Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
John 14:21-27-31a Just as there are storms in the weather of the land, so storms come and go in the weather of our hearts. Some storms are expected and ‘normal’, giving us ‘cloudy weather’ for a while. But it is the unexpected, ferocious storms, like the derecho storms that swept through Ontario last weekend, that seem to come out of the blue, that can wreck our lives with their fierce winds of change and the devastating tornados that sometimes rip through our hearts, minds, souls and strength. It is these fierce storms that especially build up fears and troubles that seem to consume our very beings and threaten to spit us out on a garbage heap. Thanks be to God, we are designed for peace that the world cannot give! And when we seek that peace in the person of Christ Jesus who seemed to have been wrecked by his own derecho [de-reck-o] storm – the crucifixion – we too can experience the resurrection that he experienced on the third day. Again and again, we find out and know that the clouds and winds do eventually clear away, so that the sun shines upon us again. That sun of God’s mercy, IS always there, above and beyond any clouds, any storms, even any derechos, that life can throw at us. The fact is, it is through God’s mercy that any tree, any flower, any plant, and any human being, grows and flourishes. And like all things, God uses even the storms to adjust his creation to bring it to fullness and new life. Today will I let myself be stormed-tossed, and consumed, or will I seek a safe refuge in the presence of Jesus, to breathe in the presence of the Holy Spirit and drink deeply of His Peace? Christ Jesus, replace the fears and troubles in my heart with your peace. He has raised up a power for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people … who are close to him. (Psalm 148:14) There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering, too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways. Saint Mother Teresa Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
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John 14:21-31 Is there room in our lives for God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit? It is clear that sin, along with fears, conflicts and trials push all else to the margins of our lives, leaving little room for holy housemates. But what about passions, the ‘goods’ of this life, that consume heart, soul, mind and strength? The pursuit of comforts and securities or even plans and projects, quickly squeezes out the discipline to seek God through prayer and reading scripture, as well as the time to drink deeply of his wisdom and peace, in the presence of holiness. But when we do deliberately turn away from the ‘bads’ and the ‘goods’ of the world to be still before God, and to welcome him and his ministering Son to be at home within us, then we will have room to breathe in the lively, light bearing, love that the Holy Trinity offers. It was this communion that gave Jesus the power and strength to endure his Passion, and to rise again. Will I seek to give God, with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, room to be at home within my life? Father God, come with Jesus your Son and make your home in my heart. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us. (Psalm 67:1) When the enemy can’t make you bad, he makes you busy. Corrie Ten Boom Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Acts 13:13-35, John 18:16-20 King Saul & Judas Iscariot had this in common: They were both particularly chosen by God to be in privileged postions. Saul was to become the first king of the Israelites and Judas was handpicked by Jesus to become one of his 12 Apostles. But Saul and Judas also turned against God, each driven by an attitude uninformed by faith. Out of fear, King Saul became worried about his status and tried to eliminate David who was anointed to become his successor. Out of personal greed Judas tossed faith to the wind and betrayed Jesus. Protracted fear and greed are signs of faithlessness, and as they grasp a person’s spirit, they will consequently result in sin and torment , just as they produced sin and untimely death when they were unleashed in the lives of Saul and Judas. Since Jesus lived and rose again and sent us the Holy Spirit to teach and empower us, we always have a choice to look to Jesus and follow his way, to the abundant life that is the Good News, instead of leaning to our own understanding of what is important in life. Will I become sidetracked from the way of Jesus, by giving in to fear and greed? Or will I faithfully walk with Christ Jesus and our Heavenly Father along the right path? Holy Spirit of God, help me follow you along the good path of abundant life. My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his name shall be exalted. (Psalm 89) Take care of your body as if you were going to live forever, and take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow. St. Augustine Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca Acts 11:19 -26 & John 10:22 -30 Barnabas, whose name means Son of Encouragement, was prayerfully voted in by the Apostles to replace Judas Iscariot, the Son of Perdition. It was because he was a ‘good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith”. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 87, “all [his] springs were in God.” Barnabas received from God all his health, wealth and welfare. As a result he was one of those to whom Jesus referred to as one of his faithful ‘sheep’, one who lived into his belonging to the family of God; one who could not be ‘snatched’ out of the presence of God by evil. Was Barnabas perfect? Did he live without conflict? Not so, as the book of Acts relates in later chapters. However, he remained faithful, even to a martyr’s death by crucifixion. Am I like Barnabas, a good person, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and so firmly and safely held in the Jesus’ hand, in the hand of God our Father, beyond the reach of evil? Holy Spirit help me be a good woman/ man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. May God be gracious and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. (Psalm 67) Do not lose heart. Today’s defeat is training for the final victory. St. Josemaria Escriva Soli ad gloriam Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca John 3:31-36 The world with all of its masters, mindsets, and marvels seems to be the most important element of life. It is easy to become mesmerized with local, national and international events on the one hand and the functioning of our bodies and households on the other. But those who belong to the household of faith, arguably all the great artists, thinkers, and saints of the centuries in all cultures, know beyond a shadow of doubt that faith, hope, and love are not only essential to all life here on earth, but are ‘above’ all – and were, and are, incarnated in Christ Jesus. Because Christ Jesus, like he says twice in this passage of John’s gospel, is above all we can all ‘see’ him at any given time and know him present above and beyond the clouds of fear. When I keep my heart, mind, soul and body focused on Christ, I am able to receive the Holy Spirit of God without measure, just as He did while alive here on earth. Will I seek and find Christ Jesus, above all? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me know you above all. I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13) No prayer is ever lost. St. John Vianny Soli ad gloriam 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
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