Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
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
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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 |
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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