Message of 1-12-12
Published: Thu, 01/12/12
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
Message of the Day
We have all the reason in the world to believe, that the goodness and justice of God is such, as to make nothing necessary to be believed by any man, which, by the help of due instruction, may not be made sufficiently plain to a common understanding.
- John Tillotson (1630-1694), Works of Dr. John Tillotson, v. V
(For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Rm. 1:20)
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Lectionary Readings of the Day
http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
1 Sm 4:1-11; Ps 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25; Mk 1:40-45
R. (27b) Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.
Yet now you have cast us off and put us in disgrace,
and you go not forth with our armies.
You have let us be driven back by our foes;
those who hated us plundered us at will.
You made us the reproach of our neighbors,
the mockery and the scorn of those around us.
You made us a byword among the nations,
a laughingstock among the peoples.
Why do you hide your face,
forgetting our woe and our oppression?
For our souls are bowed down to the dust,
our bodies are pressed to the earth.
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Reflection on the Gospel
- from Daily Bread
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
Jesus stretched his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I will do it. Be made clean!"
Again we see Jesus the healer. In Jesus' day, lepers were considered unclean; they were socially ostracized, separated from family, friends and community. They were required to shout, "Unclean, unclean!" whenever anyone approached. Jesus does not draw back from the leper who comes begging before him. Indeed, Jesus reaches out and touches him. Jesus broke the rules of his faith by reaching out to those who were shunned by the community and touching them with God's love. He healed them, yes, but perhaps even more important, he restored them to family and community. More than this man's skin was changed. Jesus mended the fabric of healthy relationships.
Gracious God, forgive us when we put limits on your love.
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Spiritual Reading
- Imitation of Christ, by Thomas A. Kempis
The Voice of Christ
I AM the Lover of purity, the Giver of all holiness. I seek a pure heart and there is the place of My rest.
Prepare for Me a large room furnished and I with My disciples will keep the Pasch with you.
If you wish that I come to you and remain with you, purge out the old leaven and make clean the dwelling of your heart. Shut out the whole world with all the din of its vices. Sit as the sparrow lonely on the housetop, and think on your transgressions in bitterness of soul.
(The tone improves shortly . . . )
- Book 4, Chapter 12
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