Psalm 24

 
So many ideas, issues and imperfections needing to be made right vie for my attention! It is so easy to ‘lift up my soul’ to these things, that clatter and clamber for my time and energy, and to lose my head, heart and even body to their complexities.  Unlike the ‘challenges’ of daily life, the  truths of God’s love and mercy, constantly and quietly at work in all of creation do not fetter me with their urgency or consume my spirit.  Rather, God’s Holy Spirit simply extends moments of joy and times of peace to me, requiring only that I show up, watch for his fingerprints in the world around me and in my own heart, and delight in the reflection of His face in the eyes of other men, women and children… and lift up my soul to his Holy Spirit.  Will I lose myself in the ways and days of social unrest and human error, or will I allow my soul to reach up to the glory and the light of Father God, his Son who desires only to redeem and heal me, and the Holy Spirit who always holds out comfort, protection and wisdom to me?  Holy Spirit of God, help me not lift up my soul to what is false. 
 
And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?  (Jesus Luke 12:57)
 
Do not spend your energies on things that generate worry, anxiety and anguish. Only one thing is necessary: lift up your spirit and love God.  
St. Pius of Pietrelcina, Padre Pio
 
Check out these video versions of “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” … St. Patrick’s Hymn to God’s constant presence with us.
 :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c1b9hqzpaI 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQHWeOnjmHU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuzYaDrwwz8
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 

 
Ephesians 3: 13 - 21

 
How can I know the love of Christ? Only as I live into the extraordinary love of Christ can I intimately know the love that Christ Jesus used as his ‘operating system’. The Love of Christ strengthened Jesus to teach and to work tirelessly with the crowds who constantly brought him their queries and their quandaries, their sicknesses, their anguish, and their injustices  and sins, for His healing touch.  The love of God motivated Christ Jesus to live on this earth very lightly, turning away from riches and power to embrace the humility, the challenges and the heartaches of his own life.  And it was the Love of God operating in Christ Jesus that strengthened him to walk into Jerusalem, to face the torture that awaited him, and transform it into the Passion of our Lord that allowed him to broker our salvation by being crucified. It is this all-consuming, courageous,  and persevering love that can transform me – from being a tired, tiresome and weak-kneed follower of “Jesus’ teachings” into a true disciple of Christ Jesus, fired by the Love of the Holy Spirit of God.  Will I have the strength to understand – and to love with – the love of Christ?  Holy Spirit of God empower me to know the love of Christ.   
 
Blessed Be the Lord, my rock, my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I take refuge.  (Psalm 144:1)
 
That same power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in you…
St. Paul’s to the Romans, 8:11
 
Check out these video versions of “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” … St. Patrick’s Hymn to God’s constant presence with us.
 :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c1b9hqzpaI 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQHWeOnjmHU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuzYaDrwwz8
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca

 
II Timothy 4

 
A light shining in broad sunlight is imperceptible.  There is even a question as to whether it is on!   But when that same light stays on through twilight and the dark of night, it  shines clearly, guiding one home, and giving light to one’s path.  So it is with the strength of the Holy Spirit.  I ask the Holy Spirit to remain with me, day in and day out.  How is it that I forget that that light is on and that the strength of the Spirit is with me, when I go about the ‘good’ times of life? I know that the Holy Spirit IS with me, only as things become a little complicated and shady, and the complexities of life turn into times of darkness and stormy seas washing over my boat in the pitch dark of doubt. It is then that I notice the extraordinary wisdom, endurance, and strength that come to me as I speak the name of Jesus, that is, God saves! Thanks be to God that the strength of the Holy Spirit is always ‘on’ when I take time to notice the Spirit of God and of Jesus behind me, beside me, beneath me, above me, and all around me. Will I receive the strength of the Holy Spirit into my heart, mind, soul and strength?  Holy Spirit of God, stand by me and give me strength. 
 
Blessed Be the Lord, my rock, my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I take refuge.  (Psalm 144:1)
 
That same power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in you…
St. Paul’s to the Romans, 8:11
 
Check out these video versions of “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” … St. Patrick’s Hymn to God’s constant presence with us.
 :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c1b9hqzpaI 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQHWeOnjmHU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuzYaDrwwz8
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Psalm 98

 
The new songs that can be sung to the Lord are as innumerable as the stars! I attended the birth of my youngest daughter’s first baby last week. As I sat in my vehicle in the driveway and prayed for each member of her family, the midwife attending her and all others I keep in my prayers, I began to realize the impact of singing a new song and the opera of praise and thanksgiving, of light and love, of joy and life that such a simple prayer could unleash.  ‘Help my daughter, sing a new song of motherhood to the Lord…’ ‘Help her spouse sing a new song of fatherhood to the Lord…’ ‘Help this new baby sing a new song, from her first cries and all through her life, to the Lord…’ ‘Help me as a grandmother for the 8th time, sing a new song to the Lord…’ Help my other sons and daughters and grand children sing a new song to the Lord, today and always, no matter what circumstances they are dealing with…’.  As I prayed, alone, in silenced vehicle, in the cool of a fall night, under the canopy of stars, it was as if the angels prayed with me as they had at another Nativity ages ago, and since… with the autumn winds of the Holy Spirit raising up the dry leaves, and my own spirit, to dance the waltz of God’s mercy yet again. Holy Spirit of God, help me sing a new song to the Lord, always, all-ways, and forever!
 
Blessed Be the Lord, my rock, my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I take refuge.  (Psalm 144:1)
 
For we are so preciously loved by God that we cannot even comprehend it. No created being can ever know how much and how sweetly and tenderly God loves them. It is only with the help of his grace that we are able to persevere in spiritual contemplation with endless wonder at his high, surpassing, immeasurable love which our Lord in his goodness has for us.
Julian of Norwich  
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
2 Timothy 1:6-14

 
The great Deceiver tours the earth whispering in the ears of all men, women and children, ‘Cowards, you have no power. Only the Lies, Leprosies, and Lesions of humanity hold the sway of power in the world.’ God our Father in the ways of the wind and the wonder of Wisdom speaks the truth: “ You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!”  ‘You have so much to be afraid of; you must grasp tight your possessions so you don’t lose anything.’ The Tempter cries, ‘Seek security at all costs!’ The Spirit of God counters with his Word, “Love…!” Satan says, ‘Collect comforts because you have limits!’ Jesus stands on the road saying, “Follow me…Be my disciple… learn self-discipline from Me…”  Will I give into the despair, despondency and disenchantment of the powers of evil, or will I put behind me the spirit of cowardice and ‘Guard the good treasure entrusted to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us’? Holy Spirit of God, give me your Spirit of empowerment, love and self-discipline.                                                                                                 
O that today you would listen to his voice. Harden not your hearts.   (Psalm 95:7b & 8)
 
Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant ones, count as nothing.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus  
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca