Message of 6-27-11
Published: Sat, 06/25/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Why all this strife and zeal about opinions? Death and life go on
their own way, carry on their own work, and stay for no opinions...
What a delusion it is therefore to grow gray-headed in balancing
ancient and modern opinions; to waste the precious uncertain fire
of life in critical zeal and verbal animosities; when nothing but
the kindling of our working will into a faith, that overcometh the
world, into a steadfast hope, and ever-burning love, and desire of
the divine life, can hinder us from falling into eternal death.
- William Law (1686-1761), "The Way to Divine Knowledge"
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Gn 18:16-33; Ps. 103:1b-2, 3-4, 8-9, 10-11; Mt 8:18-22
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"But Jesus answered him, 'Follow me, and let the dead bury their
dead.'"
It's not a casual observer of Jesus' work who is too busy to follow
him. It's one who's called a "disciple." Ironic, isn't it? The very
definition of disciple is "a follower," yet the disciple is too
distracted with personal needs and obligations to actually follow
Jesus. We get so caught up in the details of our lives that we lose
track of the reason for our living. Think about it. Why do we ask
the Lord to come into our lives during difficult times? Is it that
we've neglected to invite him in before those dark moments?
"For missionaries, preachers and true disciples, who answer Jesus'
call, we pray."
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SPIRITUAL READING
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
In this season of the year the sun of heaven enters the sign of
Libra, which means the Scales; for day and night are evenly
balanced, and the sun divides the light from the darkness in equal
parts. So likewise Christ stands in the sign of the Balance for the
resigned man. Whether He gives sweetness or bitterness, darkness or
light, whatever he lays upon the scale, the man balances it evenly;
all things are equal to him, save sin alone, which is for ever cast
out. When such utterly resigned men have thus been deprived of all
consolation, and believe that they have lost all virtues, and are
forsaken of God and of all creatures: then if they are able to reap
them, all kinds of fruit, the corn and vine, are ready and ripe.
And this image means, that all that the body can endure, whatsoever
it be, should be offered up to God gladly, and of one's own free
will, and without resistance to the supreme Will. All the outward
and inward virtues, which a man practised with joy in the fire of
love; these, since he knows them and is able to perform them, he
should now practise diligently and with courage, and should offer
them up to God. Never were they so dear to God; for never were they
so noble and so fair. All the consolations which God ever gave
should gladly be given up, if it be to His glory. This is the
harvest of the corn, and of all kinds of ripe fruits, on which we
shall live eternally, and which make us rich in God. Thus the
virtues are made perfect, and sorrow is turned to eternal wine. By
such men, and by their lives and their patience, all those who know
them and all their neighbours are taught and changed for the
better: and so the corn of their virtues is sown and multiplied for
the benefit of all good men.
This is the fourth way in which a man by inward working is adorned
and perfected in the bodily powers and the lower part of himself:
and in no other way can he continually grow and become more
perfect. But as such men have been harshly afflicted, and have been
tried, and tempted, and combatted, by God, by their own selves, and
by all creatures, in them the virtue of resignation reaches a
singular perfection. Nevertheless, resignation, or the renunciation
of self-will for the will of God, is before all things needful for
all men who wish to be saved.
- Chapter 29: Showing what the forsaken person should do
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