Message of 1-17-12
Published: Tue, 01/17/12
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
Message of the Day
For the Christian, heaven is where Jesus is. We do not need to speculate on what heaven will be like. It is enough to know that we will be forever with Him. When we love anyone with our whole hearts, life begins when we are with that person; it is only in their company that we are really and truly alive. It is so with Christ. In this world our contact with Him is shadowy, for we can only see through a glass darkly. It is spasmodic, for we are poor creatures and cannot live always on the heights. But the best definition of it is to say that heaven is that state where we will always be with Jesus, and where nothing will separate us from Him any more.
- William Barclay (1907-1978), The Gospel of John, v. 2
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Lectionary Readings of the Day
http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
1 Sm 16:1-13; Ps 89:20, 21-22, 27-28; Mk 2:23-28
R. (21a) I have found David, my servant.
Once you spoke in a vision,
and to your faithful ones you said:
"On a champion I have placed a crown;
over the people I have set a youth."
"I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong."
"He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'
And I will make him the first-born,
highest of the kings of the earth."
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Reflection on the Gospel
- from Daily Bread
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
We spend the whole week looking forward to the weekend and then fill those leisure hours with additional work and stress. Some of us fit in time for attending Mass only when it's convenient, instead of planning Mass attendance first and working other interests and obligations around that timeframe. While many New Year's resolutions have already been forgotten by now, it's not too late to try one that could truly change our lives -- keep the Sabbath holy and healthy and sane. Consciously make time for attending Mass as a family and for sharing a meal together.
Grateful for the opportunity for prayer and renewal, we pray.
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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.)
In nothing that I have said am I referring to serious illnesses, accompanied by high fever, though as to these, too, I beg you to observe moderation and to have patience: I am thinking rather of those minor indispositions which you may have and still keep going without worrying everybody else to death over them. What would happen if these lines should be seen outside this house? What would all the nuns say of me! And how willingly would I bear what they said if it helped anyone to live a better life! For when there is one person of this kind, the thing generally comes to such a pass that some suffer on account of others, and nobody who says she is ill will be believed, however serious her ailment. As this book is meant only for my daughters, they will put up with everything I say. Let us remember our holy Fathers of past days, the hermits whose lives we attempt to imitate. What sufferings they bore, what solitude, cold, [thirst] and hunger, what burning sun and heat! And yet they had no one to complain to except God. Do you suppose they were made of iron? No: they were as frail as we are. Believe me, daughters, once we begin to subdue these miserable bodies of ours, they give us much less trouble. There will be quite sufficient people to see to what you really need, so take no thought for yourselves except when you know it to be necessary. Unless we resolve to put up with death and ill-health once and for all, we shall never accomplish anything.
Try not to fear these and commit yourselves wholly to God, come what may. What does it matter if we die? How many times have our bodies not mocked us? Should we not occasionally mock them in our turn? And, believe me, slight as it may seem by comparison with other things, this resolution is much more important than we may think; for, if we continually make it, day by day, by the grace of the Lord, we shall gain dominion over the body. To conquer such an enemy is a great achievement in the battle of life. May the Lord grant, as He is able, that we may do this. I am quite sure that no one who does not enjoy such a victory, which I believe is a great one, will understand what advantage it brings, and no one will regret having gone through trials in order to attain this tranquillity and self-mastery.
- Chapter 11
(Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.)
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