Message of 5-15-09
Published: Mon, 05/11/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
God does not lead all His servants by one road, nor in one way, nor
at one time; for God is in all things; and that person is not
serving God aright, who can only serve Him in his own self-chosen
way.
... John Tauler
("God is in all things . . ." Be open to the divine presence this
day.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 15:22-31; Ps 57:8-9, 10 and 12; Jn 15:12-17
R. (10a) I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and chant praise.
Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn.
I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,
I will chant your praise among the nations.
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.ht
ml
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved
you." Actually Jesus says it two times - in the first and the very
last verses in today's reading (vv. 13, 17) adding emphasis to the
strong statement itself and to call into focus and emphasis what is
contained in between.
The "in-between" verses in John, continue Jesus' words and clarify
how he looks upon his disciples. He calls them friends. He makes
the disciples equal to himself: so that as HE is related to the
Father, THEY are related to him. What a fabulous thought - no,
even more, what a fabulous reality. "What I have heard from my
Father, I have made known to you (v.15)." He literally puts us in
the middle of God's divine and abiding love for His Son Jesus.
The purpose of that magnificent gift is so that, like Jesus, we may
first receive God's love and then release that love for others.
We're to "bear fruit" just as Jesus' life, death and resurrection
bore fruit in terms of service: service that flows naturally from
the fact that we have been made "friends" by Jesus.
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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
This exercise (practice of the presence of God) does not much
fatigue the body: it is, however, proper to deprive it sometimes,
nay often, of many little pleasures which are innocent and lawful:
for GOD will not permit that a soul which desires to be devoted
entirely to Him should take other pleasures than with Him; that is
more than reasonable.
- Sixth Letter
To a member of the order who had received from him a book, and
to
whom he again enlarges on his favourite topic. * Encouragement
to
persevere.
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