Message of 1-12-15

Published: Mon, 01/12/15

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: January 12, 2015
Message of the Day
The most dangerous man in the world is the contemplative who is guided by nobody. He trusts his own visions. He obeys the attractions of an interior voice but will not listen to other men. He identifies the will of God with anything that makes him feel, within his own heart, a big, warm, sweet interior glow. The sweeter and the warmer the feeling is, the more he is convinced of his own infallibility.
... Thomas Merton (1915-1968), New Seeds of Contemplation

(There is a false spiritual pride that can sneak in. Be open to the feedback of others that you might avoid this sin.)
Readings of the Day
 
HEB 1:1-6;    PS 97:1, 2, 6, 7, 9;    MK 1:15

R. Let all his angels worship him.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
Let all his angels worship him.

Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
Reflection on the Scripture
"Jesus said to them, 'Come after Me; I will make you fishers of men.' " –Mark 1:17

Have you gone fishing yet this year? The Lord wants you to fish for men and women every day. Fishing as Jesus knew it was more a matter of repeated effort than skill. Fishers needed skill to know where and when to fish, but mostly it took just plain hard work. Fishing in Jesus' day had nothing to do with bait, reels, or poles. Fishing was simply throwing a heavy net into the sea and dragging it back. The more times they cast the net and the longer they worked, the better their chances were of catching fish. Fishing was basically long hours of hard manual labor (e.g. see Lk 5:5).

Fishing for men and women (evangelizing) is similar. We don't need to be smart or articulate. We just need to work daily, frequently, and repeatedly to lead others to Christ. If you keep throwing the net, Jesus will provide the fish (see Jn 21:6ff; Lk 5:5-6). Those who fish a lot catch a lot of fish.

PRAYER: Father, may my love for You inspire me to work hard at fishing.

PROMISE: "In times past, God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our fathers through the prophets; in this, the final age, He has spoken to us through His Son." –Heb 1:1-2

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Spiritual Reading
NOTES ON THE LIFE OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER
 
2698. The Tradition of the Church proposes to the faithful certain rhythms of praying intended to nourish continual prayer. Some are daily, such as morning and evening prayer, grace before and after meals, the Liturgy of the Hours. Sundays, centered on the Eucharist, are kept holy primarily by prayer. The cycle of the liturgical year and its great feasts are also basic rhythms of the Christian's life of prayer.
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church, IV, 3

- part 2 of 24
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