Message of 2-20-12
Published: Mon, 02/20/12
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
Message of the Day
The primary object of prayer is to know God better; we and our needs should come second.
- Florence Allshorn (1887-1950)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lectionary Readings of the Day
http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
Jas 3:13-18; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15; Mk 9:14-29
R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Reflection on the Gospel
- from Daily Bread
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Throughout the letter of James, one theme is prevalent: The Christian faith must be lived. "Be doers of the word, not hearers only," he wrote earlier in this epistle. James emphasizes the crucial relationship between what we say we believe (our faith) and what we do (our attitudes and actions). Jesus also preached that people should live so that others might see their good works and give glory to God. As we prepare for the season of Lent, we remember that being a disciple is a way of life -- and it must be lived. "Faith, by itself, if it has no works, is dead."
Lead us, O God, that our faith may be followed with action.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Spiritual Reading
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
Now Christ desires that we shall remember Him so often as we consecrate, offer, and receive His Body. Consider now how we shall remember Him. We shall mark and behold how Christ inclines Himself towards us with loving affection, with great desire, and with yearning delight, and with a warm and tender outpouring of Himself into our bodily nature. For He gives us that which He has in common with our manhood, that is, His Flesh and His Blood, and His bodily nature. We shall also mark and behold that precious body martyred, pierced and wounded for our sake, because of His love and His faithfulness towards us. Herewith we are adorned and nourished in the lower part of our manhood. In this most high gift of the Sacrament He also gives us His spirit, full of glory and rich gifts of virtue, and unspeakable marvels of charity and nobleness. And herewith we are nourished and adorned and enlightened in the unity of our spirit and in the higher powers, through the indwelling of Christ with all His riches. Moreover He gives us in the Sacrament of the Altar His most high personality in incomprehensible splendour. And through this we are lifted up to and united with the Father, and the Father receives His adopted sons together with His natural Son, and thus we enter into our inheritance of the Godhead in eternal blessedness.
- Chapter 47: Showing how Christ has given Himself to all in commin in the Sacrament of the Altar.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
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