(This reflection was authored by Mark Gates)
GAL 3:22-29, Scripture confined all things under the power of sin, that through faith in Jesus Christ, the promise might be given to those who believe. Before faith came, we were held in custody under law, confined for the faith that was to be revealed. Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian. For through faith, you are all children of God in Christ Jesus!
This first half, of this first scripture, reminds me a lot of when my children were in their terrible twos… threes…! 😊 When the snuggly, lovey-dovey infancy stage was over! Now came the beginnings of the looong trek of discipline. Infants can’t conceptualize the greater good of being well behaved because it’s the ‘right thing to do’. In the absence of a manual outlining how to raise these children into decent human beings, we parents resort to ‘cause and effect’, misbehaving brings punishment, correct behavior brings snuggles!
God, the Parent Excelsior, uses the Hebrew Law (all 613 of them) to keep the Jews behaving, so to speak! We can all recall a time or two when the Jew’s disobedience didn’t turn out so well for them. In the same way that the apostles didn’t understand the greater good and needed the Holy Spirit to help with their fog… all of mankind, starting with Adam, failed to see the light of God’s Salvation plan (despite the prophets), without Divine help, Jesus.
When we learn that it IS in our own best interest to follow God, hopefully that lesson blossomed from faith and love, and not the school of hard knocks. This is the focus of the second half, and the Psalm…
**For all of you who were baptized into Christ, have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are heirs according to the promise.
As heirs of God’s Covenant and Grace, we sing joyfully ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!
PSALM 105:2-4, Alleluia: Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! **Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, and the judgments he has uttered… The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Gospel, LK 11:27-28, While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” **He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it!”
The first impression I have reading this Gospel, is how openly and plainly the women of Jesus’ time spoke about their personal female parts…Hmmm! Granted, the words, a woman’s womb and breasts, are not dirty or vulgar. But it’s still more personal than ‘just any’ casual conversation being shouted out and about. Our third millennium culture most surely doesn’t allow it!
Then the Holy Spirit guided my thoughts. A womb signifies Life. Breasts and their milk signify sustained Life! This specific situation represents my favorite flavor of spirituality, Raw and Bare-bones! And Jesus replies, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it!” The Word of God, Jesus, IS Life… The Word of God, Jesus, IS sustained Life!
Shalom and May all of God’s Love be yours!
Hi. I am Mark Gates, your servant. I currently live with my
wife in Peosta, Iowa and have retired. I have spent my
whole life as a God-fearing Christian, Mass Lector and
cradle Catholic. In 1996 after a Charismatic Conference,
My Spirituality ‘Exploded’. The Holy Spirit has blessed me
with personal revelations and events in times of needed
admonishment, teaching or encouragement. Having a
personal belief and true affection for The Real Presence
of Christ in Eucharist and also a very sweet, tender, and
special relationship with our Holy Spirit, I believe that our
world is in dire need of Good News. I want my spirituality
to create conversations! I pray that you allow these
musings to start your own conversations.
Thank you for this opportunity to offer my spirituality to you. I have been blessed with the opportunity to write and remain a substitute writer for A Catholic Moment, a global, online, daily reflection platform! My articles were featured on all Thursdays throughout May 2024. My personal website is Blucollarspirituality.org through Word Press. Our email is Just.a.guy.ministry@gmail.com.
I’ve written 2 books currently. They are “A Blu Collar Spirituality” and “God has sent You Back”, A Blu Collar Spirituality (part 2). These books are my personal story of resilience flavored with a tremendous relationship with the Holy Spirit. I have been made keenly aware of how the Holy Spirit blesses, encourages, and bolsters me! My story is a tremendous blessing of Eucharist and perseverance, through my Holy Spirit. Also, the necessary battle training required to bring belief and affection for the Holy Spirit into everyday lives starting with my own!
Why not expose every single person(s) that I can to the absolute beauty and majesty of The Holy Spirit!
