Message of 1-4-11
Published: Sun, 01/02/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Feeding the hungry is a greater work than raising the dead.
- St. John Chrysostom (345-407)
(And to think: we can all do that.)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8; Mk 6:34-44
R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of
God and his great kindness towards us. In the multiplication of the
loaves and fishes we see a sign and a symbol of what God always
does. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we
need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others,
especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we
have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in
God's provision for you and do you share freely with others,
especially those who lack?
"Lord Jesus Christ, you satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts
and you feed us with the finest of wheat (Psalm 81:16). Fill me
with gratitude for your blessings and give me a generous heart that
I may freely share with others what you have given to me."
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SPIRITUAL READING
"The Way of Perfection"
- by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
(Treats of how the necessities of the body should be disregarded
and of the good that comes from poverty.)
Do not think, my sisters, that because you do not go about trying
to please people in the world you will lack food. You will not, I
assure you: never try to sustain yourselves by human artifices, or
you will die of hunger, and rightly so. Keep your eyes fixed upon
your Spouse: it is for Him to sustain you; and, if He is pleased
with you, even those who like you least will give you food, if
unwillingly, as you have found by experience. If you should do as I
say and yet die of hunger, then happy are the nuns of Saint
Joseph's! For the love of the Lord, let us not forget this: you
have forgone a regular income; forgo worry about food as well, or
thou will lose everything. Let those whom the Lord wishes to live
on an income do so: if that is their vocation, they are perfectly
justified; but for us to do so, sisters, would be inconsistent.
Worrying about getting money from other people seems to me like
thinking about what other people enjoy. However much you worry, you
will not make them change their minds nor will they become desirous
of giving you alms. Leave these anxieties to Him Who can move
everyone, Who is the Lord of all money and of all who possess
money. It is by His command that we have come here and His words
are true -- they cannot fail: Heaven and earth will fail first. Let
us not fail Him, and let us have no fear that He will fail us; if
He should ever do so it will be for our greater good, just as the
saints failed to keep their lives when they were slain for the
Lord's sake, and their bliss was increased through their martyrdom.
We should be making a good exchange if we could have done with this
life quickly and enjoy everlasting satiety.
- Chapter 2
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