Message of 11-22-10
Published: Wed, 11/17/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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ANNUAL APPEAL
Thanks to all of you who have responded or are planning to respond
to our appeal last week. Your support makes a difference.
Until next year . . .
Peace, Phil
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
It is not that God is stingy and must be coaxed, for He "giveth
liberally and upbraideth not." It is that we ourselves are so
shallow and sinful that we need to tarry before Him until our
restless natures can be stilled and the clamor of outside voices be
deadened so that we can hear His voice. Such a state is not easily
reached, and the men God uses have paid a price in wrestlings and
prevailing prayer. But it is such people who rise from their knees
confident of His power and go forth to speak with authority.
- Vance Havner
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5; Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Lk 21:1-4
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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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps."
The source of the veneration of St. Cecilia as a patron of music is
not fully known. Artists often depict her listening to a heavenly
choir or singing hymns of praise at an organ or another instrument.
The virgin Cecilia vowed to remain pure yet to be obedient to her
father, who betrothed her to a pagan. She converted her husband and
his brother, who devoted themselves to good works and likewise
suffered martyrdom. The vision of Mount Zion in today's reading
from Revelation includes the Lamb and his undefiled companions
singing before the throne: a fitting image for one who desired only
to keep her vow and sing God's praise.
"May the strains of the sweet melodies of God's glory continually
sound in our hearts, we pray."
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SPIRITUAL READING
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
The second way in which Christ comes inwardly, with a higher
nobleness, more after His likeness, with increased gifts, and with
a greater radiance, is a pouring forth of the riches of His Divine
gifts into the higher powers of the soul, whereby the spirit is
strengthened, enlightened, and enriched in many ways. This
streaming of God into us demands of us a flowing out and a flowing
back, with all these riches, into that same Source from which that
torrent has flowed. And in this torrent God gives to us and shows
to us great wonders; but He asks back from the soul all His gifts,
increased beyond anything that any creature could accomplish. This
exercise and this way is more noble and more like unto God than the
first; and by it the three higher powers of the soul are adorned.
- Book 2, Chapter 6: The second coming our our Lord in the inward
part of our being.
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Thanks for your consideration!
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