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The Word of God is the informing power of the revelation of God in the finite world. The Word of God is not, by any figure, to be identified with a book, or a temple, or a minister, or a shrine.
... Elisha Mulford (1833-1885), The Republic of God
(Where do you see evidence of the Word active in your life these days?)
- share your comments at http://dailyspiritualseed.blogspot.com
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1 MC 4:36-37, 52-59; 1 CHR 29:10-12; LK 19:45-48
"Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity."
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours."
"Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you."
"You have dominion over all,
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."
USCCB Lectionary
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Reflection on the Scriptures |
"My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves."
In the gospel, Jesus is speaking of the temple, but it could be my house. Is my home a house of prayer? There certainly are thieves that I let in that take me down a very different road from one of prayer. I too often offer a litany of excuses instead of a litany of prayer. I'm too busy, too tired, too frustrated, too angry, too bored, too everything to pray. But all of those times are exactly when I should stop. Take a deep breath. And pray. I can say thanks for a life that is busy and fulfilled. I can ask for help when I become overwhelmed with work and commitments. I can ask God to help me deal with my frustration and to defuse my anger. I can take a minute to pray for someone else when I am feeling bored or restless. I can reach out to someone who needs an ear or a friendly hello.
I let those thieves of frustration, anger and irritation into my house of prayer. I am stealing from myself. I can also drive the thieves out. I can listen to Jesus' words and respond to him. I can be mindful of my heart and mind. I can be more like St. Cecilia, whose feast we celebrate today. A martyr of Rome, she was said to have had a song to the Lord in her heart when she married. She's the patroness of music and musicians. Music, too, can be a prayer to fill my house with joy. My prayer today is to make my house a house of prayer, to make my litany of excuses into a litany of thankfulness and gratitude.
- by Carol Zuegner
Creighton Online Ministries
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Selected Quotes from St. John of the Cross on the Journey of the Soul to God by Contemplation - from Dark Night of the Soul Bk. 2, Ch. 15. The soul went by a very secret ladder, which is living faith. In this purgative night the desires, affections and passions of the soul are put to sleep.
Ch. 17. #5. If the soul is hardly conscious of this contemplation, such a person is only able to say that he is satisfied, tranquil and contented and that he is conscious of the presence of God. Pure contemplation is indescribable and therefore secret.
#6. This mystical knowledge has the property of hiding the soul within itself.
- compiled by James and Tyra Arraj
Paperback edition: Kindle edition available
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