Message of 11-15-10
Published: Thu, 11/11/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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ANNUAL APPEAL
The Dominican Sisters in Great Bend, KS (home of Heartland Center
for Spirituality) have had their annual bazaar; our local NPR
station is having a fund drive: it must be that time of the year
for me to come to you as well, with beggar bowl in hands,
requesting your support for our Internet ministry.
As in years past, I will re-publish this week various reflections
and spiritual exercises used with Daily Spiritual Seed ten or so
years ago, when Sr. Joel Christoph OP was part of the team at
Heartland Center for Spirituality. Sr. Joel passed away a couple
of years ago, but her creative works are still with us. I hope you
enjoy them.
All through the week, I will share updates on what's happening with
our Internet ministry. Stay tuned . . .
Phil St. Romain
Internet Ministry Coordinator
- - - Several ways you can support our Internet ministry:
a. Pray for us and for those make use of our services (that
includes you, of course).
b. Tax-deductible donation or subscription: see
http://shalomplace.com/seed/donations.html (check payment
information provided).
A special gratitude gift will be sent to all donors/subscribers.
c. Purchase an Amazon.com gift card:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
- a great gift for almost any occasion
d. Purchase a paperback book, ebook, or audio series:
http://shalomplace.com/products.html (shows all options)
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"An old and poor woman who had two sons as friars once came to St.
Mary of the Angels to beg alms from St. Francis. The saint went
immediately to Brother Peter of Catania (who was minister general
at the time) and asked if there was anything to give the woman,
adding that a mother of a friar was
mother to all friars. Brother Peter answered, 'The only thing in
the house is a copy of the New Testament, which we use to read the
lessens during the night office.' Saint Francis said to him, 'Give
her the Bible; it will be more pleasing to God that she should
have it than we should read from it.'"
(from "Praying With Francis of Assisi," by Joseph
Stoutzenberger and John Bohrer)
Breathprayer:
"Abundant God" (breathing in)
"accept my little" (breathing out).
Journal Question:
Few of us are actually poor but there are days we feel we have
little time, little energy, little inspiration. What are you
lacking today? From that "little" can you still give something for
the sake of love?
by Sr. Joel Christoph OP
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Lk 18:35-43
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the one who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more."
In our tough economy, the cry of the poor becomes louder and more
insistent. As that cry grows, so, perhaps, does our tendency to
turn our backs. After all, we've had to tighten our belts, too. We
can't take care of every beggar at our door, can't contribute to
every appeal that lands in our mailbox. We should note that over
and above the crowd, Jesus hears the plea of the neediest among
them. To follow Jesus means encountering him in charitable service
to the poor and needy.
"For the grace to see those in need as our special charge, we pray."
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SPIRITUAL READING
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
Even though the eye be clear and the sight keen, if there were no
loveworthy and desirable object, clearness of sight would neither
please nor profit a person. And this is why Christ shows to the
enlightened eyes of the understanding what they shall see, to wit,
the inward coming of Christ their Bridegroom.
Three ways of this special inward coming of God are found in those
who exercise themselves with devotion in the inward life; and each
of these three comings raises one to a higher degree and to a more
inward exercise.
The first coming of Christ in inward working drives and influences
one's inward feelings; it draws him with all his powers upwards to
heaven, and it calls him to unite himself with God. This driving
and drawing we feel in the heart, and in the unity of all the
bodily powers, and especially in the desirous power. For this
coming stirs, and works in, the lower part of man; for this must be
wholly purged and adorned, and inflamed and drawn inwards. This
inward urge of God gives and takes, makes rich and poor, brings
weal and woe upon a man; it causes hope and despair; it burns and
it freezes. But no tongue can tell of those gifts and works and
contraries that here come to pass.
This coming with its working is parted into four degrees, each one
higher than the other, as we will show afterwards. And with it the
lower part of man is adorned in the inward life.
- Book 2, Chapter 5: Of a three-fold coming of our Lord in the
inward part of our being: first one.
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Amazon.com gift cards - good for any occasion
- - - -
Please help support Heartland Center's Internet ministries:
- For more info on tax-deductible donations, see
http://shalomplace.com/seed/donations.html.
Thanks for your consideration!
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