Message of 4-15-10
Published: Mon, 04/12/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"The Bible," we are told sometimes, "Gives us such a beautiful
picture of what we should be." Nonsense! It gives us no picture at
all. It reveals to us a fact: it tells us what we really are; it
says, "This is the form in which God created you, to which He has
restored you; this is the work which the Eternal Son, the God of
Truth and Love, is continually carrying on within you."
- Frederick Denison Maurice
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 5:27-33; Ps 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20; Jn 3:31-36
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
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.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
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- John 3: 31-36 (Jesus is Lord of all)
John unhesitatingly proclaims that Jesus is formed from above,
meaning Jesus is God. He does not see Jesus as merely an
enlightened or wise man or a prophet. Rather, Jesus is one who
speaks God's own words, and our response to him should be one of
reverent obedience.
- Many saints have said that obedience to Jesus allowed them to
fully experience freedom. Do you experience the truth of this
paradox in your own life?
- In what area of your life are you most obedient to Jesus? Most
disobedient?
- Pray for the grace to allow Jesus to be Lord of your life.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Voice of Christ
Nature works for its own interest and looks to the profit it can
reap
from another. Grace does not consider what is useful and
advantageous
to herself, but rather what is profitable to many. Nature likes
to
receive honor and reverence, but grace faithfully attributes all
honor
and glory to God. Nature fears shame and contempt, but grace is
happy
to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus. Nature loves ease and
physical rest. Grace, however, cannot bear to be idle and
embraces
labor willingly. Nature seeks to possess what is rare and
beautiful,
abhorring things that are cheap and coarse. Grace, on the
contrary,
delights in simple, humble things, not despising those that are
rough,
nor refusing to be clothed in old garments.
- 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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