Gospel Mystery of the Day           Friday, August 24, 201
 
Good Morning!      
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
 
Ezekiel 37:1-14 & Matt 22:34-40

 
It can be depressing to reflect on my past experiences and fragments of my life apart from the context of God’s Word.  Like the field of dry bones shown to Ezekiel, the memories and connections of my life can liew strewn about, parches and rattling instead of providing form to the ‘muscles’ of my mind, and a stretching frame for the blanket of my soul. But as with Ezekiel, when the life-giving wisdom of God’s word is breathed onto the bare bones of my life, gradually they pull together and begin to articulate, for myself and for others, the eternal truths and graces of God, becoming a witness to the life and light of the Holy Spirit of God.  It is this life-breath of the Word of God working in and through my heart, mind and soul, that results in a life that is powered by love for God and for neighbour.  Word of God, breathe life into my being.
 
The Lord is near to all who call on him, who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)
 
When we fall into tepidity ... we must turn to the Lord, looking for compassion, and allow the Lord to tell us the things of heaven.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Matthew 19:16-22
 
Relationships, sentimental memories, scraps of memorabilia and possessions of any kind – these are the riches that ‘weigh us down’ and keep us subject to the prince of this world.  Even more than money or costly treasures, any item, idea, issue or person I ‘need’ more than anything or anyone else and requires constant mindfulness and maintenance, drags us away from life itself and eternity in general. The riches of the kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, such as wisdom, reconciliation, truth and mercy create in me a heart that is truly aligned with the Holy Spirit of God, and eternally viable. What do I truly ‘need’ in life? Christ Jesus, help me strive for riches not of this world, but of heaven.         
 
I am the Rock that bore you, the God who gave you birth. (Psalm 32)
 
When we fall into tepidity ... we must turn to the Lord, looking for compassion, and allow the Lord to tell us the things of heaven.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Matthew 18:21-19:1

Who better to teach us about forgiveness than Christ Jesus, who from the cross asked his Father to forgive those who had crucified him? As Jesus taught it, forgiveness is not a process of multiple apologies, nor is it the minimization of an offence. Rather it is receiving the gift of God’s mercy and passing it forward by releasing past offences from the grip of memory and analysis, resentment and revenge.  It could be said that forgiveness is the most healing movement of the human heart. Have I truly received and breathed in God’s forgiveness into my own heart, mind, soul and strength? Will I freely pass forward this gift of healing to others? Christ Jesus, teach me the gift of forgiveness.   
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.  (Psalm 51:1)
 
What ! Do you wish to know your Lord’s meaning in this thing?  Know it well, love was his meaning. Who reveals it to you? Love. What did he reveal to you? Love. Why does he reveal it to you? For Love. 
Julian of Norwich
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

​
Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60-63
 
Despite their ugliness, human beings are beautiful – as much as we align ourselves with holiness (whole-ness) and our inheritance as children of God. The lofty heights of artistic and cultural expression, the breadth of emotional response, the performance of committed athletes, the beauty of human physique, the legendary kindness of saints and beggars of society –all bear witness to the beauty God places in his beloved human beings.  It is so easy, like truant Israel, to begin to trust in our own beauty – and depravity- and ‘play the whore’ by lavishing our gifts on others for personal gain of all kinds. But my own beauty is fickle at best, no matter how well endowed, how successful or how famous I become. Only God’s love and mercy are tried and true on an eternal scale. Who or what is it that I am trusting?  Holy Spirit of God, help me trust, not in my own beauty, but in your mercy.        
 
Surely God is my salvation.  I will trust and not be afraid.      (Isaiah 12)
 
The glory of God is the human person fully alive.
Saint Iranaeus of Lyon
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Jeremiah 31:31-34
 
In all my roles and responsibilities of life -as mother, teacher, student, worker, grandparent, spouse, as a community volunteer, a caring relative or a faithful friend – I need grounding, and help to always follow the ‘good way’ that Jesus walked while on earth amongst us.  What is the help that I need the most? Mostly what I need is a firm grip on the laws of love in truth, and truth in love that are the backbone of the Judeo-Christian faith. On my own, it is impossible to fully understand all the deep complexities of the love-law of God. Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit, who since Pentecost has been available to us to interpret and live into the Law –the design –of God that is hardwired into our beings and ‘written on our hearts’.  Am I nurturing the law of God in my heart? Is there space in my heart for God’s law of mercy to be written? Holy Spirit of God, put your law within me, and write it on my heart.  
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.   (Psalm 51:1)
 
What ! Do you wish to know your Lord’s meaning in this thing?  Know it well, love was his meaning.  Who reveals it to you? Love.  What did he reveal to you?  Love.  Why does he reveal it to you? For Love. 
Julian of Norwich
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei