Message of 12-31-09
Published: Thu, 12/24/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Every other creature in nature is simply itself, without this
discord which is our constant lot. That is why we can study
everything else in nature much more surely than we can study
ourselves. With ourselves, all we have to go on is an occasional
glimpse of some small part of the truth, and we must be content
with that, knowing that we are truly known by Him who alone knows
us.
- Paul Tournier (1898-1986), "The Meaning of Persons"
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps. 96:1-2, 11-12, 13; Jn 1:1-18
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD.
The LORD comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- John 1: 1-18, John's prologue
Matthew and Luke provide genealogies which trace the human origins
of Jesus back to David and Adam, respectively. John, however,
proposes that the Word, who became flesh in Jesus, has existed
with God from the beginning. This magnificent truth enables us to
have a share of love following upon love." * Read slowly through
this passage, spending time with the verses that move you. Write
your reflections in your journal.
* Make a list of concrete, achievable resolutions for the new year
by noting your responses to the question: "What would I like to see
different in my life at this time next year?" For each response,
write down a plan for achieving your objectives.
* Pray for openness to change during the coming year.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Voice of Christ
MY CHILD, you cannot always continue in the more fervent desire
of
virtue, or remain in the higher stage of contemplation, but
because of
humanity's sin you must sometimes descend to lower things and
bear the
burden of this corruptible life, albeit unwillingly and wearily.
As
long as you wear a mortal body you will suffer weariness and
heaviness
of heart. You ought, therefore, to bewail in the flesh the
burden of
the flesh which keeps you from giving yourself unceasingly to
spiritual exercises and divine contemplation.
Chapter 51
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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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