​Climbing the Stream Bed
I recall a particular event when I learned the saving grace of standing up and looking for our redemption.
One August when we were camped along side a mountain gully at Qimmiaktutujuk Akiani campsite in Clyde Inlet (Arguja) just south of Clyde River, our home community on Baffin Island, our 9 and 4 year old daughters and I went for a walk up an stream bed beside our tent.  As we wandered up the mountainside, we were foraging and munching on paunnat flowers and paungat berries.  As we neared the top of a rise, some of the gravel began to loosen around our steps.  The girls were on all fours, and I was supporting my 4 yr old to climb up some scree at the top.  Suddenly it was not just some loose rocks that were moving, but the whole stream bed began shifting.  I yelled at Taktak to ‘Stand up!’ and grabbed Inut and raised her as high as I could in my arms. A whoosh of gravel went by our legs, burying our feet and our calves, up to Anna’s hips and over my knees.  At the height of the landslide, a few small rocks came whizzing past, bouncing above the main flow of gravel, but grace-fully missing us.  Finally after what seemed like an eternity it was over and with arm muscles and every fibre of my body straining, I tentatively set Inut down on top of the gravel.  Taktak and I had no choice but to dig and wiggle ourselves out the best we could. It was not until we scrambled to the top of the rise, just a few meters above us, that we began to shake and cry and look out over the near death-scene below.  Finally we were able to study the landscape to find a safer way to our tent.  With shaking legs and many prayers for our safety I led the girls back down the slope to arrive about a half kilometre away from our tent. As I have re-played dreamed this scenario over and over in my head, I have often reviewed the lessons learned.  Plan your route up and back before hiking anywhere. When calamity occurs, stand tall and keep alert.  In times of great difficulty, you can always find the strength to physically accomplish the safety of your children.  Pray without ceasing.  
Indeed, when life begins to shift uncontrollably around you, and to threaten life and limb, the one sure remedy is to stand up, lift up your heads and look for your ‘salvation’.  

Luke 21:20-28

‘The Days of Punishment’ that mark transitions of one age to another are more consequences of faithless behaviour than the actions of a punitive god. Left to our own devices, humanity can quickly descend into a hellish state where there is mass destruction - of ecosystems, moral laws, human cities and constructions, and ultimately billions of human lives. Add to this erosion of all that is ‘good’, terrifying natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes and stress among the nations along with tsunamis, flood, forest fires produce a stressful world such as we live in today. This can be terrifying indeed! As the shadows of these terrors fall over my life, what can I say,  what can I do?  I can do what our Saviour Jesus counsels:  I can (always!) make a choice when these things begin to happen to (firmly) stand up, lift up my head, and see our Salvation which is near.  Holy Spirit of God, in times of terror, help me stand up, lift up my head and see our Salvation...
 
Know that the Lord is God.  It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people...   (Psalm 95:7)
 
We need to stay tuned into the Word [and stand] and wait together to keep each other at home spiritually, so that when the Word comes, it can become flesh in us.
Henri Nouwen, Finding My Way Home  
 
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Luke 21:5-11
 
The future events that Jesus referred to in his ministry have become all too current in this day and age. Nations are rising against nations, there are great earthquakes, famines and plagues, not to mention floods, tsunamis, and hurricanes. Jesus, too, lived through distressing times. As a marginalized, country-preacher Jew living under Roman tyranny, he knew what it was like to be hunted down, and to live with unending trauma and insurrection.  How did Jesus live through and beyond the current events of his times? By choosing to live into God’s mercy rather than giving into fear, and by keeping his focus on his Father’s face, rather than going after this hero or that scoundrel. How is Jesus walking through and beyond the atrocities of this day? Christ Jesus, help me live through and beyond current events.  
 
Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.  (Psalm 105:3,4)
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
John 18: 33-37
 
As much as I (talk too much and) tell half truths, judge others, or fear the unknown, I do not belong to the truth, and the truth does not live in me. In a worldly context, Caesar, and his henchman, Pilate, appeared to be the rulers of the world, but they did ‘not belong to truth.’ Their pitch for power was based on singing their own praises, judging whole races of people as being inferior, and fearing downward mobility to the point that they crucified the Christ who had preached love to the crowds and had healed even some Roman citizens. Clearly the Roman Empire did not belong to the truth, and the real truth of God’s mercy and affiliation with both men and women was not upheld by those who sided with the Roman governors to put the Son of God to death. Only those who truly followed Jesus’ way of righteousness belonged to truth. These were a remnant of the crowds, the people who listened to the truth that Jesus had proclaimed through his passion and beyond the Resurrection:  “Let the truth set you free!”, “Pray for your enemies!”, “Forgive!”, “Do not be afraid!”. Today, what is the truth that I need to belong to, that needs to find its place in me? Am I listening to Jesus? Christ Jesus, help me belong to the truth and so listen to you.
 
Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O Lord, for evermore.  (Psalm 93:5)
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Luke 19:41-44

We all know that practicing faith, hope and love in human relationships produces more peaceful interactions. But do we realize the importance of faith, hope and love in living into our full identity as a beloved daughter or son of God? These things that make for peace are mysterious, and in their mystery are so large that they cannot be easily picked up and carried along with all the other possessions we carry along with us in our lives.  They cannot be done, but are absorbed, cultivated, and spoken of, and so we become them; and so we real-ize them. In this way we are able to align ourselves with our true dignity, the ‘Designer’s’ version of ourselves. Today will I nurture faith, hope and love with all individuals I meet, and with God? Christ Jesus, help me recognize the things that make for peace.   
 
The Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.  (Psalm 149:4)
 
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