Mark 4:26-34
                                        
I recall as a child planting peas in the garden and then discovering the incredible miracle of germination and growth. One small, grey, hard, seed sprouted and grew imperceptibly, but so quickly, into a large and sprawling plant, that not only climbed the trellis tendril by tendril, but blossomed, and grew pods that were full of delicious, sweet peas!  So it is with the tiny germs of mercy in my life. I may think that there is no hope, no place, for grace in the events or relationships in my life.  But, as soon as I find and sow, embrace and tend any seed of God’s grace with forgiveness and trust, I can trace God’s grace unfolding like a pea plant sprout, growing so gently and so quietly into a lively plant with many leaves of hope, abundant blossoms of compassion and eventually pods of holiness containing more seeds for more plants of mercy to grow on into future circumstances and relationships. Will I begin to tend the seeds of God’s goodness in all circumstances and interpersonal connections in my life and behold the mercy of God gradually redeeming the world? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me behold the mystery of mercy unfolding in our lives. 
 
And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundred fold. (Mark 4:20)
 
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.
Corrie Ten Boom
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei

 
1 Samuel 24:2-21
                                       
After years of being hunted out of malice and envy by King Saul, David and his men, justifiably, would have been more than ready to slaughter Saul and his men. In a bizarre incident, David’s gang is hiding out in the dark recesses of a cave when Saul comes alone to the mouth of the cave to defecate. Outer garments flung aside as he intently goes about his business, the King is easy prey. But David whose integrity, or righteousness, prevented him from harming God’s anointed, in silence held back his men’s ire and even chastised his own self for stealthily cutting off a corner of Saul’s mantle. Moving shame to gain, David used his trophy of the hunt to signal to the King and all present that forgiveness (that is giving fore-ward beyond all that is evil) gives life. Instead of spilling blood, David chose to protect life. Instead of ‘winning’ short term, David brokered repentance and reconciliation that restored friendship between the two men and supported peace and prosperity in Israel. When the battle is in my hands, will I repay evil with evil, or with good? Holy Spirit of God, guide me in your ways of forgiveness and life. 
        
In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by.    (Psalm 57:1)
 
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
1 Samuel 18:6-19:7
                                         
With one small, smooth, stone David effectively turned the tide in a year-long conflict. King Saul at first must have been overjoyed when his armies scored a decisive victory over the Philistines following Goliath’s death. But then with over-thinking Saul became caught up in jealousy and malicious ideation that took him far away from the joy and the peace of his people.  “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands” wormed its way so far into his conscience and thoughts that instead of forging an engaging alliance with David and moving on to govern Israel together through gracious times of peace and prosperity, Saul became consumed with revenge and spent his time and energy chasing fragments of hatred around the confines of his own mind and spirit. It took the truth of his son, Jonathan, who loved David for the lively and powerful person that he was, to break through the darkness at work in his father and call King Saul back to the sanity of reality, away from jealousy and vengeance, at least for a season. Will I believe and act out my own self-centred reflections or allow truth and mercy to inform my being? Holy Spirit of God, keep me free from engaging malice and envy. 
        
Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.   (Proverbs 15:4)
 
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
St. Teresa of Calcutta  
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 

 
1 Samuel 17:32-51
                                         
Like the Israelites of old, sometimes it seems that we are constantly engaged in battles with the enemy, that is the forces of darkness, ‘death’ and deceits of all kinds. The stories of war in the books of Samuel teach us much about our present day conflicts of good vs. evil. When David faced Goliath, he made a lucid statement that stands for all ages: This is not my battle, it is the Lord’s. Although it may seem that the ‘battles’ I face in interpersonal relationships, in my work, or in the wider community are mine to fight and to conquer, the truth is that every battle is a scene in the theo-drama of love conquering fear, hope disengaging despair, and faith in God making sense of chaos.  As I engage the forces of evil in the battlegrounds of life, I am called to depend not on my own weaponry and wits, but to choose ‘five small, smooth stones’ , that is, a limited number of simple, well-balanced words or actions of mercy, of forgiveness, or of kindness. and keep them near at hand.  Then when the evil forces swirling around me attempt to deride me and laugh at my trust in God, I can casually take out a word or a work of grace and send it flying their way to stop them dead in their tracks.  Am I lugging around weighty weaponry, or do I have my pouch full of dozens of rough rocks, or do I I have ‘five’ smooth stones of truth and love in my pocket ready to be launched at the behest of the Holy Spirit of God at exactly the right moment?  Holy Spirit of God, help me choose and use 5 smooth stones to fight your battles.    
                                                                              
Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.   (Proverbs 15:4)
 
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
St. Teresa of Calcutta  
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei

 
1 Samuel 16:1-13
                                        
When Samuel was tasked with anointing the next king of Israel, God led him to rise and anoint an unlikely candidate from the world’s point of view – the youngest son of Jesse, a mere shepherd boy. Why? Because God saw the goodness in David’s heart.  What was the goodness God values? David was physically fit and active (“ruddy”); he had a lively and pure spirit (“beautiful eyes”); he was handsome (to quote the age-old adage, ‘handsome is as handsome does’). We also know that David was a natural musician and poet (the Psalms). By virtue of being a shepherd, he knew the land; he was a ‘can do’ kind of person who could handle responsibility; he had good survival and problem solving skills; he was not afraid of hard labour; and he must have been patient and caring to manage a whole herd of wandering sheep alone. As the youngest in a family of  eight boys, he was probably also well-versed in interpersonal relationships! And it seems he was closely connected with his family members – they could find him quite quickly to bring him to Samuel. Are any of these desirable characteristics present in my life, called as I am to be a servant-shepherd, like David? Will I value the characteristics God sees in my heart? Holy Spirit of God, find in my heart what you are looking for.   
 
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.    (John 1)
 
We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  
St. Teresa of Calcutta  
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei