Message of 3-3-09
Published: Sat, 02/28/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
(In the midst of a financial crisis)
"For myself, I think the greatest happiness of this life is to be
released from the cares and formalities of what is called the
world. My world is my family, and all the change to me will be
that I can devote myself unmolested to my treasure."
- St. Elizabeth Seton
(There is something about hard times that helps us to affirm our
true priorities. What might those be for you?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 55:10-11; Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19; Mt 6:7-15
R. (18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from "Daily Reflections"
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
The words of "The Our Father" are divine in inspiration and hence
purposeful in intent. When we pray them they yield new life in each
of us and thus fulfill God's purpose. The journey that is Lent
opens before us bounteous opportunities to experience the word of
God as purposeful and life-giving.
We pray: "Our Father in heaven" as an invocation found in the
rabbinic prayers after the time of Jesus. It establishes our
personal relationship to God.
We pray: "Hallowed is thy name" understood as reverence done to God
by human praise and obedience to God's will.
We pray: "Your kingdom come" turning towards divine rather than
human action.
We pray: "Give us today our daily bread" is a petition for a speedy
coming of the kingdom, which is often portrayed in both Old and New
Testament under the image of a feast.
We pray: "Forgive us our debts" - which is a metaphor of
"sins/trespasses" - at the final judgment.
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Ignatian Method)
A. Preparation: acts of faith and reverence in the presence of God;
asking grace of a good meditation; petition for specific graces
sought in meditation.
B. Reading the Scriptures slowly, prayerfully.
C. Exercise of the memory, imagination, and intellect:
consideration of the material.. What practical applications are
suggested?
D. Expression of feelings and sentiments awakened in meditation.
Conversation with God.
E. Exercise of will and imagination in making resolutions. Prayer
for grace to fulfill resolutions.
F. Vocal prayer (Our Father, Hail Mary, other prayers).
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
"Sayings of Light and Love," by St. John of the Cross (jottings
from his notebooks)
102. He who seeks not the cross of Christ seeks not the glory of
Christ.
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