Message of 7-26-11
Published: Mon, 07/25/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
When we are saved, we are at home in the universe; and, in
principle and in the main, feeble and timid creatures as we are,
there is nothing anywhere within the world or without it that can
make us afraid.
- Bernard Bosanquet (1848-1923), "What Religion Is"
(What are your anxieties these days? Take some time to surrender
them to God's providential care.)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28; Ps. 103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13; Mt
13:36-43
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice
and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel.
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.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
Are you quick to judge the faults of others? Jesus' parable teaches
us patience lest we judge before the time is right. Jesus also
warns that there is an enemy who seeks to destroy the good seed of
his word before it can bear fruit. Both good and evil can be sown
in our hearts like tiny seeds which germinate, and in due time
yield a harvest of good or bad fruit. We must stand guard lest evil
take root in our hearts and corrupt us. Charles Read said: "Sow an
act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character.
Sow a character and you reap a destiny." In the day of judgment
each will reap what he or she has sown in this life. Those who sow
good will shine in the kingdom of their Father. They will radiate
with the beauty, joy, and fulness of God's love. Do you allow the
love of Christ to rule in your heart and in your actions?
"Lord Jesus, may your all-consuming love rule in my heart and
transform my life that I may sow what is good, worthy, and pleasing
to you."
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SPIRITUAL READING
"The Way of Perfection"
- by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
(Treats of the same subject of spiritual love and gives certain
counsels for gaining it.)
It is strange to see how impassioned this love is; how many tears,
penances and prayers it costs; how careful is the loving soul to
commend the object of its affection to all who it thinks may
prevail with God and to ask them to intercede with Him for it; and
how constant is its longing, so that it cannot be happy unless it
sees that its loved one is making progress. If that soul seems to
have advanced, and is then seen to fall some way back, her friend
seems to have no more pleasure in life: she neither eats nor
sleeps, is never free from this fear and is always afraid that the
soul whom she loves so much may be lost, and that the two may be
parted for ever. She cares nothing for physical death, but she will
not suffer herself to be attached to something which a puff of wind
may carry away so that she is unable to retain her hold upon it.
This, as I have said, is love without any degree whatsoever of
self-interest; all that this soul wishes and desires is to see the
soul [it loves] enriched with blessings from Heaven. This is love,
quite unlike our ill-starred earthly affections -- to say nothing
of illicit affections, from which may God keep us free.
- Chapter 7
(It is good to remember in all of this that the nuns to whom she is
writing were a contemplative order.)
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