Message of 1-4-10
Published: Sun, 12/27/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
The true Christian is like sandalwood, which imparts its fragrance
to the axe which cuts it, without doing any harm in return.
- Sadhu Sundar Singh
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Jn 3:22-4:6; Ps. 2:7bc-8, 10-12a; Mt 4:12-17, 23-25
R. (8ab) I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, "ou are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession."
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God."
In "The Holy Longing," Fr. Ronald Rolheiser calls the
Incarnation the most "under understood" of Christian mysteries. The
Incarnation was not "a one-shot incursion by God into human
history." Rather, it is ongoing, an ever-unfolding mystery: God,
in the flesh, ever accessible to us now in the community of
believers, the body of Christ. The fuller grasp of this mystery is,
perhaps, what sets saints apart from the rest of us. Jesus Christ
come in the flesh filled St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's mind and heart.
But more than this, it permeated her words and her actions. She saw
Christ in others; she acted as Christ toward them. May we do
likewise.
"For a fuller understanding of God's marvelous love, we pray."
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THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
Charity and Righteousness: these two lay the foundation of the
kingdom of the soul where God would dwell. And this foundation is
humility.
These three virtues prop and bear the whole weight and the whole
edifice of all the other virtues and of all transcendence. For
charity always confronts man with the unfathomable goodness of God,
from which it has flowed forth, that thereby he may live worthily
and remain steadfast before God, and grow in true humility and all
other virtues. And righteousness places man face to face with the
eternal truth of God, that he may know truth, and become
enlightened, and may fulfil all virtue without erring. But humility
brings man face to face with the most high mightiness of God, that
he may always remain little and lowly, and may surrender himself to
God, and may not stand upon his selfhood. This is the way in which
a man should hold himself before God, that thereby he may grow
continually in new virtues.
Chapter 11: On a Spiritual Going Out With All the Virtues
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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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