Message of 7-13-10
Published: Sat, 07/10/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Jesus Christ is the end of all, and the centre to which all tends.
Whoever knows Him knows the reason of everything.
- Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), "Pensées" (Thoughts)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 7:1-9; Ps 48:2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6, 7-8; Mt 11:20-24
R. (see 9d) God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
Mount Zion, "the recesses of the North,"
is the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
For lo! the kings assemble,
they come on together;
They also see, and at once are stunned,
terrified, routed.
Quaking seizes them there;
anguish, like a woman's in labor,
As though a wind from the east
were shattering ships of Tarshish.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
The people who heard the gospel here very likely responded with
indifference. Jesus upbraids them for doing nothing! Repentance
demands change - a change of heart and way of life. God's word is
life-giving and it saves us from destruction - the destruction of
heart, mind, and soul as well as body. Jesus' anger is directed
toward sin and everything which hinders us from doing the will of
God. In love he calls us to walk in his way of truth and freedom,
grace and loving-kindness, justice and holiness. Do you receive his
word with faith and obedience or with doubt and indifference?
"Most High and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our hearts
and give us a true faith, a certain hope and a perfect love. Give
us a sense of the divine and knowledge of yourself, so that we may
do everything in fulfilment of your holy will; through Jesus Christ
our Lord." (Prayer of Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)
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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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NOTES ON THE LIFE OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER
2699. The Lord leads all persons by paths and in ways pleasing to
him, and each believer responds according to his(her) heart's
resolve and the personal expressions of his(her) prayer. However,
Christian Tradition has retained three major expressions of prayer:
vocal, meditative, and contemplative. They have one basic trait in
common: composure of heart. This vigilance in keeping the Word and
dwelling in the presence of God makes these three expressions
intense times in the life of prayer.
("The Catechism of the Catholic Church," IV, 3)
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