Message of 1-5-09
Published: Sat, 01/03/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
In your heart God has excavated an immense space where he has
placed a precious treasure. From now on you have the twofold duty
of receiving and giving: sharing the treasure of the kingdom you
bear within you and stretching the area of your tent for those
around you.
- Anonymous
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Jn 3:22-4:6; Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a; Mt 4:12-17, 23-25
R. (8ab) I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, "ou are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession."
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"And Jesus said to him, 'Follow me.'"
Two seemingly simple words that pose the greatest challenge we'll
ever encounter! Even with a sincere spirit and great determination,
following Jesus is hard. It involves denial, sacrifice, considering
others before ourselves and often rejecting much of what our world
tells us is desirable and necessary. Yes, we can wake up one
morning and decide to follow Jesus, but we have to do it again the
next morning and the next and every one after that. It's a daily
challenge and an ongoing choice. We have to choose to follow Jesus
over personal interest and private gain. We have to choose to
follow Jesus over the call of daily demands and things that seem
pretty darn important or exciting or tempting in the moment. It's a
daily invitation that demands a daily response.
"That Jesus may be our guide, 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
473. A being is characterized by its relation with God... If, as in
the Incarnation, the relation changes by becoming infinitely more
intimate, the being will change by becoming infinitely more
intense; it will be itself, but will be so infinitely better and
more than it has a right to be; it will be absolutely supernatural.
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