Message of 10-22-10
Published: Thu, 10/14/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
We must not encourage in ourselves or others any tendency to work
up a subjective state which, if we succeeded, we should describe as
"faith," with the idea that this will somehow ensure the granting
of our prayer. We have probably all done this as children. But the
state of mind which desperate desire working on a strong
imagination can manufacture is not faith in the Christian sense. It
is a feat of psychological gymnastics.
- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), "Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on
Prayer"
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Eph 4:1-6; Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Lk 12:54-59
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
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MEDITATION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
In real estate - so it is said - what matters is "location,
location, location . . ." The same is true, in a sense, when it
comes to understanding the daily readings given us in the
lectionary. If we don't know the scriptural neighborhood, we can
miss the real message of the passage. Today's reading from
Ephesians, for example, seems to urge upon us what might seem a
pretty ordinary list of virtues - humility, gentleness, patience .
. . standard preacher stuff. About what we'd expect. But knowing
the neighborhood changes all that.
The Pauline author has just finished three chapters (which we've
been reading the last few days), that celebrate the unification of
Jew and Gentile in a single organism - the body of Christ, or what
we call "the Church". This is not just an interesting historical
event, like the Apollo moon landing or the Battle of Hastings -
however important they may have been. It's not even a past event.
It is an ongoing, present reality. It is both a gift and a
challenge.
It is a gift because, in the death and resurrection of Jesus, God
has inaugurated a new creation - a new heaven and earth. "Behold, I
make all things new!" This is happening here, in our world; now, in
our time. Re-creating our world is our mission as Church.** I fear
we don't take it seriously - that is literally. Therein lies the
challenge.
- by Robert P. Heaney
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SPIRITUAL READING
- Fenelon's "Maxims of the Saints"
Among other distinctions of prayer, we may make that of vocal and
silent, the prayer of the lips and the prayer of the affections.
Vocal prayer, without the heart attending it, is superstitious and
wholly unprofitable. To pray without recollection in God and
without love, is to pray as the heathen did, who thought to be
heard for the multitude of their words.
Nevertheless, vocal prayer, when attended by right affections,
ought to be both recognized and encouraged, as being calculated to
strengthen the thoughts and feelings it expresses, and to awaken
new ones, and also for the reason that it was taught by the Son of
God to His Apostles, and that it has been practiced by the whole
Church in all ages. To make light of this sacrifice of praise,
this fruit of the lips, would be an impiety.
- Article 19
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