Message of 3-29-11
Published: Sat, 03/26/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
(Jesus) feared nothing for Himself; and never once employed His
divine power to save Himself from His human fate. Let God do that
for Him if He saw fit. He did not come into the world to take care
of Himself...His life was of no value to Him but as His Father
cared for it. God would mind all that was necessary for Him, and He
would mind the work His Father had given Him to do. And, my
friends, this is just the one secret of a blessed life, the one
thing every person comes into this world to learn.
- George Macdonald
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Dn 3:25, 34-43; Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9; Mt 18:21-35
R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
Who doesn't have debts they need to pay off! And who wouldn't be
grateful to have someone release them from their debts? But can we
really expect mercy and pardon when we owe someone a great deal?
The prophet Amos speaks of God forgiving transgression three times,
but warns that God may not revoke punishment for the fourth (see
Amos 1:3-13; 2:1-6). When Peter posed the question of forgiveness,
he characteristically offered an answer he thought Jesus would be
pleased with. Why not forgive seven times! How unthinkable for
Jesus to counter with the proposition that one must forgive seventy
times that. Jesus made it clear that there is no reckonable limit
to forgiveness. And he drove the lesson home with a parable about
two very different kinds of debts. The first man owed an enormous
sum of money - millions in our currency. In Jesus' time this
amount was greater than the total revenue of a province - more than
it would cost to ransom a king! The man who was forgiven such an
incredible debt could not, however bring himself to forgive his
neighbor a very small debt which was about one- hundred-thousandth
of his own debt. The contrast could not have been greater!
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred
let me sow love. Where there is injury let me sow pardon. Where
there is doubt let me sow faith. Where there is despair let me
give hope. Where there is darkness let me give light. Where there
is sadness let me give joy."
(Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi)
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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.)
Alas, Lord, who is it that has dared to make this petition in the
name of all? What a poor mediator am I, my daughters, to gain a
hearing for you and to present your petition! When this Sovereign
Judge sees how bold I am it may well move Him to anger, as would be
both right and just. But behold, Lord, Thou art a God of mercy;
have mercy upon this poor sinner, this miserable worm who is so
bold with Thee. Behold my desires, my God, and the tears with which
I beg this of Thee; forget my deeds, for Thy name's sake, and have
pity upon all these souls who are being lost, and help Thy Church.
Do not permit more harm to be wrought to Christendom, Lord; give
light to this darkness.
For the love of the Lord, my sisters, I beg you to commend this
poor sinner to His Majesty and to beseech Him to give her humility,
as you are bound to do. I do not charge you to pray particularly
for kings and prelates of the Church, especially for our Bishop,
for I know that those of you now here are very careful about this
and so I think it is needless for me to say more. Let those who are
to come remember that, if they have a prelate who is holy, those
under him will be holy too, and let them realize how important it
is to bring him continually before the Lord. If your prayers and
desires and disciplines and fasts are not performed for the
intentions of which I have spoken, reflect [and believe] that you
are not carrying out the work or fulfilling the object for which
the Lord has brought you here.
- Chapter 3
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