Message of 7-2-07
Published: Mon, 07/02/07
-------
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Each of us may be sure that if God sends us on stony paths He will provide us with strong shoes, and He will not send us out on any journey for which He does not equip us well.
- Alexander MacLaren
("He will provide . . .")
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Gn 18:16-33; Ps 103:1b-2, 3-4, 8-9, 10-11; Mt 8:18-22
R.
(8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
- - -
Praying the Daily Gospels
- by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 8:18-22 (The cost of discipleship)
At first glance, Jesus seems to be very hard on those he has invited to follow him. This passage, coming after accounts of healing, reveals that Jesus does not want people like the scribe to follow him on the impulse of the moment without first considering the cost. The man who wants to wait until he buries his father is not yet ready to leave home.
• What habit or
relationship to which you have been clinging keeps you from making
necessary changes in your life? Do something today to begin to grow out
of this death-dealing security.
• Today is the first day of the rest of your life” is a familiar maxim. Spend some time thinking about your day. Resolve to live it fully.
• Today is the first day of the rest of your life” is a familiar maxim. Spend some time thinking about your day. Resolve to live it fully.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY
from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm
172. It is in Mary alone that the Incarnation is the assumption of the concrete human race, the taking up of all of us into one of us.
Without her the divine unity that incorporates all men in itself would not be interior to the race of man.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
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.
_________________________________________________
