Message of 8-20-09
Published: Mon, 08/17/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
No soul can be really at rest until it has given up all dependence
on everything else and has been forced to depend on the Lord alone.
As long as our expectation is from other things, nothing but
disappointment awaits us. Feelings may change, and will change with
our changing circumstances; doctrines and dogmas may be upset;
Christian work may come to naught; prayers may seem to lose their
fervency; promises may seem to fail; everything that we have
believed in or depended upon may seem to be swept away, and only
God is left, just God, the bare God, if I may be allowed the
expression; simply and only God.
- Hannah Whitall Smith
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Jgs 11:29-39a; Ps 40:5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10; Mt 22:1-14
R. (8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;
who turns not to idolatry
or to those who stray after falsehood.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 22:1-14 (The great banquet)
Today's parable gives us another important insight into the heart
of God, teaching us that God is extremely eager to share blessings
with us. If we are to gain access to these blessings, we must put
on the garment of faith, without which we shall never appreciate
the things of God.
- What are some of the blessings you have received from the Church
during the past month (Church meaning "people of God")? Thank God
for these blessings.
- Ignatian spirituality holds that joy springs from gratitude,
which springs from awareness of grace, which springs from faith.
Are you a joyful person? What does this say about the way you
recognize grace?
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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
Pardon me also, and deal mercifully with me, as often as I think
of
anything besides You in prayer. For I confess truly that I am
accustomed to be very much distracted. Very often I am not where
bodily I stand or sit; rather, I am where my thoughts carry me.
Where
my thoughts are, there am I; and frequently my thoughts are
where my
love is. That which naturally delights, or is by habit pleasing,
comes
to me quickly. Hence You Who are Truth itself, have plainly
said: "For
where your treasure is, there is your heart also." If I love
heaven, I
think willingly of heavenly things. If I love the world, I
rejoice at
the happiness of the world and grieve at its troubles. If I love
the
flesh, I often imagine things that are carnal. If I love the
spirit, I
delight in thinking of spiritual matters. For whatever I love, I
am
willing to speak and hear about.
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 48
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