Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Gospel Mystery of the Day Thursday, June 29, 2023
Good Morning! Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119) 2 Corinthians 4:1-10 Holy Spirit of God, teach me the joy of being a cracked pot... Interestingly, scripture likens human beings to vessels of clay, of humus, of ‘soil’; we are not created from glass, plastic or metal, those products of mankind’s ingenuity and the extractive raping of the earth. In today’s consumer world, a clay pot has minimal value, and when it is cracked it is thrown away. That is not how the economy of our Creator works. As Artist of all arts, God fashions our lives, human and earthy as they are, with care making each of us vessels unique, whole and complete. Unfortunately, cracks do appear over time in clay pots and so in our lives. But when trials and traumas fragment or smash our bodies, minds and souls, God does not throw us in the trash, but rather invites us to find his Holy Spirit within us and by prayer and fasting, repentance and good works, to fan the flames of Holy LIfe to become a roaring fire of Might and Light. As it dries, clay becomes more fragile, and if dropped, a clay jar will crack at best, and break at worst, leaking or spilling its contents entirely. Similarly, no matter how much I try to ‘keep it together’, when life events do not go according to plan, my soul leaks out by my demeanor, my words, and my deeds, and becomes visible to others in the world. If I am full of bitterness, resentment, fears and frustrations, that is what spills out of my life in troubled times. But as much as I take in the peace and liveliness of the Holy Spirit of God, no matter how difficult my life’s journey becomes, purity, faithfulness and love will spill out when I ‘crack’, sending ripples of out and around into the world. Then I have the joy of revealing the Joy of the Holy Spirit of Life, Light and Love to others, both near and far. When ‘life happens’ to me, will I spill out despair, despondency and darkness, or will I willingly allow my soul and spirit to reveal the Glory of God’s Mercy? Holy Spirit of God, teach me the joy of being a cracked pot. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow wto anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 103) Have your own way, Lord, You are the potter, I am the clay, Make me and mold me, In your own way… Adelaide Pollard Listen to Canvas and Clay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puDttOmbq2Y Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook &www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
0 Comments
Matthew 6:1-18 It is National Indigenous Peoples Day for our country! My day job, as Coordinator of Isaruit Inuit Arts centre in Ottawa, is daunting today, far beyond my own resources! We, 12 Inuit and I, are setting up a place of welcome for “Inuit” [translated – human beings] – a huge 24x18 traditional hand-made tent As a tentmaker, St. Paul would have appreciated its workmanship! We are expecting 400 + visitors today and so each of us as members of Isaruit will be giving up much time, talent, treasure and energy today – not to mention country food (like seal meat), information and counsel for those Indigenous and non-Indigenous people seeking ‘reconciliation’ , that is the healing, of our country. As I face this day of unlimited giving, will I do so in my own strength and generosity, or will I walk through the day ever-mindful of God’s generosity to me? Will I be able to give and give some more of my time, talent, treasure and energy without counting the cost, generously and quietly, following in the footsteps of Jesus who gave up everything he had for his ‘friends’, for ‘inuit’ for ‘human beings’ that is, for all of us? Holy Spirit of God, help me give with a humble and a thankful heart. Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his ways… they have distributed freely. (Psalm 112) For each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9 Listen to God Loves a Cheerful Giver, by Sister Miriam Therese Winters : https://www.google.com/search?q=god+loves+a+cheerful+giver+song&rlz=1C1SQJL_enCA890CA891&oq=God+loves+a+cheef&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0i10i512l9.7061j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:74d0e4f8,vid:MYmsJyGBipo Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook &www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Holy Spirit of God, beyond afflictions and suffering, let me realize your help and hope ...6/14/2023 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 When we are in the thick of the storms or life, it is easy to forget that life exists beyond the winds of extreme change and the lightening streaks of fear, grief and rage exploding around and through us. And then we can so easily become seasick on the tossing waves - let alone fearfully dark to match the cloudiness engulfing us. But St. Paul - who faced innumerable and untold traumas and trials, and was afflicted by a ‘thorn in the flesh’ (2 Cor.12:7) and suffered snake bites, shipwrecks and stonings frequently during his journey as a Christian missionary – had come to know the secret of remaining not only grounded. Not only was he encouraged in the midst of the gales and tornados of darkness he experienced, but he was so Grace-full that he could say, Grace to you and peace from God our Father! As he put pen to paper to write to the Christians at Corinth. What follows