Message of 4-19-10
Published: Thu, 04/15/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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Amazon.com gift cards - good for any occasion
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
We tend to defend vigorously things that in our deepest hearts we
are not quite certain about. If we are certain of something we
know, it doesn't need defending.
- Madeleine L'Engle
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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 6:8-15; Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; Jn 6:22-29
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Though princes meet and talk against me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors.
I declared my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.
Faith might seem to be the purview of an elite class, given to some
("spiritual" people) but not to others. Yet this is not the case.
Faith is an inborn trait, part of the human condition. God gives it
freely to all. However, we are not all equally disposed to receive
and use this gift. Too many of us today allow constant sensory
stimulation and a frenetic pace to squeeze out all down time so
that there is little quiet space where we can encounter Jesus.
Changing our ways may be work, but it's well worth our while, as it
leads us to live in trust and confidence, empowered by the Spirit
to do God's will.
"For steadfast faith, we pray."
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THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
From this compassion springs generosity; for none can be generous
in a supernatural way, with faithfulness and goodwill towards all,
save him who has a pitiful heart--though one may often show
generosity to a particular person without charity and without
supernatural generosity.
Generosity is a liberal flowing forth of the heart which has been
touched by charity and pity. When a man considers with compassion
the sufferings and the sorrows of Christ, therefrom springs
generosity; which makes him offer to Christ, for His pains and for
His love, praise and thanks, worship and adoration, with a joyful
and humble surrender of body and soul, in time and in eternity. If
a man considers himself with compassion, and has pity on himself,
and thinks upon the good which God has done to him, and his own
failings: then he must pour himself forth into the generosity of
God, taking refuge in His faithfulness and His mercy, turning to
Him with trust and with a perfect and free intention to serve Him
for evermore. And the generous man who sees the errors and
disorders of others, and their unrighteousness, beseeches and prays
God, with ardent faith, that He will let His Divine gifts flow
forth, that He will show His generosity to all men, and they may
know Him and turn to the Truth. The generous man also marks with
compassion the bodily needs of all men, and he serves, and he
gives, and he lends, and he consoles everyone, according to the
needs of each, in so far as he is able, with prudent discretion.
Chapter 19: Of Generosity
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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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