Message of 12-19-08
Published: Wed, 12/10/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Lord, let your love enlighten the eye of my understanding with the
light of trusting in You. Help me see Your truth as You reveal it
to me. Mayke my memory big enough to hold your kindnesses. Set my
will on fire in Your love. Let that fire melt my most intimate
being and make me bleed with compassion for others.
- Catherine of Siena, Dialogue --
Amen!
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Jn. 5: 33-36
R. (see 8) My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will
sing your glory!
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother's womb you are my strength.
I will treat of the mighty works of the LORD;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- John 5:33-36 (The testimony of Jesus and John)
John the Baptist, our Advent guide, was the one who prepared the
people for the works that Jesus was to do among them. In today's
reading Jesus points to these works as evidence that God has sent
him.
- Look over the works you have performed during
the past two days. To whom do they testify?
- What kinds of charitable works have you neglected lately? Make
a resolution to begin at least one of them today.
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Benedictine Approach)
1. Relax. Settle in. Be aware that God is here, now, loving you.
2. Read a short passage of Scripture as though God were speaking
directly to you in it.
3. Choose a phrase from the passage that strikes you and repeat it
slowly, prayerfully, non-analytically.
4. When your heart is full, express to God the needs and sentiments
awakened by your meditation. When you're done, read another passage
and repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. If, at any time, you feel moved to simply be present to God in
loving silence, put the Scripture aside and rest in God.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "The Practice of the Presence of God," by Brother Lawrence
I consider myself as the most wretched of men, full of sores and
corruption, and who has committed all sorts of crimes against his
King; touched with a sensible regret I confess to Him all my
wickedness, I ask His forgiveness, I abandon myself in His hands,
that He may do what He pleases with me. This King, full of mercy
and goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love,
makes me eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me
the key of His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me
incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in
all respects as His favourite. It is thus I consider myself from
time to time in His holy presence.
- Second letter
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