Message of 7-3-09
Published: Mon, 06/29/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and
to love Him as they love their cow - for the milk and cheese and
profit it brings them. This is how it is with people who love God
for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. They do not
rightly love God, when they love Him for their own advantage.
Indeed, I tell you the truth, any object you have in your mind,
however good, will be a barrier between you and the inmost Truth.
- Meister Eckhart
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Eph 2:19-22; Ps 117:1bc, 2; Jn 20:24-29
R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
For steadfast is his kindness for us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Faith without doubt is certitude. Doubt without faith is cynicism.
Although I have experienced moments of both certitude and cynicism
in myself and others, I don't think either extreme is often healthy
or attractive. In my experience, doubt and faith can complement one
another. Just because Thomas was not yet ready to believe his
friends about seeing the Risen Jesus does not mean he lacked all
faith. In fact, Thomas's doubt probably led to a deepening of his
faith after he experienced Jesus as Risen.
One other insight about Thomas is that he is the Apostle who
insists on closely inspecting the wounds and suffering of Jesus.
Thomas, perhaps more than anyone else, is able to face the heinous
suffering of Jesus and take seriously the pain of the cross. Do we
as Christians not have an obligation to take seriously the
suffering of Jesus on the cross, the suffering of our world today,
and be willing to follow Jesus despite that pain? We might be
tempted not to inspect too closely the suffering of people today
from war, poverty, disease, etc. But once we inspect these wounds
ourselves, rather than doubt their severity we must face the truth
and act accordingly.
For me Thomas is a saint and apostle who is down to earth, easy to
relate to, and an inspiration for not turning away but for being
willing to inspect and take seriously the pain and suffering of
Jesus, the cross, and our world - no doubt about it.
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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
YOU tell me nothing new: you are not the only one that is troubled
with wandering thoughts. Our mind is extremely roving; but as the
will is mistress of all our faculties, she must recall them, and
carry them to GOD, as their last end.
- 8th letter, on wandering thoughts in prayer.
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