Message of 1-6-11
Published: Sun, 01/02/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
No one is strong in his own strength, but he is safe by the grace
and mercy of God.
- St. Cyprian
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Jn 4:19-5:4; Ps 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17; Lk 4:14-22
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.
From fraud and violence he shall redeem them,
and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
May they be prayed for continually;
day by day shall they bless him.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
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MEDITATION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God
whom he has not seen."
This declaration in John's letter strikes at the heart of something
Jesus found especially hateful: hypocrisy. Keeping every letter of
the law, scrupulous practice of every ritual of worship, even
giving to the poor from one's "surplus" all these things pale
before the importance of loving others. John says, "If anyone says,
'I love God,' but hates his brother, he is a liar." Love of
neighbor, then, is an essential aspect of loving God. Whom do we
find the most difficult to love? Those who have injured us? Those
who would destroy us? Those who annoy us? Is our love for the
person we love the least the measure of our love for God?
"O Lord, teach us to love everyone."
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SPIRITUAL READING
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
- The Disciple
Many people travel far to honor the relics of the saints, marveling
at their wonderful deeds and at the building of magnificent shrines.
They gaze upon and kiss the sacred relics encased in silk and gold;
and behold, You are here present before me on the altar, my God,
Saint of saints, Creator of men, and Lord of angels!
Often in looking at such things, men are moved by curiosity, by the
novelty of the unseen, and they bear away little fruit for the
amendment of their lives, especially when they go from place to
place lightly and without true contrition. But here in the
Sacrament of the altar You are wholly present, my God, the man
Christ Jesus, whence is obtained the full realization of eternal
salvation, as often as You are worthily and devoutly received. To
this, indeed, we are not drawn by levity, or curiosity, or
sensuality, but by firm faith, devout hope, and sincere love.
- Book 4, Chapter 1
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