Message of 7-26-10
Published: Wed, 07/21/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Here is a cord of love let down, and the upper end of it is
fastened to Christ's heart, and the lower end of it hanging down
the length of your hearts. And, O! shall not Christ's heart and
yours be knit together this day? Here is a cord to bind His heart
to your heart, and your heart to His heart.
- Ralph Erskine
(Let your imagination envision this cord and your connection with
Him. Let yourself rest in His love for you.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Jer 13:1-11; Deuteronomy 32:18-19, 20, 21; Mt 13:31-35
R. (see 18a) You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you,
You forgot the God who gave you birth.
When the LORD saw this, he was filled with loathing
and anger toward his sons and daughters.
"I will hide my face from them," he said,
"and see what will then become of them.
What a fickle race they are,
sons with no loyalty in them!"
"Since they have provoked me with their 'no-god'
and angered me with their vain idols,
I will provoke them with a 'no-people';
with a foolish nation I will anger them."
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Through God's covenant with them their family endures."
Today we remember the parents of Mary, Sts. Joachim and Anne.
Perhaps this is a good day to pray for families, especially those
families trying to raise their children to be true disciples and
faithful members of the church community. Paul Tillich wrote that
there are no atheists: Everyone has something or someone that
serves as their god. There are many gods in this world and they are
more subtly disguised than a golden calf. It's hard to remain
faithful.
"For Christian families and for those who are charged with the
formation of children in the faith."
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THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
. . . all the suffering, grief, and persecution, which God sends us
through these enemies of virtue, we should gladly bear for the
glory of God, and for the honour of the virtues, and that we may
obtain and possess righteousness in purity of heart; for Christ
says: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake:
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. For a righteousness which is
maintained in suffering and in virtuous deeds is like the penny
which is counted as heavy as the kingdom of God; and with it is
bought eternal life.
And with these virtues a man goes out towards God, towards himself,
and towards his neighbour, in good customs, in virtues, and in
righteousness.
- Chapter 23: Three Adversaries to be overcome by Righteousness
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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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