Message of 7-27-12

Published: Fri, 07/27/12


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

Grace is constantly present, and is rooted in us, and worked into us like leaven, from our earliest years, until the thing thus present becomes fixed in a person like a natural endowment, as if it were one substance with the person. But, for one's own good, it manages one is many different ways, after its own pleasure."
- Pseudo-Macarius, "Homily I," 5th C -

(How has grace been "worked" into you through the years? What are the signs of its presence?)

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

Jer 3:14-17;    Jer 31:10, 11-13;    Mt 13:18-23

R. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.

The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.

Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.

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

This Gospel reading, Matthew 13: 18- 23, appears strange for it interprets an earlier story in Matthew, The Parable of the Sower and is  labeled "The Interpretation of the Parable of the Sower," appropriately.

In fact, some scholars suggest that this "interpretation" was added by members of the Christian community. This is a common Gospel story, which is found in more than one place and can provide rich messages no matter how often it is used for reflection. Let us re-read it to see what there may be for each of us at this time.  What kind of terrain does God's Gospel find these days when it hits our soul? Smooth? Rocky? Not able to hold long enough to grow roots?  Or rich, fertile, penetrable with the ability to bear fruit?

- by Maryanne Rouse
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Spiritual Reading

On Cleaving to God
     by St. Albert the Great

Consider from this how much a good will united with God is capable of, when by means of its pressing towards God the soul is effectively separated the body in spirit and looks on its outward man as it were from a distance, and as not belonging to it. In this way it despises everything that is inflicted on itself or on its flesh as if they were happening to someone else, or not to a human being at all. For He that is united with the Lord is one Spirit, (1 Corinthians 6.17)  that is with him. So you should never dare to think or imagine anything before the Lord your God that you would blush to be heard or seen in before men, since your respect for God should be even greater than for them.     

- Chapter 10. That one should not be concerned about feeling tangible devotion so much as about cleaving to God with one's will.

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