Mark 4:35-41

 
Fear (aka worry, anxiety, panic etcetera) makes us do strange things .Often it is fear in one of its many manifestations that interrupts and even ruins the most important relationships in our lives. It was due to fear during a wind storm that the disciples shifted from being a group happy followers of Jesus to a posse of persons yelling over the winds at their Teacher, ”Don’t you care that we are perishing?” –this to the Son of Man who within months would submit to torture and crucifixion for their salvation. Driven by fear, we too can easily lose our cool and think, say and do things that are foolish at best and violent at worst. On the other hand, faith leads men and women to think, say and do things that are wise and courageous. It was through faith that Mother Mary and St. John the Divine remained standing at the foot of the cross when Jesus gave up his life for his friends, that is for the world. It was through faith, the writer of Hebrews reminds us, that God’s plan of redemption for human kind unfolded, and still unfolds, by the choices and actions of faith-full people throughout history.  And it was through this same faith that Jesus rebuked the winds and waves on the Sea of Galilee, and then turned to rebuke the fear that had prompted his disciples in the boat to lash out at him rather than faith-fully ask Jesus for what they needed. As a result, the winds and the waves calmed, and fear-full fishermen became faithful Apostles of the Good News of God’s plan for humankind. When I face challenges or storms in life, will I choose to give in to fear, or faith-fully turn to God to ask for what I need? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me be rooted in faith, not fear.
 
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad when it grew calm, and he brought them to their desired haven.  (Psalm 107:19 -21)
 
“May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Saint Paul writing to the Ephesians 3:17-19
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 

 
Matthew 5:38-42

 
In the course of life we are constantly given choice to engage in either the good or the evil that seem to be ever-present around us. When I choose the ‘good’ I resist the evil –whether it presents itself by intent or innuendo, by any one of the seven deadly sins or by innocent deceits, by delicious temptations or by smoldering resentments. The trap is that when a person is the bearer of evil, we tend to ‘shoot the messenger’ and resist the person – and fall headlong into the deadly set of interpersonal sins: judgment, name-calling, revenge, violence, or even ‘murder’, to name but a few. Instead of resisting evil, we are enticed to resist the evil doer, and walk right into the violence and darkness of Satan, becoming just another propagator of evil in this world. Jesus calls us – calls me –to resist evil, but to not resist the evildoer. Instead, of working against the evil-doers ourselves, we are given the choice to do good to them, with the Light, and Life, and Love of the Holy Spirit and so resist the evil that is trying to deflect our intentions away from the goodness of God by wounding or eliminating others. Will I turn away from Jesus to resist the evil doers in my life, or will I keep my focus on Christ Jesus who loved evil-doers so much that he resisted evil with is body spread-eagled and nailed to a cross? Will I engage in evil-resistant Love and resurrection to resist evil, as Jesus calls me to do? Holy Spirit of God, help me resist evil, not evil doers.
   
Blessed are the merciful; they shall receive mercy. (Matthew 5:7)
 
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Saint Paul writing to the Ephesians 3:17-19
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 

Gospel Mystery of the Day            Monday, June 17, 2024
                                               
Good Morning!      
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
 
1Kings 18 & 19
Father God, help me bring my grief, groans and fears to you to go on my way…
 
