Message of 11-16-09
Published: Sat, 11/14/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
ANNUAL APPEAL
This past week was one of those interminable appeals for donations
by our local NPR radio station, and it reminded me that it's that
time of the year to do the same for Daily Spiritual Seed and the
Internet ministry of Heartland Center for Spirituality. Though I
was really hoping for "Morning Edition" on NPR, I decided to listen
for awhile to hear just how many ways the fundraising team could
say, "we need your money, give us some," in the hope of discovering
how to be creative about this. No luck. Sometimes you just have
to beg, which is what they seemed to be doing, and I will as well.
They did promise all sorts of "gratitude gifts" as an incentive to
donors, and I'll do the same. We have a new and exciting web
resource for spiritual formation that I'll be publicizing soon, but
I'll let anyone who makes any donation in on the sneak preview,
which includes some interesting "freebies" (for now, at least).
So here we go. If the appeal note each day this week annoys you,
just scroll down: Daily Spiritual Seed is still there. But please
do consider supporting our Internet ministry (see links below).
God's peace keep you,
Phil St. Romain
Editor, Daily Spiritual Seed
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To support Daily Spiritual Seed and our online ministries, see
http://shalomplace.com/seed/donations.html which includes secure
credit card options and information for check payments.
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"Jesus will say over and over again in his encounters with sinners
and his disciples, 'Today salvation has come to this house,' and
the psalmist sings out, 'This is the day the Lord has made, let us
be glad and rejoice in it.' Today is this day, every day, any day.
Today we can start. Today everything can start. There is only
today with God."
- Megan McKenna, from "Parables" -
Reflection for journaling:
What is it that you have been putting off that you could begin
today? What grace would you ask of God that you might make that
start?
Breath Prayer:
Living in hope (breathing in) . . . I begin today (breathing out)
(by Sr. Joel Christoph OP)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63; Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155,
158; Lk 18:35-43
R. (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may keep your precepts.
I am attacked by malicious persecutors
who are far from your law.
Far from sinners is salvation,
because they seek not your statutes.
I beheld the apostates with loathing,
because they kept not to your promise.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
Sometimes, like the blind man, we have a hard time getting through
to Jesus. But those who rebuke and try to silence us are likely
members of our own interior committee: subtle inner voices that
tell us prayer is useless or we don't deserve the Lord's special
attention. But, as with the blind man, faith can empower us to
overcome such opposition to reaching the Lord. Like the Maccabees
(whose story we will hear in the first reading throughout this
week), we also face great opposition from outside sources,
particularly from a culture that calls us to make idols of
everything: food, money, sex, celebrities ... everything but God.
May our faith be strong and zealous, keeping us steadfast in the
Lord.
"For faith that saves, we pray."
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Amazon.com gift cards - good for any occasion
- 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 first, and the worst, are those Christians who have died in
mortal sin, without repentance and without regret; for these have
despised the death of Christ and His sacraments, or else they have
received them unworthily and in vain. And they have not practised
the works of mercy, showing charity toward their neighbours, as God
has commanded. And for this they are doomed to the depths of hell.
- Chapter 10, Of the Five Kinds of Men Who Will Appear in the
Judgement
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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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