Message of 7-26-07

Published: Thu, 07/26/07



MESSAGE OF THE DAY


You were created to be an instrument of God. When you are not being used as an instrument of God, neither you nor God will find satisfaction in your use. There is a word for things that are not used for their intended purpose - it's call perversion. God created you for His own good. When you are used for bad your use is being perverted. And there is no satisfaction in perversion. Whether we're talking about perverting sex, perverting money, perverting time or perverting our lives - there is no satisfaction in perversion.
    - Randy Hunt

(It is good to see where such perversion is found in our lives that we might renounce it to turn more fully to God.  What might this mean for you at this time?)

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

Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b;   Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56;   Mt 13:10-17

R.    (52b) Glory and praise for ever!

“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”

“Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.”
R.    Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”

“Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”

“Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.”

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

- Matthew 13: 10-17 (More on parables)

Although the parables are relatively simple stories, they are nevertheless rich in symbolism.  To appreciate their meaning, we must allow them to confront our lives as a mirror reflects 1ack to us our bodily image.  The more time and effort we put into the struggle of meditating on the parables, the greater will be our reward.

• “In the spiritual life, if you’re not progressing, you’re regressing.” Do you agree with this? Why? Why not? In what area of your life have you made progress recently?

• Pray for the grace to hunger for growth.

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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
    - by Thomas a Kempis -

   If one receives more and another less, yet all are Yours and without
   You nothing can be received. He who receives greater things cannot
   glory in his own merit or consider himself above others or behave
   insolently toward those who receive less. He who attributes less to
   himself and is the more humble and devout in returning thanks is
   indeed the greater and the better, while he who considers himself
   lower than all men and judges himself to be the least worthy, is the
   more fit to receive the greater blessing.
           --- Bk. 3, Chapter 22

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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Carmelite Method)

A. Introduction: settling in, relaxing in awareness of God's presence.

B. Reading the text slowly, prayerfully.

C. Meditation: imaginative representation of the material; reflection
on the meaning of the material and its application to one's life.

D. Affective prayer: conversation with God, attentive to sharing
feelings awakened in meditation.  Prayer of petition, thanksgiving,
remorse.

E. Resting in God in silent loving awareness, if moved to do so.

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