|
Message of the Day
|
|
One needs the sweetness to start one on the spiritual life but, once started, one must learn to obey God for his own sake, not for the pleasure.
- C. S. Lewis, Into the Wardrobe
(What helps you to "keep going" on
the spiritual journey?)
|
|
Readings of the Day
|
Neh 2:1-8; Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5,
6 -Lk 9:57-62 As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding
on their journey, someone said to him,
"I will follow you wherever you
go."
Jesus answered him,
"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
And to another he said, "Follow me."
But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."
But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."
And another said, "I will follow you,
Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home."
Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of
God." USCCB lectionary
|
|
Reflection on the Scripture
|
Jesus “said: ‘Come after Me.’ ” —Luke 9:59
Jesus calls us to follow
Him not on our terms but on His. He does not preach the prosperity gospel. In fact, Jesus doesn’t even promise us a roof over our heads. The foxes and birds seemingly have better “benefits” than we do (Lk 9:58). Moreover, Jesus doesn’t let us choose our own pace but demands we jump when He says “Jump.” “Now is the acceptable time” (2 Cor 6:2).
Jesus demands our “all.” It would be unreasonable for anyone else
in the world to make such demands. But a crucified, nail-scarred, thorn-crowned Savior has the right to expect all now. The first of all commandments is: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind” (Lk 10:27). After what Jesus has done for us in becoming man and dying on the cross, how can we give Him anything less than everything? The least we can do is the most we can do for Him. Our greatest privilege is to be
Jesus’ slave (Col 3:24). We are eternally indebted to Him for the honor of serving Him. Thank You, Jesus!
Prayer: Jesus, give me the privilege to work and die for You. The greatest thing in all my life is serving You. Promise: “Whoever puts his hand to the plow but keeps looking back is unfit
for the reign of God.” —Lk 9:62 Praise: Jesus spoke to St. Francis and told him to “rebuild My Church.” Despite initially misunderstanding the Lord’s intent, Francis spent the rest of his life fulfilling that command. Presentation Ministries
|
|
Spiritual Reading
|
|
|
|
-Readings from Jesus Alive in Our Lives, by Philip St. Romain. Ave Maria Press, 1985. Contemplative Ministries, Inc. 2011. Part Two, Encountering the Risen Christ Chapter 5: Sacramental
Encounters - Selected quotes Here are common examples of sacramentals from my own life.
— The sign of the cross. I make it when arising and before going to sleep. It is a reminder to me that I
belong to God, and a consecration of my day and night to God’s care. I could do this without making the sign of the cross, but there’s something about doing this with my body that feels like a deeper surrender.
— Grace before meals. Again there is a blessing and a consecration, both of the food and of ourselves to one another in Christ. This is a reminder to our family that food is not just
“stuff” that we use to fill our bellies, but a gift from God that has come to us through the “work of human hands” and the loss of plant and animal lives.
— Blessing before a trip. Consecrates the journey to God’s care.
— Advent wreath, and prayer around the wreath. This is a remembrance of the yearning of the
human race for the coming of Christ, and helps to awaken this yearning for him in our own hearts.
— Prayer services. We have a wide variety at Heartland Center for Spirituality, ranging from the very simple to the elaborate, with candles, music and incense. These prayers and sensations help us to call to mind God’s presence and to implore the guidance of the Spirit.
— Prayer before a candle. The light is a reminder of Christ, who is the Light of the world, and the Light in our hearts.
— Healing prayer. Laying on of hands to ask the Spirit to heal a loved one. The touch communicates care and provides a conduit through which the Spirit can flow. We pray for one another in this
manner when one of us is sick.
Paperback and eBook versions
|
Please support this outreach with a tax-deductible donation.
|
|
|
