Message of 12-17-09
Published: Sat, 12/12/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
How can you give God anything when He owns everything? But does
He? How about that power to choose, that precious free will that He
has given to every living personality and which He so greatly
respects?
That is the only present we can give--ourselves, with all our
powers of spirit, mind, and body--willingly, freely, given because
we love Him.
That is the best and highest worship that you and I can offer,
and I am sure that it is this above all that God most highly
appreciates.
- J. B. Phillips (1906-1982), "Plain Christianity"
(Willingly, freely, offer yourself and your life to God this day.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps. 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17; Lk 7: 24-30
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for
ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Luke 7:24-30 (Jesus praises John)
Many people had gone out of their way to hear John the Baptist and
to be baptized by him. Jesus affirms their recognition of John's
greatness, but he challenges them to grow to even greater heights
through the Spirit.
- How do you feel challenged by Christ to grow in the Spirit?
- Pray to become aware of your own giftedness. Spend some time
thanking God for these gifts.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Disciple
You know all things without exception, and nothing in man's
conscience
is hidden from You. Coming events You know before they happen,
and
there is no need for anyone to teach or admonish You of what is
being
done on earth. You know what will promote my progress, and how
much
tribulation will serve to cleanse away the rust of vice. Deal
with me
according to Your good pleasure and do not despise my sinful
life,
which is known to none so well or so clearly as to You alone.
Grant me, O Lord, the grace to know what should be known, to
praise
what is most pleasing to You, to esteem that which appears most
precious to You, and to abhor what is unclean in Your sight.
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 50
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Carmelite Method)
A. Introduction: settling in, relaxing in awareness of God's
presence.
B. Reading the text slowly, prayerfully.
C. Meditation: imaginative representation of the material;
reflection
on the meaning of the material and its application to one's life.
D. Affective prayer: conversation with God, attentive to sharing
feelings awakened in meditation. Prayer of petition, thanksgiving,
remorse.
E. Resting in God in silent loving awareness, if moved to do so.
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