Message of 9-29-11

Published: Thu, 09/29/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth

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Message of the Day

If every call to Christ and His righteousness is a call to suffering, the converse is equally true--every call to suffering is a call to Christ, a promotion, an invitation to come up higher.
   - Charles H. Brent (1862-1929), The Consolations of the Cross

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

Dn 7:9-10, 13-14;    Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5;    Jn 1:47-51

R. (1) In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.

Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.

All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD
when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD
"Great is the glory of the LORD

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Reflection on the Gospel
  - from Daily Bread
    http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm

There is no guile in him.

Jesus makes this remark about Nathanael as they meet for the first time. Nathanael has had doubts about Jesus, even remarking to Philip, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" After meeting Jesus, however, he is moved to exclaim, "You are the Son of God." Encountering Jesus in person has a profound effect on Nathanael, just as it must have on each of us as we encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, in the scriptures and in those suffering. We pray earnestly that Jesus will see into our hearts as he did into Nathanael's and find no guile there so that we may respond freely to his call.

O Lord, make us pure of heart, we pray.

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Spiritual Reading
    - Imitation of Christ, by Thomas A. Kempis

The Voice of Christ

Any devout person may at any hour on any day receive Christ in spiritual communion profitably and without hindrance. Yet on certain days and times appointed he ought to receive with affectionate reverence the Body of his Redeemer in this Sacrament, seeking the praise and honor of God rather than his own consolation.
  
For as often as he devoutly calls to mind the mystery and passion of the Incarnate Christ, and is inflamed with love for Him, he communicates mystically and is invisibly refreshed.

   - Book 4, Chapter 10

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