Message of 1-5-15

Published: Mon, 01/05/15

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: January 5, 2015
Message of the Day
When we engage in the act of prayer itself, there is no preparing, no getting the right words, no posture to take, no mood to assume. We simply do it. Prayer is primal speech. We do not first learn to do it, and then proceed to do it; we do it, in the doing we find out what we are doing, and then deepen and mature in it.
- Edward Clowney

(We learn to pray by praying. The important thing is to "show up" and let the Spirit lead the way.)
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Readings of the Day
 
1 JN 3:22–4:6;    PS 2:7-8, 10-12;    MT 4:12-17, 23-25

R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

The LORD said to me, “you are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.”

And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.

USCCB lectionary
Reflection on the Scripture
"Ask of Me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession." –Psalm 2:8

"Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9). "This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it" (Ps 118:24). The Lord will express His love for us in amazing ways today:

Today, "a people living in darkness" will see "a great light" (Mt 4:16).
Today, "on those who inhabit a land overshadowed by death, light" will arise (Mt 4:16).
Today, Jesus will cure "the people of every disease and illness" (Mt 4:23).
Today, "those afflicted with various diseases and racked with pain: the possessed, the lunatics, the paralyzed" will be cured by Jesus (Mt 4:24).

Although we join the wise men this Christmas season in giving everything to Jesus, we will never out-give God. Today, Jesus gives us Christmas presents that only He can give. Do you believe this? Will you open your presents, all of them, including the ones so great you don't understand them? "Reform your lives" (Mt 4:17) and accept God's love today.

PRAYER:         Father, give me expectant, repentant, and crucified faith.

PROMISE:       "For there is One greater in you than there is in the world." –1 Jn 4:4

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Spiritual Reading
NOTES ON THE LIFE OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER
 
2697. Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment. But we tend to forget God who is our life and our all. This is why the Fathers of the spiritual life in the Deuteronomic and prophetic traditions insist that prayer is a remembrance of God often awakened by the memory of the heart: "We must remember God more often than we draw breath." (St. Gregory of Nazianus, "Orat. theo.", 27, 1, 4: PG 36, 16) But we cannot pray "at all times" if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it. These are the special times of Christian prayer, both in intensity and duration.
- part 1 of 24

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, IV
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