Message of 8-7-09
Published: Sat, 07/25/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
It is no strain of metaphor to say that the love of God and the
wrath of God are the same thing, described from opposite points of
view. How we shall experience it depends upon the way we shall come
up against it: God does not change; it is our moral state that
changes. The wrath of God is a figure of speech to denote God's
unchanging opposition to sin; it is His righteous love operating to
destroy evil. It is not evil that will have the last word, but
good; not sorrow, but joy; not hate, but love.
... R. J. Campbell, "The Call of Christ"
(How have you experienced the "wrath of God"? How was God's love
operating through this experience?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Dt 4:32-40; Ps 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 and 21; Mt 16:24-28
R. (12a) I remember the deeds of the Lord.
I remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I remember your wonders of old.
And I meditate on your works;
your exploits I ponder.
O God, your way is holy;
what great god is there like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
among the peoples you have made known your power.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
You led your people like a flock
under the care of Moses and Aaron.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
As I start to reflect on the gospel for August 7, I wonder how
willing I would be to deny myself and take up my cross to follow
Jesus. Does he really want me to give up the pleasures of this day
or the pleasures of any other day? It does not seem like that
would make much sense since it is his work of creation that is the
source of my pleasures. Rather, I think He has given me life's
pleasures for my happiness and as a reminder of his love. In a few
days, the weather will return to the usual normal hot muggy pattern
of late July, and the comforts and pleasures of this day will be
replaced with other reminders of God' love as long as I am open to
them.
I think Jesus is reminding us that God is the source of all that we
have, whether that be a share in his beautiful creation, material
possessions, talents, physical attractiveness, relationships with
family and friends,etc. We have done nothing to earn God's gifts,
they are given to us to draw us closer to Him. It is in
acknowledging their source and using the gifts in ways that give
praise to God, that we deny our egos of the self-centered belief
that we have done something to earn them or have a right to them.
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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
I HAVE had a good deal of difficulty to bring myself to write to M.
-, and I do it now purely because you and Madam desire me. Pray
write the directions and send it to him. I am very well pleased
with the trust which you have in GOD: I wish that He may increase
it in you more and more: we cannot have too much in so good and
faithful a Friend, who will never fail us in this world nor in the
next.
If M. - makes his advantage of the loss he has had, and puts all
his confidence in GOD, He will soon give him another friend, more
powerful and more inclined to serve him. He disposes of hearts as
He pleases. Perhaps M. - was too much attached to him he has lost.
We ought to love our friends, but without encroaching upon the love
of GOD, which must be the principal.
- 10th letter, to a friend who has suffered a loss.
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