Message of 12-29-08
Published: Sat, 12/27/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Try pausing right before and right after undertaking a new action,
even something simple like putting a key in a lock to open a door.
Such pauses take a brief moment, yet they have the effect of
decompressing time and centering you.
- A life practice from Br. David Steindl-Rast
(Good suggestion. Give it a try.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35
R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still
in the darkness."
Each year we bring out lights to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But
our bright, shining celebration needs to find a counterpart in our
hearts. Has that happened this time around? Have we allowed Jesus,
the light of the world, to lighten our spirits and brighten our
mood? Has his Incarnation softened our hearts? Do we see God in
others, perhaps where before we could not? The lights will soon
come down and be packed away for another year. While they still
shine, let us commit to keeping the light of Christ's love in us
burning brightly throughout the coming year.
"For an end to the darkness of hatred, we pray."
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LECTIO DIVINA PROCESS
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html
First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:
* Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.
* Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?
* Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.
* Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God.
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THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S "THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY"
from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm
471. God, who always and everywhere is pure Being and the source of
all being, acts with all His being by giving Himself; God acts by
causing this man to be truly God, truly Being, and to have within
him all that is needed for being.
God brings this union into being by the mystery of union in
Himself, for the mystery of the Trinity is certainly a mystery of
union. In the Incarnation, therefore, and in the subsistence He
communicates to the assumed humanity, God acts not only in a way
that is different from Creation, but by a different aspect of
Himself.
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