Message of 3-16-15

Published: Mon, 03/16/15

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: March 16, 2015
Message of the Day
Wealth and riches; that is, an estate above what sufficeth our real occasions and necessities, is in no other sense a blessing than as it is an opportunity put into our hands, by the providence of God, of doing more good.
-  John Tillotson (1630-1694)

(How might you be more generous with your time, talent and treasure this day?)
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Readings of the Day
IS 65:17-21;    PS 30:2, 4-6, 11-13;   JN 4:43-54

R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.

Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.

“Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.”
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.

USCCB lectionary
Reflection on the Scripture
"He and his whole household thereupon became believers." –John 4:53

Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would create new heavens and a new earth (Is 65:17), but he never dreamed of life eternal in heaven. He prophesied all would live to be well over a hundred years old (Is 65:20), but never imagined we would live forever. The Lord has promised more than we can ever ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). "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 Easter, we will be graced to enter more deeply into this risen, everlasting life of heaven. Because risen life is far beyond our limited experience, we will have to walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor 5:7) in order to live this new life. We must put our faith "in the word" Jesus has spoken to us and start for our heavenly home (see Jn 4:50).

On almost every day in the next three weeks before Easter, the Church reads to us from the Gospel of John. Although all Scripture will help us grow in faith (see Rm 10:17), John's Gospel was written specifically "to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that through this faith you may have life in His name" (Jn 20:31). In these next three weeks, immerse yourself in John's Gospel, and grow in faith. By faith, you will live the risen life this Easter as never before. Easter is for believers. Believe; grow in faith.

PRAYER: Father, increase my faith (Lk 17:5).

PROMISE: "Return home. Your son will live." –Jn 4:50​

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Spiritual Reading
NOTES ON THE LIFE OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER
 
2707.  There are as many and varied methods of meditation as there are spiritual masters.  Christians owe it to themselves to develop the desire to meditate regularly, lest they come to resemble the three first kinds of soil in the parable of the sower.  But a method is only a guide; the important thing is to advance, with the Holy Spirit, along the one way of prayer: Christ Jesus.
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church, IV, 3, 1)

- part 11 of 24

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, IV
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