Message of 5-30-11
Published: Sat, 05/28/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
We have forgotten that evil is infectious, as infectious as
small-pox; and we do not perceive that if we allow whole
departments of our life to become purely secular, and to create and
maintain moral or immoral standards of their own, in time the whole
of life is bound to become corrupt.
- G. A. Studdert Kennedy (1883-1929), "The Wicket Gate"
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 16:11-15; Ps. 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b; Jn 15:26--16:4a
R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"After [Lydia] and her household had been baptized, she offered us
an invitation ... 'Come and stay at my home.'"
This Lydia, whose faith and help Paul acknowledges several times,
would be a wonderful subject for a novel or movie. A first-century
woman, head of her household and a seeker who listens to Paul's
preaching and is moved to accept baptism, offers her home to the
the growing Christian church in Philippi. (In the United States on
this day we remember those who have died in war, those who mourn
them, and all those in harm's way.)
"Lord Jesus, give me the grace of open ears and eyes and heart to
welcome you and yours into my home."
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SPIRITUAL READING
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
A brief parable I will give to those who dwell in the tumult of
love, that they may endure this state nobly and becomingly, and may
attain to higher virtues. There is a small insect called the ant.
It is strong and sagacious, and very loth to die. It lives by
choice amongst the congregation of its fellows, in hot and dry
soil. The ant works during summer, and gathers grain for food for
the winter. And it splits the grain in two lest it should sprout
and be spoiled, and be of no use when nothing can be gathered
anymore. And it seeks no strange ways, but always goes forth by the
same way. And if it abides its time, it shall be able to fly.
Thus should these men do. They should be strong in abiding the
coming of Christ, sagacious against the communications and
inspirations of the devil. They should not desire death; but God's
glory alone, and for themselves new virtues. They should dwell in
the congregation of their heart and of their powers, and should
follow the drawing and the inviting of the Divine Unity. They
should dwell in warm and dry soil, that is, in the fierce tumult of
love and in a great restlessness. And they should labour during the
summer of this life, and gather the fruits of virtue for eternity;
and they should split these fruits in two. The one part is, that
they should ever desire the most high fruition of Eternity; and the
other part is that, by means of the reason, they should always
restrain themselves as much as they can, and abide the time which
God has ordained to them, and thus the fruit of virtue is preserved
unto eternity. And they should not follow strange paths or singular
ways; but they should follow the track of love through all storms
to that place whither love shall lead them. And if they abide the
time, and persevere in all virtues, they shall behold the Mystery
of God and take flight towards It.
- Chapter 27: A parable of the ant
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