Message of 12-13-11

Published: Tue, 12/13/11


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

The grace of contemplation is granted only in response to a longing and importunate desire: Nevertheless, God will not present Himself, even in passing, to every soul; but only to that soul which is shown, by great devotion, vehement desire, and tender affection, to be His bride, and to be worthy that the Word in all His beauty should visit her as a Bridegroom.
   - St. Bernard [12th C], On the Canticle of Canticles
(Is this what you long for?)

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

Zep 3:1-2, 9-13;    Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23;    Mt 21:28-32

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.

The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

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

- Matthew 21:28-32 (The meaning of obedience)

 Many people rebel against the idea of obedience because they believe it entails mindless submission. In today's parable, however, we learn that those who choose to obey the will of God by living a life of love are exercising human freedom in the best way.
  
  • An old axiom says that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Do you agree with this? Why? Why not?

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  • Is there something that needs to be done to make your life or your family's life richer but which you have procrastinated beginning? Resolve to make a start today.


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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.)

    The first thing, then, that we have to do, and that at once, is to rid ourselves of love for this body of ours -- and some of us pamper our natures so much that this will cause us no little labour, while others are so concerned about their health that the trouble these things give us (this is especially so of poor nuns, but it applies to others as well) is amazing. Some of us, however, seem to think that we embraced the religious life for no other reason than to keep ourselves alive and each nun does all she can to that end. In this house, as a matter of fact, there is very little chance for us to act on such a principle, but I should be sorry if we even wanted to. Resolve, sisters, that it is to die for Christ, and not to practise self-indulgence for Christ, that you have come here. The devil tells us that self-indulgence is necessary if we are to carry out and keep the Rule of our Order, and so many of us, forsooth, try to keep our Rule by looking after our health that we die without having kept it for as long as a month -- perhaps even for a day. I really do not know what we are coming to.

    - Chapter 10

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

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