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Last year around this time, I was in early recovery from quadruple bypass surgery. One year later, I am happy to report that my health is good, with only minor repercussions from the surgery. During my recovery period, I wasn't able to do much, physically, nor did I have
the energy to meet with people for spiritual direction. I was able to keep up with most of the Internet ministry, however, including the preparation of this newsletter. I had thought about taking a break from doing this for awhile, but the discipline of putting it together felt like I was doing something "normal," and I was even able to post health updates from time to time. Preparing Daily Seed keeps me engaged in study, a priority
at Heartland Center for Spirituality. I hope it is for you as well. Phil St. Romain Internet Ministry Coordinator ________________ Donations are eligible for tax-deduction -scroll down a little for secure online payment link Check payments Internet Ministry
Heartland Center for Spirituality 3600 Broadway Great Bend, KS 67530
Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, -a heart to seek you, -wisdom to find you, -conduct pleasing to you, -faithful perseverance in waiting for you, -and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.
- St. Thomas Aquinas
(Pray this prayer slowly a few times, pausing to listen to how the Spirit is awakening a response in
you.)
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Daily Readings
Ti 2:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and
29 Lk 17:7-10 Jesus said to the Apostles:
“Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?
Would he not rather
say to him,
‘Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished’?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all
you have been commanded, say,
‘We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.’”
Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.) Luke 17: 7-10 (Christian duty) There are many times when we
feel that our ministries of service should entitle us to extraordinary recognition. This temptation to impress others with our goodness should be countered by an admission that what we have done is not extraordinary but rather our duty. • What are some reasons why you fear reaching out? Resolve to work through at least one of these blocks to relationship. •
What are some of the ways you can affirm your loved ones for their love “duties” which you have recently taken for granted?
Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) ____________ Chapter 6: Of the love of benevolence which we exercise towards our Savior by way of desire. It is
yet another kind of benevolence towards God, when feeling we cannot exalt him in himself, we strive to do it in ourselves, that is, still more and more to increase the complacency we take in his goodness. And then, Theotimus, we desire not the complacency for the pleasure it yields us, but purely because this pleasure is in God. For as we desire not the compassion for the pain it brings to our heart, but because this sorrow unites and associates us to our well-beloved, who is in pain; so we do
not love the complacency because it brings us pleasure, but because this pleasure is taken in union with the pleasure and good which is in God, to be more united to which, we would desire to exercise a complacency infinitely greater, in imitation of the most holy Queen and Mother of love, whose sacred soul continually magnified and exalted God. And that it might be known that this magnifying was made by the complacency which she took in the divine
goodness,
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