Message of 8-8-11
Published: Sat, 08/06/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Has it never dawned upon you that the essence of witnessing is just
plain honesty? You are salt - whether you feel like it or not. You
are not told to act like salt but to be what you are. You are a
light. God has done a work in your life. Don't try to shine. Let
the light that God put there shine out. It demands no more than
honesty. It demands honesty before unbelievers. In fact such
honesty is ninety per cent of witnessing. Witnessing is not putting
on a Christian front as to convince prospective customers.
Witnessing is just being honest, that is, being true to what God
has made you in your speech and everyday behaviour.
- John White
(Let your light shine this day!)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Dt 10:12-22; Ps. 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; Mt 17:22-27
R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens
yourselves in the land of Egypt."
This passage from Deuteronomy outlines several instructions for
right living, and listed up there with caring for widows and
orphans is befriending the alien. We are reminded that God has no
favorites and loves all equally. This is a timely message today
when so many people are threatened by the number of immigrants
seeking refuge or a better life in "our" land. And unless we are
Native Americans, we were once all aliens. Just as the Lord has
provided us with a homeland, we must welcome today's immigrants
wholeheartedly, respecting the special gifts and skills they bring.
"O Lord, teach us generosity so we may share your blessings."
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SPIRITUAL READING
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
Through this estrangement a man sometimes falls into a fever which
is called the double quartan, which means indifference. Then the
fourth day is doubled, and he can hardly recover, for he becomes
indifferent and heedless of all that is needful to eternal life. So
he may fall into sin, like one who never knew anything of God. If
this may befall those men who govern themselves ill in this state
of abandonment, then it behoves those to beware who never knew
ought of God, nor of the inward life, nor of that sweet savour
which good men find in their exercises.
- Chapter 32: Of four kinds of fevers wherewith a person can be
tormented.
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