Message of 9-4-09
Published: Tue, 08/25/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Religion is the possibility of the removal of every ground of
confidence except confidence in God alone.
- Karl Barth (1886-1968), "The Epistle to the Romans"
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Col 1:15-20; Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5; Lk 5:33-39
R. (2b) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
For he is good,
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
The gospel today talks about new wine not being appropriate for old
wine skins. Some duties of faith are harder and more difficult
than others, like new cloth and new wine, we are not all called to
the same experiences of inviting in strangers. Some of the old is
good, just like the license plate, life is good....and we can live
that call. It is a lifetime process transforming our old wineskins
into new ones. For some of us, life is God...we are called to open
our tents like Abraham, who ran after the three angels to invite
them into his tent, which was 'open on all four sides', a gracious
image. Tent in Latin means 'holy dwelling place of God on earth'
or tabernacle.
God is a blessing in strangers. He desires our hearts, fiercely,
but wants us to connect with the whole human family, especially the
poor and the outcast.
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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
Whatever remedies you make use of, they will succeed only so far as
He permits. When pains come from GOD, He only can cure them. He
often sends diseases of the body, to cure those of the soul.
Comfort yourself with the sovereign Physician both of soul and body.
- 11th Letter - to one who is in great pain.
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