Message of 4-25-11
Published: Sat, 04/23/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Receive every day as a resurrection from death, as a new enjoyment
of life; meet every rising sun with such sentiments of God's
goodness, as if you had seen it, and all things, new-created upon
your account: and under the sense of so great a blessing, let your
joyful heart praise and magnify so good and glorious a Creator.
- William Law
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; Mt 28:8-15
R. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce this to his disciples."
Potent, conflicting emotions -- both fear and great joy -- fill the
women who have gone to Jesus' tomb. Indeed, the Gospel relates why,
as Jesus' followers, they have good reason to be fearful: Jesus'
opponents are still plotting to destroy the truth that has come to
light in him. But the instruction the women hear twice (first from
an angel, then from Jesus himself) is this: "Do not be afraid." For
us, too, there are forces that would kill our joy and that seek to
control us through fear. May all such powers be confounded by our
joy in Jesus' resurrection.
"For courage and zeal in proclaiming the good news, we pray."
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SPIRITUAL READING
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
In the like season of the year, the visible sun enters the sign of
Leo, that is, the Lion, who is fierce by nature, for he is the lord
over all beasts. So likewise, when a man comes to this way, Christ,
the bright Sun, stands in the sign of the Lion, for the rays of His
heat are so fierce that the blood in the heart of the impatient man
must boil. And when this fierce way prevails, it masters and
subdues all other ways and works; for it wills to be way-less, that
is, without manner. And in this tumult a man sometimes falls into a
desire and restless longing to be freed from the prison of his
body, so that he may at once be united with Him Whom he loves. And
he opens his inward eyes and beholds the heavenly house full of
glory and joy, and his Beloved crowned in the midst of it, flowing
forth towards His saints in abounding bliss; whilst he must lack
all this. And therefrom there often spring in such a man outward
tears and great longings. He looks down and considers the place of
exile in which he has been imprisoned, and from which he cannot
escape; then tears of sadness and misery gush forth. These natural
tears soothe and refresh the man's heart, and they are wholesome to
the bodily nature, preserving its strength and powers and
sustaining him through this state of tumult. All the manifold
considerations and exercises according to ways or manner are
helpful to the impatient man; that his strength may be preserved
and that he may long endure in virtue.
- Chapter 23: Of the pain and restlessness of love
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