Mark 4:26-34 Christ Jesus, teach me patience as your kingdom comes... Every plant reminds us of how the Kingdom of God comes upon us. The seeds of the word of God when they are planted in good soil autonomously, silently, and almost imperceptibly grow independent of whether, where or how we have willed them to be. How often have I impatiently tried to contribute to the Kingdom of God by planting my own ideas, verbally encouraging all kinds of good deeds, and attempting to massage the fruits of the Kingdom into being? When have I grown frustrated with waiting for the leaves of virtues, the flowers of joy and fruits of faithfulness and hope to appear and walked away from the Lord’s projects of salvation in my own corner of the world? Christ Jesus, teach me patience as your Kingdom comes. Indeed you love truth in the heart; then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom. (Psalm 51:6 ) Well and good if all things change, O Lord God, provided I am rooted in You. St. John of the Cross www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei
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Mark 5:21-43
So often I long for healing, if not for myself (like the haemorrhaging woman) then for a family member or close friend (like Jairus and his daughter). I can so easily become paralyzed by the fear that the status quo is immutable, and forget that Christ Jesus is not only ready and able, but also willing, to heal. When, like the weakened woman, I take what energy I have, or like Jairus, take time from my busy schedule, to walk a while with Jesus and apply my belief in his Mercy, any healing can (and does) take place. Clearly our healing is set in motion not by blind despair (depression, a form of fear) but by determined faith; not by seeing if Jesus’ solution works where others have failed (anxiety), but by connecting with Christ because he is healing; not by fearing the alternative, but by embracing Christ’s Love, Christ’s Light and Christ’s Life. Holy Spirit, help me not be afraid, but only believe in Christ’s healing work. You stretch out your hand and save me, you hand will do all things for me. (Psalm 138:7 ) Faith walks simply, childlike, between the darkness of human life and the hope of what is to come. Catherine Doherty www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei Mark 4:21-25
It takes deliberate action to light a lamp and set it on a lamp stand to give light and direction to all who see it. Only with due diligence by trimming the wick and re-filling the reservoir will the light of an oil lamp continue to shine brightly. Jesus uses this image of an oil lamp to teach his disciples –and you and me –how to truly be his followers. Each day, particularly in the darkness of doubt or despair, it is important to diligently refuel my faith life through prayer and connection with God. In addition I need to deliberately place God’s mercy as it rests in my being at the top of my agenda, to be a light for the journey of humanity to God. Today will I be deliberate and diligent in following Christ in order to light up God’s path of life for all to see? Christ Jesus, help me to deliberately and diligently follow you. Incline my heart according to your will, O God. Speed my steps along your path. (Psalm 119:36 ) Well and good if all things change, O Lord God, provided I am rooted in You. St. John of the Cross www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei Mark 4:1-20
Being good soil is not only passive. As a human being with free choice and many abilities, I need to actively cultivate the soil that I am - by tilling, weeding and fertilizing the ground of my being. My heart, soul, mind and strength need to be cultivated to become more receptive and nurturing to the seeds of God’s word that are sown into my life by the Word Made Flesh, the Logos, who is Christ Jesus. What weeding, tilling and fertilizing do I need to do today to grow the seeds of God’s word in my life? Holy Spirit of God, help me cultivate your Word in my spirit. Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11) In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out. The Gospel of St. John 1:1,4,5 www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei Mark 3:22-29 The holiness of Jesus was vigorous and transformed the lives of those around him. Because they themselves knew so little about the truth, mercy and humility that define true holiness, the Pharisees maligned Jesus by mis-aligning his acts of mercy with Satan. In the end, their ignorance and misunderstanding precipitated the most unholy act of all time: the torture and death of the Son of Man who was the Son of God. Do I understand and recognize true holiness? Am I really willing to be holy as Jesus is holy, despite the ignorance and criticism of others? Holy Spirit, help me be holy as Jesus is holy, in all truth and mercy, with humility. I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace, peace for his people and his friends, and those who turn to him in their hearts. (Psalm 85:8) Show us your mercy, Lord; our misery is known to us. May no evil desires prevail over us, for your glory and love dwell in our hearts. Week III, Tuesday, Morning Prayer, Shorter Christian Prayer www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei Mark 3:31-35
