Message of the Day
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(This struggle and search) affirmed my
life experience of hearing a particular inner voice which guides me with simple clarity, and renews my conviction that, at our center, we are each created around a spark of God, and have the Divine dwelling within. - Rose Bigelow Huntley, A Bridge of Faith
(God dwelling within . . . Just be aware of this wondrous truth. Be alert for inner guidance this day.)
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Lenten Study Series
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Topic: God and I: Exploring the connections between God, Self and Ego (spiritual
theology)
Learning Process: 9 written conferences; private discussion forum for participants; video conferences.
See http://shalomplace.com/inetmin/GodandI for more information and registration options.
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Readings of the Day
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1 PT 1:3-9; PS 111:1-2, 5-6, 9,10C; MK 10:17-27
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company
and assembly of the just. Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant. He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever. USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Gospel
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He went away sad, for he had many possessions.
My life has become complicated. We have accrued more physical comforts, improved our financial security and widened our social circles. Yet, I feel I have less time to enjoy the comforts; I worry more about maintaining our resources and have a schedule too full to enjoy many relationships. The story of the rich man is deliberately open-ended,
as we never learn of his ultimate life choice. Jesus invites us daily to a richer life in him, but I find it difficult at times to choose between an immediate life of physical comfort and the promise of a richer spiritual life. As the season of Lent approaches,
Lord, may I take time and choose the more fulfilling life that you offer. - by Mary Joshi
Daily Bread
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Spiritual Reading
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The Book of Supreme Truth, by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381) And next, I will say that all good men are united with God through means. These means are the grace of God, and the sacraments of Holy Church, and the Divine virtues, faith, hope and charity, and a virtuous life according to the commandments of God; and to these there belongs a death to sin and to the world and to every inordinate lust of nature. And through these, we remain united with Holy Church, that is, with all good men; and
with these, we obey God, and are one will with Him, even as an orderly convent is united with its Superior: and without this union none can please God nor be saved. Whosoever keeps this union through these means unto the end of his life, he shall be one of those of whom Christ says unto His Father in heaven in the Gospel of St John: Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am: that they may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me. And in another place He says
that His servants shall sit down to meat - that is, in the richness and the fulness of those virtues which they have exercised - and He will go one to another and will minister unto them of His glory which He has achieved. And He will generously impart and reveal to His beloved, to each one specially and separately - more or less according as he is worthy of it and can lay hold of it - the loftiness of His glory and honour which He alone has earned by the merits of His life and His death. Thus
all saints shall be forever with Christ, each in his own order and in the degree of glory which he has earned through God's help by his works. And Christ, according to His manhood shall be set above all saints, and above all angels, as a prince of all glory and all honour; the which pertain to His manhood alone above all creatures. Behold, thus you may understand how we are united with God through means, both here in grace and hereafter in glory. But there is a great distinction and a great
difference in these means, and this is true both as regards life and reward, as I have told you. And this was well understood by St Paul, when he said that he had A desire to depart and to be with Christ. But he did not say that he had a desire to be Christ Himself or God; as is done by some unbelieving and perverse men, who say that they have no God, but that they are so wholly dead to themselves, and united with God, that they have themselves become God.
- Chapter 3: Of the union through means. Amazon.com link
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