Message of 4-27-09
Published: Tue, 04/21/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
No one of us desires anything so eagerly as God desires to bring us
to the knowledge of Himself. God is always ready, but we are very
unready. God is near us, but we are far from Him. God is within,
and we are without. God is friendly -- we are estranged.
... Meister Eckhart
(Do you seek knowledge of God? How do you feel about growing
closer to God?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 6:8-15; Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; Jn 6:22-29
R. (1ab) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Though princes meet and talk against me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors.
I declared my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures
for eternal life."
When we have a good experience, our natural inclination is to try
to hold on to it. No doubt the disciples of Jesus felt this way
after Pentecost, filled with and led by the Holy Spirit. They were
soon to learn, as in the case of Stephen, how dangerous it could be
to follow the Spirit. When we clutch tightly to what we've got,
when we feel in control, our hands are too clenched to receive new
and greater gifts from God. It is only when we surrender to the
Lord with open hearts, minds and hands that he is free to do his
greatest work in and through us.
"Lord, take all of me and fill me with yourself."
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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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THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
For all who wish to see in a ghostly and supernatural manner three
things also are needful. The first is the light of Divine grace;
the second is a free turning of the will to God, the third is a
conscience clean from any mortal sin.
- Book One, Chapter 1 - on the active life.
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