Mark 9:41-50                                                              
 
Just as salt is one of the most common, and one of the most useful, elements on the planet so the Holy Spirit of God is ubiquitous and most helpful in the spiritual realm. As much as I bring in and keep the liveliness of the Holy Spirit of God within me, I ‘have salt within me’ as Jesus counselled. Just as ‘salt’ purifies stains, removes hardness from water, soothes a sore throat, heals cuts, preserves meat and fish, melts ice and makes paths and roads passable in the winter, so the salt of the liveliness of the Holy Spirit works within my heart, soul, mind and strength. The Spirit applied to the fabric of my soul can eliminate the stains of sin. Mixed with the water of Baptism, it removes the hard edges of a legalistic faith from life in the Spirit.  Soothing my throat of all judgements and hateful speech, the holiness of the Spirit frees my voice to sing praises to God and words of mercy to others.  Applied to cuts and scrapes from working or even playing in the market place, the Holy Spirit heals the hurts left by trauma and rejection in my life.  As a ‘preserving’ agent the Holy Spirit when welcomed works its way into my spirit, and preserves the dignity I have as a child of God. Sprinkled liberally on the paths and passageways of my life, the Holy Spirit melts the ice of bitterness and hardness of heart and allows me safe and sure-footed progress forward.  With all this saltiness at work in me, it is no wonder that peace with others –and with myself –falls into place.  Christ Jesus, help me have salt in myself and be at peace with others. 
 
Happy are those ... whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)
 
What you do matters — but not much. What you are matters tremendously. 
― Catherine Doherty                                                                                                
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Mark 8:34-9:1                                                   
 
Jesus doesn’t mince words when he says, “Forget yourself, take up your cross and follow me. For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for me and for the gospel, you will save it...” These days, as in Jesus’ day, individuals are so preoccupied with ‘saving’ their lives through health regimens, mind games and correct political affiliations, that they lose sight of the most important factor of life: purifying and growing their souls for eternity. As the co-Creator of humankind, Jesus knew the most effective way of engaging God’s plan for salvation. He knows that as we give of ourselves for His sake, generously pouring out our time, treasure and talents into relationships, conversations and actions that point others to the grace and mercy of God, we are indeed fulfilling our divinely designed destiny and our souls’ deepest desires. How generous am I with my life for the sake of Christ Jesus and the Good News of salvation? Holy Spirit of God, guide me to give my life generously for Christ’s sake.     
                                               
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.  (Psalm 23:3)
 
Don’t be daunted by the cross. The surest test of love consists in suffering for the loved one, and if God suffered so much for love, the pain we suffer for Him becomes as lovable as love itself.
St. Padre Pio                                                                                                     
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Mark 8:27-33                                                              
 
It is obvious that for anyone, life will present its challenges both great and small. But what to do with them and why? Jesus lived through some of the most severe challenges a man has ever had to face. As a reward for healing the masses and revealing the Good News of God’s Kingdom to the crowds, he was captured, tortured and crucified –and lived his life and death well, with both dignity and strength. The result of Jesus’ living through seemingly evil circumstances was that His merciful obedience transformed these brutal realities into the marvellous and enduring Grace of God. Jesus knew this; it is understandable, then, that when Peter tried to ‘fix’ the evils Jesus revealed about his near future and prevent them from happening to his Master, Jesus strongly chastised him and called out Satan’s play for comfort, peace and security. By proceeding to live well his obedience, suffering and even death, Jesus showed all of humankind how to live well the challenges of life so that they can be transformed from darkness into light, from death into life, and from despair into divine redemption. When challenges present themselves, do I live them well, as Jesus did, or, like Peter, and Satan who prompted him, do I try with all my being to avert them? Christ Jesus, help me live well the challenges of life.
 
God looked at the earth to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die. (Psalm 102:20)
 
The man [or woman] of the true religious tradition understands two things: liberty and obedience. The first means knowing what you really want. The second means knowing what you really trust.
GK Chesterton
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Genesis 4, 1-15, 25                                                     
  
Just because I offer gifts of talent, time or treasure does not mean they will be received either by God or by others. Like Cain, I too present gifts that are rejected for no apparent reason, while others’ gifts are accepted and applauded. And like Cain, God extends to me as well, the underlying gift of mercy that is available in all circumstances, no matter how unfair or how maddening. If Cain had faithfully turned to the mercy of God, he would have discovered God’s ‘pruning’ of his casual relationship with sin. “Sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it,” God told him, and invited him to love his brother beyond envy and jealousy. So too when mere mortals reject the gifts I offer at work, at church, in my community or at home, God invites me to enter more fully into his nature, his Spirit, of love and mercy and allow Him to prune sin of many kinds from my heart. When my gifts are rejected, will I like Cain allow frustration and envy to seek revenge or retaliation, or will I continue to cultivate the gifts of my life in order to offer them again to others and ultimately to God? Christ Jesus, when my gifts are rejected, teach me more about mercy.     
 
Giving praise is the sacrifice that honours me, and I will surely save all who obey me. (Psalm 50:23)
 
The man [or woman] of the true religious tradition understands two things: liberty and obedience. The first means knowing what you really want. The second means knowing what you really trust.
GK Chesterton
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Genesis 3:9-24 & Mark 8:1-10                                  
  
When I listen to the deceits of the enemy and saying ‘Just a little, just this once’ turn away from the Love and Truth of God to feed my own passions or step on someone else, I will face the consequences of sin.  Then I will either start down a path of self-deception away from life-giving relationships with myself, others and ultimately God. Witness the disruption of Adam’s original intimate relationship with his Creator and all of the consequences named in scripture when Eve picked fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  The good news is that Christ Jesus breaks through the consequences of human folly.  When the crowd, chained as they were to the curse of having to grow grain and make bread from the earth, forgot to bring enough food for the day, Jesus recognized their communal hunger and elicited their compassionate free-will sharing of what they had, where they were. Adding his own obedience and mercy as the Son of God who was without the deceit of sin, Jesus was able to bless their obedient offerings and with just seven loaves and a few fish feed 4, 000 people. These people chose Jesus’ saving work over sins of denial and blame, freed themselves from the consequences of sin and witnessed joy running over, that is, seven baskets of leftovers! Will I continually choose sin and its consequences, or the joy of the saving work of Christ Jesus? Holy Spirit, help me choose the joy of Christ’s saving work over the consequences of sin.   
 
So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. (Psalm 90:12)
 
The man [or woman] of the true religious tradition understands two things: liberty and obedience. The first means knowing what you really want. The second means knowing what you really trust.
GK Chesterton
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei