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God's plans, like lilies, pure and white, unfold;
We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart;
Time will reveal the chalices of gold.
- May Louise Riley Smith
(Patience is a virtue. Enjoy the ride.)
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1 JN 3:22–4:6; PS 2:7BC-8, 10-12A
MT 4:12-17, 23-25
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness
have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.
His fame spread to all of Syria,
and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases
and racked with pain,
those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics,
and he cured them.
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
USCCB Lectionary
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Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.)
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Matthew 4:12-1 7,23-25 (Jesus heals)
Matthew’s Gospel was addressed to a Jewish-Christian community, often quoting Old Testament prophets to show how Jesus fulfilled their predictions. In today’s reading we learn that a world in darkness has been visited by a healing Messiah.
• Does the phrase “a land overshadowed by death” describe your perception of the world today? How does Christ’s light help illuminate our world?
• Pray for the grace to be a source of healing to those around you today.
Paperback, Kindle and eBook
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God and
I: Exploring the Connections between God, Self and Ego, by Philip St. Romain, 2016 (2nd ed.)
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Chapter 9: Spiritual Transformation -- God, Self and Ego
1. Egoic Authenticity is Foundational to Spirituality
Given my own Christian commitment and background, the focus taken in chapter 7 on the Ego-God relationship was to affirm that there is a God, Who comes to us just as we are, communicating love and acceptance, inviting us into a relationship of love. This relationship satisfies the innate longings of the human spirit and enables the Ego to re-orient itself away from the Persona to its deeper roots in the
Self-God ground of our existence. I believe the Ego-God relationship is vital for sustaining Egoic authenticity, and for “cultivating” the Self-God zone of consciousness. I say this knowing that there are non-theistic religious traditions, and that there are many who are averse to even speaking of God, much less opening to God in faith. No perspective on God, Self and Ego can equally satisfy and affirm all positions, and so I make no apology for my theistic bias, here. Authentically-striving
people of good-will and compassion can be found outside of Christianity and all religions, but I remain convinced that there is a deeper fulfillment that they are missing out on.
Hardback, paperback, eBook and free preview versions.
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