Message of 4-24-09
Published: Mon, 04/20/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Lord Jesus, I ask Thee, give unto me movement in Thy love without
measure; desire without limit; longing without order; burning
without discretion. Truly the better the love of Thee is, the
greedier it is; for neither by reason is it restrained, nor be
dread thronged, nor by doom tempted.
... Richard Rolle
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Jn 6:1-15
R. (see 4abc) One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.ht
ml
In John's version of what is commonly referred to as "the
multiplication of the loaves and fishes," Jesus was not worried
about how to feed more than 5000 people who followed him to a
mountain precisely because he was performing signs such as healing
the sick. In fact, Jesus accepted the potential crisis as an
opportunity to test his disciples "because he himself knew what he
was going to do." But the disciples were clearly worried about how
to feed so many people and no doubt what the crowd might do if they
were disappointed in Jesus and hungry after following him to this
remote area.
Some scholars point to the significance of having the followers
recline to eat (a position usually reserved for the privileged of
the day) and the disciples doing the serving. Others suggest that
the miracle of the multiplication may have been Jesus physically
creating more food or perhaps that the sharing of the fish and
bread evoked generosity and hospitality in the followers who began
to share with fellow sojourners around them the food they brought
for the day's journey.
For me the significance lies in the twelve wicker baskets of bread
gathered after everyone had had enough to eat, "fragments left
over, so that nothing will be wasted." Here are a few lessons I
draw from the gathered fragments:
* Live out of a sense of abundance rather than scarcity;
"there's always room for one more at the table"
* Don't waste food and other resources (a lesson of
sustainability and stewardship)
* Trust in the basic goodness of others; create opportunities
to make it easy for people to be generous and they will generally
follow through
* When we live out of a sense of abundance, community,
generosity, and stewardship, we can often accomplish more and with
fewer resources than we think we need
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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
Were I a preacher, I should above all other things preach the
practice of the presence of GOD; and were I a director, I should
advise all the world to do it: so necessary do I think it, and so
easy too.
Ah! knew we but the want we have of the grace and assistance of
GOD, we should never lose sight of Him, no, not for a moment.
Believe me; make immediately a holy and firm resolution never more
wilfully to forget Him, and to spend the rest of your days in His
sacred presence, deprived for the love of Him, if He thinks fit, of
all consolations.
- Fifth Letter
Prayer for a sister who is about to make a vow and profession.
* A
fresh insisting upon the necessity and virtue of practising the
Presence of God.
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