Message of 3-5-10
Published: Thu, 02/25/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
In times of uncertainty, wait. Always, if you have any doubt, wait.
Do not force yourself into any action. If you have a restraint in
your spirit, wait until all is clear, and do not go against it.
- Anonymous
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Ps. 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Mt
21:33-43, 45-46
R. (5a) Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
When the LORD called down a famine on the land
and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them,
Joseph, sold as a slave.
They had weighed him down with fetters,
and he was bound with chains,
Till his prediction came to pass
and the word of the LORD proved him true.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
The first reading is direct in telling us that no good will come
from abusing others for our own personal gain. "What is to be
gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood?" And yet
Joseph is sold, betrayed by his brothers who, in the end, still
attempt to limit his potential by selling Joseph into slavery.
They attempt to eliminate "the favorite son" from their lives, and
hoping that this will also take away their resentment, anger and
fear.
What causes us to act in the same way as Joseph's brothers? Will
we really find peace, happiness and joy in resenting others, in
attempting to limit the freedom of another, in attempting to
control the fate of others? Suffering, uncertainties, differences
of opinions between people are all a part of the human condition
and thus our need to trust God through these difficulties in life.
Through prayer and reflection we can learn from life's
uncertainties, our own insecurities and resentment of others.
Asking God to help us find our inner strength and resources to help
us get through thesedifficulties with ourselves and with others
allows for personal and spiritual growth in learning more about our
humanity.
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SPIRITUAL READING
- Fenelon's "Maxims of the Saints"
I. Of the subjects of this mixed love all are not equally advanced.
II. Mixed love becomes pure love, when the love of self is
relatively, though not absolutely, lost in a regard to the will of
God. This is always the case, when the two objects are loved in
their due proportion. So that pure love is mixed love when it is
combined rightly.
- Second Article
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Benedictine Approach)
1. Relax. Settle in. Be aware that God is here, now, loving you.
2. Read a short passage of Scripture as though God were speaking
directly to you in it.
3. Choose a phrase from the passage that strikes you and repeat it
slowly, prayerfully, non-analytically.
4. When your heart is full, express to God the needs and sentiments
awakened by your meditation. When you're done, read another passage
and repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. If, at any time, you feel moved to simply be present to God in
loving silence, put the Scripture aside and rest in God.
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