Message of 1-14-09
Published: Thu, 01/08/09
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
It is not necessary to maintain a conversation when we are in the
presence of God. We can come into His presence and rest our weary
souls in quiet contemplation of Him. Our groanings, which cannot be
uttered, rise to Him and tell Him better than words how dependent
we are upon Him.
... O. Hallesby, "Prayer"
(Yes indeed . . . sometimes just to rest and "be")
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Heb 2:14-18; Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9; Mk 1:29-39
R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generationsB
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Jesus said, 'For this purpose have I come.'"
The very first section of the Baltimore Catechism (1941
translation) is titled "The Purpose of Man's Existence." The third
question is, "Why did God make us?" And the answer: "God made us to
show forth His goodness and to share with us His everlasting
happiness in heaven." This is our purpose. The rest is just
details. Whatever we do, whether we are a leader of nations, an
archbishop or the coffee shop barista who just brought me my bagel
and cream cheese, our purpose, our reason for being, is to be a
walking, breathing testimony to the goodness of God.
"Lord Jesus, heal us, cast out our demons and fill us so full of
your love that there is no room for selfishness, bitterness or
despair."
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
St Augustine says. "the strong attraction of the soul to the Divine
reduces everything to nothingness": on earth this attraction is
manifested as sanctification. When this process has reached its
culminating point, knowledge becomes ignorance, desire indifference
and light darkness. The reason why God desires a sanctified heart
more than any other is apparent when we ask the question, "What
does God seek in all things?" The mouth of Wisdom says to us, "In
all things I seek rest," and rest is to be found only in the
sanctified heart; therein therefore God is more glad to dwell than
in any other thing.
- #6 - Sanctification
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REVIEW OF DAY
- from, "Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day. Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.
1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.
2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.
* What happened? What did I do today?
* How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
* Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?
3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.
4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.
5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.
6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.
This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.
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SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
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