Message of 4-16-10
Published: Mon, 04/12/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Do you often feel like parched ground, unable to produce anything
worthwhile? I do. When I am in need of refreshment, it isn't easy
to think of the needs of others. But I have found that if, instead
of praying for my own comfort and satisfaction, I ask the Lord to
enable me to give to others, an amazing thing often happens - I
find my own needs wonderfully met. Refreshment comes in ways I
would never have thought of, both for others, and then,
incidentally, for myself.
- Elisabeth Elliot
(Give it a try; it works!)
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"Jesus is Risen" booklet
http://homepage.mac.com/philothea/download/resurrection.pdf
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Jn 6:1-15
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
We now begin Chapter 6 of John's Gospel. This is a powerful, rich
chapter in which Jesus will reveal so much about himself and his
mission for us. Throughout this special gospel Jesus will use the
name God gave to Moses: I am. Jesus tells us that he is the Good
Shepherd, the Gate, the Vine. Here he is the Bread of Life: living
bread, life-giving bread. We are given much to chew in the weeks
ahead - much to nourish us.
It all begins with the loaves. He will say later that the people
don't understand the meaning of the multiplication of the loaves.
Why did Jesus provide so much bread for the people that day? What
was the "sign" that we are supposed to see? The people seemed to
follow him, with fascination. What else could he do? Of course,
they missed the sign, but what was it?
He is going to reveal to us that he is the one who has come to give
us his very self to save us: "the bread that I will give is my
flesh for the life of the world."(John 6:51) The sign is that he
will become our nourishment to allow us to live forever. He will be
broken and given for us. He will lay down his life that we might
live. Ultimately, feeding the crowds shows us the one who gives us
the Eucharist to be the food that keeps us in communion with him.
"Thank you, Lord, for being food for our hungry journey in life.
Please allow us to hunger only for you, the only food which will
ever satisfy us. Feed us with your self-giving love that we might
remain in communion with you, loving as we have been loved, being
blessed, broken and given as you have been for us. Give us the
ultimate intimacy of being able to be bread for our world, however
you mission us to imitate your love in our everyday lives."
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SPIRITUAL READING
- Fenelon's "Maxims of the Saints"
Souls that, by being perfected in love, are truly the subjects of
sanctification, do not cease, nevertheless, to grow in grace. It
may not be easy to specify and describe the degrees of
sanctification ; but there seem to be at least two modifications of
experience after persons have reached this state.
1. The first may be described as the state of holy resignation.
Such a soul thinks more frequently than it will, at a subsequent
period, of its own happiness.
2. The second state is that of holy indifference. Such a soul
absolutely ceases either to desire or to will, except in
cooperation with the Divine leading. Its desires for itself, as it
has greater light, are more completely and permanently merged in
the one higher and more absorbing desire of God's glory, and the
fulfillment of His will. In this state of experience, ceasing to
do what we shall be likely to do, and what we may very properly do
in a lower state, we no longer desire our own salvation merely as
an eternal deliverance, or merely as involving the greatest amount
of personal happiness; but we desire it chiefly as the fulfillment
of God's pleasure, and as resulting in His glory, and because lie
Himself desires and wills that we should thus desire and will.
- Fifth Article
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Amazon.com gift cards - good for any occasion
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
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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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