Message of 10-27-11

Published: Thu, 10/27/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth

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Message of the Day

In the last analysis, the service the Christian does is not his [hers, etc.], but Christ's. Therefore he must not feel too keenly the burden of responsibility, because at the end of the day all he can say is, "We are unprofitable servants." This knowledge, far from inhibiting action, actually releases the Christian from that appalling feeling of responsibility that has driven so many high-minded humanists to despair, even to suicide... Work done conscientiously by the Christian is his share in Christ's service; but it is Christ's service, and therefore the Christian need neither be proud because it has succeeded or overwhelmed because it has failed. The service of Christ is supremely expressed in the apparent failure of the Cross.
   - Anthony T. Hanson (1916-1991), The Church of the Servant

(How detached are you from the consequences of your service?)

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

Rom 8:31b-39;    Ps 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31;    Lk 13:31-35

R. (26b) Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.

Do you, O GOD, my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name's sake;
in your generous mercy rescue me;
For I am wretched and poor,
and my heart is pierced within me.

Help me, O LORD, my God;
save me, in your mercy,
And let them know that this is your hand;
that you, O LORD, have done this.

I will speak my thanks earnestly to the LORD,
and in the midst of the throng I will praise him,
For he stood at the right hand of the poor man,
to save him from those who would condemn his soul.

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

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Today there are so many shams and scams, false prophets and for-profit preachers that we find it hard to take seriously anyone professing to speak in God's name. We certainly don't want to be led astray or cheated, but we also don't want to close our eyes to the real presence of Christ in our daily world. We need to listen for the whispers that occasionally break through the shouting and open ourselves to the unique and unexpected ways that the Lord makes himself present each day. We cannot allow ourselves to get so cynical that we completely fail to see Christ among us.

Lord, for the grace to seek and see you in our world today, we pray.

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

The Disciple

My eyes could not bear to behold You in Your own divine brightness, nor could the whole world stand in the splendor of the glory of Your majesty. In veiling Yourself in the Sacrament, therefore, You have regard for my weakness.

   - Book 4, Chapter 11

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