Message of 6-25-07

Published: Mon, 06/25/07



MESSAGE OF THE DAY

When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy.
    - Corrie Ten Boom

(And God smiles when we do the opposite. . .)

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SCRIPTURE READINGS
     http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/

Gn 12:1-9;   Ps 33:12-13, 18-19, 20 and 22;   Mt 7:1-5

R.    (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.

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Praying the Daily Gospels
 - by Philip St. Romain:
 - http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614

- Matthew 7:1-5 (Do not judge)

Christianity is a religion that emphasizes full, deep, intimate relationships between people. Because our judgments against other people limit our relationships with them, Jesus tells us to suspend judgment until we are perfect. For most of us, that will take forever.

  • An old proverb says, Search for the perfect church, and if you find it, join it. But know that as soon as you join it, it will have ceased to be the perfect church." What do you hold against your church? Why?

  • Which family members have you judged most harshly? Pray for the grace to forgive yourself and them, and resolve to start anew in your relationship with them.

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    THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY
       from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm

    Chapter 8: Mary, Mother of Jesus

    170. The essence of Christianity is union and unity.

    Devotion to the Blessed Virgin goes with devotion to Christ.

    171. The essential thing about Christ is He is perfectly God, perfectly man, perfectly one. The essential thing about the Blessed Virgin is her part in making her Son perfectly man.

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    LECTIO DIVINA METHOD (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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