Message of 7-22-09
Published: Fri, 07/17/09
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Your life is always working, whether you know it or not. Sometimes
it works to bring you what you want, and sometimes it works to keep
you from what you think you want.
- Neale Donald Walsch, "Tomorrow's God"
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Ex 16:1-5, 9-15; Ps 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28; Jn 20:1-2,
11-18
R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
They tempted God in their hearts
by demanding the food they craved.
Yes, they spoke against God, saying,
"Can God spread a table in the desert?"
Yet he commanded the skies above
and the doors of heaven he opened;
He rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
He stirred up the east wind in the heavens,
and by his power brought on the south wind.
And he rained meat upon them like dust,
and, like the sand of the sea, winged fowl,
Which fell in the midst of their camp
round about their tents.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb
early in the morning, while it was still dark."
Loss is part of life. Everyday minor disappointments, as well the
major disruptions of life, send us on a journey through the stages
of grief: denial, sorrow, anger, bargaining ("what ifs") and,
finally, acceptance. Through the interior darkness of her grief,
love impelled St. Mary Magdalene to search for her Lord. In that
search she found not only her Lord and Teacher but her call to
proclaim the Good News. Let us come through our losses as she did,
ever seeking the One who makes all things new and leads us into
fullness of life.
"For those who struggle with grief, we pray."
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GOD, SELF AND EGO: Meanings and Discernments
by Philip St. Romain© (doctoral project manuscript)
- see http://shalomplace.com/view/godselfego.html
The view of human nature described by Thomists also tells us
something about its interior attitudes. The soul is essentially
spiritual, but it incorporates the dimensions of animal, vegetable
(physiological), and inanimate being. Hence, Self is open to
transcendence, open to the cosmos, and present in every level of
human existence. Self is also inherently relational since it is
possessed by each individual, but more fully manifest in community.
To the extent that the Ego adopts these basic "attitudes" of Self,
it
will be in authentic relationship with God, other people, the
cosmos,
and Self.
- Part 5 of 15 of general overview
See http://shalomplace.com/view/godselfego.html for the complete
work
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REVIEW OF DAY
- from, "Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day. Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.
1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.
2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.
* What happened? What did I do today?
* How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
* Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?
3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.
4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.
5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.
6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.
This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.
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SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
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