Message of 5-4-09
Published: Thu, 04/30/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
A loving Personality dominates the Bible, walking among the trees
of the garden and breathing fragrance over every scene. Always a
living Person is present, speaking, pleading, loving, working, and
manifesting himself whenever and wherever his people have the
receptivity necessary to receive the manifestation.
... A. W. Tozer
(A loving Personality . . . )
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 11:1-18; Ps 42:2-3; 43:3, 4; Jn 10:1-10
R. (see 3a) Athirst is my soul for the living God.
As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.
Then will I go in to the altar of God,
the God of my gladness and joy;
Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,
O God, my God!
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"I am the gate."
There's one sure way to salvation, and that is through Jesus
Christ, our shepherd. Though many seek shortcuts or alternate
routes, ultimately such paths are fruitless. We cannot sneak into
the sheepfold, nor can we follow imposters and strangers and expect
to find pasture. False promises and easy temptations abound, and at
times we may even think we can do this on our own. Certainly we
cannot. We need the guidance and protection of a true shepherd who
has our safety and best interests at heart. Despite society's
emphasis on individualism and forging our own paths -- in terms of
faith and salvation, with Jesus as shepherd, it's best to follow
and to be sheep.
"That we may hear the shepherd's voice, we pray."
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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)
Now mark this: God being a common good, and His boundless love
being common to all, He gives His grace in two ways: prevenient
grace, and the grace by which one merits eternal life. Prevenient
grace is common to all men, Pagan and Jew, good and evil. By reason
of His common love, which God has towards all men, He has caused
His name and the redemption of human nature to be preached and
revealed to the uttermost parts of the earth. Whosoever wishes to
turn to Him can turn to Him. All the sacraments, baptism and every
other sacrament are made ready for all men who wish to receive them
according to the needs of each; for God wishes to save all men and
to lose not one. At the day of Judgment, no one shall be able to
complain that, had he wished to be converted, but little was done
for him. Thus God is a common light and a common splendour
enlightening heaven and earth, and every man, each according to his
need and worth.
- Chapter 1, Of the Active Life
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