Message of 7-17-12

Published: Tue, 07/17/12


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

To pray is to walk in the full light of God, and to say simply, without holding back, 'I am a human being and you are God.' At that moment, conversion occurs, the restoration of the true relationship."
- Henri Nouwen [20th C.], With Open Hands

(Spend some time just staying with the simple realization that "God Is." Rest in this simple awareness.)

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

Is 7:1-9;    Ps 48:2-8;    Mt 11:20-24

R. (see 9d) God upholds his city for ever.

Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.

Mount Zion, "the recesses of the North,"
is the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.

For lo! the kings assemble,
they come on together;
They also see, and at once are stunned,
terrified, routed.

Quaking seizes them there;
anguish, like a woman's in labor,
As though a wind from the east
were shattering ships of Tarshish.

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

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. We're weary and jaded. The world is in such disarray; it's easier to close our eyes and our hearts to avoid its chaos. We don't expect signs. We don't believe that our world, or even we, can truly change, and we give up and give in. Whatever our reasons for running away or joining in -- fear, fatigue, apathy or weakness -- we find it hard to see the simple daily miracles, let alone the mighty deeds that occur in our midst. And if we've become so blind to the world around us (or so enmeshed in it) that we no longer look for signs, or scoff at their possibility, we certainly won't see them. As Christians, we need to make the conscious choice to be signs for each other. Help us, Lord, to reject the wickedness that holds us back. Let us turn to you for transformation and salvation, we pray.

- by Patricia Russell

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

- Describes the difference between perfection in the lives of contemplatives and in the lives of those who are content with mental prayer. Explains how it is sometimes possible for God to raise a distracted soul to perfect contemplation and the reason for this. This chapter and that which comes next are to be noted carefully.

I hope you do not think I have written too much about this already; for I have only been placing the board, as they say. You have asked me to tell you about the first steps in prayer; although God did not lead me by them, my daughters I know no others, and even now I can hardly have acquired these elementary virtues. But you may be sure that anyone who cannot set out the pieces in a game of chess will never be able to play well, and, if he does not know how to give check, he will not be able to bring about a checkmate. Now you will reprove me for talking about games, as we do not play them in this house and are forbidden to do so. That will show you what kind of a mother God has given you -- she even knows about vanities like this! However, they say that the game is sometimes legitimate. How legitimate it will be for us to play it in this way, and, if we play it frequently, how quickly we shall give checkmate to this Divine King! He will not be able to move out of our check nor will He desire to do so.

- Chapter 16

(Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.)

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