Message of 3-31-09
Published: Thu, 03/26/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Often I have heard people say, "How good God is! We prayed that it
would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely
weather!" Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was
also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death
before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one
occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us
was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling
Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. "No, Corrie," said
Betsie, "He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: "For as the
heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love
toward those who fear Him." Corrie concludes, "There is an ocean of
God's love available - there is plenty for everyone. May God grant
you never to doubt that victorious love - whatever the
circumstances."
- Corrie Ten Boom
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Nm 21:4-9; Ps 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21; Jn 8:21-30
R. (2) O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
O LORD, hear my prayer,
and let my cry come to you.
Hide not your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
in the day when I call, answer me speedily.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
To fail to recognize Jesus and where he came from is to remain in
spiritual darkness; to believe Jesus and his words is to walk in
the joy and light of God's truth. There are certain opportunities
in life that come and do not return. Each of us is given the
opportunity to know and to accept Jesus Christ, as our Lord and
Savior. But that opportunity can be rejected and lost. Life here is
limited and short, but how we live it has everlasting consequences.
Do you take advantage of the present time to make room for God so
that your life will count for eternity?
"Lord Jesus, grant this day, to direct and sanctify, to rule and
govern our hearts and bodies, so that all our thoughts, words and
deeds may be according to your Father's law and thus may we be
saved and protected through your mighty help."
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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)
107. Eat not in forbidden pastures (those of this life), because
blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will
be satisfied [Mt. 5:6]. What God seeks, he being himself God by
nature, is to make us gods through participation, just as fire
converts all things into fire.
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