Message of 5-31-11
Published: Sat, 05/28/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- - -
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
If we are to live unto God at any time, or in any place, we are to
live unto Him at all times and in all places. If we are to use any
thing as the gift of God, we are to use every thing as His gift.
- William Law (1686-1761), "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy
Life"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Zep 3:14-18a; Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6; Lk 1:39-56
R. (6) Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
What is the significance of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth
before the birth of Jesus? When Elizabeth greeted Mary and
recognized the Messiah in Mary's womb they were filled with the
Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfilment of
God's promise to give a Savior. What a marvelous wonder for God to
fill not only Elizabeth's heart with his Holy Spirit but the child
in her womb as well. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the
Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his
mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King
to be born. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us to
know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of
his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within
each of us. Do you live in the joy and knowledge of God's
indwelling presence with you through his Holy Spirit?
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in
seeking you more closely. Increase my faith in all your promises,
my hope in the joys of heaven, and my love for You as my All."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SPIRITUAL READING
"The Way of Perfection"
- by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
(Continues speaking of confessors. Explains why it is important
that they should be learned men.)
May the Lord grant, for His Majesty's own sake, that no one in this
house shall experience the trials that have been described, or find
herself oppressed in this way in soul and body. I hope the superior
will never be so intimate with the confessor that no one will dare
to say anything about him to her or about her to him. For this will
tempt unfortunate penitents to leave very grave sins unconfessed
because they will feel uncomfortable about confessing them. God
help me! What trouble the devil can make here and how dearly people
have to pay for their miserable worries and concern about honour!
If they consult only one confessor, they think they are acting in
the interests of their Order and for the greater honour of their
convent: and that is the way the devil lays his snares for souls
when he can find no other. If the poor sisters ask for another
confessor, they are told that this would mean the complete end of
all discipline in the convent; and, if he is not a priest of their
Order, even though he be a saint, they are led to believe that they
would be disgracing their entire Order by consulting him.
Give great praise to God, Daughters, for this liberty that you
have, for, though there are not a great many priests whom you can
consult, there are a few, other than your ordinary confessors, who
can give you light upon everything. I beg every superior, for the
love of the Lord, to allow a holy liberty here: let the Bishop or
Provincial be approached for leave for the sisters to go from time
to time beyond their ordinary confessors and talk about their souls
with persons of learning, especially if the confessors, though good
men, have no learning; for learning is a great help in giving light
upon everything. It should be possible to find a number of people
who combine both learning and spirituality, and the more favours
the Lord grants you in prayer, the more needful is it that your
good works and your prayers should have a sure foundation.
- Chapter 5
(It is good to remember in all of this that the nuns to whom she is
writing were a contemplative order.)
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Amazon.com gift cards - good for any occasion
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
- - - -
Please help support Heartland Center's Internet ministries:
- For more info on tax-deductible donations, see
http://shalomplace.com/seed/donations.html.
Thanks for your consideration!
_________________________________________
* Web Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?dailyseed
* RSS: http://www.aweber.com/z/rss/?dailyseed