Message of 6-20-07
Published: Wed, 06/20/07
SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath (opens June 13, 2007)
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
God says, "You'll learn that all suffering here on earth is small because time is small. Time is no bigger than the point of a needle. When time is over, suffering is over."
- Catherine of Sienna
(Keep the "big picture" in mind. Life is earth, especially against the backdrop of eternity.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
2 Cor 9:6-11; Ps 112:1bc-2, 3-4, 9; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
R. (1b) Blessed the one who fears the Lord.
Blessed the one who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
Blessed the one who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
- - -
Praying the Daily Gospels
- by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18 (Purity of heart)
Motives are important, Jesus teaches. People who are motivated by others' opinions are sure to fall short of that single-hearted love of God to which Jesus calls us. External motivations regarding charity and prayer can especially frustrate spiritual growth.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MYSTICISM
- by Evelyn Underhill -
. . . purification is a perpetual process. That which mystical writers mean, however, when they speak of the Way of Purgation, is rather the slow and painful completion of Conversion. It is the drastic turning of the self from the unreal to the real life: a setting of her house in order, an orientation of the mind to Truth. Its business is the getting rid, first of self-love; and secondly of all those foolish interests in which the surface-consciousness is steeped.
- Part 2, Chapter 3
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
MEDITATING ON SCRIPTURE (Method of St. Francis de Sales)
A. Settling in: call to mind God's presence; address oneself to God in vocal prayer.
B. Reading the Scripture passage slowly, prayerfully.
C. Exercise of the will and intellect in considering the message: what is this passage saying? what is it calling forth from me?
D. Conclusion: acts of thanksgiving, remorse and intercessions awakened by the meditation.
E. Application: Immediate follow-through on resolutions made.
_________________________________________________
