Gospel Mystery of the Day              Saturday, February 25, 2023
 
Good Morning!      
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
 
Luke 9:22-25
Holy Spirit of Jesus, teach me how to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you…
 
I have been tending a young jade plant since the summer. It was growing beautifully until it was overwatered; the roots rotted, and the leaves withered and fell off one by one. As soon as I ‘overwater’ myself with comforts, happiness and seeking ‘wholeness’ on my own terms, my soul, like an over-watered jade plant, begins to suffer from root-rot, sicken and die.  But when I expend little energy gathering everything to myself  for my own good, and use time, talents, and treasure to pray, to fast, and to live live out God’s Mercy, then my whole being - heart, mind, soul and strength - can grow into its full potential. Then my roots of faith, hope, and love do not rot, and the leaves of my life do not whither and fall away. Will I live lightly on this earth, depending very little on worldly goods and ways, learning how to deny the desires of senses, and spending my time, treasure and talents taking up my cross made up of the people and purposes God has placed in my life? Will I follow Christ Jesus in the holy ways of the Lord of Life? Holy Spirit of Jesus, teach me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow You…
 
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may be faithful in your sight; Give me an undivided heart to revere your name. (Psalm 86:11)
 
Freedom is not the ability to do anything we want, whenever we want. Rather, FREEDOM is the ability to live responsibly the truth of our relationship with God and with one another.
Saint Pope John Paul II
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 

 
Mark 8:27-33

 
Peter lived in an age without smart phones or computers and only hand-printed documents stored in the library of the synagogue, or a place of learning. Yet even Peter was so influenced by the customs and influences of his cultural milieu that, even after having just had the spiritual insight to  proclaim Jesus the Messiah, he was unable to hear Jesus’ own divine Truth, spoken in love, that He would  suffer, be rejected by the elders, and killed. And we are even more challenged to set our minds on God’s perspective today.  Every hour of every day, all kinds of ‘things’ come into our lives. With social media dinging us constantly on our smart phones, browser algorithms sending endless chains of interesting bites of news, and excellent audio, visual, and print media filling our eyes and ears almost everywhere, almost all the time,  it seems that our minds are always overloaded and often overwhelmed.  Add to all of this constant current of visual and auditory stimuli, the information gleaned from conversations with friends, families and acquaintances, and there is no wonder why mental illness is on the rise in our culture. Now more than ever, as followers of Jesus,  through prayer and fasting, we need to be aware of what we receive into our lives, and then carefully guard and discipline the setting of our minds beyond the temporary and fickle things of this world, to focus on things divine – love, beauty, joy, peace, truth, faithfulness, thanksgiving and etcetera.  As lent approaches, will I set my mind on things human or divine? Holy Spirit, help me set my mind on divine, not human, things…
 
It is the Lord who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.  (Psalm 103:2-4)
 
The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness!
Pope Benedict XVI
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Matthew 5:38 -48

 
When my main focus becomes resisting those who would harm me, and ridding the world of their evil by my own power, there is no end to the darkness, the depths and the death my soul can sink into. Yes!  I must resist the Devil that prowls around the world, so that he flees from me, as Saint James (James 3:7) counsels! But it is Satan who lures us into thinking that if we resist evil doers and stand against the people who hurt us or persecute us that we will be able to rid our lives of hurt and hatred.  Jesus reminds us, reminds me, to not get sucked into hatred of others for any reason.  Instead, He tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us – just as He prayed for those who crucified Him: Father forgive them for they know not what they do.  When I, too, hate the sin, but love the sinner, I too, like Jesus, can rise above persecutions whether they be great or small, and by loving and praying for even the enemies/ persecutors/bullies/grouches/liars that trespass against my person, I can live beyond the hurts of this world and perhaps help even those people find their way home to God.  In this way I can ‘grow into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character and reach for God’s perfection that is the height of virtue and integrity’. (Amplified Bible Matthew 5:48).  Will I grow up into the perfection of loving my enemies and praying for those who despitefully use me? Christ Jesus, help me not resist and revile evil doers but love them.   
 
It is the Lord who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.  (Psalm 103:2-4)
 
Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose. 
Letter of St. James 1:19-20
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Gospel Mystery of the Day              Friday, Feb 17, 2023
 
Good Morning!      
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
 
Mark 8:22-26
Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me see clearly…
 
When Jesus healed the blind man of Bethsaida we were given a view of how God heals our blindness today, both physical and spiritual.  How much God values the restoration of sight was demonstrated by Jesus taking the hand of the man who couldn’t see and leading him gently out of the village to spend some alone time with him. Away from the sensory over-load of everything worldly, away from the jostling crowd that could disorient and knock the man over, away from the prying and critical eyes of others, our Lord used his own saliva, his own healing cells, to clear up and cure the cause of the man’s blindness. Furthermore, we notice that Jesus was not content with partial sight restoration, that made others appear to be walking trees; Jesus took time to restore the man’s vision fully so that he saw everything clearly. When I realize that the eyes of my heart are blinded – that I am overwhelmed by all the desires and distractions around me, the jostling crowds, the prying eyes and critical spirits of the world – will I, like the blind man of Bethsaida ask Jesus for healing of my spiritual blindness?  Will I allow Him to lead me by the hand, away from all that darkens my heart and clouds my vision?  Will I patiently let him rub his healing Spirit into the eyes of my heart to cure the cause of my inner blindness, so that I can see everything, and everyone, clearly?  Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me to see clearly!
 
When you send forth your spirit, [we] are created, and you renew the face of the earth.  (Psalm 104: 30)
 
Spiritual blindness is far worse than physical blindness.
St. Paul. 2 Corinthians 4:4
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Hebrews 13:15-21 & Matthew 5:13-16

 
In these days of the Post Christian and Relativism eras, doing, and being, good is often mocked and maligned. And yet, it is the goodness and righteousness of humankind, patterned as it is after the holy Goodness of God that gives our lives grace and purpose, and helps us protect and nurture life at all costs as we work through the challenges and storms we face individually and collectively on a daily basis.  Just as light is most visible in the darkness and salted food is clearly more tasty than bland, so striving to be complete in God’s goodness is striking because it can transform human despondency and despair into the lucidity and liveliness that marked the life of Christ Jesus.  Being complete in goodness means that I keep no score of wrongs, that I love without counting the cost, and hide no bitter or resentful secrets in my heart.  It means that my faith in God is my first and my most sheltering defense, and that I wield no swords of bitterness and envy, passion or ego-centricity, but constantly take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word and wisdom of God. In this way I can be a fully and completely good member of my family, my work place, my community – I can be salt and light - extending always and only the love and mercy of God through my being, my doing, and my praying. Will I be so completely committed to God’s goodness that I will be salt and light in the world? Holy Spirit of Jesus, make me complete in all goodness to do your will.  
 
When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.  (Psalm 104: 30)
 
LORD YOU HAVE MY HEART
Lord you have my heart
And I will search for yours
Jesus take my life and lead me on.
Lord you have my heart
And I will search for yours
Let me be to you a sacrifice.
And I will praise you Lord
And I will sing of love come down
And as you show your face
We'll see your glory here.
Songwriter: Martin James Smith   
Listen at   https://www.google.com/search?q=lord+you+have+my+heart+lyrics&rlz=1C1SQJL_enCA890CA891&oq=lord+you+have+my+heart+lyrics&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i512l3j0i22i30l3j69i60.13751j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:d6a81b9c,vid:b3WVpgeXU5Y
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca