Message of 12-12-11

Published: Mon, 12/12/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

To overcome a difficulty in your life: believe in the character of God. He is good; believe in the power of God. He will bring you through; believe in the love of God. He cares for you deeply and He will not abandon you.
   - Frances Ridley Havergal

(Believe . . .)

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

Zec 2:14-17;    Jdt 13:18, 19;    Lk 1:26-38

R.  You are the highest honor of our race.

Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.

Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.

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

Nothing will be impossible for God.

These are the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary as he explains God's will for her. Mary was just an ordinary girl, uneducated, unimportant, powerless in the ways that mattered to her society. And yet she was chosen to bring about the birth of the Messiah and to be his first teacher. She was to nurture the one destined to be our Redeemer. What seems impossible to us is not impossible for God. By her example, we can be as Mary today:  We can "bring forth" Christ by continuing his work of serving the hungry, nurturing the homeless, comforting the sorrowful, working for justice and proclaiming his teachings.

Lord, let us be your servants, we pray.

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Spiritual Reading

The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
   by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)

At times this same person shall descend towards sinners, with great compassion, and with generous mercy, and shall bring them before God with fervent devotion and with much prayer; bringing to God's remembrance all the good which He is, and all His power, and all that He has done for us, and has promised us, right as though He had forgotten all this: for God wills that we beseech Him. And charity shall obtain all that it desires; nevertheless it must not be stubborn and self-willed, but must leave all to the rich goodness and to the generosity of God: for God loves without measure, and herein the lover best finds his peace. Now, since this man bears a common love to all, he prays and beseeches God that His love and His mercy may flow forth towards Pagans and towards Jews and towards all unbelievers, that He may be loved and known and praised in heaven, and that our glory, our joy and our peace may spread to all the ends of the earth.

This is the second going out, towards sinners.

- Chapter 41: On moving toward sinners.

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