Message of 8-16-12

Published: Thu, 08/16/12


A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth


Message of the Day

Some people experience a measure of consolation (spiritual sweetness) almost always while others only rarely. But God in his great wisdom determines what is best for each one.
- Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing

(How much spiritual consolation is there in your life these days? Rest in the awareness that God is with you no matter how you feel.)

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

Ez 12:1-12;    Ps 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62;    Mt 18:21-19:1

R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!

They tempted and rebelled against God the Most High,
and kept not his decrees.
They turned back and were faithless like their fathers;
they recoiled like a treacherous bow.

They angered him with their high places
and with their idols roused his jealousy.
God heard and was enraged
and utterly rejected Israel.

And he surrendered his strength into captivity,
his glory in the hands of the foe.
He abandoned his people to the sword
and was enraged against his inheritance.

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Reflection on the Gospel
  - from Praying the Daily Gospels
    http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614

- Matthew 18:21-19:1 (The mercy of God)

Forgiveness is one of the most humbling of all practices and one of the most difficult. That is why Peter asks Jesus if there is a limit to the number of times that God--and we--can forgive others. Jesus reply reveals the incomprehensible depths d)f God's forgiveness and our awesome responsibility to extend this grace to others.

  • Suppose God were to treat you as you have treated other people. How well would you fare? Which would you prefer to have God extend to you, justice or mercy?

  • Is it difficult for you to forgive those who have wronged you? Is it difficult to ask for forgiveness when you've done wrong to another?

  • Pray for the grace to know that you are a forgiven sinner.


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    Spiritual Reading
        - Imitation of Christ, by Thomas A. Kempis

    The Disciple

    The Voice of Christ

    Blest is the simplicity that leaves the difficult way of dispute and goes forward on the level, firm path of God's commandments. Many have lost devotion because they wished to search into things beyond them.
      
    Faith is required of you, and a sincere life, not a lofty intellect nor a delving into the mysteries of God. If you neither know nor understand things beneath you, how can you comprehend what is above you? Submit yourself to God and humble reason to faith, and the light of understanding will be given you so far as it is good and necessary for you. Some are gravely tempted concerning faith and the Sacrament but this disturbance is not laid to them but to the enemy.

       - Book 4, Chapter 18

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