Message of 1-21-10
Published: Thu, 01/14/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Conscience comes to us in lonely hours; it wakens us in the night;
it stands at the side of the bed and says, Come, wake up and listen
to me! And there it holds us with its remorseless eye; and our
buried sins rise out of the grave of the past; they march by in
melancholy procession; and we lie in terror looking at them. Nobody
knows but ourselves. Next morning we go forth to business with a
smiling face; but conscience has had its revenge.
- James Stalker
(And when this happens, let us remember and ask for the forgiveness
God has extended through Christ.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7; Ps. 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13; Mk
3:7-12
R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
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- Mark 3: 7-12 (Jesus and the crowds)
Again and again Mark writes of the crowds who followed Jesus for
healing, teaching, and out of curiosity. Withdrawing from areas
where conflict with
the authorities might bring a premature end to his ministry, Jesus
takes to the countryside, pursued by the crowds. He ministers on,
undaunted.
- An ancient story tells of Satan instructing evil spirits in the
art of damning souls. The most successful temptation was not to
deny God's existence, or even the devil's existence, but "There's
plenty of time." Why is this attitude so damning? Would you search
for Jesus out in the "countryside"?
- Spend some time with the words of the psalmist: "Be still and
know that I am God!" (Psalm 46: 11).
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Disciple
But You, O gracious and merciful God, Who do not will that Your
works
should perish, deign to console Your servant beyond all his
merit and
above human measure, to show the riches of Your goodness toward
the
vessels of mercy. For Your consolations are not like the words
of men.
What have I done, Lord, that You should confer on me any heavenly
comfort? I remember that I have done nothing good, but that I
have
always been prone to sin and slow to amend. That is true. I
cannot
deny it. If I said otherwise You would stand against me, and
there
would be no one to defend me. What have I deserved for my sins
except
hell and everlasting fire?
- Chapter 52
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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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