Message of 4-2-10
Published: Sat, 03/27/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
- Good Friday
Good Friday is the mirror held up by Jesus so that we can see
ourselves in all our stark reality, and then it turns us to that
cross and to his eyes and we hear these words, "Father forgive them
for they know not what they do." That's us! And so we know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that if we say we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves. We see in that cross a love so amazing so divine that it
loves us even when we turn away from it, or spurn it, or crucify
it. There is no faith in Jesus without understanding that on the
cross we see into the heart of God and find it filled with mercy
for the sinner whoever he or she may be.
- Robert G. Trache
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 52:13--53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25; Heb
4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1--19:42
R. (Lk 23:46) Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
For all my foes I am an object of reproach,
a laughingstock to my neighbors, and a dread to my friends;
they who see me abroad flee from me.
I am forgotten like the unremembered dead;
I am like a dish that is broken.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God.
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors."
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Today we celebrate one of the principal parts of the Paschal
Mystery of Jesus, His death and resurrection, and the culmination
of our Lenten prayer and preparation for these saving events. This
day is called "Good" and this week is called "Holy" because of the
very goodness and holiness of God and Jesus as he carries out God's
will for our ultimate rescue.
The readings today begin with the haunting passage, "See, my
servant will prosper," one of four (suffering) servant poems found
in the later chapters of the Prophet Isaiah. The servant songs
describe the servant of God who is called by God to be a source of
justice for and among the People of Israel. For his efforts the
Servant is abused and suffers greatly for his commitment to justice
and God's call.
The servant is described here: "so marred was his look beyond human
semblance and his appearance beyond that of the sons of man."
Originally the servant represents the People of Israel as they
suffer at the hands of others for their faithfulness to Yahweh.
But as Christians we can be led to see and to interpret Isaiah's
words to refer to Jesus in his suffering on the cross and death for
us.
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SPIRITUAL READING
- Fenelon's "Maxims of the Saints"
We should not think lightly, therefore, of the grace of God, as
manifested in that inferior form of religion which stops short of
the more glorious and perfected form of pure love. We are to
follow God's grace, and not to go before it. To the higher state
of pure love we are to advance step by step; watching carefully
God's inward and outward providence; and receiving increased grace
by improving the grace we have, till the dawning light becomes the
perfect day.
- Third 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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