Message of 4-12-10
Published: Sun, 04/11/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
What is the secret of serenity? We all want to know it. Indeed, we
do know it already. There is no secret about it. Paul speaks it out
plainly enough. Everybody can see what it is. All things work
together for good to them that love God. We must love God; that is
the heart of it. Happiness, content, and right satisfaction, all
doubts answered, all dark places lighted up, heaven begun
here--this is the reward of loving God. In this world, tribulation;
yes, but good cheer in spite of that, for the Son of God, whom we
love, has overcome the world.
- George Hodges
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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 4:23-31; Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9; Jn 3:1-8
R. (see 11d) Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!"
He who is throned in heaven laughs;
the LORD derides them.
Then in anger he speaks to them;
he terrifies them in his wrath:
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD.
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness."
Peter and John, filled with the Holy Spirit, raise their voices
together in praise of God. The Lord affirms their prayer through
the sign of the shaking of the earth. While we may not immediately
recognize that the Lord hears our prayers, we can take this sign as
our own. When we sincerely join with one another in praise and
thanks, we can be assured of the divine presence within our midst.
It's a force more powerful than any natural phenomenon that we can
ever experience.
"Lord, may your words of truth and life flow freely from our
mouths, we pray."
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THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
This work of compassion and of common neighbourly love overcomes
and casts out the third mortal sin, that is hatred or Envy. For
compassion is a wound in the heart, whence flows a common love to
all mankind and which cannot be healed so long as any suffering
lives in man; for God has ordained grief and sorrow of heart before
all the virtues. And this is why Christ says: Blessed are they that
mourn: for they shall be comforted. And that shall come to pass
when they reap in joy that which now, through compassion and pity,
they sow in tears.
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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