Message of 12-21-10
Published: Sun, 12/19/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
The Son of God is the Teacher of men, giving to them of His
Spirit--that Spirit which manifests the deep things of God, being to
a person the mind of Christ. The great heresy of the Church of the
present day is unbelief in this Spirit.
- George MacDonald (1824-1905)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Sg 2:8-14; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45
R. (1a; 3a) Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
What is the significance of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth
before the birth of Jesus? When Elizabeth greeted Mary and
recognized the Messiah in Mary's womb they were filled with the
Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfilment of
God's promise to give a Savior. What a marvelous wonder for God to
fill not only Elizabeth's heart with his Holy Spirit but the child
in her womb as well. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the
Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his
mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King
to be born. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us to
know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of
his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within
each of us. Do you live in the joy and knowledge of God's
indwelling presence with you through his Holy Spirit?
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in
seeking you more closely. Increase my faith in all your promises,
my hope in the joys of heaven, and my love for You as my All."
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SPIRITUAL READING
"The Way of Perfection"
- by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
I know that I am lacking neither in love nor in desire to do all I
can to help the souls of my sisters to make great progress in the
service of the Lord. It may be that this love, together with my
years and the experience which I have of a number of convents, will
make me more successful in writing about small matters than learned
men can be. For these, being themselves strong and handing other
and more important occupations, do not always pay such heed to
things which in themselves seem of no importance but which may do
great harm to persons as weak as we women are. For the snares laid
by the devil for strictly cloistered nuns are numerous and he finds
that he needs new weapons if he is to do them harm. I, being a
wicked woman, have defended myself but ill, and so I should like my
sisters to take warning by me. I shall speak of nothing of which I
have no experience, either in my own life or in the observation of
others, or which the Lord has not taught me in prayer.
A few days ago I was commanded to write an account of my life in
which I also dealt with certain matters concerning prayer. It may
be that my confessor will not wish you to see this, for which
reason I shall set down here some of the things which I said in
that book and others which may also seem to me necessary. May the
Lord direct this, as I have begged Him to do, and order it for His
greater glory. Amen.
- Prologue
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