Message of 1-26-09
Published: Fri, 01/23/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- - -
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
The Lord ate from a common bowl, and asked the disciples to sit on
the grass. He washed their feet, with a towel wrapped around His
waist -- He, who is the Lord of the universe! He drank water from a
jug of earthenware, with the Samaritan woman. Christ made use His
aim, not extravagance... We are not to throw away those things
which can benefit our neighbor. Goods are called good because they
can be used for good: they are instruments for good, in the hands
of those who use them properly.
... St. Clement of Alexandria
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
2 Tm 1:1-8; Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10; Mk 3:22-30
R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord; bless his name.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Give to the Lord, you families of nations,
give to the Lord glory and praise;
give to the Lord the glory due his name!
Say among the nations: The Lord is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"He is possessed by Beelzebul."
It sounds like a political playbook strategy: Take something good
your opponent has done, twist it a bit, then let it redefine your
opponent in the most unattractive terms. As the crowds following
Jesus grow, the religious authorities feel threatened by him, so
they make an outlandish claim: "By the prince of demons he drives
out demons." Jesus addresses his opponents' challenge deftly,
heaping on them the shame they had intended for him. The trumped-up
charge is completely illogical. Victory over demons is the work of
God. In fact, Satan's house is under siege. Those in league with
Satan are the ones who claim for him the works of the Holy Spirit.
"For all who are persecuted or maligned for doing good, we pray."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S "THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY"
from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm
523. Our Lord's teaching existed in the flood o light that issued
from the Light.
529. Faith is a union of the mind with Christ and His knowledge.
-- union with light
_________________________________________________
* Web Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?dailyseed
* RSS: http://www.aweber.com/z/rss/?dailyseed