Message of 3-22-10
Published: Thu, 03/18/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
God always gives us strength enough, and sense enough, for every
thing that He wants us to do.
- John Ruskin (1819-1900)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Dn 13:41c-62; Ps. 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Jn 8:12-20
R. (4ab) Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for
you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"I know where I came from and where I am going"
Jesus dispels all doubt and darkness; he forges ahead on his divine
path. Even though no one else seems to get it, Jesus has the
clarity of understanding who he is, who has sent him and what he
must do. In the face of the Pharisees' challenge, Jesus is not
defensive; he is assertive and certain. Indeed, Jesus cannot be
tentative as he approaches his Passion, nor can we. We must face
the reality of Jesus' last days and find the answers to the
Pharisees' questions. We must testify to who Jesus is and to the
one who sent him. There's no better way to know Jesus and, in turn,
his Father than to be with him when his hour comes.
"Lord, give us the confidence to trust in your divine plan for us,
we pray."
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THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
Out of kindliness springs compassion, which is a fellow-feeling
with all men; for none can share the griefs of all, save him who is
kind.
Compassion is an inward movement of the heart, stirred by pity for
the bodily and ghostly griefs of all men. This compassion makes a
man suffer with Christ in His passion; for he who is compassionate
marks the wherefore of His pains and the way of His resignation; of
His love, His wounds, His tenderness; of His grief and His
nobleness; of the disgrace, the misery, and the shame He endured;
of the way in which He was despised; of His crown; of the nails; of
His mercifulness; of His destruction and dying in patience. These
manifold and unheard-of sorrows of Christ, our Saviour and our
Bridegroom, move all kindly men to pity and compassion with Christ.
Chapter 18: Of Compassion
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LECTIO DIVINA PROCESS
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html
First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:
* Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.
* Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?
* Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.
* Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God.
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