From the Annunciation of Jesus’ birth, Mary knew that her son’s life had a different rhythm and a critical purpose. Yes, it must have been difficult for her along with Jesus’ other family members to be rebuffed by him, and not welcomed immediately; but with the pain of this dismissal came Jesus’ statement of what it means to be a member of his family. “Whoever does God’s will is my brother, my sister, my mother.” With this statement Jesus clearly stands with his Father and teaches all of humanity how to become one with him. Did Jesus accept Mary as his mother? Yes, of course, inasmuch as she was obedient to the will of God; but family ties and relatively petty emergencies of the moment are secondary in God’s vision and purpose. Is God’s will uppermost in mine? Holy Spirit of God, help me do God’s will above all. Truly I have set my soul in silence and peace. As a child has rest in its mother’s arms, even so my soul rests in you, O Lord. (Psalm 131:2) May we seek those things which are beneficial to our brothers, our sisters, without counting the cost to help them on the way to salvation. Preserve us in your ministry, Lord. Week II, Monday, Morning Prayer, Shorter Christian Prayer www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei Mark 3:13-19
Every baptized Christian is called to be disciple of Jesus. Like the twelve original disciples of Jesus, we are called to preach and to drive out the darkness that is in the world and in individual lives. Will I embrace this calling of mine, being careful to follow Jesus’ lead in my life, and to bring others to him? Will I remain faithful like the eleven or, like Judas, give into despair and betray the Lord of Life? Christ Jesus, help me live into my calling as your disciple. Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervour sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you. (Psalm 51:12-13) You will know as much of God, and only as much of God, as you are willing to put into practice. Eric Liddell, The Disciplines of a Christian Life. www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei Mark 3:7-11 Christ Jesus, help me (my brother, my sister) come to you for healing... Just as the crowds flocked to Jesus for healing at Lake Galilee years ago, so we are able to approach Christ for physical, spiritual, emotional and social healing today. Who is there amongst us who suffers from a lame body, a broken heart, an oppressed soul or a captured mind? Let him, let her, come to the Lord. Jesus still stands ‘in the boat’ –of faith –a little distance from our consciousness in the sea of the mystery of God and speaks to us words of wisdom. He is calling to us to come to him for restoration of the abundant life God designed us to have. When I come to Jesus for healing, will I seek out his healing touch, or simply sit on a rock, letting his radiant presence and words of life seep into the aching corners of my being? Christ Jesus, help me, and my brother, my sister, and all humanity, come to you for healing. Lord, help me, like your disciples of old, point others to you for healing. God indeed is my saviour; I am confident and unafraid. (Isaiah 12:2) . Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. Henri Nouwen www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei Mark 3:1-6 & 1 Samuel 17:1-51 The number of people who wanted to accuse Jesus of doing wrong was limitless, perhaps because the righteousness of Jesus, unlike that of other men and women, was also limitless. Did the crowd of Pharisees watching Jesus’ every move stop him from healing the man with a withered hand? Their stubbornness and error in forbidding the healing of a man on the Sabbath angered Christ who by divine mercy healed the man, despite the people’s antipathy and criticism. Am I prepared, like Jesus, to do what is right, no matter what custom and public opinion dictate? Holy Spirit, help me do what is right. In God alone be at rest, my soul; for my hope comes from him. (Psalm 62:5) There are all kinds of good Catholic things you can do, but whatever they are, you have to realize that there is always the duty of the moment to be done. And it must be done, because the duty of the moment is from God. Catherine Doherty www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei 1 Samuel 16:1-13 & Mark 2:23-28
In his search for the future king of Israel, Samuel alone would have chosen any one of the tall and handsome older sons of Jesse. But in his heart God reminded Samuel that he does not judge as people judge. “They look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart.” Samuel had to push Jesse for more. David was summoned, the youngest son, who was out looking after the sheep while his father and older brothers attended the sacrifice. This youngest son was not only handsome and healthy – his eyes sparkled. He was God’s chosen king. We can imagine the same kind of sparkle in Jesus’ eyes as he reminded the hissing Pharisees of the story of David and God’s perspective on the Sabbath. He concluded, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Am I ready to look outside the ‘normal’ and learn God’s perspective about the people we meet, the events that occur and my own world view? Christ Jesus, teach me your perspective. Send forth your light and your truth; let these be my guide. (Psalm 43:3) Do not accept anything as love which lacks truth. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) www.gospelmysteryoftheday.weebly.com Soli ad gloriam dei |
AuthorBeverly Illauq lives in Kemptville, Ontario, where she greets each morning by seeking the Gospel Mystery of the Day - the Word of the Lord for direct and practical application to the specific challenges & joys of the day. ArchivesCategories |