Psalm 16 & Mark 13:24-32

 
As winter darkness approaches, it encroaches on our freedom out-of - doors, and our mental ease within. In this season, it is easy to look to passions and dependencies of all kinds to divert our attention from the embracing dark night of our souls. It is likewise a short step to curling up in the cocoon of depression, or at least disenchantment with life in general, just letting life happen, come what may.  But Jesus’ counsel to his disciples about any of these ends times whether it be end of a growing cycle, end of a calendar year or end of a generation of human kind (that would be ours!), is to stay sober and vigilant. When once I give into the numbness of diversion and entertainment, I become hardened to the dignity and spiritual muscle it takes to embrace true joy and true live-li-ness despite the darkness and storms that come and go around us. And when I stop ‘tracing the Grace’ of God in my life with praise and thanksgiving, my lack of vigilance to the workings of God through the good, the bad, the distressing, and the joyous has deadly results for myself and those around me. Thankfully, as I live ‘soberly’ keeping the Word of God alive and active in my life, I can find ample love, joy, peace, patience, generosity, faithfulness and self-discipline to see me through even the darkest days. And, being vigilant, I will always be able to seek and to find more than enough Grace shining through even darkest nights, to remind me of God’s steadfast Love and Mercy. Will I give into the darkness of this season of the year, and of humanity in general, or will I soberly and vigilantly breathe in the Fire of the Holy Spirit and become a Christ-like-Light of hope to shine into all the corners of the world around me?  Holy Spirit of God, help me be sober and vigilant in these days.   
 
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; … Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.  (Psalm 16:5,9)
 
Let us remember that love lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving. Without sacrifice, there is no love… A single act of love makes the soul return to life.
Saint Maximillian Kolbe
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Luke 17:7-10

 
There are two kinds of people in this world – those who are blessed and those who choose not to receive the blessings of God.  And there are two kinds of servants in this world – those who are happy and those choosing not to be happy. A servant is one who anticipates the needs of the one he/ she is serving, jumps up to fulfill them, and does not expect or demand reward in return for rendering service.  Service is a given – no matter how fatiguing, how tedious, how messy, how disgusting, or how strenuous the task at hand.  And the reward for service faithfully rendered?  The only sure reward for approaching life with a servant heart is the peace of being aligned with the Word of God, the Living Word, that is Jesus, who gave his life for us mere mortals as his fellow human beings.  That is, as servants of one another, we are aligning ourselves with Christ Jesus who served up salvation, no matter how fatiguing, how tedious, how messy, how disgusting or how strenuous it was to carry out his redeeming work in his Passion and death on a cross.  As a servant will I, like Christ Jesus, know beyond the shadow of any doubt that God has planned for our Resurrection both in this life and the next?   Holy Spirit of God, help me render service to others as to You..    
 
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart… Our  steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way.  (Psalm 37: 4,23 )
 
We become saints not by violently overcoming our own weakness, but by letting the Lord give us the strength and purity of God’s Spirit in exchange for our weakness and misery. 
Thomas Merton
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Eph 3:13 – 21

 
The winds of fall, blowing leaves off trees, and garbage cans down the street, and reaching icy fingers through jackets, are a reminder of the ‘winds of change’ that can toss us about at any season of our lives.  How to stay anchored and upright in those times of wind and inclement weather in our lives?  St. Paul reminded the Ephesians who were suffering the martyrdoms and mayhem of the Early Church … and us today… to be rooted and grounded in the Steadfast Love of God, being mindful of the steadfastness of Christ Jesus in his time on earth. If I take root in other ideals or root myself in my own various pursuits, plans and projects, I will become like a sailing recycling bin, or a leaf tumbling in the winds of all the changes that come into our lives on earth. But as much as I reach down into Holy Scriptures for my inspiration, and root myself in silent prayer and meditation in the presence of Father God, and his Son, Christ Jesus, then I am able to begin to comprehend that Steadfast Love of God, and weather the storms of any season or circumstance of life.  This is the LOVE that brought order to the chaos of the universe, regulated light and darkness on the amazing creation that is the planet Earth, and willed my soul to take on human form for the years of my life here in the world.  Will I trust this divine, creative – and steadfast – Love of God? Holy Spirit of God, help me remain firmly rooted and grounded in your steadfast love.   
 
Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine [storms].        (Psalm 33: 18 & 19 )
 
Spread love everywhere you go.  Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
Mother Teresa of Kalkotta
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca

 
Luke 11:37-54

 
Was Jesus merely blasting the pharisees, or was he making a profound statement about inner sanctity? Luke recounts how two pharisees dared to invite the itinerant preacher from North (Nazareth) for dinner… and then pointed out his social and ‘religious’ faults by commenting that he didn’t wash his hands before eating. Jesus ticked both pharisee hosts, and then the scribes for being ‘whited sepulchers’ rather than the truly holy people God designed them to be. Like many people through the ages, these seemingly religious people were doers of everything religious, and busy with judging others, preferring their self-appointed status to joining themselves to the Father’s heart and will. Holiness for them was an outward show, rather than an inward journey to their God and Father. Many of us today suffer from this same religiosity and forget what true holiness is – that is, a heart, mind, soul and strength so aligned to the Holy Spirit of God, that God’s character of Mercy is enacted in ‘small actions done with great love’ (Saint Mother Teresa of Kalcutta). Will I fall into the rut of prescribed religious activities and sacramentals, or will I learn the freedom of a life inspired and full-filled by the Holy Spirit of God?  Will I, with the humility and trust of a beloved child turn to the Father in simple praise and thanksgiving and take up the yoke of Christ Jesus to learn from Him a truly religious (regulated, healed, and wholly holy) way of life? Holy Spirit of God, help me become holy from the inside out.
 
Incline my heart according to your will, O God, speed my steps along your path.       (Psalm 119:36 )
 
Forgive the sins of your people, Lord, and let this new day bring us closer to salvation.
Week IV Wednesday Morning Prayer, Shorter Christian Prayer
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 

Luke 10:1-12 & Luke 10:38-42

 
All that God desires is a person simply living in his image. He needs disciples of Jesus who are aligned with his plans and purposes, to ‘go out’ to be present to heal, lead and protect his beloved sons and daughters where they are, in their homes, their places of work and play, and in our communities.  Jesus sent out 70 disciples at one point in his ministry to be – to do – just that. They were given instructions to stay where they were welcomed, and to shake the dust of their place off their feet when they weren’t. Mary of Bethany shows us how to prepare ourselves for such ministry: Instead of packing her bag, and buying a new pair of ‘good’ sandals, as her sister Martha was wont to do, Mary sat the feet of Jesus listening to his every word and basking in his light and love and Life.  The primary activities of the 70 amongst the people were to proclaim the Good News of God’s Mercy and redemption from sin, to release the captives, raise the dead and heal the sick (cf Mark 6:6-13). Am I ready to be sent out as a disciple of Jesus to simply do the will of God out amongst my fellow human beings?   Have I sat at the feet of Jesus long enough today to go out with the fire of his Holy Spirit?  
 
Incline my heart according to your will, O God, speed my steps along your path.       (Psalm 119:36 )
 
May our lives mirror our love for you whose wisdom has brought us into being, and whose care guides us on our way…
Week II Wednesday Morning Prayer, Shorter Christian Prayer
 
View: My Heart, Christ’s Home, by Robert Munger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzXHpNxAAps    
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca