Message of 2-5-18

Published: Mon, 02/05/18

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: February 5, 2018
Message of the Day
Pray with your intelligence. Bring things to God that you have thought out and think them out again with Him. That is the secret of good judgment. Repeatedly place your pet opinions and prejudices before God. He will surprise you by showing you that the best of them need refining and some the purification of destruction.
- Charles H. Brent

(What do you need to “think through” with God these days?)
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Readings of the Day
1 KGS 8:1-7, 9-13;   PS 132:6-7, 8-10

MK 6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea,
Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret
and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country 
and began to bring in the sick on mats
to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;
and as many as touched it were healed.

USCCB lectionary
Reflection on the Scripture
"The Lord intends to dwell in the dark cloud." —1 Kings 8:12
 
In today's first Eucharistic reading and psalm response, God makes the Temple His home on earth. Yet in the process of dwelling among us, God hides in the dark cloud which fills the Temple (1 Kgs 8:10ff). In today's Gospel reading, Jesus, God incarnate, leaves that Temple and goes out to Gentile territory. Yet shortly thereafter Jesus hides Himself and "wanted no one to recognize Him" (Mk 7:24). The people must search for Him (see Mk 6:55).

The good news is that, by His hiding, the Lord is available to us all. He doesn't hide due to a lack of love, but rather out of a desire to draw us out of ourselves, away from the lures of the world, the flesh, and the devil (see 1 Jn 2:16). He hides from us because of the intensity of His love for us. God's Word implores us to seek Him while He may be found (Is 55:6). Jesus urges us to seek and we will find (Mt 7:8). Jesus hides on the cross, turning down His glory and humbling Himself. He hides in a tabernacle, in a host, and in the chalice. He hides Himself in His Word.

From the cross, Jesus exclaimed: "I am thirsty" (Jn 19:28). Give Jesus a drink. Search for Him and find Him. Jesus is not hiding from you; He is hiding for you. Make your heart His hiding place, and He will hide Himself in you (Jn 6:56; 17:23).
 
Prayer: Jesus, give me the strength to bring others through the cloud into Your arms of love.

Promise: "Let us enter into His dwelling, let us worship at His footstool." Ps132:7

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Presentation Ministries
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Spiritual Reading
What is Christian Love? 
- Reprinted from Freedom from Codependency, by Philip St. Romain 
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   - Dysfunctional Beliefs About Love -      
        part 3 of 5

•  "Love means I must never say no to someone in need."  
A literal interpretation of this teaching would result in the loss of boundaries that characterizes codependency.  Sometimes you must say no, even to those in need.  If you respond to every request for charity that comes your way through television, radio, and the mail, you will go broke.  The true Christian value is to remain open in your heart while giving what you can when you can--and that includes giving to family and self.

•  "It is better to work than to play."  
Many adults have trouble with this one.  It is typical that people in dysfunctional families grow up too quickly and miss their childhood.  Their parents discouraged child-play and forced them to become too responsible too young.  As adults, they still feel guilty when they are not doing something productive.  This attitude distorts the Christian value of productive labor.
 
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