Message of 3-7-11
Published: Sat, 03/05/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Who is it that is your Shepherd? The Lord! Oh, my friends, what a
wonderful announcement! The Lord God of heaven and earth, and
Almighty Creator of all things, He who holds the universe in His
hand as though it were a very little thing. He is your shepherd,
and has charged himself with the care and keeping of you, as a
shepherd is charged with the care and keeping of his sheep. If your
hearts could really take in this thought you would never have a
fear or a care again; for with such a Shepherd how could it be
possible for you ever to want any good thing?
- Hannah Whitall Smith
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Tb 1:3; 2:1a-8; Ps 112:1b-2, 3b-4, 5-6; Mk 12:1-12
R. (1b) Blessed the one who fears the Lord.
Blessed the one who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
His generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the one who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs
"Some they beat, others they killed."
Perpetua was only 22 when she embraced the faith, and her father,
frantic with worry, tried to talk her out of it. Pointing to a
water jar, she asked her father, "Do you see that jar? Can you call
it by any other name than what it is?" Her father answered, "Of
course not." Perpetua responded, "Neither can I call myself by any
other name than what I am -- a Christian." She, along with her
servant, Felicity, was imprisoned, and despite many opportunities
to recant, they allowed themselves to be marched to an arena and
torn to bits by a rabid heifer. The Gospel is also about
martyrdom. Who are these people who can so easily harm another? By
what name do we know them and by what name are we known?
"Lord Jesus, if faced with the choice, please give me the courage
to be the martyr and not the murderer."
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SPIRITUAL READING
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
When, however, this coming and this degree are granted to such men
as first begin to turn from the world; even though their conversion
be perfect, and they have abandoned all worldly consolation, that
they may be wholly God's, and may live altogether for Him,--yet they
are still feeble and have need of milk and sweet things, and not of
the strong food of fierce temptation and the loss of God. And in
this season, that is to say, in this state, hoar-frost and fog
often harm such men; for it is just in the middle of May according
to the course of the inward life. Hoar-frost is the desire to be
somewhat or the belief that one is somewhat; or to be attached to
one's self, or to suppose that we have earned these consolations
and are worthy of them. This is hoar-frost, which may destroy the
flowers and fruits of all the virtues. Fog is, the desire to rest
in inward consolations and sweetness. This darkens the air of the
reason; and the powers, which ought to open and flower, close
again. And thereby one loses the knowledge of truth, and yet may
keep a certain false sweetness, which is given by the devil, and
which in the end shall lead us astray.
- Chapter 20: Hindrances to divine inebriation
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