Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Fri, 08/26/11
A Daily Spiritual Seed
Weekend Edition:
August 26-28, 2011
| Contents: - Weekend Scripture Readings - Spiritual Guidance - Discussion Board highlights - Affiliate Web Sites - Theology Note of the Week - Web Site of the Week - Spiritual Growth Resources. - Book of the Week - Saint of the Week - Joke of the Week - - - Sunday: Jer 20:7-9; Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Rom 12:1-2; Mt 16:21-27 R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, For your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. - - - Amazon.com gift cards: the perfect gift for any occasion. - - - Spiritual Guidance - - - Theology Note of the
Week Mammon is another word for wealth that is used in the New Testament. It is the transliteration of the Aramaic 'mamona' and means wealth or profit. Matt. 6:24, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Luke 16:9, "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings." People cannot trust in both Jesus and their material possessions at the same time. Either one or the other must be served. - - - Web Site of the Week Myth and Facts - http://www.oppeace.org/myths-and-facts This web page is hosted by the Dominican Sisters of Peace to provide links to organizations with straightforward information about climate change, immigration issues, nuclear weapons, and the death penalty. A good page to bookmark for education on social issues. |
Featured Spiritual
Growth Resources
SpiritLife: A Spiritual Renewal Process  -http://heartlandspirituality.org/spiritlifeThose of you just a few hours from Great Bend, KS -- our next cycle begins on Saturday, August 27th. Registration is still open. - - - The 'Logic' of Happiness: Proverbs and Practical Wisdom for Daily Living, by Philip St. Romain This book invites us to take a journey deep into the soul, where the mystery of self and the mystery of God are so intertwined as to seem one life. It is a treasure trove of versatile, uplifting, intuitive meditations, proverbs, exhortations, reflections and exploratory questions on such topics as Empty Lovingness, True Prayer, and Sanity. St. Romain urges us to "be here now in love" that we might know greater peace and joy in daily living. - http://tinyurl.com/3uzynqg (paperback) (Also available for Kindle, Nook, and on iBookstore) - - - Book of the Week Catherine of Siena: A Passionate Life, by Don Brophy. Blue Bridge, 2010. - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933346280/ref=noism/christianspiritu/ Brophy gives the life of a great mystic, Catherine of Siena, who lived in the second half of the 14th century. This was a time in Italy of shining art and beauty, and dismal violence and chaos. In Europe there was the plague, famine, and the Hundred Years War. Even the popes were part of the chaos, by leaving Rome and taking residence in Avignon, France. The city states in Italy knew prosperity as well as great disarray. In this arena, the dyer's daughter Catherine of Siena and her twin sister Giovanna, arrived on the scene on March 25, 1347, as #23 and #24. Giovanna was not well from the start and since mother Lapa could not nurse both girls, Giovanna was given to a wet nurse; the infant died shortly after birth. In later years Catherine was unhappy with the knowledge that too soon after her birth, another little girl was born and Lapa ceased nursing Catherine. The new Giovanna took her place at Lapa's breast, but she died as a child. This made Catherine the baby in the large family and her parents had great hopes that she would marry well and bring wealth and prestige to the Bennicasa family. From a tender age, Catherine resolved that Christ would be her only spouse, and she refused all efforts of her parents to get her married, even going so far as to cut off her beautiful hair. Her parents were furious, but finally her father led the way to allow Catherine to spend time in prayer in an isolated section of the big house. Until she was twenty, Catherine sought her Lover in the quiet of deep prayer and sacrifice. At that time she was led to recognize the problems in the world around her, the sickness, the unrest in civil and ecclesiastical society, and she changed her pattern and began to reach out to those who needed help. This she did by her voluminous correspondence and personal ministry with people in high and low places. The author gives a detailed portrait of an intense young women, with details from her many letters and her spiritual masterwork, the Dialogue. Intended for people with deep faith or no faith at all,this is the story of a passionate woman in the 14th century.
- Thanks to Sr. Irene
Hartman, O.P. for this review. The Pope met with his Cardinals to discuss a proposal from Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Israel. "Your Holiness", said one of his Cardinals, Mr. Netanyahu wants to challenge you to a game of golf to show the friendship and ecumenical spirit shared by the Jewish and Catholic faiths." The Pope thought this was a good idea, but he had never held a golf club in his hand. "Don't we have a Cardinal to represent me?" he asked. "None that plays very well," a Cardinal replied. "But," he added, "there is a man named Jack Nicklaus, an American golfer who is a devout Catholic. We can offer to make him a Cardinal, then ask him to play Mr. Netanyahu as your personal representative. In addition, to showing our spirit of cooperation, we'll also win the match." Everyone agreed it was a good idea. The call was made. Of course, Nicklaus was honored and agreed to play. The day after the match, Nicklaus reported to the Vatican to inform the Pope of the result. "I have some good news and some bad news, your Holiness, " said the golfer. "Tell me the good news first, Cardinal Nicklaus," said the Pope. "Well, your Holiness, I don't like to brag, but even though I've played some pretty terrific rounds of golf in my life, this was the best I have ever played, by far. I must have been inspired from above. My drives were long and true, my irons were accurate and purposeful, and my putting was perfect. With all due respect, my play was truly miraculous. "There's bad news?", the Pope asked. "Yes," Nicklaus sighed. "I lost to Rabbi Tiger Woods by seven strokes." |
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