Message of 6-8-09
Published: Thu, 06/04/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Thoughtfulness is the beginning of great sanctity. If you learn
this art of being thoughtful, you will become more and more
Christ-like, for his heart was meek and he always thought of
others. Our vocation, to be beautiful, must be full of thought for
others.
... Mother Teresa of Calcutta
(How might you be more thoughtful of others this day?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
2 Cor 1:1-7; Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Mt 5:1-12
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of
God."
We are called to be peacemakers every day, because conflict seems
to abound wherever we look: our family, our workplace, our
neighborhood and even our worship community, not to mention the
world. Let's not forget the closest war zone of all -- our
rebellious, conflicted hearts. We pray for peace and contact our
government officials about peace issues they can impact, but often
our peacemaking is hands-on. Being in the middle can involve pain.
At best, peacemaking is a delicate, difficult task, almost
certainly entailing some discouragement. But take to heart today's
words of St. Paul: "The God of all encouragement ... encourages us in
our every affliction."
"Lord, grant me your peace so that I may extend it to all."
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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)
Sometimes a person is touched also from within, through remembering
the sorrows and the sufferings of our Lord, and the good which God
has bestowed upon him and upon all other men; or by considering his
sins, the shortness of life, the fear of death and the fear of
hell, the eternal torments of hell and the eternal joy of heaven,
and how God has spared him in his sins and has awaited his
conversion. Or he may ponder the marvelous works of God in heaven
and in earth, and in all creatures. Such are the workings of the
prevenient grace of God, stirring men from without and from within,
in many ways. And besides this, man has a natural tendency towards
God, because of the spark of the soul, and because of that highest
reason, which always desires the good and hates the evil.
- Chapter 1, Of the Active Life
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