Message of 2-2-09
Published: Fri, 01/30/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Happiness is not what makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that
makes us happy.
- David Steindl-Rast, "A Listening Heart"
(For what/whom are you grateful? Make a list, and resolve to tell
the people in your life of your gratitude for them.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Mal 3:1-4; Ps 24:7, 8, 9, 10; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40
R.Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not
see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord."
The promise Simeon sees fulfilled in the Presentation of the Lord
is the hope Jesus' birth offers to all who devoutly seek him. That
devotion necessitates ritual and tradition -- along with extreme
patience. Mary and Joseph faithfully observe the Law of Moses and
go to the temple to perform the necessary purification. The pious
and virtuous Simeon goes to the temple for the Holy Spirit's
assurance to be fulfilled. Anna never leaves the temple in a
constant vigil of fasting and prayer. And all have their longings
answered. They had the grace to hear the word of God and experience
it in the flesh. We have the joy of knowing that what they long
awaited is already in our midst if we but seek it.
"For eyes to see your salvation, we pray."
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LECTIO DIVINA PROCESS
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html
First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:
* Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.
* Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?
* Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.
* Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God.
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THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S "THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY"
from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm
529. When Christ lends to our thinking His cooperation, His light
and His thought, our concepts are bathed in eternal light. Let us
think, then, for when we reflect we let the rays of this brilliant
light penetrate our souls... Our reflections are the only love our
minds are capable of when they are in the presence of the truth
that charms them.
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