Message of 1-21-09
Published: Tue, 01/13/09
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
You ask then how I knew He was present, when His ways can in no way
be traced? He is life and power, and as soon as He enters in, He
awakens my slumbering soul; He stirs and soothes and pierces my
heart, for before it was hard as stone, and diseased.
- Bernard of Clairvaux
(Pray the grace that your soul be awake in Christ's presence this
day.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4; Mk 3:1-6
R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool."
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
"Rule in the midst of your enemies."
"Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you."
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath ... to save life rather than
to destroy it?"
Jesus honored and kept the law of God perfectly, yet knew the law
was meant to help us love and serve each other, not to stand in the
way of our love. Meeting the urgent needs of our brothers and
sisters may sometimes conflict with our religious observances, in
which case, if there is no possible way to do both, the work of
love has first claim. We must never use religious observance as an
excuse for laziness and neglect of the charity that is meant to be
the law of our lives.
"Lord Jesus, teach me to walk with you always in perfect love for
all those I meet."
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
Thou shouldest also know that the more a man sets himself to be
receptive of divine influence, the happier he is: who most sets
himself so, is the happiest. Now no man can reach this condition of
receptivity except by conformity with God, which comes from
submission to God. This is what Saint Paul means when he says, "Put
on the Lord Jesus Christ," that is "be conformed to Christ."
Whosoever wishes to comprehend the lofty rank and benefit of
sanctifcation must mark Christ's words to His disciples regarding
His humanity, "It is profitable for you, that I go away, for, if I
go not away, the Comforter will not come to you." As if to say, "Ye
have so much desire towards my natural outward form, that ye cannot
fully desire the Holy Spirit." Therefore put away forms and unite
yourselves with formless Being, for God's spiritual comfort is only
offered to those who despise earthly comfort.
- #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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