Message of 6-19-09
Published: Sat, 06/06/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Reading is good, hearing is good, conversation and meditation are
good; but then, they are only good at times and occasions, in a
certain degree, and must be used and governed with such caution as
we eat and drink and refresh ourselves, or they will bring forth in
us the fruits of intemperance. But the spirit of prayer is for all
times and occasions; it is a lamp that is to be always burning, a
light to be ever shining: everything calls for it; everything is to
be done in it and governed by it, because it is and means and wills
nothing else but the totality of the soul -- not doing this or
that, but wholly...given up to God to be where and what and how He
pleases.
- William Law
("The spirit of prayer is for all times and occasions . . . ")
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9; Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Eph 3:8-12, 14-19;
Jn 19:31-37
R. (3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.ht
ml
What, after all, does it mean to be Christian? Not to save
ourselves, as perhaps we once thought. God has done that for us.
No, our job is to continue the work of Jesus - the Jesus who called
people to change their priorities and submit to God's gentle reign.
Christians are a community of disciples, having disciple roles, and
doing disciple work.
We need to ask ourselves: If someone is mean and hateful and
spiteful, self-centered and angry - in short, our enemy - do we
want that person to go into eternal damnation? We can't want that.
Jesus gives Himself for that person, just as much as He does for
me. Jesus counts on us to help that person accept the love God
offers. How can that person know of God's forgiveness if he doesn't
experience it in me?
But love our enemies? Once again, we bump up against the
inadequacies of translations. "Love" here is not a matter of warm
fuzzy feelings or the affection of friendship. The verb used by
Matthew might be better translated as "to care about", or "to be
concerned about", "to care enough to want to help". It's with that
kind of care and concern that Jesus and Stephen prayed for those
who were killing them. Saving such individuals is precisely why
Jesus came and why we're Christians.
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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
Let us begin then; perhaps He expects but one generous resolution
on our part. Have courage. We have but little time to live; you are
near sixty-four, and I am almost eighty. Let us live and die with
GOD: sufferings will be sweet and pleasant to us, while we are with
Him: and the greatest pleasures will be, without Him, a cruel
punishment to us. May He be blessed for all. Amen.
- 7th Letter
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