Message of 9-23-11

Published: Fri, 09/23/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth

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Message of the Day

There is hardly ever a complete silence in our souls. God is whispering to us well-nigh incessantly. Whenever the sounds of the world die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear these whisperings of God... He is always whispering to us, only that we do not always hear, because of the hurry, noise, and distraction which life causes as it rushes on.
   - Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)

(Are you in touch with these nudgings and whisperings of God?  If not, take more time for silence and prayer, that the "sounds of the world" in your soul might "sink low.")

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

Hg 2:1-9;    Ps 43:1, 2, 3, 4;    Lk 9:18-22

R. (5) Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight
against a faithless people;
from the deceitful and impious man rescue me.

For you, O God, are my strength.
Why do you keep me so far away?
Why must I go about in mourning,
with the enemy oppressing me?

Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling place.

Then will I go in to the altar of God,
the God of my gladness and joy;
Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,
O God, my God!

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

In the Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples who people think he is.  Of course they think he is a prophet, even one who was before and may have returned.  So, I kept thinking about us today and how we need prophets too.  In Jesus, day people did not have the Holy Spirit, and because Jesus left we have access to the Lord through the Holy Spirit at will.  But, how often do we invoke this special gift from heaven to aid us in our communication; for me, not often enough.  Then I thought about a person I listen to about every day on our Catholic broadcasting channel, Sister Ann Shields, S.G.L.  She is part of Renewal Ministries, and I think you can hear her on their website if it isn't broadcast in your area.  She is somewhat of a prophet to me.  She is gentle but sure as she breaks open the Word every day of the week. I have several friends who really like her too.  Others I've heard called prophets in our time are our Popes.  But as in the days of old, we criticize and ignore at our peril.  Jesus says further in today's reading, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."  Profit or God Himself, the people did not like the Good News then either.  He is Risen, Lord help us to turn to you during these trying times.

- by Deb Fortina

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Spiritual Reading

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

- 4.  The Cosmic Christ (Summary)

This understanding of the Cosmic Christ also helps us to begin to understand something of how other kinds of religious experiences might happen.  What if, for example, spiritual seekers who knew nothing of the historical, personal Jesus or his Church and its sacraments, nonetheless cooperated with the moral and spiritual instincts God has created us with, and came to awaken to Ultimate Reality as the Ground of their own being and all else that exists?  This would surely be an experience of Christ in his cosmic aspect, but, lacking the assistance of Christian revelation and life in the Church, it might not be understood or even experienced in the same way as those who have known Christ in all four modes.  There are many implications, here, for interreligious dialogue, but that is not the focus of this work.  Nevertheless, it has helped me to awaken to a new closeness with my brothers and sisters in other world religions.  We all do worship that same God--even the same Christ, only we know him in different ways.

  - 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 Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.

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