Message of 1-3-12

Published: Tue, 01/03/12


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

Accustom yourself gradually to carry Prayer into all your daily occupation -- speak, act, work in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be.
   - Francois Fénelon

(Another excellent resolution to consider.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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

1 Jn 2:29-3:6;    Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6;    Jn 1:29-34

R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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

- John 1: 29-34 (The lamb of God)

Two important symbols describe the Messiah in today's reading. He is the Lamb of God whose sacrifice fulfills spiritually what the sacrificial lamb of Passover only anticipated. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, who rested upon the lamb, who animated Jesus.

* How do you feel about symbolic references to Jesus? Why do you think these symbols were important to John the Evangelist?

* In your imagination, picture yourself relaxing before a wellspring of flowing water. Pray that the Spirit may wash you clean of selfishness.
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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

(Continues to treat of mortification and describes how it may be attained in times of sickness.)

These continual moanings which we make about trifling ailments, my sisters, seem to me a sign of imperfection: if you can bear a thing, say nothing about it. When the ailment is serious, it proclaims itself; that is quite another kind of moaning, which draws attention to itself immediately. Remember, there are only a few of you, and if one of you gets into this habit she will worry all the rest -- that is, assuming you love each other and there is charity among you. On the other hand, if one of you is really ill, she should say so and take the necessary remedies; and, if you have got rid of your self-love, you will so much regret having to indulge yourselves in any way that there will be no fear of your doing so unnecessarily or of your making a moan without proper cause. When such a reason exists, it would be much worse to say nothing about it than to allow yourselves unnecessary indulgence, and it would be very wrong if everybody were not sorry for you.

- Chapter 11

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

 * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

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

- - - -

Please help support Heartland Center's Internet ministries:

- For more info on tax-deductible donations, see
http://shalomplace.com/seed/donations.html

    Thanks for your consideration!

____________________

    * Web Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?dailyseed
    * RSS:   http://www.aweber.com/z/rss/?dailyseed