Message of 5-7-12
Published: Mon, 05/07/12
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
Message of the Day
Immortality, holiness and living according to the virtues of Jesus Christ constitute living proof of our Godly-orientation. Our progress in perfection as we consciously live according to the image and likeness that is Jesus Christ is measured by our meaningful service to God, sharing God's freedom to do at all times the holy will of God.
- George Maloney, "The Uncreated Energies of God"
(What service can you do today to help further peace on earth?)
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Lectionary Readings of the Day
http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
Acts 14:5-18; Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16; Jn 14:21-26
R. (1ab) Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
"Where is their God?"
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
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Reflection on the Gospel
- from Daily Bread
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
After Paul and Barnabas cure a man lame from birth, the townspeople believe them to be Zeus and Hermes in human form. The people are convinced and bring animals to sacrifice to these men whom they believe to be gods. This error in judgment seems silly to us today, but how often do we let the attributes of the "messenger" overshadow the truth of the message? We may not like the personality or attitude of the minister, and for that reason stay away from Sunday worship. Conversely, we may idealize our religious leaders and later become disillusioned with their teachings when they demonstrate human failings. Lord, open our hearts and increase our understanding, we pray.
- Portia Clark
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Spiritual Reading
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
Here there begins an eternal hunger, which shall never more be satisfied; it is an inward craving and hankering of the loving power and the created spirit after an untreated Good. And since the spirit longs for fruition, and is invited and urged thereto by God, it must always desire its fulfilment. Behold, here there begins an eternal craving and continual yearning in eternal insatiableness. All such are the poorest of all men living; for they are avid and greedy, and their hunger is insatiable. Whatever they eat or drink, they shall never be satisfied, for this hunger is eternal. For a created vessel cannot contain an uncreated Good: and hence there is here an eternal, hungry craving without satisfaction, and God poured forth above all and yet staying it not. Here are great dishes of food and drink, of which no one knows save he who tastes them: but full satisfaction in fruition is the dish which is lacking there, and therefore this hunger is ever renewed. Yet, in the touch, rivers of honey, full of all delights, flow forth; for the spirit tastes these riches in all the ways which it can conceive and apprehend; but all this is in a creaturely way and below God, and hence there remains an eternal hunger and impatience. Though God gave to such a man all the gifts which are possessed by all the saints, and everything that He is able to give, but withheld Himself, the gaping desire of the spirit would remain hungry and unsatisfied. The inward stirring and touching of God makes us hungry and yearning; for the Spirit of God hunts our spirit: and the more it touches it, the greater our hunger and our craving. And this is the life of love in its highest working, above reason and above understanding; for reason can here neither give nor take away from love, for our love is touched by the Divine love. And as I understand it, here there can never more be separation from God. God's touch within us, forasmuch as we feel it, and our own loving craving, these are both created and creaturely; and therefore they may grow and increase as long as we live.
- Chapter 53: Of an eternal hunger for God.
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