Message of 2-23-10
Published: Thu, 02/18/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
A life devoted unto God, looking wholly unto Him in all our
actions, and doing all things suitably to His glory, is so far from
being dull, and uncomfortable, that it creates new comforts in
everything that we do.
... William Law (1686-1761), "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy
Life" [1728]
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 55:10-11; Ps. 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19; Mt 6:7-15
R. (18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
We can approach God confidently because he is waiting with arms
wide open to receive his prodigal sons and daughters. That is why
Jesus gave his disciples the perfect prayer that dares to call God,
Our Father. This prayer teaches us how to ask God for the things we
really need, the things that matter not only for the present but
for eternity as well. We can approach God our Father with
confidence and boldness because Christ has opened the way to heaven
for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for
help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he
responds with grace, mercy, and kindness. He is good and forgiving
towards us, and he expects us to treat our neighbor the same. God
has poured his love into our hearts through the gift of the Holy
Spirit (Romans 5:5). And that love is like a refining fire - it
purifies and burns away all prejudice, hatred, resentment,
vengeance, and bitterness until there is nothing left but goodness
and forgiveness towards those who cause us grief or harm.
"Father in heaven, you have given me a mind to know you, a will to
serve you, and a heart to love you. Give me today the grace and
strength to embrace your holy will and fill my heart and mind with
your truth and love that all my intentions and actions may be
pleasing to you. Help me to be kind and forgiving towards my
neighbor as you have been towards me."
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Ignatian Method)
A. Preparation: acts of faith and reverence in the presence of God;
asking grace of a good meditation; petition for specific graces
sought in meditation.
B. Reading the Scriptures slowly, prayerfully.
C. Exercise of the memory, imagination, and intellect:
consideration of the material.. What practical applications are
suggested?
D. Expression of feelings and sentiments awakened in meditation.
Conversation with God.
E. Exercise of will and imagination in making resolutions. Prayer
for grace to fulfill resolutions.
F. Vocal prayer (Our Father, Hail Mary, other prayers).
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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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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
"Sayings of Light and Love," by St. John of the Cross (jottings
from his notebooks)
162. Anyone who complains or grumbles is not perfect, nor even a
good Christian.
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