Message of 12-14-10
Published: Sat, 12/11/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The
lack of it has brought us to our present low estate. The stiff and
wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of
holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.
Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of
Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted. Too bad that with many
of us He waits so long, so very long, in vain.
- A. W. Tozer
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Zep 3:1-2, 9-13; Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23; Mt 21:28-32
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
God wants to change our hearts so that we will show by our actions
that we respect his will and do it. God offers each of us the
greatest treasure possible - unending peace, joy, happiness, and
life with him in his kingdom. We can lose that treasure if we
refuse the grace God offers us to follow in his way of truth, love,
and righteousness. Jesus encourages us to think - to think about
the consequences of our choices, especially the choices and
decisions that will count not just for now but for eternity as
well. The choices we make now will affect and shape our future,
both our future on earth as well as in the life of the age to come.
Are you ready to obey your heavenly Father and to choose for his
kingdom of righteousness and peace?
"Lord Jesus, change my heart that I may desire to do whatever is
pleasing to you. Help me to respect your will and give me the
strength, joy, and perseverance to carry it out wholeheartedly."
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SPIRITUAL READING
"The Way of Perfection"
- by Teresa of Avila (1515-82)
The sisters of this Convent of Saint Joseph, knowing that I had had
leave from Father Presentado Fray Domingo Bañes, of the Order of
the glorious Saint Dominic, who at present is my confessor, to
write certain things about prayer, which it seems I may be able to
succeed in doing since I have had to do with many holy and
spiritual persons, have, out of their great love for me, so
earnestly begged me to say something to them about this that I have
resolved to obey them. I realize that the great love which they
have for me may render the imperfection and the poverty of my style
in what I shall say to them more acceptable than other books which
are very ably written by those who have known what they are writing
about. I rely upon their prayers, by means of which the Lord may be
pleased to enable me to say something concerning the way and method
of life which it is fitting should be practised in this house. If I
do not succeed in doing this, Father Presentado, who will first
read what I have written, will either put it right or burn it, so
that I shall have lost nothing by obeying these servants of God,
and they will see how useless I am when His Majesty does not help
me.
My intent is to suggest a few remedies for a number of small
temptations which come from the devil, and which, because they are
so slight, are apt to pass unnoticed. I shall also write of other
things, according as the Lord reveals them to me and as they come
to my mind; since I do not know what I am going to say I cannot set
it down in suitable order; and I think it is better for me not to
do so, for it is quite unsuitable that I should be writing in this
way at all. May the Lord lay His hand on all that I do so that it
may be in accordance with His holy will; this is always my desire,
although my actions may be as imperfect as I myself am.
- Prologue
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