Message of 6-15-10
Published: Sun, 06/13/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people's, if
we are always criticizing trivial actions which often are not real
defects at all, but we construe them wrongly through our ignorance
of their motives.
- Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), "The Interior Castle"
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Kgs 21:17-29; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 11 and 16; Mt 5:43-48
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my guilt.
Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;
then my tongue shall revel in your justice.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
Was Jesus exaggerating when he said we must be perfect as our
heavenly Father is perfect? The original meaning of "perfect" in
Aramaic is "completeness" or "wholeness - not lacking in what is
essential." God gives us every good gift in Jesus Christ so that we
may not lack anything we need to do his will and to live as his
sons and daughters (2 Peter 1:3). He knows our weakness and
sinfulness better than we do. And he assures us of his love, mercy,
and grace to follow in his ways. Do you want to grow in your love
for God and for your neighbor? Ask the Holy Spirit to change and
transform you in the image of the Father that you may walk in the
joy and freedom of the gospel.
"Lord Jesus, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill me with your
Holy Spirit and set my heart ablaze with your love that nothing may
make me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, nor make
me bitter towards anyone."
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Ignatian Method)
A. Preparation: acts of faith and reverence in the presence of God;
asking grace of a good meditation; petition for specific graces
sought in meditation.
B. Reading the Scriptures slowly, prayerfully.
C. Exercise of the memory, imagination, and intellect:
consideration of the material.. What practical applications are
suggested?
D. Expression of feelings and sentiments awakened in meditation.
Conversation with God.
E. Exercise of will and imagination in making resolutions. Prayer
for grace to fulfill resolutions.
F. Vocal prayer (Our Father, Hail Mary, other prayers).
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- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
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THEOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY
by James and Tyra Arraj (all rights reserved)
www.innerexplorations.com
(Editor's note: the Arraj's have given permission to reprint this
article, which can be found along with many other related topices
on their website.)
- Theology and Faith
How we do theology depends on how we understand the nature of
faith. Christian faith is not the outcome of reason alone, but of
an interior ascent to God that comes about through love.
Therefore, theology is not the work of reason alone, but takes
place within the context of this loving relationship with God.
Theology is meant to explore and understand something of the
Christian mysteries that we are trying to live out.
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