Message of 12-30-08
Published: Sat, 12/27/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"When perfect love has driven out fear, or fear has been
transformed into love, then everything that has been saved will be
a unity growing together through the one and only Fullness, and
everyone will be, in one another, a unity in the perfect Dove, the
Holy Spirit."
- Gregory of Nyssa, "Homilies on the Song of Songs," 15
(Thy Kindgom come . . . )
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10; Lk 2:36-40
R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts;
worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from "Daily Reflections"
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Luke's Gospel account of Anna the prophetess illustrates an
important dimension of our struggles. Anna models the virtue of
patience as she waits for 60 years or more in the temple, seeking
after the Messiah. It is not easy to wait as Anna did. Children are
not good at waiting, and we may get better at it as we get older.
Perhaps this is because we are a little wiser from our experiences,
or perhaps it is simply from practice.
It strikes me as significant that it is sometimes difficult for us
to wait for ourselves to mature or grow with regard to our
spiritual struggles. We don't instantly win all the battles we have
over the Evil One, and we can become impatient with ourselves.
Hopefully we learn along the way, and thanks be to God that we have
forgiveness through his son, Jesus. Seeking Him is indeed the will
of God, and "whoever does the will of God remains forever". Amen!
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Ignatian Method)
A. Preparation: acts of faith and reverence in the presence of God;
asking grace of a good meditation; petition for specific graces
sought in meditation.
B. Reading the Scriptures slowly, prayerfully.
C. Exercise of the memory, imagination, and intellect:
consideration of the material.. What practical applications are
suggested?
D. Expression of feelings and sentiments awakened in meditation.
Conversation with God.
E. Exercise of will and imagination in making resolutions. Prayer
for grace to fulfill resolutions.
F. Vocal prayer (Our Father, Hail Mary, other prayers).
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
"Sayings of Light and Love," by St. John of the Cross (jottings
from his notebooks)
93. Endeavor always that things be not for you, nor you for them,
but forgetful of all, abide in recollection with your Bridegroom.
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