Message of 7-25-11
Published: Sun, 07/24/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
We should always act with as much energy, as those who expect
everything from themselves; we should always pray with as much
earnestness as those who expect everything from God.
- Charles C. Colton (1780-1832)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
2 Cor 4:7-15; Ps. 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6; Mt 20:20-28
R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest, and
whoever wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all."
James' mom has just asked for special favors for her boys, much to
the dismay and indignation of the other apostles. It is clear what
is required to be a true follower of Jesus. Today we need to
restore the attitude of working for the common good, not
campaigning for policies that will only benefit ourselves.
Universal health care, public transportation, public school reform,
and microlending can help everyone.
"Lord, increase our desire to serve all, we pray."
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SPIRITUAL READING
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
The second kind of fever comes on alternate days. It is called
fickleness. If it lasts long it is often dangerous. This fever is
of two kinds: sometimes it comes from intemperate heat, and
sometimes from cold. The one which comes from intemperate heat
befalls certain good men; for when they are, or have been, touched
by God, and then are forsaken of Him, they sometimes fall into
fickleness. To-day they choose one way of life, and to-morrow
another; at one time they wish to be silent, and another time they
wish continually to speak. first they wish to enter into this
order, then into that. first they wish to give all their goods to
God, then they wish to keep them. At one time they wish to wander
abroad, at another to be enclosed in a cell. At one time they long
to go often to the Sacrament, and shortly afterwards they value
this but little. At one time they wish to pray much in a loud
voice, and another time but shortly after, they would keep silence.
And this is both a vain curiosity and a fickleness, which hinder
and impede a man from comprehending inward truth, and destroy in
him both the source and the practice of all inwardness. Now mark
whence this unstable condition comes in some good men. When a man
sets his thoughts and his inward active endeavour on the virtues
and on outward behaviour more than on God and on union with God:
though he remains in the grace of God (for in the virtues he aims
at God), yet none the less his life is unstable, for he does not
feel himself to rest in God above all virtues. And therefore he
possesses something that he does not know; for, Him Whom he seeks
in the virtues and in the multiplicity of acts, he possesses within
himself, above intention, above virtues, and above all ways and
means. And therefore, if this man would overcome his fickleness, he
must learn to rest above all virtues in God and in the most high
Unity of God.
- Chapter 32: Of four kinds of fevers wherewith a person can be
tormented.
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