Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Fri, 09/30/11
A Daily Spiritual Seed
Weekend Edition:
September 30 - October 2, 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: Is 5:1-7; Ps 80:9, 12-16, 19-20; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43 R. (Is 5:7a) The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.  A vine from Egypt you transplanted;you drove away the nations and planted it. It put forth its foliage to the Sea, its shoots as far as the River. Why have you broken down its walls, so that every passer-by plucks its fruit, The boar from the forest lays it waste, and the beasts of the field feed upon it? Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven, and see; take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted the son of man whom you yourself made strong. Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name. O LORD, God of hosts, restore us; if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved. - - - Amazon
Gift Cards - - - Spiritual Guidance Inner Explorations:
a vast array of spirituality resources for the
mature
Christian. - - - Theology Note of the
Week A mediator is someone who intervenes, someone who conveys and conciliates. The word "mediator" is not found in the O.T., but its principle is. God gave the Law to the people through a mediator, Moses (Gal. 3:19), who was a type of the true mediator, Jesus. The word occurs only a few times in the N.T.: 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24. It is in the N.T. that the true nature of mediation is understood in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the mediator of a better covenant (Heb. 8:6). He was able to become our mediator by becoming man (John 1:1,14) and dying as our substitute (1 Pet. 1:18,19; 2:24). He reconciled us to God (Eph. 2:16). - - - Web Resource of the Week Humorshpere - http://www.humorsphere.com/ Fun and play are important, and this web site provides plent of opportunities for both. I tried a few of the games and "quizzes" and found them to be most entertaining. Go ahead and click the link for the "Are You Usual or Unusual" game. Turns out I was pretty usual, but I wonder if you will be? It only takes a minute to find out. Try the color test, too. It will humble you.  |
Featured Spiritual
Growth Resources
Summer 2012: Renewal of Mind and Spirit - http://heartlandspirituality.org/programs.html Since you might need to plan ahead, check out the program offerings at Heartland Center for Spirituality for the Summer of 2012. A. Theology Institute with Carla Mae Streeter, June 15-19, 2012. B. Listening to God: A Contemplative Retreat, with Philip St. Romain, June 21-25, 2012. You can attend one or the other: special rate for both. - - -  Growing
in Inner Freedom: A Guide for Today- by Philip St. Romain 40 ways to become more inwardly free! Using Jesus Christ as a model of spiritual freedom, and citing lessons found in the Scriptures, "Growing in Inner Freedom" contains 40 time-tested practices, including: Living by Faith, Don't Worry Uselessly, Count Your Blessings, Practice Forgiveness, Go the Extra Mile and many more. - http://tinyurl.com/3luq3z2 (Also available for Kindle, Nook, and on iBookstore) - - - Book of the Week Folllow the Ecstasy: The Hermitage Years of Thomas Merton, by John Howard Griffin. Orbis, 1993. - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0883448475/ref=noism/christianspiritu/  Among the many
books by or about Thomas Merton, this one follows specifically the
Trappist monk through the last critical years of his life, the years
from 1965 to 1968. This book concentrates on Merton's attempt to live
in a small hermitage, only seldom mingling with the rest of his
religious community. He wanted to become a hermit and with the approval
of his abbot and the blessings of his brethren, he made giant steps in
a solitary life.Housekeeping, carrying water, doing without electricity, chopping firewood, and many comforts afforded in the larger community, all these Merton learned to live without. Finally he had water, electricity, and a small chapel of his own where he celebrated Mass and prayed his Office. These comforts he appreciated. He was not pleased when he was called upon to finish a task of translating which another brother left unfinished at his death. He loved the outdoors and spent much time in his woods, contemplating God's nature which became subjects of his prayer and gratitude to God. Merton was bothered with many health problems which became occasions for many visits to doctors and painful hospital stays. His being in the hospital brought him into contact with a lovely nurse, Margie Smith; the dedicated-to-God monk fell in love. The two arranged many "un-lawful" meetings, picnics together, phone calls, and letters. Merton knew he was walking on thin ice, but his heart strings wouldn't allow him to go free for many months. Finally after much arguing with himself, his superior,and his doctor, he lost that battle and let Margie Smith go. But he insisted that after his death, the story of his love life would be told. Merton, the monk, had experienced the wonders and anguish of human love. Another struggle the monk had was the fact that he had become famous with his writings, and many people came knocking on his door to visit. He received invitations to attend various meetings outside the monastery; some were approved by his superior; most were not. He investigated the religions of the East as he was an avid reader. He wrestled with the social ills of his life in America, issues of racism, war, and peace, gave many talks and wrote numerous books. On his much-longed-for visit to the East, Thomas Merton died of accidental electrocution in Bangkok on Dec. 10, 1968, twenty-seven years to the day after he had entered Gethsemani Abbey in 1941.
- Thanks to Sr. Irene
Hartman, O.P. for this review. - Superbowl Tickets |
Serious illness
brought the young Francis to see the
emptiness of his frolicking life as leader of Assisi's youth.
Prayer--lengthy and difficult--led him to a self-emptying like that of
Christ, climaxed by embracing a leper he met on the road. It symbolized
his complete obedience to what he had heard in prayer: "Francis!
Everything you have loved and desired in the flesh it is your duty to
despise and hate, if you wish to know my will. And when you have begun
this, all that now seems sweet and lovely to you will become
intolerable and bitter, but all that you used to avoid will turn itself
to great sweetness and exceeding joy."
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