II Thessalonians 3:6-18

The peace of Christ is an active, as much as it is a passive, fruit and gift of his Spirit. The peace of Christ is the peace that allowed him to walk up into the hills day after day to pray before dawn, to walk across a wavy, windy sea to calm his disciples, and to walk the way of the cross despite his grief, without anger, and beyond fear. The Peace of Christ strengthens me to choose, and to live, his mercy –at home, while travelling and at work. I can find this peace not only in the quiet beauty of nature, but in the midst of the waves and winds of life as well and, perhaps most of all, through and within the suffering I experience along my own way of the cross. As much as I look for it with eyes of faith, I can find the peace that was in Jesus. The Prince of Peace himself gives it to me, in any place, at any time, in many ways. St. Paul writing to the Thessalonians knew this. The Saints and Martyrs through the ages have each and all discovered this, and I am gradually real-izing this in my own life. Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me receive your peace at all times, in all ways. 
                                                       
Happy is the one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.     (Psalm 128: 1,2)
                                                    
Just as our contrariness here on earth brings us pain, shame and sorrow, so grace brings us surpassing comfort, glory, and finally bliss in heaven. 
― Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei

 
Thessalonians 2: 1-17
 
The slippery slope of half truths leads directly into the swamps of anxiety, fear and fragmentation. When I listen to ‘news’ and take it to heart, I am ingesting only part of the story, that is merely facts and figures seen through the eyes, and processed by the mind, of the person reporting. Then I can be ‘quickly shaken in mind or alarmed either by spirit or by word or by letter’ (v.2) as if I am at the mercy of a godless and merciless world.  But the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is that God’s mercy is beyond all knowing and that the Good News of Christ Jesus’ intervention on behalf of humanity means that any human experience can be redeemed by God’s love and truth. Will I spend my time listening and responding to half-truths and deceits of human telling, or will I turn my attention to the full and eternal truth of God’s Word cultivating, and working within, my being?  Holy Spirit of God, let me be deceived by no one.
                                                       
They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth and so be saved.     (2Thessalonians 2:9)
                                                    
Truth sees God, and wisdom contemplates God, and from these two comes a third, a holy and wonderful delight in God, who is love.
― Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
John 1:45-51

                                       
When I say one thing and do another, my talk is out of joint with my walk, and I allow half truths to lodge within my heart, mind and soul. If I say I am a follower of Jesus, and then turn away from him to follow my own desires and devices, then I deceive myself and sin, not truth, takes up residence within my being. Nathanael must have been a man whose spirit radiated a congruence, a clarity and a purity that was evident not only to our Lord when he saw him under the fig tree, but to many other people who encountered him in the company of the disciples.  Will my words and actions be so fully aligned with the truth and the glory of God that there is no deceit to be found in my being?  Will I, like Nathanael, be noticeably a woman in whom there is no deceit?  Holy Spirit of God, let me not allow any deceit to be found within me.  
                                                       
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us...    (1John 1:8)
                                                    
Truth sees God, and wisdom contemplates God, and from these two comes a third, a holy and wonderful delight in God, who is love.
― Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 

Ezekiel 36:23-28 & Matt 22:1-14
                                    
Human hearts are ‘factory-set’ to know and to love God, and to have compassion for one another. Unfortunately as life happens, through the vehicle of free will, that is designed to produce full fruits of love through self-sacrifice,  sin enters our hearts all too frequently through pride, passions and projects of self-will. Then our love for God and all things holy is twisted away from divine purpose to death-dealing diversion from the love of God.  But as much as I openly turn back to God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength in humility, the Holy Spirit of God can again enter my being and allow my heart to be reset for love alone. Then when God calls me into his light, and love and life, I am able to return to communion with him and others, and ultimately attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in eternity. Is it time to allow God to reset my heart for love of him?  Holy Spirit of God, reset my heart to truly love you.   
                                                       
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.    (Psalm 51: 10)
                                                    
Truth sees God, and wisdom contemplates God, and from these two comes a third, a holy and wonderful delight in God, who is love.
― Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei

Gospel Mystery of the Day      Saturday, August 15, 2020
                                                                               
Good Morning!      
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
 
Matthew 18:21-19:1
Holy Spirit of God, help me to forgive my brother, my sister generously ...
                                       
It is all too easy to smoothly say, ‘That’s Ok, I forgive [you],’ while still harboring slivers of resentment and shivers of vengeance. These in turn fester in my life, twisting choices and time out of shape, and poisoning my love for God and for others.  No wonder I then stray from the path of holiness and joy, of faithfulness and peace! But when I forgive those I have opportunity to serve with the love of God, I truly follow Christ Jesus, and learn to become the child of God I am meant to be, fully human and fully – generously – alive. Will I uphold my perceived ‘right’ to comfort, security, and leisure to the hurt of another, rather than explore ways to reach out in love by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? Will I lean on my own prejudices and faulty favoritism to maintain harshness, or will I allow the Holy Spirit to work through my own repentance and trust in God to forgive and be forgiven? Holy Spirit, help me forgive my brother, my sister generously from your presence at the centre of my being.
                                                       
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.   (Isaiah 12: 3)
                                                    
Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared.
Henri Nouwen
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei