Message of 9-11-09
Published: Mon, 09/07/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
When I walk by the wayside, He is along with me. When I enter into
company amid all my forgetfulness of Him, He never forgets me. In
the silent watches of the night, when my eyelids are closed and my
spirit has sunk into unconsciousness, the observant eye of Him who
never slumbers is upon me.
- Thomas Chalmers
(How does it feel to consider that "the observant eye of Him who
never slumbers" is upon you?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14; Ps 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11; Lk 6:39-42
R. (see 5) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
For Christians, life on this earth is all about our inheritance of
life everlasting with God. "The Lord who counsels me" is all about
our prayer life and God's relationship with us. I've always
believed that God wants goodness in our lives, even through the
struggles and uncertainties that come our way. If we remember to
take refuge and go to God with these struggles and uncertainties
God does "show me the path to life".
What a reminder of our need to remain humble, even with our success
and accomplishments in this life. Luke's Gospel is a reminder, to
me. about how vulnerable we can be in feeling that we are superior
and therefore our decisions and actions are superior to another.
While we do need to be confident of our ability to use God's gifts
we must remain vigilant NOT to use these gifts in a way that causes
hurt, shame, exclusion or disregard for others. To be true to
God's teachings we need to be true to ourselves-with our gifts and
with our shortcomings, then we may be able to humbly live our lives
seeing life, not only from our own eyes BUT also through the eyes
of our fellow human beings. And in living this life, truly praying
for grace, mercy and peace from God.
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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 foresee that you will tell me that I am very much at my ease,
that I eat and drink at the table of the LORD. YOU have reason: but
think you that it would be a small pain to the greatest criminal in
the world, to eat at the kings table, and be served by him, and
notwithstanding such favours to be without assurance of pardon? I
believe he would feel exceeding great uneasiness, and such as
nothing could moderate, but only his trust in the goodness of his
sovereign. So I assure you, that whatever pleasures I taste at the
table of my King, yet my sins, ever present before my eyes, as well
as the uncertainty of my pardon, torment me, though in truth that
torment itself is pleasing.
- 11th Letter - to one who is in great pain.
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