Message of 10-1-10
Published: Mon, 09/27/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Often we combat our evil thoughts most effectively if we absolutely
refuse to allow them to be expressed in words... Thus it must be a
decisive rule of every Christian fellowship that each individual is
prohibited from saying much that occurs to him (or her). This
prohibition does not include the personal word of advice and
guidance... But to speak about another is forbidden, even under the
cloak of help and goodwill; for it is precisely in this guise that
the spirit of hatred among Christians creeps in when it is seeking
to create mischief.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), "Life Together"
(Stewardship of the tongue: "let your words be for the improvement
of others, as occasion offers, and do good to your listeners,
otherwise you will only be grieving the Holy Spirit of God . . ."
Eph. 4:29-30)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5; Ps 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab; Lk
10:13-16
R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
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MEDITATION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
In the Gospel, we learn of Jesus sending out pairs of apostles as
advance teams, but he warns them that they will be like "lambs
among the wolves." They, too, must pay attention to the big and
small things they find out on this journey.
Sometimes it's easier to do the big gesture than pay attention to
the small things. I need to remember that everyone deserves my
respect and kindness, even when I'm not having a good day. I think
God would understand my crankiness but rejoice with me when I
overcome it.
It's fitting that today is the feast of St. Thérèse of the Child
Jesus. She lived her short life dedicated to the idea that we need
to do what we can where we are. In many respects, we could consider
her life small, but she made it big. Small things matter.
- by Carol Zuegner
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SPIRITUAL READING
- Fenelon's "Maxims of the Saints"
The simple desire of our own happiness, kept in due subordination,
is innocent. This desire is natural to us; and is properly
denominated the principle of SELF-LOVE. When the principle of
self-love passes its appropriate limit, it becomes selfishness.
Self-love is innocent; selfishness is wrong. Selfishness was the
sin of the first angel, "who rested in himself," as St. Augustine
expresses it, instead of referring himself to God.
In many Christians a prominent principle of action is the desire of
happiness. They love God and they love heaven; they love holiness,
and they love the pleasures of holiness; they love to do good, and
they love the rewards of doing good. This is well; but there is
something better. Such Christians are inferior to those who forget
the nothingness of the creature in the infinitude of the Creator,
and love God for His own glory alone.
- Article 16
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