourselves to be like Him who by his ministry, his death and resurrection saved our souls from sin, darkness and death. In this 2024th year of Grace, will I deliberately go to the Holy Spirit of Jesus to clean up my being and will I avoid those elements of the world, the flesh and the devil that darken my heart, mind, soul and strength? Will I choose to ask God to ‘wash me [so that] I shall be whiter than snow’ Psalm 51:7 ? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me purify myself because I have hope in you. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (St Matthew 5:8 ) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. King David of Israel in Psalm 51:10 A Happy, Healthy and Holy New Year of Grace be to you and your family! Father, May everything we do Begin with your inspiration, And continue with your saving help. Let our work always find it origin in you And through you reach completion. Concluding prayer. Week 1, Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Hours. Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Luke 2:16-21 Mother Mary had a promise from God at the Annunciation –that she should not be afraid because with God nothing is impossible, that she would bear a son and call his name ‘Jesus’, (“God saves”). The whole of the Judeo-Christian scriptures, (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, the B.I.B.L.E.) hold out similar promises to us as we look forward to this 2024th year of Grace that will unfold in the days and months ahead – that God does love human kind and intends to save human kind from the despair and death that is ultimately offered up by the ‘world, the flesh and the devil’. Mother Mary went through her 9 months of pregnancy and the first 8 days of Jesus’ life after birth knowing this promise, but it was not until the 8th day that she specifically named the advent of her son “God Saves”, and with Joseph dedicated this child to the Lord through the rite of circumcision. This is when Mary and Joseph formally named and embraced their assignment to real-ize, nurture and remain faithful to the Saving Grace of God. By recognizing God’s promises being fulfilled in the miraculous birth of their Son, Mary and Joseph were able to claim God’s promises of saving Grace in their own lives, and indeed in the whole world. Will I notice God saving me/ saving ‘us’, and speak the Truth, that God Saves ? Father God, help me to name and claim your presence with us. Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation! (St, Mark 16:15) Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire. St. Catherine of Siena. A Happy, Healthy and Holy New Year of Grace be to you and your family! Father, May everything we do Begin with your inspiration, And continue with your saving help. Let our work always find it origin in you And through you reach completion. Concluding prayer. Week 1, Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Hours. Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Psalm 25:4-10 This weekend we are celebrating the parting of the clouds of unknowing by the Light of the World, who disrupted the grip of the flesh and devil on the world by being born of the Virgin Mary in a cowshed in Bethlehem. The crowd of people in Bethlehem for the census could have witnessed this quiet but earth shaking event first hand, yet only the shepherds in the surrounding fields had the time and vision to hear the truth sung by the Angels, and to follow their lead to welcome the newborn Prince of Peace, the God of our salvation. Perhaps a handful of other people in Bethlehem at the time dropped by to greet Mary and Joseph, but did they realize just Who the baby was and the Saving Grace he was bringing to human kind? If I were in Bethlehem then, would I have been attuned to the Angels’ message and followed their lead to discover the Truth of Christmas night? This Christmas will I listen to the Truth sent from above to discover the God of my salvation and learn from Him? Christ Jesus, lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.” (Luke 2:15) A Christmas Prayer for you and your Family: May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that rooted and grounded in love, you may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17 -21 Much Grace and Peace and Joy be to you and your family throughout this Christmas Season! 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
Categories |