Message of 3-12-11
Published: Sat, 03/05/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Oh! blessed Jesus, reveal yourself to my heart; soften, melt, and
renew it. Consume all the dross which it contains, and transform
it, wholly, after your image; that, while surrounded by evils of
every name, and sorrows of every kind, which abound in this
rebellious, dying world, I may enjoy the light of your countenance,
and the purifying influence of your love. Fill me with your love;
satiate my soul with your goodness; and make me an everlasting
trophy of your grace.
- Thomas Reade
(Amen! Pray this prayer slowly and sincerely, pausing to make room
for the Spirit to touch you.)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19; Mt 9:14-15
R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
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MEDITATION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Today's reading from Isaiah is disconcerting. We know that the
traditional three pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting
and almsgiving. Is Isaiah discouraging fasting?
Isaiah does indeed condemn the fasting he observes among the
elites of Israel. In no uncertain terms he declares that their
fasting is worthless because it is a mere external observance and
does not seem to reach the level of their hearts: "Lo, on your fast
day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers.
Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with the
wicked claw."
But Isaiah wants to set the record straight. He exhorts the
Israelites to fast but to fast in a manner that leads to conversion
of heart -- to compassion: "This rather, is the fasting that I
wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the
yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your
bread with the hungry, sheltering the homeless; clothing the naked
when you see them, and not turning your back on your own."
Isaiah's exhortation is as important for us as it was for the
Israelites. The goal of fasting is not simply to punish our bodies
by limiting sensual pleasures. Simply depriving oneself of food
and drink and of material comforts can lead to a certain smugness
and self-righteousness. The true goal of fasting is to break
excessive attachment to material gratification so our souls are
more free to fulfill the purpose of our lives -- loving God and
our neighbor. And we all need to fast; it is a universal human
tendency to become attached to material and sensual gratification
and to be cut off from the deeper yearnings of our hearts. By
cutting back on sensual gratification we can restore balance in
our lives.
- by Dick Hauser, SJ
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SPIRITUAL READING
- Fenelon's "Maxims of the Saints"
It is the doctrine of Augustine, as also of Thomas Aquinas, that
the principle of holy love existing in the heart, necessarily
includes in itself; or implies the existence, of all other
Christian virtues. He who loves God with all his heart, will not
violate the laws of purity, because it would be a disregard of the
will of God, which he loves above all things. His love, under such
circumstances, becomes the virtue of chastity. He has too much love
and reverence for the will of God to murmur or repine under the
dispensations of His providence. His love, under such
circumstances, becomes the virtue of patience. And thus this love
becomes by turns, on their appropriate occasions, all the virtues.
As his love is perfect, so the virtues which flow out of it, and
are modified from it, will not be less so.
- Article 33
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