Message of 8-27-09
Published: Fri, 08/21/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
It has been well said that no man ever sank under the burden of the
day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today
that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourselves
so, my friends. If you find yourselves so loaded, at least remember
this: it is your own doing, not God's. He begs you to leave the
future to Him, and mind the present.
- George Macdonald
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Thes 3:7-13; Ps 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17; Mt 24:42-51
R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 24:42-51 (Faithful servants)
We now begin to reflect on Jesus' promise to return again. Stay
awake" he counsels us, for we do not know when he will come nor
~hen we will die. But the best reason for being faithful is not
fear of punishment; we are to be faithful because it is essential
to our wholeness.
- During a ball game, a saint was asked what he would do if he
knew that the Lord would return to earth in fifteen minutes. I'd
finish this game of ball," he replied. Does this describe your
attitude?
- One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that
all of us tend to put off living," Dale Carnegie wrote. Resolve to
make the most of this day.
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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
Blessed is the one who for Your sake, O Lord, dismisses
attachment to
all creatures and who crucifies the desires of the flesh in
fervor
of spirit, so that with serene conscience he can offer You a pure
prayer and, having excluded all earthly things inwardly and
outwardly,
becomes worthy to enter into the heavenly choirs.
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 48
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