Message of 1-9-09
Published: Sat, 01/03/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
There are those who insist that it is a very bad thing to question
God. To them, "why?" is a rude question. That depends, I believe,
on whether it is an honest search, in faith, for His meaning, or
whether it is the challenge of unbelief and rebellion.
- Elisabeth Elliot
(Good distinction! What are your questions at this time? How
might they lead you to deeper understanding and wisdom?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; Lk 5:12-16
R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Luke 5:12-16 (Jesus cures a leper)
Today medical treatment effectively controls leprosy, but during
the time of Christ and until recently, the disease affected many.
Because some forms are contagious, people who had leprosy were cast
out of the community and were required to cry "Unclean!" when
anyone approached. In isolation with other lepers, they were left
to rot away. Only against this background can we appreciate the
significance of Jesus' contact with lepers.
- How do you feel about your contact with lower classes of
society? Do you avoid such contacts?
- How is lack of discipline causing you to rot away spiritually?
Ask Jesus to cure you.
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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
At other times, when I apply myself to prayer, I feel all my spirit
and all my soul lift itself up without any care or effort of mine;
and it continues as it were suspended and firmly fixed in GOD, as
in its centre and place of rest.
- 2nd letter
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