in the second letter to the Corinthians is Paul’s wisdom regarding the relationship of afflictions and suffering to the Help – or ‘Encouragement’, or ‘Consolation’ - and divine Hope that is always present to us through the Holy Spirit of God. This is the same Help-Encouragement-Consolation and subsequent Hope that strengthened and sustained the holy joy of Mother Mary and all the Apostles in the first century Annos dei and that all Saints have discovered and experienced down through the ages since. This same courage that Mary and Jesus used at the crucifixion is present to us – if we will only turn to the Lord and real-ize his work of Mercy in, and around, and through us. When I am afflicted or suffering, will I have the presence of mind and spirit to seek the Encouragement and the Hope of God, so that I might Magnify and Praise the Lord God? Holy Spirit of God, beyond afflictions and suffering, let me realize your help and hope. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Happy are those who take refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:8 ) You need not cry very loud: He is nearer to us than we think. Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God Listen to You Are Mine By David Haas ttps://www.google.com/search?q=do+not+be+afraid+i+am+with+you&rlz=1C1SQJL_enCA890CA891&oq=Do+not+b&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j35i39i650j0i20i263i512j46i512j46i340i512l2j0i512l4.10239j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:03960e53,vid:14pPevY5sd8 Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook &www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Tobit 1:1 – 14:14 In his book, written 2500 years ago, Tobit teaches us how to navigate the storms of life. What a dread-full set of circumstances! A whole family’s fate was in the balance! What a terrible tragedy that Tobit, a man known to be upright and faithful should lose his sight and become the laughing stock of everyone. How worrisome that his only son, Tobias, had to make the treacherous journey to a town in occupied territory to pick up his father’s money to see the family through impoverished times. How scarey that Tobias was by rights detained to marry Sarah, also a person of faith, whose husbands were seemingly cursed- 7 of them had died on the night they wedded her – seemingly through demonic interference. What to do?? Throughout these frightening experiences each member of Tobit’s family prayed, continued to praise God, and trusted Him for “mercy and protection, to let them live out their lives in happiness and love” (Tobit 8:17). Within a few weeks of seemingly drowning in the waves of trauma, the angel Raphael appearing in the guise of a man, was sent to accompany Tobias on his journey, to help him catch a fish that provided medicine for his pending marriage and for Tobit’s eyes, to guide him safely through his marriage to Sarah, to remind Tobias that God’s mercy is always available through prayer and trust to combat even the most vicious demons, and to teach Tobias how to apply the fish-gall salve to his Father’s eyes to restore his sight. We, too, can wait on God’s mercy and protection, to safely guide us through trials and troubles of this life. When the storms of life come to my family, will we give up in despair or will we, like Tobit’s family first and foremost seek God’s mercy and protection to receive godly direction to guide us through to the happiness and love that is available always to all of God’s children? Holy Spirit of God, help us seek your connection, for our direction. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. (Psalm 19: 9) Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. Corrie Ten Boom Listen to You are Mine, by David Haas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14pPevY5sd8 Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook &www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Mark 11:20-25 As long as I am remembering others’ offences against me, I re-call their injury and unkind intentions, and massage that darkness again to life. It is then that disparagements, deceptions and despair take hold of my own mind, and despondency – or worse still revenge – settles into my own soul. This turns my being away from the light and love of the Holy Spirit of Jesus, as I lick my wounds in the corners and crevasses of unforgiveness. But when I forgive, and so no longer engage the darkness of past deeds, I allow the oil of gladness and the sacrifice of thanksgiving to penetrate my heart. Then even the deepest hurt can be healed and ‘remembered no more’ against another. It is then that I can begin to pray for those who have “trespassed against me” , and let God bring about His kingdom of holiness and wholeness on earth, as it is in heaven. Will I continue to judge ever more bitterly those who have offended against me? Or by the Grace of the Holy Spirit will I forgive others’ offences against me and live into the holy image of God stamped into my being? Holy Spirit of God, help me forgive what I hold against others. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. (Psalm 25:4,5) Throughout your life, people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, because hate in your heart will consume you too. Will Smith Read Don’t Forgive Too Soon by Matthew Linn, Sheila fabricant Linn, Dennis Linn https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/149808 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 |