Message of 4-9-10
Published: Mon, 04/05/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
I cannot understand why those who have given themselves up to God
and His goodness are not always cheerful, for what possible
happiness can be equal to that? No accidents or imperfections which
may happen ought to have power to trouble them, or to hinder their
looking upward.
- Francis de Sales
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27; Jn 21:1-14
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
The Gospel lesson is a simple story about Jesus appearing to his
disciples after his death and resurrection. The disciples revert
back to their fishing days but are unsuccessful. The mysterious
figure on the shore suggests they try the other side of the boat.
After a huge catch of fish, everyone must have remembered how this
happened before and concluded that the man on the beach was Jesus.
Peter cannot wait for the boat to drag that load of fish to shore
so he jumped in the water and swam the hundred yards to get to
Jesus. Peter denied Jesus but he was no wimp. He even dragged the
bulging net onto the shore by himself. What is Jesus doing? Cooking
breakfast. When the disciples arrive he served them some of his
bread and fish. Yes, fish is a good choice even after Lent!
Today's readings are quite simple, yet profound. Death has been
conquered. The Lord still desires fellowship with his disciples.
The power of his resurrection dwells in those who call upon his
name. In fact, there is no other power or name under heaven by
which we are saved. The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!
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SPIRITUAL READING
- Fenelon's "Maxims of the Saints"
He who is in the state of pure or perfect love, has all the moral
and Christian virtues in himself. If temperance, forbearance,
chastity, truth, kindness, forgiveness, justice, may be reúgarded
as virtues, there can be no doubt that they are all included in
holy love. That is to say, the principle of love will not fail to
develop itself in each of these forms. St. Augustine remarks, that
love is the foundation, source, or principle of all the virtues.
This view is sustained also by St. Francis de Sales and by Thomas
Aquinas. The state of pure love does not exclude the mental state
which is called Christian hope. Hope in the Christian, when we
analyze it into its elements, may be described as the desire of
being united with God in heaven, accompanied with the expectation
or belief of being so.
- Fourth 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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