Message of 4-13-09
Published: Sun, 04/12/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Socrates mastered the art of dying; Christ overcame death as "the
last enemy" (1 Cor. 15:26). There is a real difference between the
two things; the one is within the scope of human possibilities, the
other means resurrection. It is not from ars moriendi, the art of
dying, but from the resurrection of Christ that a new and purifying
wind can blow through our present world. ... If a few people really
believed that and acted on it in their daily lives, a great deal
would be changed. To live in the light of the Resurrection--that is
what Easter means.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "Letters and Papers from Prison"
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Free copy of "Jesus is Risen," a pamphlet by Philip St. Romain.
- see http://homepage.mac.com/philothea/download/resurrection.pdf
Print it out; pass it around; send copies via email. . .
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; Mt 28:8-15
R. Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with
joy in your presence."
We rejoice in the path of life made known to us by Christ. The
paschal mystery winds through our lives. As we model our lives on
his and take up his ministry to the world, we inevitably find
ourselves on the way of the cross. Yet that way is made glorious in
the hope of resurrection. The empty tomb and the message of the
angel filled his disciples with joy. That joy is our heritage, for
Christ conquered death, once and for all, for all of us, forever.
"For constant awareness of the Lord's presence ... for joy in the
Lord ... for the grace always to follow the path of life, 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
320. He forever, and nothing but Him: in His divinity He is the
source from which everything flows; in His humanity He is the
center from which all activity is directed; in His mystic fullness
He is the goal toward which everything tends.
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