Message of 7-20-07

Published: Fri, 07/20/07



MESSAGE OF THE DAY

Just think you are here not by chance but by GOD's choosing. His hand formed you and made you the person you are. He compares you to no one else; you are one of a kind. You lack nothing that His grace can't give you. He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation. You are GOD's servant in GOD's place at GOD's perfect time.
          - Anonymous

(You are here for God's special purpose.  What might that be?)

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

Ex 11:10--12:14;   Ps 116:12-13, 15 and 16bc, 17-18;   Mt 12:1-8

R.    (13) I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.

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

- Matthew 12: 1-8 (God wants mercy)

At this point in Matthew's Gospel, the Jewish authorities begin to openly try to trap Jesus and discredit his ministry.  Jesus does not accept their accusations of disobedience to the Law, however, reminding them that the mercy of God is the heart of the Law.

  • What are some key issues facing the Church today? What are you doing to inform yourself about these issues? How are you expressing your opinions about the Church?

  • How do you generally react when other people confront you for something you've done wrong? Why do you respond like this? Is there a better way to respond?

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    ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE
       - by Jean Pierre de Caussade, S.J.

       Would to God that kings, and their ministers, princes of the Church and of
       the world, priests and soldiers, the peasantry and labourers, in a word, all
       men could know how very easy it would be for them to arrive at a high degree
       of sanctity. They would only have to fulfil the simple duties of
       Christianity and of their state of life; to embrace with submission the
       crosses belonging to that state, and to submit with faith and love to the
       designs of Providence in all those things that have to be done or suffered
       without going out of their way to seek occasions for themselves. This is the
       spirit by which the patriarchs and prophets were animated and sanctified
       before there were so many systems of so many masters of the spiritual life.
       [1] This is the spirituality of all ages and of every state. No state of
       life can, assuredly, be sanctified in a more exalted manner, nor in a more
       wonderful and easy way than by the simple use of the means that God, the
       sovereign director of souls, gives them to do or to suffer at each moment.
             -- Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 3

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    PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Contemplative Method)
      - adapted by Philip St. Romain from a variety of sources -

    A. Select a short passage that you will use for prayer.

    B. Settle in by sitting straight (on tailbone, spine erect).  Notice sensations in your body, sounds around you, the manner of your breathing.  Call to mind that God is present in and amidst all of this.

    C. Read the passage aloud slowly, prayerfully.  Let the words make their own impact, and voice whatever they awaken in your mind and heart to God.

    - proceed to Step E if you already feel yourself coming to contemplative silence -

    D. Read the passage a second time silently.  Again, voice whatever is awakened to God, or acknowledge before God in your heart.  Let this be a spontaneous conversation which includes your questions, intellectual reflections, petitions, resolutions, and so forth.

    E. Read the passage a third time.  If there is a word or phrase that sums up this passage, or that speaks to you in a special way, repeat it in your mind prayerfully.  Let it express your willingness to allow God to be God in your life.

    F. Allow yourself to simply be present to God in loving silence, aware of God's unfailing Presence to you in love.  When distractions come which capture your attention, re-introduce the sacred word from Step E.  Continue with this resting until your prayer time is over.

    G. Close your prayer time with a sincere vocal recitation of the Lord's prayer, putting your whole being into the words.

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