Message of 5-28-09
Published: Sat, 05/23/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Genuine outrage is not just a permissible reaction to the
hard-pressed Christian; God himself feels it, and so should the
Christian in the presence of pain, cruelty, violence, and
injustice. God, who is the Father of Jesus Christ, is neither
impersonal nor beyond good and evil. By the absolute immutability
of His character, He is implacably opposed to evil and outraged by
it.
... Os Guinness, "The Dust of Death"
(God outraded by evil . . . How does this fit with your own image
of God?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; Jn
17:20-26
R. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- John 17:20-26 (Jesus prays for us)
We often forget that Jesus is as concerned about our own walk in
faith as he was for his disciples. By writing about this prayer of
petition Jesus made on our behalf, John reminds us that Jesus
continues to intercede for us before the Father.
- An old saying proclaims that our problem is not that we are not
good, but that we settle for less than the best. Do you believe
this? Are you striving to become the best person you can be? Are
you satisfied with your present level of spiritual growth?
- Pray for the grace to appreciate God's commitment to loving you.
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Carmelite Method)
A. Introduction: settling in, relaxing in awareness of God's
presence.
B. Reading the text slowly, prayerfully.
C. Meditation: imaginative representation of the material; reflection
on the meaning of the material and its application to one's life.
D. Affective prayer: conversation with God, attentive to sharing
feelings awakened in meditation. Prayer of petition, thanksgiving,
remorse.
E. Resting in God in silent loving awareness, if moved to do so.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Voice of Christ
To Me, therefore, you ought to come in every decision, not
depending
on your own judgment. For the just man will not be disturbed, no
matter what may befall him from God. Even if an unjust charge be
made
against him he will not be much troubled. Neither will he exult
vainly
if through others he is justly acquitted. He considers that it
is I
Who search the hearts and inmost thoughts of men, that I do not
judge
according to the face of things or human appearances. For what the
judgment of men considers praiseworthy is often worthy of blame
in My
sight.
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 46
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