Message of 3-16-09
Published: Tue, 03/10/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Life is the journey. It isn't always the destination. As we walk
this path of life, we will make mistakes, stumble many times, fall
once in a while. But a hand will reach down and pull us back up,
perhaps a friends hand, perhaps the hand of God. But always there
is hope, and as long as there is a single breath left in you, there
is the chance for success, not defeat.
- Anonymous
(How have you experienced that "hand" pulling you back up, lately?
How can you reach out your hand to do so?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
2 Kgs 5:1-15ab; Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; Lk 4:24-30
R. (see 42:3) Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Then will I go in to the altar of God,
the God of my gladness and joy;
Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,
O God, my God!
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Naaman ... [obeyed] the word of the man of God ... and he was clean."
Lent is a time when we make a special effort to mend our ongoing
relationships with God and each other. As Jesus tells us, prophets
don't get much respect in their hometown. We want to do things our
way, on our own. But we soon see the futility of taking that path.
We have to follow God's way of doing things if we want true peace,
even if that way seems hard to us or seems not to make sense
immediately. Let's use this sacred season to return to the Lord and
the sacraments and be clean and whole once more.
"Lord, grant us the grace to take the steps to full reunion and
peace with you and with each other."
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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
610. (Grace) is the entrance of God into us, so far as this
entrance changes us intrinsically and conforms us, to the degree
that this is possible, to God who draws near. It is our very soul
as internally ennobled and elevated by the indwelling of God and
for this indwelling.
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