Message of 9-28-09
Published: Wed, 09/23/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
God is always present, always available. At whatever moment in
which one turns to him the prayer is received, is heard, is
authenticated, for it is God who gives our prayer its value and its
character, not our interior dispositions, not our fervor, not our
lucidity. The prayer which is pronounced for God and accepted by
him becomes, by that very fact, a true prayer.
... Jacques Ellul (1912-1994), "Prayer and Modern Man"
(God is always present . . . always available . . . )
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Zec 8:1-8; Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23; Lk 9:46-50
R. (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his
glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the Lord:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"The one who is least among you is the greatest."
From the prophet Zechariah, we hear of the poignant dreams of
refugees who want only to grow old watching their children play in
the safe streets of their homeland. Today's world includes many
such exiles, and their dreams are much the same. Have we forgotten
Jesus' promise that as we welcome the stranger, so shall we be
welcomed; as we regard the poor, so shall we be regarded? Or as
Jesus says in today's Gospel, "greatest" and "least" have a
different meaning in the kingdom. Jesus, fear for the future makes
us cautious and less generous to others.
"Be the Lord of our fear so that we might not disdain the least."
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- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
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THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
The second coming of Christ our Bridegroom takes place every day
within good men; often and many times, with new graces and gifts,
in all those who make themselves ready for it, each according to
his power. We would not speak here of a man's first conversion, nor
of the first grace which was given to him when he turned from sin
to the virtues. But we would speak of an increase of new gifts and
new virtues from day to day, and of the present coming of Christ
our Bridegroom which takes place daily within our souls.
- Chapter 6, Of the Second Coming of Christ
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LECTIO DIVINA PROCESS
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html
First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:
* Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.
* Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?
* Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.
* Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God.
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