Message of 4-3-09
Published: Thu, 03/26/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
As long as I am content to know that He is infinitely greater than
I, and that I cannot know Him unless He shows Himself to me, I will
have Peace, and He will be near me and in me, and I will rest in Him.
- Thomas Merton
Sign on wall plaque:
The way to wisdom and peace:
1. Know that there is a God.
2. Know that you are not Him.
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Jer 20:10-13; Ps 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7; Jn 10:31-42
R. (see 7) In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my
voice.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
The breakers of death surged round about me,
the destroying floods overwhelmed me;
The cords of the nether world enmeshed me,
the snares of death overtook me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD
and cried out to my God;
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.ht
ml
Jesus is threatened by those who witness his "works." And Jesus
challenges his accusers to clarify over which "good work" are they
charging him. Jesus' time had not yet come so he fled down the
mountain to the Jordon. His passion and death would come soon but
he wanted to celebrate the Passover first with his disciples. Next
Friday is Good Friday in our present day liturgy so all this drama
fits together.
We need to remember the comment made to Thomas in the Upper Room
the week after Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus said, "Blessed are
they who believe even though they do not see." This can also be
translated to "Blessed are they who have trusted even though they
do not understand!"
So "Why me , Lord?" If we truly trust the Lord we can respond
"why not, Lord because blessed are we who do not understand even
though we are bombarded on all sides with terrible pressures and
anxieties.
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Benedictine Approach)
1. Relax. Settle in. Be aware that God is here, now, loving you.
2. Read a short passage of Scripture as though God were speaking
directly to you in it.
3. Choose a phrase from the passage that strikes you and repeat it
slowly, prayerfully, non-analytically.
4. When your heart is full, express to God the needs and sentiments
awakened by your meditation. When you're done, read another passage
and repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. If, at any time, you feel moved to simply be present to God in
loving silence, put the Scripture aside and rest in God.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "The Practice of the Presence of God," by Brother Lawrence
I have taken the liberty to impart to you these good sentiments,
that you may compare them with your own: they will serve again to
kindle and inflame them, if by misfortune (which GOD forbid, for it
would be indeed a great misfortune) they should be, though never so
little, cooled. Let us then both recall our first fervours. Let us
profit by the example and the sentiments of this brother, who is
little known of the world, but known of GOD, and extremely caressed
by Him. I will pray for you; do you pray instantly for me, who am
yours in our LORD.
- 4th letter, writng to a soldier friend
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