Message of 7-16-07
Published: Mon, 07/16/07
-------
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
To excuse what can really produce good excuses is not Christian charity; it is only fairness. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.
- C. S. Lewis, "Into the Wardrobe"
(What "inexcusable" act by another do you need to forgive? How might you need to even forgive yourself for something you deem inexcusable?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Ex 1:8-14, 22; Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8; Mt 10:34—11:1
R.
(8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the LORD been with us–
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept
the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Had not the LORD been with us–
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept
the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
- - -
Praying the Daily Gospels
- by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 10: 34-11: 1 (Take up your cross)
The key to appreciating Jesus’ message is to realize that he calls us to become more deeply related to other people. We do this not because they need us but because we need them to be ourselves. Because our selfishness opposes relationships, we must take up the cross of dying to selfishness.
• How do you feel
about the verse “I have come to bring not peace but the
sword”? What does Jesus mean by this?
• Place yourself somewhere on a continuum of attitudes regarding strangers. Strangers are: God’s Grace <------------------------>Nuisances
• Are you content to stay where you are on this continuum?
• Pray for the grace to be open to the gifts that others bring.
• Place yourself somewhere on a continuum of attitudes regarding strangers. Strangers are: God’s Grace <------------------------>Nuisances
• Are you content to stay where you are on this continuum?
• Pray for the grace to be open to the gifts that others bring.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY
from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm
182. -- Both Mary and Jesus were wholly immaculate. There was nothing in them to prevent grace from being the full divinization of nature.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
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.
_________________________________________________
A few miscellaneous resources:
- sign up for more information, or purchase.
- Magic Shelf: floats your books because it's fun.
- Affordable Dental Coverage
- - -
