Message of 10-16-17

Published: Mon, 10/16/17

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: October 16, 2017
Message of the Day
Whence comes this idea that if what we are doing is fun, it can't be God's will? The God who made giraffes, a baby's fingernails, a puppy's tail, a crooknecked squash, the bobwhite's call, and a young girl's giggle, has a sense of humor. Make no mistake about that.
- Catherine Marshall, Spiritual Portrait

(How does this quote square with your image of God? Do you believe God has a sense of humor? How might you encounter God in humor?)
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Readings of the Day
ROM 1:1-7;   PS 98:1BCDE, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

LK 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
"This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment 
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation 
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here."

USCCB lectionary
Reflection on the Scripture
="Greetings from Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called..." —Romans 1:1

 
Paul was very conscious of being "called to be an apostle" (Rm 1:1). He was also quite aware that he was writing to those "called to belong to Jesus Christ" (Rm 1:6) and "called to holiness, grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rm 1:7). Being called was so important to the early Church that the root meaning of the word we translate "church" is "the called out." The early Christians considered themselves to be the elect, the specially chosen, "the called out," called to a special love of the Lord.

For human beings, to be special implies exclusivity, not inclusivity. If everyone's special, no one's special. Therefore, we may not feel specially chosen, because we know that God loves everyone. However, the Lord is not bound by our limitations. He can love everyone with a personalized, individualized love. He made each of us as one-of-a-kind. He knows each of us so much better than we can ever know ourselves. He loves each of us not with a generic love; rather, He calls, knows, and loves us each by name (Is 43:1).

He has numbered the hairs of our heads (Mt 10:30) and has counted our tears (Ps 56:9). He knows and cares about our comings and goings (Ps 139:3ff).
Each of us is called — specially, uniquely chosen for the Lord's love. Live in His love (Jn 15:9). Answer the call!
 
Prayer: Father, I thank and praise You for Your personal, intimate love for me.

Promise: "At the judgment, the citizens of Nineveh will rise along with the present generation, and they will condemn it. For at the preaching of Jonah they reformed, but you have a greater than Jonah here." —Lk 11:32
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Presentation Ministries
Amazon Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.
Spiritual Reading
Theological Gems from Emile Merch's Theology of the Mystical Body
- selected by Jim and Tyra Arraj

Book V: In Christ
 
Chapter 19: Sanctifying Grace
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610. (Grace) is the entrance of God into us, so far as this entrance changes us intrinsically and conforms us, to the degree that this is possible, to God who draws near. It is our very soul as internally ennobled and elevated by the indwelling of God and for this indwelling.
 
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