Message of 7-28-11
Published: Mon, 07/25/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Many people not only lose the benefit, but are even the worse for
their mortifications [i.e., sacrifices, abstensions]. It is because
they mistake the whole nature and worth of them. They practice them
for their own sakes, as things good in themselves; they think them
to be real parts of holiness, and so rest in them, and look no
further, but grow full of a self-esteem, and self-admiration for
their own progress in them. This makes them self-sufficient,
morose, severe judges of all those that fall short of their
mortifications. And thus their self-denials do only that for them,
which indulgences do for other people--they withstand and hinder the
operation of God upon their souls; and instead of being really
self-denials, they strengthen and keep up the kingdom of self.
- William Law (1686-1761), "The Spirit of Prayer"
(What kind of self-denial do you need to practice more these days?
How would this make you more humble and loving?)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Ex 40:16-21, 34-38; Ps. 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11; Mt 13:47-53
R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young-
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
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MEDITATION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"The reign of God is also like a dragnet thrown into the lake,
which collected all sorts of things."
Only part of the catch is edible, and the rest is thrown away. The
lesson of this parable is similar to the one we heard last Tuesday.
Jesus is describing the final judgment, when we all will be judged
on our merits. That judgment is based on the principle discussed in
Monday's reading: our service to others. Jesus' message is
perfectly clear. To live a life worthy of the kingdom, we must put
the needs of others before our own. It's that simple; it's that
difficult; it's that vital to our salvation. It is the answer to
all the moral questions we can pose.
"O Lord, rid us of our selfishness, we pray."
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SPIRITUAL READING
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Disciple
I offer You also these prayers and the Sacrifice of Propitiation
for those especially who have in any way injured, saddened, or
slandered me, inflicted loss or pain upon me, and also for all
those whom I have at any time saddened, disturbed, offended, and
abused by word or deed, willfully or in ignorance. May it plase You
to forgive us all alike our sins and offenses against one another.
- Book 4, Chapter 9
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