Message of 9-2-11
Published: Fri, 09/02/11
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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Message of the Day
God is a fire that warms and kindles the heart and inward parts. And so, if we feel in our hearts coldness, which is from the devil, - for the devil is cold - then let us call upon the Lord, and He will come and warm our hearts with perfect love not only for Him, but for our neighbour as well. And from the presence of warmth the coldness of the hater of good will be driven away.
- Seraphim of Sarov
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Lectionary Readings of the Day
http://new.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
Col 1:15-20; Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5; Lk 5:33-39
R. (2b) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
For he is good,
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
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Reflection on the Scripture
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
In today's gospel, the scribes and Pharisees seem to think that Jesus' disciples are less spiritual somehow because instead of fasting and praying, they seem to be feasting all the time. And Jesus says that they should be feasting. This is the right time to feast. It's appropriate to feast when the bridegroom is here. When the groom is taken away, then the time will be right for mourning and fasting and tears, but while the groom is present, what better to do than feast? A wedding party is no time for tears and fasting. It's the right time for celebration and hope. There is a time for everything, and the wedding is not the time for sadness but for joy. Jesus knows that his followers should enjoy his presence while he is with them. There will be time for mourning when he is taken away.
The most spiritual thing Jesus' disciples can do is to enjoy their Lord while he is with them in this life. When he is taken from them, they can fast and pray, but while he is here they should eat and drink and talk together and enjoy the experience. And while there is nothing wrong with fasting and praying, we should also remember that our Lord is always with us and we should eat with him and drink with him and talk with him and enjoy the experience.
- by Tamora Whitney
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Spiritual Reading
Christ's Four Modes of Presence to Us
by Philip St. Romain
- 4. The Cosmic Christ (part 2 of 4)
In his historical human body, the presence of Jesus could be isolated in space and time--as is the case for all of us. We are here, but not there; in one place, but not another. When he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, however, his human soul become fully integrated with the Word with whom it was already united. And where is this Word, one might ask? It is at the heart of all created things as its Source and Center. Its body is the universe and all its parts, and so that is where Jesus can be found as well (Col. 1: 15-17).
- 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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