Message of 2-3-12

Published: Fri, 02/03/12


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

Prayer is co-operation with God. It is the purest exercise of the faculties God has given us--an exercise that links these faculties with the Maker to work out the intentions He had in mind in their creation. Prayer is aligning ourselves with the purposes of God... Prayer is commission. Out of the quietness with God, power is generated that turns the spiritual machinery of the world. When you pray, you begin to feel the sense of being sent, that the divine compulsion is upon you.
   - E. Stanley Jones (1884-1973), Growing Spiritually

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

Sir 47:2-11;    Ps 18:31, 47 and 50, 51;    Mk 6:14-29

R. (see 47b) Blessed be God my salvation!

God's way is unerring,
the promise of the LORD is fire-tried;
he is a shield to all who take refuge in him.

The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
Therefore will I proclaim you, O LORD, among the nations,
and I will sing praise to your name.

You who gave great victories to your king
and showed kindness to your anointed,
to David and his posterity forever.

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Reflection on the Scripture
   http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

Today's scripture readings are an interesting mix.  The story of David and Goliath, David's many feats of bravery and David's love for God.  The psalmist proclaims, "blessed be God my salvation and speaks of God's kindness to David."  Mark tells the story of John the Baptist and his fate at the hands of Herod.  Herod knows it is wrong, yet in order to avoid embarrassment in front of the guests at his birthday party, he honors his oath to his daughter and John is murdered.

David and Herod are an interesting contrast.  David's story is uplifting and Herod's story is depressing.  David never worried too much about what people thought.  However, he was always concerned about his relationship with God.  Herod, on the other hand, worries so much about what people think that he murders one of God's prophets.  Both kings.  Both imperfect men.  Yet the differences between them are huge.  David understands that God sees the heart.  David understands that evil cannot be hidden from God.  David chooses ruthless honesty when he evaluates himself and begs God's forgiveness.  Herod does not want to lose face in front of his guests. . .

My prayer today is for those of us who find it easy to recognize the sin in others, but want to hide our own sin from God.  That we would recognize and accept the power of God's gift of grace.

- by Daniel Patrick O'Reilly, S.J.

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Spiritual Reading

On Cleaving to God
     by St. Albert the Great

So why do you still remain in yourself where you cannot stay. Cast yourself, all of yourself, with confidence into God and he will sustain you, heal you and make you safe. If you dwell on these things faithfully within, they will do more to confer a happy life on you than all riches, pleasures and honours, and above all the wisdom and knowledge of this present deceitful world and its life, even if you were to excel in them all that ever lived.

- Chapter 5. On purity of heart, which is to be sought above all things.

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