Message of 3-15-11
Published: Sun, 03/13/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
It is not in the gifts He received but in the virtues He practiced
that Christ is our model. That which is asked of you, so that you
may resemble Him, is to make the same use as He did of the gifts of
God, according to the measure in which you have received them.
- Jean Nicolas Grou (1731-1803)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 55:10-11; Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19; Mt 6:7-15
R. (18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
We can approach God confidently because he is waiting with arms
wide open to receive his prodigal sons and daughters. That is why
Jesus gave his disciples the perfect prayer that dares to call God,
Our Father. This prayer teaches us how to ask God for the things we
really need, the things that matter not only for the present but
for eternity as well. We can approach God our Father with
confidence and boldness because Christ has opened the way to heaven
for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for
help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he
responds with grace, mercy, and kindness. He is good and forgiving
towards us, and he expects us to treat our neighbor the same. God
has poured his love into our hearts through the gift of the Holy
Spirit (Romans 5:5). And that love is like a refining fire - it
purifies and burns away all prejudice, hatred, resentment,
vengeance, and bitterness until there is nothing left but goodness
and forgiveness towards those who cause us grief or harm.
"Father in heaven, you have given me a mind to know you, a will to
serve you, and a heart to love you. Give me today the grace and
strength to embrace your holy will and fill my heart and mind with
your truth and love that all my intentions and actions may be
pleasing to you. Help me to be kind and forgiving towards my
neighbor as you have been towards me."
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SPIRITUAL READING
"The Way of Perfection"
- by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
(Continues the subject begun in the first chapter and persuades the
sisters to busy themselves constantly in beseeching God to help
those who work for the Church. Ends with an exclamatory prayer.)
It seems over-bold of me to think that I can do anything towards
obtaining this. But I have confidence, my Lord, in these servants
of Thine who are here, knowing that they neither desire nor strive
after anything but to please Thee. For Thy sake they have left the
little they possessed, wishing they had more so that they might
serve Thee with it. Since Thou, my Creator, art not ungrateful, I
do not think Thou wilt fail to do what they beseech of Thee, for
when Thou wert in the world, Lord, Thou didst not despise women,
but didst always help them and show them great compassion. Thou
didst find more faith and no less love in them than in men, and one
of them was Thy most sacred Mother, from whose merits we derive
merit, and whose habit we wear, though our sins make us unworthy to
do so. We can do nothing in public that is of any use to Thee, nor
dare we speak of some of the truths over which we weep in secret
lest Thou shouldst not hear this our just petition. Yet, Lord I
cannot believe this of Thy goodness and righteousness, for Thou art
a righteous Judge, not like judges in the world, who, being, after
all, men and sons of Adam, refuse to consider any woman's virtue as
above suspicion. Yes, my King, but the day will come when all will
be known. I am not speaking on my own account, for the whole world
is already aware of my wickedness, and I am glad that it should
become known; but, when I see what the times are like, I feel it is
not right to repel spirits which are virtuous and brave, even
though they be the spirits of women.
Hear us not when we ask Thee for honours, endowments, money, or
anything that has to do with the world; but why shouldst Thou not
hear us, Eternal Father, when we ask only for the honour of Thy
Son, when we would forfeit a thousand honours and a thousand lives
for Thy sake? Not for ourselves, Lord, for we do not deserve to be
heard, but for the blood of Thy Son and for His merits.
- Chapter 3
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