Message of 2-20-18

Published: Tue, 02/20/18

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Message of the Day
I choose love. No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness, I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. 
- Max Lucado, Upwords 

(“I choose love.” Repeat this affirmation, and ask God to empower you to put it into practice this day.)
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Lectionary Readings

IS 55:10-11;   PS 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19

MT 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
"If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

UCCB Lectionary
 
Reflection on the Scriptures

We can approach God confidently because he is waiting with arms wide open to receive his prodigal sons and daughters. That is why Jesus gave his disciples the perfect prayer that dares to call God, Our Father. This prayer teaches us how to ask God for the things we really need, the things that matter not only for the present but for eternity as well. We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because the Lord Jesus has opened the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection. 

When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, God responds with grace, mercy, and loving-kindness. He is good and forgiving towards us, and he expects us to treat our neighbor the same. God has poured his love into our hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5). And that love is like a refining fire - it purifies and burns away all prejudice, hatred, resentment, vengeance, and bitterness until there is nothing  left but goodness and forgiveness towards those who cause us grief or harm.

"Father in heaven, you have given me a mind to know you, a will to serve you, and a heart to love you. Give me today the grace and strength to embrace your holy will and fill my heart and mind with your truth and  love that all my intentions and actions may be pleasing to you. Help me to be kind and forgiving towards my neighbor as you have been towards me."
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DailyScripture.net
 
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Spiritual Reading


The Ascent of Mount Carmel, by St. John of the Cross

E. Allison Peers Translation. Paperback, Kindle, Audio Book.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1935785982/?tag=christianspiritu


BOOK THE FIRST

Wherein is described the nature of dark night and how necessary it is to pass through it to Divine union; and in particular this book describes the dark night of sense, and desire, and the evils which these work in the soul.


CHAPTER XIII


Wherein is described the manner and way which the soul must follow in order to enter this night of sense.​​​​​​​

   11. The lines are these:
     In order to arrive at having pleasure in everything,
        Desire to have pleasure in nothing.
     In order to arrive at possessing everything,
        Desire to possess nothing.
     In order to arrive at being everything,
        Desire to be nothing.
     In order to arrive at knowing everything,
        Desire to know nothing.
     In order to arrive at that wherein thou hast no pleasure,
        Thou must go by a way wherein thou hast no pleasure.
     In order to arrive at that which thou knowest not,
        Thou must go by a way that thou knowest not.
     In order to arrive at that which thou possessest not,
        Thou must go by a way that thou possessest not.
     In order to arrive at that which thou art not,
        Thou must go through that which thou art not.
 
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