Message of 7-12-10
Published: Sat, 07/10/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
When we are troubled with temptation and evil thoughts, then we see
clearly the great need we have of God, since without God we can do
nothing good... No one is so good that he is immune to temptation;
we will never [in this life] be entirely free of it.
- Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), "Of the Imitation of Christ"
(Where/how have you experienced temptation lately? Pray the grace
to hold fast to your values and principles.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 1:10-17; Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23; Mt 10:34-11:1
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold."
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
"When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think you that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of
God."
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life
for my sake will find it."
Jesus makes no bones about it. He calls us to make tough choices,
to choose him over all else, even what we hold most dear, even
beloved family members! Yet the reward for commitment to Jesus is
great: fullness of life. Some have been martyred for their faith,
trading earthly life for eternal life. For those of us who do not
face such challenges, perhaps our call is to have an expanded
vision of life, a vision of our lives tied inextricably to the
lives of others, especially the poor, the needy and all who live on
the margins of society.
"For the grace to lose and find ourselves in service to others, we
pray."
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THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
Purity of heart works a renewal and increase of the grace of God.
By purity of heart all the virtues are prompted, practiced and
preserved. It guards and keeps the senses from without; it quells
and restrains the animal lusts from within; it is an adornment of
all inwardness. And it is the door of the heart; barred against all
earthly things and all deceit, but opened to all heavenly things
and to all truth. And of all such Christ says: Blessed are the pure
in heart: for they shall see God; and in this vision consist our
eternal joy, our reward and our entrance into bliss. Therefore men
should be sober and temperate in all things, and beware of all
intercourse and occasion whereby purity, whether of soul or of
body, may be defiled.
- Chapter 22: Of Purity
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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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