Message of 7-30-09
Published: Mon, 07/20/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
God made everything that is made, and God loves everything that he
made. The person who loves everything and everyone God made, loves
God because God is in every person. God is in all things. The
person who loves everything loves as God loves.
- Julian of Norwich, "Revelations"
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Ex 40:16-21, 34-38; Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11; Mt 13:47-53
R.(2) How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young-
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 13: 47-53 Parable of the dragnet
Today's parable teaches us an important lesson. Jesus has come to
transform humanity, but he also accepts the messiness of the world.
So, too, are we invited to accept our messy world and broken lives
as worthy of transformation.
- Imagine that God has cast a spiritual dragnet into your soul
today. What would be dragged out? What would you most like to
keep? What do you want to throw away?
- Pray for the grace to know that God loves you just as you are now.
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Carmelite Method)
A. Introduction: settling in, relaxing in awareness of God's
presence.
B. Reading the text slowly, prayerfully.
C. Meditation: imaginative representation of the material;
reflection
on the meaning of the material and its application to one's life.
D. Affective prayer: conversation with God, attentive to sharing
feelings awakened in meditation. Prayer of petition, thanksgiving,
remorse.
E. Resting in God in silent loving awareness, if moved to do so.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
(On the human condition)
The days of this life are short and evil, full of grief and
distress.
Here man is defiled by many sins, ensnared in many passions,
enslaved
by many fears, and burdened with many cares. He is distracted by
many
curiosities and entangled in many vanities, surrounded by many
errors
and worn by many labors, oppressed by temptations, weakened by
pleasures, and tortured by want.
Oh, when will these evils end? When shall I be freed from the
miserable slavery of vice? When, Lord, shall I think of You
alone?
When shall I fully rejoice in You? When shall I be without
hindrance,
in true liberty, free from every grievance of mind and body?
When will
there be solid peace, undisturbed and secure, inward peace and
outward
peace, peace secured on every side? O good Jesus, when shall I
stand
to gaze upon You? When shall I contemplate the glory of Your
kingdom?
When will You be all in all to me? Oh, when shall I be with You
in
that kingdom of Yours, which You have prepared for Your beloved
from
all eternity?
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 48
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