Message of 4-1-10
Published: Sat, 03/27/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
- Holy/Maundy Thursday
Humble yourselves . . . We cannot pass through the low door with
our head held high unless we want to crack it. And the door we hve
to pass through is Christ crucified, who humbled himself down to
the level of us witless fools.
- Catherine of Siena
(A day of foot-washing, literally and symbolically. Whose "feet"
will you wash today? How will you let others wash yours?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor
11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15
R. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
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- John 13: 1-15 (Jesus washes the apostles 'feet
This is Jesus' final evening with his apostles. He begins to say
farewell and prepares for the treachery to come. Matthew, Mark,
and Luke emphasize the sharing of the bread and wine, with Jesus
asking the apostles to remember him in that manner. John,
however, shows Jesus washing the apostles' feet as the last
symbolic intimacy he will share with them.
- Bishop Sheen once wrote that, although we have Jesus' example
of the washing of the apostles' feet as a model of service, it is
difficult to find people today fighting for the towel. Is this
true of you? What are some of the lowly jobs at home and at work
you avoid because you feel they are beneath your dignity?
- Pray for the grace to be washed clean of false pride.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Voice of Christ
MY CHILD, pay careful attention to the movements of nature and of
grace, for they move in very contrary and subtle ways, and can
scarcely be distinguished by anyone except a man who is
spiritual and
inwardly enlightened. All men, indeed, desire what is good, and
strive
for what is good in their words and deeds. For this reason the
appearance of good deceives many.
Nature is crafty and attracts many, ensnaring and deceiving them
while
ever seeking itself. But grace walks in simplicity, turns away
from
all appearance of evil, offers no deceits, and does all purely
for God
in whom she rests as her last end.
- chapter 54
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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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