Message of 9-9-11

Published: Fri, 09/09/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth

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Message of the Day

One secret act of self-denial, one sacrifice of inclination to duty, is worth all the mere good thoughts, warm feelings, passionate prayers, in which idle people indulge themselves.
   - John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890), Parochial Sermons, v. 1

(One secret act of self-denial for the sake of God/Love: resolve to do so this day).

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Lectionary Readings of the Day
   http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month

1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14;    Ps 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11;    Lk 6:39-42

R. (see 5) You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.

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Reflection on the Scripture
   http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

The parable from today's gospel reminds us what a difficult task it is for the blind to lead the blind. Both will be at a disadvantage, although one can imagine (and recall) stories of those with physical impairments who rise above their apparent limitations and do wondrous things. I don't think Jesus is questioning the power of the human spirit to overcome such obstacles. I think the focus Jesus calls us to consider is our spiritual blindness. . .

How can I teach (or help) someone else until I appreciate my own presence, my own presents, my own pre-sents, my own challenges? How can I be teacher if I have not first been a disciple of Jesus, and of myself? I need to learn from who I am and where I have been. I need to know what it is that motivates me, and why. I need to walk with the one true teacher before I can presume to teach others. I need to be open to my own limits and failings before I can help someone else with theirs. I need to learn about myself, with the guidance of Jesus, because the only thing I can truly share is my understanding and my witness of the message He sends. If I can do this, if I become "fully trained," I will be like my teacher. And when I become like my teacher, I will realize that I will help remove the splinter from my brother's eye, not by physically taking it out, but by helping him walk the same path as I have, helping him learn in the same way I have.

And so my prayer today is for the grace to be honest with myself, to recognize my challenges, and to learn from the path of Jesus how I can be more like my one true teacher.

- by Tom Purcell

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Spiritual Reading

Christ's Four Modes of Presence to Us
     by Philip St. Romain

- 4.  The Cosmic Christ (part 3 of 4)

The resurrection and ascension of Jesus means that all of reality is, in fact, sacramental--a symbolic means through which Christ is present to us.  It may be more difficult to find him in a tree or a rock than in the bread and wine shared in a vibrant liturgy, but he is nonetheless present to us through all creation.  The Church's sacraments help us to learn to be open to this mystical, cosmic dimension of Christ's presence, while our knowing him through Church and Scripture enable us to recognize that it is, indeed, the same presence in creation that we encountered in the other modes.  Marvel of marvels, we discover: Jesus is lovingly present to us through everything all the time.  We don't have to be in Church or read a Bible to meet him.  All we need to is be here now in love, for that is where he is and that is what he is doing.

  - from Jesus Alive in Our Lives
    http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/jesus-alive-in-our-lives/11780728 (paperback)
    https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/41961 (ebook formats)
    http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Alive-Our-Lives-ebook/dp/B00427YKNU/ (Kindle)

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Amazon.com gift cards - good for any occasion
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu

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