Message of 11-27-09
Published: Fri, 11/20/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- - -
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
I remember once hearing Whipple, of Minnesota, so well known as
"The Apostle of the Indians," utter these beautiful words: "For
thirty years I have tried to see the face of Christ in those with
whom I differed." When this spirit actuates us we shall be
preserved at once from a narrow bigotry and an easy-going
tolerance, from passionate vindictiveness and everything that would
mar or injure our testimony for Him who came not to destroy human
lives, but to save them.
- William Henry Griffith Thomas
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Dn 7:2-14; Daniel 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81; Lk 21:29-33
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
"Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
"You springs, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
When we read today's gospel passage about the signs of the kingdom
of God's nearness, we do well to remember what Jesus says ten
chapters earlier in Luke: "If it is by the finger of God that I
drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Luke
11:20). For Jesus could speak of the kingdom, or reign, of God both
as already present in his ministry and also as something that will
come fully in the future. When scholars insist that the kingdom of
God is "already and not yet," they are not fooling around with
language. That expression really is the best way to summarize the
gospel presentation of the reign of God. Jesus inaugurated that
end-time activity of God the Father in his life, death,
resurrection, and outpouring of the Spirit; and he told us to look
forward to the revelation of the kingdom's fullness at the end of
history. Jesus also taught us to relate to that paradox of
"already/not yet" in his prayer: thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "The Practice of the Presence of God," by Brother Lawrence
Let all our employment be to know GOD: the more one knows Him, the
more one desires to know Him. And as knowledge is commonly the
measure of love, the deeper and more extensive our knowledge shall
be, the greater will be our love: and if our love of GOD were great
we should love Him equally in pains and pleasures.
- 15th Letter - from his death bed
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Amazon.com gift cards - good for any occasion
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
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.
______________________________
* Web Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?dailyseed
* RSS: http://www.aweber.com/z/rss/?dailyseed