Message of 1-24-11
Published: Sun, 01/23/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
If I disobey the inner voice of His Spirit, I will lose the
fullness. I can never lose the relationship, but I will lose the
fullness. When there's disobedience in the Christian life the
fullness ceases. He is there but He is grieved. And you soon know
when you've lost the fullness, because the joy is gone. The
fellowship is gone. The reality of the presence of Christ is gone.
It's Satan's delight to tell me that once he's got me, he will keep
me. But at that moment I can go back to Him. And I know that if I
confess my sins, God is faithful and just to forgive me.
- Alan Redpath
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Heb 9:15, 24-28; Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6; Mk 3:22-30
R. (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous
deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have
forgiveness."
As one charged with the care of little children, I try to allow for
natural consequences and avoid punishment. I like to think God
does the same. How can a sin be unforgivable? When the nature of
that sin is to refuse or disallow forgiveness, remaining unforgiven
is a consequence. Consider the first two "sins against the Holy
Spirit" -- presumption and despair. There is perfect symmetry here.
The one who presumes takes grace for granted and requires of the
self no cooperation. The one who despairs assumes all
responsibility and allows for no gift of grace. Both are impervious
to God's love and forgiveness.
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SPIRITUAL READING
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
From inward gratitude and praise there arises a two fold grief of
the heart and torment of desire. The first grief is, that we feel
ourselves to lag behind in thanking, praising, glorifying and
serving God. The second is, that we do not grow in charity, in
virtue, in faith, and in perfect behaviour as much as we desire,
that we may become worthy to thank and praise and serve God as it
is proper to do. This is the second grief. These two are root and
fruit, beginning and end, of all inward virtues.
Inward grief and pain for our shortcomings in virtue and the praise
of God, is the highest effect of this first degree of the inward
exercise; and by it this degree is perfectly achieved.
- Book 2, Chapter 14: Of Two Griefs that Arise from Inward Gratitude
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