Message of 7-20-09
Published: Fri, 07/17/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Sometimes people get the mistaken notion that spirituality is a
separate department of life, the penthouse of existence. But
rightly understood, it is a vital awareness that pervades all
realms of our being.
- Brother David Steindl-Rast
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Ex 14:5-18; Exodus 15:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6; Mt 12:38-42
R.(1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
He is my God, I praise him;
the God of my father, I extol him.
The LORD is a warrior,
LORD is his name!
Pharaoh's chariots and army he hurled into the sea;
the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea.
The flood waters covered them,
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O LORD, magnificent in power,
your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"The LORD himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still."
We recognize the pattern of this epic drama of the Old Testament in
our own lives. Things go from bad to worse, and our first impulse
is good: We cry out to God. But a strong, almost irresistible
desire to lay blame for our perilous situation seizes us. The
energy we initially put into holy supplication gets diverted to
fruitless, draining distractions: pointing the finger, denouncing
the responsible party. When troubles arise, let us stay with that
first impulse that turns us toward God. Even in the midst of
turmoil, we can rest confidently in the knowledge that our God will
protect and provide for us.
"For peaceful, steadfast reliance on God in all circumstances, we
pray."
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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)
The reason why God created the angels and man, was His unfathomable
goodness and nobleness whereby He willed to do it; that the bliss
and the richness which He is Himself might be revealed to rational
creatures, so that they might taste Him in time, and enjoy Him
outside time in eternity.
- Chapter 2
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