Message of 12-6-11

Published: Tue, 12/06/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

There are no shortcuts to holiness. There is no easy way to conquer the flesh. Christian character is a matter of growth, not of secrets or formulas. Growth takes time. It also takes the discipline of prayer, of study, of heart searching, of sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's pleading, and of consistent obedience. It must always begin with a renewed thankfulness for the never-ending grace of God, and a sense of being set free repeatedly to a life of holiness.
   - John White
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Lectionary Readings of the Day
   http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month

Is 40:1-11;    Ps 96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13;    Mt 18:12-14

R. (see Isaiah 40:10ab) The Lord our God comes with power.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king;
he governs the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice.

They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.

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Reflection on the Gospel
  - from Praying the Daily Gospels
    http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614

- Matthew 18:12-14 (The Good Shepherd)

 God loves individuals. This is a revelation sometimes hard for us to grasp-we think that God is t"busy running the universe to love us. Yet Jesus tells us that God's greatest joy comes when an individual decides to break from sin and join his Father fold.
  
  • With whom do you identify most in today's parable: the stray sheep, the ninety-nine faithful ones, or the shepherd in search of the stray? Why?
      
  • How do you usually feel when you hear others sharing their conversion experiences? Do you rejoice with them? 


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

    (Teaches that detachment from the things aforementioned is insufficient if we are not detached from our own selves and that this virtue and humility go together.)

    These virtues, it is true, have the property of hiding themselves from one who possesses them, in such a way that he never sees them nor can believe that he has any of them, even if he be told so. But he esteems them so much that he is for ever trying to obtain them, and thus he perfects them in himself more and more. And those who possess them soon make the fact clear, even against their will, to any with whom they have intercourse. But how inappropriate it is for a person like myself to begin to praise humility and mortification, when these virtues are so highly praised by the King of Glory -- a praise exemplified in all the trials He suffered. It is to possess these virtues, then, my daughters, that you must labour if you would leave the land of Egypt, for, when you have obtained them, you will also obtain the manna; all things will taste well to you; and, however much the world may dislike their savour, to you they will be sweet.

    - Chapter 10

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

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