Message of 6-26-24

Published: Wed, 06/26/24

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Wednesday: June 26, 2024

Message of the Day

God never promises to remove us from our struggles. He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them.
- Max Lucado

(Consider a struggle you have at this time and commend it to God’s care. Pray the grace to see and understand this situation as God sees it.)

Readings of the Day

2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3; Ps 119:33 - 37, 40

Mt 7:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing,
but underneath are ravenous wolves.
By their fruits you will know them.
Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,
and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down
and thrown into the fire.
So by their fruits you will know them."

USCCB lectionary

Reflection on the Scripture

“I have found the book of the law in the Temple of the Lord.” —2 Kings 22:8

How many Christians have a family Bible which hasn’t been opened for years sitting on a coffee table? How many Catholics have a Holy Bible somewhere in the house, but have no idea where it is? How many Bibles are given as gifts to people, but then are never opened, never read, and serve merely to collect dust and cobwebs?

King Josiah commissioned repairs to be made to the Temple, which had been neglected for a long time (2 Kgs 22:3ff). While performing the repairs, the high priest found “the book of the law” (2 Kgs 22:8), the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. The Old Testament Scriptures were to be readily available in the synagogues and the Temple (see e.g. Lk 4:17), but perhaps had not been opened since the death of the previous good king, Hezekiah. It’s possible that the Torah had not been opened for eighty-five years! (see 2 Chr 32:33—34:8ff)

Today, open a Bible. Spend at least fifteen minutes reading the Word of God. Resolve to read it and heed it each day of the rest of your life (Acts 17:11). Take back the Word of God from the clutches of the dust. Devour it (Jer 15:6) and let it be the joy of your heart.

Prayer: Father, “lead me in the path of Your commands, for in it I delight” (Ps 119:35).

Promise: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” —Mt 7:19

Presentation Ministries

Amazon Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.

Spiritual Reading

Readings from Jesus Alive in Our Lives, by Philip St. Romain. Ave Maria Press, 1985. Contemplative Ministries, Inc. 2011.

Part Three, Gift of the Spirit

Chapter 5: Charismatic (Ministry) Gifts

- Selected quotes

Generally, what we discover is that there are a few charisms that are habitually called forth from us; we find ourselves drawn to exercise them again and again, so much so that they eventually suggest a calling or even a vocation of some kind. How can you tell what these charisms are? The CSI emphasizes three criteria:

1. When you express this gift, you feel energized and close to God.
2. Your exercise of the gift produces results (e.g., healers heal, teachers communicate, administrators bring order, etc.)
3. The Christian community validates your gift through positive feedback and by calling upon you for its exercise.

All three of these criteria are important. It’s not enough, for example, to say that you really like to perform a certain work; the results that ensue must also be considered. You might like praying for healing, for example, but if people are not healed because of your ministry, it’s doubtful that you have a gift of healing.
CSI provides and inventory and discernment process to help one recognize charisms. If you’re interested in obtaining their work, check out their web site: http://www.siena.org/ There are other inventories on the web, some of which provide an interactive form to do a quick survey online. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has a good one. See http://www.elca.org/dcm/evangelism/assessments/assess4int_spiritgifts.html to try it out. Know, however, that a quick test like this one is no substitute for observing what actually happens in your life. Discussions with a spiritual director can also help to discern charisms.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. What have been some of your experiences with charismatic gifts?
2. What gifts have become habitual expressions in your life?
3. How does it feel when others with charismatic gifts minister to you? Give examples.
4. What gift(s) are you trying to discern at this time? How can you “experiment” to see if the gift is given to you?

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