Day 49

In our active addiction—and even at times in our recovery—have we not sought to manipulate our Higher Power and even rejected His desire and ability to heal us because of our persistent stubbornness, pride, or desire to continue to indulge in our “drug of choice?” Like the chief priests, scribes, and elders of Jesus’ day, do we fear losing our autonomy, power, and control, even when we are offered freedom, salvation, unconditional love, and forgiveness? Jesus’ response to His accusers is not a reprimand coming from a place of unkindness or lack of compassion. Rather, it comes from the truth that He cannot compel us to accept Him and receive the healing and wholeness that He offers. We must freely choose to let go of what binds us to our addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments to receive His healing and move forward with a life of recovery.

Reflection Questions

• In what ways have you found yourself rejecting Jesus’ call to healing and freedom from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments in your daily journey of recovery? How can you accept His call today?
• What are some instances where you have judged others harshly and failed to recognize the similarities with your own behavior and faults?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Jude 17, 20b-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel: Mark 11:27-33

Reflection by Mark L.

(7th Century) — Saint Dymphna’s beautiful mother died when she was a teenager, and her father, a pagan Irish chief, sought desperately to replace her, but no one was beautiful enough for him except for Dymphna, who looked like her mother. Refusing his advances, she ran away with a priest friend, Saint Gerebernus. Her father hunted them down and killed them when she continued to refuse his advances. Many miraculous healings of the insane and the possessed have taken place at the site where she was killed. Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of therapists and those suffering from mental illness.

Many accounts of miraculous cures have been attributed to Saint Dymphna. While an instantaneous cure would be most welcomed, a day without indulging in our addiction, compulsion, or unhealthy attachment is a miracle in itself. Take time to express gratitude for (seemingly) small things as well as big things in our recovery journey. We are powerless, He is All-mighty (Steps 1 and 2).

“I am He Who Is, and you are she who is not” (The Lord, to Saint Catherine of Siena in a vision).

*Saint Dymphna is now commemorated on May 30 according to the 2004 Roman Martyrology, though she was formerly commemorated on May 15.

Reflection by Brad Farmer