Message of 4-23-09
Published: Mon, 04/20/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Christians in their relationships should be the most human people
you will ever see. This speaks for God in an age of inhumanity and
impersonality and facelessness. When people look at us, their
reaction should be, "These are human people" -- human, because we
know that we differ from the animal, the plant, and the machine;
and that personality is native to what has always been [human]. If
they cannot look upon us and say, "They are real people", nothing
else is enough.
... Francis A. Schaeffer, "The God Who is There"
(How has your life in Christ enabled you to become more "real" . .
. who you really are?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 5:27-33; Ps 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20; Jn 3:31-36
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
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.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- John 3: 31-36 (Jesus is Lord of all)
John unhesitantly proclaims that Jesus is formed from above,
meaning Jesus is God. He does not see Jesus as merely an
enlightened or wise man or a prophet. Rather, Jesus is one who
speaks God's own words, and our response to him should be one of
reverent obedience.
- Many saints have said that obedience to Jesus allowed them to
fully experience freedom. Do you experience the truth of this
paradox in your own life?
- In what area of your life are you most obedient to Jesus? Most
disobedient?
- Pray for the grace to allow Jesus to be Lord of your life.
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Carmelite Method)
A. Introduction: settling in, relaxing in awareness of God's
presence.
B. Reading the text slowly, prayerfully.
C. Meditation: imaginative representation of the material; reflection
on the meaning of the material and its application to one's life.
D. Affective prayer: conversation with God, attentive to sharing
feelings awakened in meditation. Prayer of petition, thanksgiving,
remorse.
E. Resting in God in silent loving awareness, if moved to do so.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Voice of Christ
MY CHILD, stand firm and trust in Me. For what are words but
words?
They fly through the air but hurt not a stone. If you are guilty,
consider how you would gladly amend. If you are not conscious of
any
fault, think that you wish to bear this for the sake of God. It is
little enough for you occasionally to endure words, since you
are not
yet strong enough to bear hard blows.
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 45
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