Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Matthew 5:38-48 During his ministry on earth, Jesus hit the “refresh” button to restore our connections not only with God, and with our selves, but also with others. In the course of our lives there is no shortage of evil doers that cross our paths – people participating in pointless passions, or being sucked into the black hole of violence, and all styles of hatred - and ultimately self-destruction. It is human nature to resist such people, but while the Lord counsels us to resist evil, he taught us to love the doers of evil. This is the ‘Glad News’ that Jesus proclaimed. Instead of spending time and energy resisting those who are doing evil, returning punch for punch, Jesus counsels his followers to look beyond the behaviour of others who are themselves caught up in the grab for power, for control, and for belonging, and return good for evil, kindness and companionship for arrogance, and generosity for thievery. This “reset” of any human action, no matter how violent, can bring about the restoration of human dignity and the re-alignment of human hearts with the holiness and mercy of their Creator. Jesus’ death on a cross was the ultimate example of the principle of “love your enemies” at work. Do I have the courage to trust the counsel of Jesus, to do good to those who do evil, love my enemies, and pray for those who do evil against me? Holy Spirit of God, help me not resist but reach beyond evil doers, into the depths of your mercy. But all who will find safety in you will rejoice. (Psalm 5:11) The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does. Thomas à Kempis, The Inner Life www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
0 Comments
1 Kings 19:9-16 In his desolation, isolation and fear for his life, Elijah retreated to a cave at the foot of holy Mount Horeb, anticipating that the God whom he worshipped would appear to him there. The wind storm, an earthquake, and a wildfire that swept by the mouth of the cave reflected the storms raging within Elijah, as battered and lonely prophet of the Lord God. “Are you there, God??,” Elijah queried. Although pagan beliefs often identified wind, earth, and fire as divinities in themselves, Elijah realized that none of these natural phenomena were gods in themselves. After they had passed by, these heralds of God’s presence, but not his presence in and of themselves, Elijah was left with a deafening silence, that same kind of silence I find when traumas and troubles have come and done their worst and then moved out. Had Elijah given in to acedia and depression, and had stayed in the cave, neither this story, nor, arguably, any of the Bible, would be extant today. But when Elijah heard the silence, he wrapped his face in his mantle -representing his fetal (or cocooning) state - and stood at the entrance of the cave. It was when he simply ‘showed up’ - as disconsolate, vulnerable and alone as he was, that God came to him, and met with him, and set his prophet on a course of action that set in motion the coming of the Son of God who was the Son of Man, to ransom and redeem all of humanity. When the deafening silence of Creation engulfs my heart, mind, soul and strength, will I stay in my cave to lick my wounds and call God a liar, or will I, like Elijah, wrap my face in my mantle and stand at the mouth of my ‘cave’ to meet with God and find my way forward? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me show up the silence to meet with you. “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the lord is God, follow him… (1 Kings 18:21) Are we going to use human prudence or the prudence of God? Catherine Doherty. Living the Gospel Without Compromise. P.22 www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei 1 Kings 18:20-39 Elijah sacrificed a bull as a burnt offering to God, and God used that opportunity, in the presence of all the prophets of Baal and the faithless people of Israel, to show forth his power and his mercy. This had the effect of turning many people back to the ‘living God’. Our sacrifices, no matter how small, or of what kind, can also be opportunity for God to show his transforming power that is the might of mercy in action. Each time I wait patiently for someone, relinquish my grip on being ‘right’, consider the needs of others before my own, or generously give of time, treasure or talent to spread the light of faith, hope and love in Christ, I lay my own rights and ideologies on a holy altar. As I offer up my discomfort, my own ideals, and the prideful control of everyone and everything, allowing my sacrifice to be consumed with the fire of God’s mercy, God’s power to shift doubt into faith, despair into hope and indifference into liveliness becomes evident to others, and even more evident to me. When I am challenged in any way, will I tighten my grip on my rights or offer up my self-righteousness, self-comfort, and self-directed independence to holy communion with others for the glory of God? Holy Spirit of God, in my sacrifices manifest your light and your love… “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the lord is God, follow him… (1 Kings 18:21) The choice is clear –either we love with the heart of Christ, or we die a strange death of being lifeless robots. Catherine Doherty. Living the Gospel Without Compromise. P.63 www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei 1 Kings 17:7-16 When we walk with our focus on Jesus’ lead, and with hearts and minds open to the Holy Spirit of God, we are so often led through challenging circumstances and called to wait upon God’s mercy for the provision of what we truly need. In preparation for a major drought and famine, Elijah was first led by the Holy Spirit to a watering hole in the desert, and then, when that dried up, he was sent to a woman of good heart who was herself awaiting God’s provision for food in those times. It was both Elijah’s and the woman’s openness to the Holy Spirit of God that allowed them to receive the graces of food and drink provided miraculously for each of them, and the widow’s son as well. Am I willing to follow God’s leading through the challenges of life and to do my utmost to wait for his provision of my life’s sustenance? Holy Spirit of God, I trust you… Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord! (Psalm 4) And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things too. Don't run out ahead of him Corrie Ten Boom www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei 2 Timothy 4:1-8 As a follower of Jesus, I am charged with proclaiming the message of God’s mercy 24/7. Patience, otherwise known as ‘holy waiting’, is the hallmark of divine compassion that is the motivation behind all evangelism. Perhaps this is why St. Paul lists patience as the first attribute in his timeless description of love, and counselled his apprentice, Timothy, to proclaim the good news of Christ Jesus with utmost patience. When I am patiently compassionate, I don’t just shove biblical principles or my own faith experiences into the airwaves and down people’s throats. Rather, I am called to constantly and quietly devote myself to prayer and intercession and to continue to walk steadily in the love of God and each man, woman and child along the way. Will I allow the patience of the Holy Spirit of God to direct my proclamation of the good news ? Christ Jesus, help me proclaim the message with utmost patience. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. (Psalm 25:1) Patience means awaiting God’s time and trusting God’s love. Corrie Ten Boom 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 2024
Categories |