Message of 12-21-11

Published: Wed, 12/21/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

If we are to accept the teaching of Jesus at all, then the only test of the reality of a one's religion is his attitude to others. The only possible proof that one loves God is the demonstrated fact of love of neighbor.
  - William Barclay (1907-1978), In the Hands of God

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

Sg 2:8-14;    Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21;    Lk 1:39-45

R.  Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.

But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.

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

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.

Mary believed God's promises.  Even while she was with child she traveled to be with her cousin -- walking or riding a slow-moving donkey some 85 miles over rough country. Not easy or safe, especially for a pregnant woman. But believers are given open eyes and hearts to attend to those in need, and the grace to do so.  Contrast Mary with Zechariah, whose doubt rendered him mute. Isn't that what doubt does? We fail to believe that God hears our prayers and so we no longer have prayers to offer, no longer have words of encouragement for others.

Lord Jesus, help us to live and love with our eyes of faith open and fixed on you.

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Spiritual Reading

At the Master's Feet
  - by Sadhu Sundar Singh

The Disciple: What is the meaning and purpose of the cross, and why do pain and suffering exist in the world?

The Master (Jesus) Responds:

8. In this life even I share the cross of those who abide in Me, and enter into their sufferings (Acts ix.4). Though they are creatures and I am their Creator, yet, just as the body and the spirit, though separate entities, are yet so intermingled that if even the smallest part of the body feels pain the spirit immediately becomes conscious of it; so I am the life and spirit of My children, and they are, as it were, My body and members. I share their every pain and grief, and at the right moment give them relief.

- Part 5, Section 1

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METHODS OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION

Listed below are several traditional methods of prayer and reflection.  As St. Frances de Sales noted, we learn to pray by praying, but it is also good to try different methods to see which seem to help facilitate connection with God.  Indeed, the more we learn different methods, the better we can sense how the Spirit is moving us to pray for any given prayer time.

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Lectio Divina Process
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html

First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:

    * Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.

    * Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?

    * Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.

    * Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God
(see Centering Prayer method, below)

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Centering Prayer
(Works best after a period of Lectio Divina, as described above; two 20 minute periods a day are recommended.)
 
This term, centering prayer, is of recent origin, but the method is described in many places, most notably "The Cloud of Unknowing."
 
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within. (This can be any word.)
 
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly, and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God's presence and action within.
 
3. When you become aware of thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
 
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.

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Hesychast Prayer ("quiet" prayer)
 (This form of contemplative practice was widely used by the fathers and mothers of the desert in the early days of Christianity and is still very popular in Eastern Christian churches. At least two 20 minute prayer periods are recommended.)
 
1. Sit quietly, with back straight and hands resting in the lap, palms up.
2. Lovingly introduce into your mind the prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me." (Note: this may be shortened as the prayer proceeds).
3. Let this prayer move in synchrony with your breath, praying the first part with your inhalation, the second with exhalation.
4. When distracting thoughts attempt to break in, persist with the Jesus Prayer. Allow yourself to feel your emotions, however.
 
Practice of this prayer may lead to feelings of warmth in the heart and perception of inner light. Enjoy. . .

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Praying With Scripture (Benedictine Approach)

1. Relax. Settle in. Be aware that God is here, now, loving you.
2. Read a short passage of Scripture as though God were speaking
directly to you in it.
3. Choose a phrase from the passage that strikes you and repeat it
slowly, prayerfully, non-analytically.
4. When your heart is full, express to God the needs and sentiments
awakened by your meditation. When you're done, read another passage
and repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. If, at any time, you feel moved to simply be present to God in
loving silence, put the Scripture aside and rest in God.

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Review of the Day
- from, Handbook for Spiritual Directees
    http://shalomplace.com/view/handbook.html

Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day.   Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.

1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.

2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.

    * What happened? What did I do today?
    * How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
    * Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?

3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.

4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.

5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.

6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.

 This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.

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Amazon Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu

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