Message of 5-24-10
Published: Sun, 05/23/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is
a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create
trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.
- Thomas Watson
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Pt 1:3-9; Ps 111:1-2, 5-6, 9 and 10c; Mk 10:17-27
R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of
God!"
At the request of Pope Benedict XVI, today we observe a day of
prayer for the church in China. The church in China faces many
challenges, not the least of which is the burgeoning consumerism
that has brought profound social and economic changes to the
country. We who fairly drown in our own possessions know the truth
of Jesus' warning: an abundance of stuff only hinders authentic
discipleship. As we take to heart Jesus' words and live more
simply, giving generously to the poor, let us hold the people of
China in prayer.
"For the church in China, we pray."
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THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
The incomprehensible and most high Nature of God transcends all
creatures in heaven and on earth. For all that a creature can
comprehend is of the creature; but God is above all creatures and
within and without all creatures, and every created comprehension
is too narrow to comprehend Him. But if a creature is to comprehend
and to understand God, it must be caught up beyond itself into God,
and comprehend God with God. Whosoever then would know and
understand what God is--which is not permitted--he would go mad.
Behold, all created light is powerless to know what God is. What
God is in Himself, transcends all creatures, but that God exists,
is testified by nature, and by Holy Writ, and by every creature. We
should believe the articles of faith, and not desire to understand
them, for this is impossible as long as we are here below: such is
sobriety. The mysterious and subtle teachings of Holy Writ,
inspired by the Holy Ghost, should not be explained and understood
in any other way than in their bearing upon the lives of Christ and
His saints. Man should consider nature, and the Scriptures, and all
creatures, and take from these that which profits him and nothing
more. Such is sobriety of spirit.
- Chapter 21: Of Temperance and Sobriety
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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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