Elijah was undoubtedly well connected to God. As the last remaining true prophet in Israel, God had performed through Elijah’s obedience a tremendous miracle by spontaneously lighting fire on a water-soaked altar to burn a whole sacrifice in the presence of the people. In this way the opposing 450 false prophets of other gods who had been unable to burn any sacrifice, were exposed and defeated. Did this protect Elijah to continue doing his work of building up faith in Israel? On the contrary, Queen Jezebel gave orders that the holy prophet be killed on sight, and Elijah, at the behest  of God, escaped to Mount Sinai to find refuge in a cave. The Wind, the Earthquakes and the Fire that swirled around him, though they mirrored his inner turmoil and manifested the power of God, could not give him the intimate communion with God that he needed to continue living his anointed vocation as a faithful prophet of the Most High God. Instead God chose to converse with Elijah in silence. “What are you doing here?” he asked Elijah. From his anguish Elijah cried out his loneliness, his sense of desertion, and desperation and his fear that faith in Israel would die with him at the hand of Jezebel.  How often have I been doing the same thing as Elijah -escaping to a cave of desperation, suffering from similar loneliness and despair, worrying about the disasters lurking in the shadows of my life? But the point is, God answers. God answered Elijah, his faithful servant, after the powers of wind, earth and fire had swirled around him for a time, in stillness through prayerful connection,. Again the Lord elicited Elijah’s griefs, groans, and fears from him, not dismissing but rather validating his prophet’s feelings. It was then that God was able to speak his word into the Elijah’s heart: ‘I’ve got this; you are not alone; your next step is to go on your way under my direction and connect with my other servants.’ When next I am overwhelmed by life’s winds, ‘earth shakes’ and fires, will I come out of my cave to tell the Lord my griefs, my groans, and my fears so that I can receive his wisdom and direction to go on my way? Father God, help me bring my grief, groans and fears to you to go on my way.
 
Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray. (Psalm 5:1,2)
 
The goal is to be aware of unseen things even as you live out your life in the visible world.
Sarah Young, in Jesus Calling, June 15, June16
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
2 Timothy 3:10 – 4:8

 
In grade 8 my grandson seemed to be an invincible track and field athlete.  He had just placed first or second in several field events at a meet when he lined up for 200m sprint.  At the signal he bolted from the starting blocks – and collapsed at 50m crying out with the pain of a torn ligament.  He had not stretched adequately before racing. Neither all the practice he had had, nor all the accolades of previous events could help him get up and finish the course before him. Each of us has a course of life laid out for us, according to the gifting of our beings and the grace of God. How many of us, though, collapse part way through the course of our lives, or even through the course of any given day, because we have not first stretched our hearts, minds, soul and strength in by faith in God.. We are designed ‘in God’s image’ so that all choices we make are to be tempered first and foremost by the love and mercy of God. That is how our hearts are stretched to align with the Mercy of God; how our minds are stretched by the Truth of God through reading and praying with the Word of God; how our souls are stretched to produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit; and how our strength, and all the gifts we are designed to bring into the world, are empowered under the authority of God our Father.  Will I align myself enough with the Holy Spirit of Jesus to be able to run the full course of my life?  Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me run the full distance of the course of my life, with faith.
 
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Land Savior Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 3: 17)
 
Make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection and mutual affection with love.
Second letter of St. Peter to the young churches, chapter 1, v.5-7
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
2 Corinthians 4:13 – 5:11 & Mark 3:20-35

 
How often am I weary of soul and either close down in despondency or depression of some kind, or frantically reach out to passions of this world, the appetites of the flesh, or the deceits (instant or ‘magic’ fixes) of the devil to find peace in my soul?  Our Lord, Jesus Christ offers us a different way, a way of renewal of mind and soul. Rather than the passions of the world, He offers us the passion of patience, a cross to bear and holy mercy to journey through life with Grace; rather than the appetites of the world, He offers us the way of self-giving love and an attitude of ordered, prayer-full walking through life; and rather than the mis-aligned power and magic fixes (and deceits) of Satan, He gives us his immutable Word of truth, and peace in His presence, peace that passes all understanding.  When I ground myself in Jesus’ offerings, then I can rise up and do the will of God – and live into my full heritage as a daughter or son of God, walking with Jesus through the waves of life that come along, bringing to life the will of His Father and mine. Will I allow the Holy Spirit to transform me from within, with the Love and the Word of Christ Jesus, by prayer and thanksgiving?  Christ Jesus, renew my inner self with your Holy Spirit to do the will of God…
 
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Land Savior Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 3: 17)
 
Make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection and mutual affection with love.
Second letter of St. Peter to the young churches, chapter 1, v.5-7
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca