Message of 5-20-09
Published: Sat, 05/16/09
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
This blessed friend is Jesus; it is his will and plan that we hang
on to him, and hold tight always, in whatever circumstances; for
whether we are filthy or clean is all the same to his love.
- Juliana of Norwich
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 17:15, 22-18:1; Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14; Jn 16:12-15
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
He has lifted up the horn of his people;
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Alleluia.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"The Spirit of truth ... will guide you."
Paul finds himself in Athens among philosophers and lovers of
knowledgeable discourse. He is disturbed by the number of idols he
finds, but when he's finally invited to speak, he treats this
idolatry respectfully and dwells on common ground. If one travels
to foreign lands, one needn't be a missionary to find oneself in a
theological discussion. The Spirit of truth will guide us to common
ground, but it is our job to become familiar with the lay of the
land. This includes respect for the people who welcome us into
their midst, their traditions, religious rituals and what they hold
as holy. Then, like Paul, we may come to fully comprehend that our
"God gives to everyone life and breath."
"Jesus, help me to be like you and welcome all on my path today."
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
In this sense the New Birth of the human is the focus towards
which all creation strives, because humans are in the image of God
after the likeness of which the world is created. All time strives
towards eternity or the timeless Now, out of which it issued at
creation. The merely temporal life in itself is a negation of real
being, because it depends on itself and not on the deepest
foundation of life; therefore also natural love is cramped finite
and defective. It must through grace be lifted to the highest
sphere of existence, and attain to freedom outside the narrow
confines of the natural. Thereby love becomes real love, because
only that is real which is comprehended and loved in its essence.
Only by grace man comes from the temporal and transitory to be one
with God. This lifting of manifoldness to unity is the supreme aim
of ethics; by thus the divine birth is completed on the side of man.
- #7. Outward and Inward Morality
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REVIEW OF DAY
- from, "Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day. Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.
1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.
2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.
* What happened? What did I do today?
* How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
* Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?
3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.
4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.
5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.
6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.
This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.
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SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
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