Message of 4-28-09
Published: Tue, 04/28/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Prayer is the creator as well as the channel of devotion. The
spirit of devotion is the spirit of prayer. Prayer and devotion are
united as soul and body are united, as life and the heart are
united. There is no real prayer without devotion, no devotion
without prayer.
... E. M. Bounds, "Power through Prayer"
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 7:51 - 8:1a; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab;
Jn 6:30-35
R. (6a) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
My trust is in the LORD;
I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
Do you hunger for the bread of life? The Jews had always regarded
the mana in the wilderness as the bread of God(Psalm 78:24, Exodus
16:15). There was a strong Rabbinic belief that when the Messiah
came he would give manna from heaven. This was the supreme work of
Moses. Now the Jewish leaders were demanding that Jesus produce
manna from heaven as proof to his claim to be the Messiah. Jesus
responds by telling them that it was not Moses who gave the manna,
but God. And the manna given to Moses and the people was not the
real bread from heaven, but only a symbol of the bread to come.
Jesus then makes the claim which only God can make: I am the bread
of life. The bread which Jesus offers is none else than the very
life of God. This is the true bread which can truly satisfy the
hunger in our hearts. Do you hunger for God and for the food which
produces everlasting life?
"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the bread of life. You alone can
satisfy the hunger in my heart. May I always find in you, the true
bread from heaven, the source of life and nourishment I need to
sustain me on my journey to the promised land of heaven."
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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)
114. Perfection does not lie in the virtues that the soul knows it
has, but in the virtues that our Lord sees in it. This is a closed
book; hence one has no reason for presumption, but must remain
prostrate on the ground with respect to self.
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