Gospel Mystery of the Day           Tuesday, July 31, 2018
 
Good Morning!      
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
 
Matthew 13:36-43
 
When I focus on the world and my flesh, it is easy to become overcome by the ‘weeds’ sprouting up all around me: billions of consumer goods luring my eyes away from the face of Jesus, a government that promotes a cunning culture of death, layers and layers of social media platforms and products, a cumbersome ‘education’ system that inadvertently wearies children’s souls and erodes their families, and etcetera. But the truth is, these ‘weeds’ have been left by our Creator to grow alongside the graces of the Kingdom of Heaven: charitable activities in every corner of the world, wonderful pieces of literature, music and fine art, individual saints, both dead and living, health care and relief operations that care globally for the sick and the needy, and etcetera. We must trust this, which Jesus told his disciples is no accident but rather the plan of God, who out of love, leaves these weeds to grow alongside of the faithful followers of his Son, to enable us to build the Kingdom of God within and throughout humanity, and to eventually be enfolded even more closely into his mantle of love and truth.  Holy Spirit, help me grow regardless of the evil and causes of sin around me.
 
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.    (Psalm 79:9)
                       
Meditation is the basis for acquiring all the virtues, and to undertake it is a matter of life and death for all followers of Christ.
St. Teresa of Avila
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Matthew 13:31-35

 
When the hidden things of the kingdom of Goad are present, quietly and simply they transform what is otherwise bland and lifeless into that which is lively and life-giving. Too often these small, unassuming particles of grace are overlooked and dismissed as small details that have no impact.  But, as Jesus points out, just as a tiny mustard seed produces a huge plant, or a granule of yeast raises flour and water into voluminous loaves of bread, so ‘minutiae’ of the Kingdom of heaven – a caring word, a glance of kindness, a breath of a prayer a mindful moment or a song of praise, simple thought they be, -can have a great impact on humanity , transforming the world into the Kingdom of God. Do I dismiss  granules of the Kingdom of God, or do I notice and use them? Holy Spirit, help me to notice and embrace the minutiae of God’s Kingdom.
 
The eyes of all look to you, Lord, and you give them their food in due season.  (Psalm 144:15)
                       
Meditation is the basis for acquiring all the virtues, and to undertake it is a matter of life and death for all followers of Christ.
St. Teresa of Avila
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ephesians 4, 1-6
 
Peace with others is not a passive by-product of non-engagement with family, friends and coworkers. Rather it is a continuing dynamic that is to be guarded carefully in relationships and interactions between people of all kinds of hearts and wrinkles. How do I maintain a ‘bond of peace’ with others? By humility –realizing that I am no more and no less a child of God than anyone else, and through using gentleness in all interactions. When I embrace humility rather than personal ambition, I subscribe to gentle, and mercy-full, thoughts, words, and actions in my dealings with others. As I take a moment to reflect on the uniqueness and beauty of each man, woman and child along my path I can move among them with a kindness born of the Holy Spirit of God in me, and be at peace with everyone.  Am I prepared to live into humility and gentleness to keep Jesus’ bond of peace?  Holy Spirit, help me be at peace with others through humility and gentleness.   
 
If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.  (Psalm 95:7-8)
 
Love is an act of endless forgiveness.
Jean Vanier
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Matthew 12:1-8

 
Jesus’ disciples were hungry, and so picked heads of grain to munch on the ripened kernels from inside the husks. When the Pharisees approached him, if they had interpreted the situation with merciful hearts, instead of reaming out Jesus and his disciples for snacking on wheat berries, they could have offered them bread from their own homes. When I approach others, am I quick to judge , or am I  a ‘heart with ears’, waiting to know how I can be merciful to them, in thought, word or deed?  Holy Spirit, help me be slow to judge and quick to be merciful.
 
If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.  (Psalm 95:7-8)
                       
Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei

​
Matthew 11:25-27
 
“No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him,” Jesus tells us as his disciples. As I live into my relationship with God as his child by adoption –through my ‘big brother’ Jesus who brought me into his family  -I gradually learn the family’s ‘style’ of life.  My morals and beliefs begin to align with those of Jesus, who knows God much better than I. I might think that I know Christ Jesus intimately and that he ‘belongs’ to me, but he reminds us that the only One who knows him thoroughly is his Father, by virtue of Father’s and Son’s close alliance and collaboration in the greatest project of the universe –the building of the life-giving kingdom of God. To learn the protocol of the Family of God, I must try more to follow Jesus’ lead as he teaches me how to practice faith, hope and love, and try less to possess Jesus and all of the family treasures. Do I know and embrace the ways of my Father’s family? Christ Jesus, teach me the ways of our family.   
 
If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.  (Psalm 95:7-8)
 
A passion to obey Christ is born out of our relationship with him. The more we love him, the more we want him to be a part of our affairs.
Calvin Miller
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei