Message of 8-4-09
Published: Sat, 07/25/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Our holiness is an effect, not a cause; so long as our eyes are on
our own personal whiteness as an end in itself, the thing breaks
down. God can do nothing while my interest is in my own personal
character--He will take care of this if I obey His call. In learning
to love God and people as He commanded us to do, obviously your
sanctification cannot but come, but not as an end in itself.
... The Notebooks of Florence Allshorn
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Nm 12:1-13; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 6cd-7, 12-13; Mt 14:22-36 or Mt
15:1-2, 10-14
R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
For I acknowledge my offense;
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned;
and done what is evil in your sight."
That you may be justified in your sentence,
vindicated when you condemn.
Indeed, in guilt was I born,
and in sin my mother conceived me.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not off from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
Only God can change our hearts and make them clean and whole
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Like a physician who probes
the wound before treating it, God through his Word and Spirit first
brings to light our sinful condition that we may recognize sin for
what it is and call upon God's mercy and pardon. The Lord is every
ready to change and purify our hearts through his Holy Spirit who
dwells within us. His power and grace enables us to choose what is
good and to reject what is evil. Do you believe in the power of
God's love to change and transform your heart?
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and make my heart like
yours. Strengthen my heart and my will that I may I choose to love
what is good and to hate what is evil."
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Ignatian Method)
A. Preparation: acts of faith and reverence in the presence of God;
asking grace of a good meditation; petition for specific graces
sought in meditation.
B. Reading the Scriptures slowly, prayerfully.
C. Exercise of the memory, imagination, and intellect:
consideration of the material.. What practical applications are
suggested?
D. Expression of feelings and sentiments awakened in meditation.
Conversation with God.
E. Exercise of will and imagination in making resolutions. Prayer
for grace to fulfill resolutions.
F. Vocal prayer (Our Father, Hail Mary, other prayers).
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
"Sayings of Light and Love," by St. John of the Cross (jottings
from his notebooks)
128. The soul that desires God to surrender himself to it entirely
must surrender itself entirely to him without keeping anything for
itself.
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