Message of 11-1-11

Published: Tue, 11/01/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth

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Message of the Day

Do not desire crosses, unless you have borne those already laid upon you well--it is an abuse to long after martyrdom while unable to bear an insult patiently.
  - François de Sales (1567-1622), Introduction to the Devout Life

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

Rv 7:2-4, 9-14;    Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6;    1 Jn 3:1-3;    Mt 5:1-12a

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.

He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

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

Blessed are the poor in spirit ...

Matthew could have meant one of two things by "poor in spirit" -- the materially poor who are also devout, or those of any social rank who recognize their dependence on God. As we consider the panoply of saints, it appears that we've gone with the latter interpretation, and that's a good thing. To be seriously poor, concerned with the next meal or shelter for the night, is not in itself conducive to the God-centered life. But the poor in spirit find themselves living simply, immediate bodily needs met, with room in their lives to respond to the needs of others. Perhaps "poor in spirit" is to be available, open to whomever is placed on our path, whatever task is set before us. The poor in spirit are poor in plans and rich in openness to God's plan.

Dear God, help us live fully each day so that we may rejoice forever with you and all your saints.

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Spiritual Reading
The Way of Perfection
  - by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

(Treats of the great blessing that shunning their relatives brings to those who have left the world and shows how by doing so they will find truer friends.)

Believe me, sisters, if you serve God as you should, you will find no better relatives than those [of His servants] whom His Majesty sends you. I know this is so, and, if you keep on as you are doing here, and realize that by doing otherwise you will be failing your true Friend and Spouse, you may be sure that you will very soon gain this freedom. Then you will be able to trust those who love you for His sake alone more than all your relatives, and they will not fail you, so that you will find parents and brothers and sisters where you had never expected to find them. For these help us and look for their reward only from God; those who look for rewards from us soon grow tired of helping us when they see that we are poor and can do nothing for them. This cannot be taken as a generalization, but it is the most usual thing to happen in the world, for it is the world all over! If anyone tells you otherwise, and says it is a virtue to do such things, do not believe him. I should have to write at great length, in view of my lack of skill and my imperfection, if I were to tell you of all the harm that comes from it; as others have written about it who know what they are talking about better than I, what I have said will suffice. If, imperfect as I am, I have been able to grasp as much as this, how much better will those who are perfect do so!

- Chapter 9

(Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.
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