Message of 2-21-12

Published: Tue, 02/21/12


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

As a physician, I have seen people, after all other therapy has failed, lifted out of disease and melancholy by the serene effort of prayer. It is the only power in the world that seems to overcome the so-called "laws of nature;" the occasions on which prayer has dramatically done this have been termed "miracles." But a constant, quieter miracle takes place hourly in the hearts of men and women who have discovered that prayer supplies them with a steady flow of sustaining power in their daily lives.
   - Alexis Carrel (1873-1944)

( . . . a steady flow of sustaining power . . .)

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

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

Jas 4:1-10;    Ps 55:7-8, 9-10a, 10b-11a, 23;    Mk 9:30-37

R. (23a) Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.

And I say, "Had I but wings like a dove,
I would fly away and be at rest.
Far away I would flee;
I would lodge in the wilderness."

"I would wait for him who saves me
from the violent storm and the tempest."
Engulf them, O Lord; divide their counsels.

In the city I see violence and strife,
day and night they prowl about upon its walls.

Cast your care upon the LORD,
and he will support you;
never will he permit the just man to be disturbed.

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

 Reflection on the Gospel
  - from Daily Bread
    http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm

Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.

What is true greatness? What does it mean to be a great human being? Who comes to mind when you think of someone great? If you ask children what they want to be when they grow up, you'll get a fairly good idea of who is "great" in their eyes. To be great, one must be a talented athlete, a popular rock star or a beautiful celebrity. It should come as no surprise that Jesus' vision of true greatness doesn't have much in common with the world's priorities. With infinite patience, Jesus corrects the disciples' misunderstanding of being great by the example of his own life.

Gracious God, lead us to use our gifts and talents to serve in Christ's name.

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

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

(Teaches that the lover of God must care little for life and honor.)

Ask yourselves, sisters, if these things, which seem so insignificant, mean anything to you, for the only reason you are here is that you may detach yourselves from them. Nobody honours you any the more for having them and they lose you advantages which might have gained you more honour; the result is that you get both dishonour and loss at the same time. Let each of you ask herself how much humility she has and she will see what progress she has made. If she is really humble, I do not think the devil will dare to tempt her to take even the slightest interest in matters of precedence, for he is so shrewd that he is afraid of the blow she would strike him. If a humble soul is tempted in this way by the devil, that virtue cannot fail to bring her more fortitude and greater profit. For clearly the temptation will cause her to look into her life, to compare the services she has rendered the Lord with what she owes Him and with the marvellous way in which He abased Himself to give us an example of humility, and to think over her sins and remember where she deserves to be on account of them. Exercises like this bring the soul such profit that on the following day Satan will not dare to come back again lest he should get his head broken.

- Chapter 12

(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