Message of 11-6-09
Published: Sat, 10/31/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Be warm and merciful and let no one go from you empty-handed. The
least you can offer is your time and patience, your affection and
your prayer.
- Anonymous
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Rom 15:14-21; Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; Lk 16:1-8
R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Negative parables showing the dangers of evil sometimes teach a
more forceful lesson than those that praise goodness. The moral
Jesus draws from this parable is: "The children of this world are
more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the
children of light" in dealing with God himself. Worldly prudence
is dealing with what pleases the eyes, ears and appetites and has
an attraction a thousand times more magnetic than spiritual
prudence. Was Jesus perhaps thinking of someone like Judas and
what "worldly prudence" would lead him to do? Maybe Jesus wanted
his disciples as well as ourselves to understand that save for the
grace of God there goes anyone of us.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "The Practice of the Presence of God," by Brother Lawrence
I RENDER thanks to our LORD, for having relieved you a little,
according to your desire. I have been often near expiring, though I
was never so much satisfied as then. Accordingly I did not pray for
any relief, but I prayed for strength to suffer with courage,
humility, and love. Ah, how sweet is it to suffer with GOD! however
great the sufferings may be, receive them with love. Tis paradise
to suffer and be with Him; so that if in this life we would enjoy
the peace of paradise, we must accustom ourselves to a familiar,
humble, affectionate conversation with Him: we must hinder our
spirits wandering from Him upon any occasion: we must make our
heart a spiritual temple, wherein to adore Him incessantly: we must
watch continually over ourselves, that we may not do, nor say, nor
think anything that may displease Him. When our minds are thus
employed about GOD, suffering will become full of unction and
consolation.
- 14th Letter - to one who is in great pain and who has not
responded to medical attention.
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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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