Message of 4-7-15

Published: Tue, 04/07/15

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Tuesday: April 7, 2015
Message of the Day

“For me the most radical demand of Christian faith lies in summoning the courage to say yes to the present risenness of Jesus Christ.” 
― Brennan Manning, Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging

(How will you say yes to the risennness of Jesus this day? Right now?)
Focusing as a Way to Inner Wisdom and Wholeness
- Webinar by Nick Morale
- April 23, 2015. 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., CST
- No registration fee; free-will donation requested.
 
Learn more about Focusing practice from an experienced guide and teacher. Live webcast with interactive opportunities. 

See http://shalomplace.com/inetmin/webinars/focusing.html for more information and registration.
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Daily Readings
 
ACTS 2:36-41;    PS 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22;    JN 20:11-18

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.

USCCB Lectionary
 Reflection on the Scriptures
In the Gospel, I see Mary Magdeline, saddened by the loss of a mentor, a spiritual leader, and a close friend. She cries at his tomb. She is upset about the disappearance of his body. She encounters the Risen Christ but does not recognize him until she seems to be given the Gift of the Spirit. She returns to the apostles, but they are still without this Gift.

Personally, I find myself challenged by Holy Week and Easter. When my parents and my sister each died, I was not moved to thoughts of resurrection. Rather, I found myself asking why were they taken. I wanted to see a resurrection, but I did not. When I return to my hometown, I don’t find myself drawn to places of my youth. Instead, I my only fixed stop is the cemetery. Drawn each visit with a heavy heart. I can empathize with Mary Magdalene.

My faith can only survive connecting to the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Like Mary Magdalene and the disciples, my moving beyond fear and sorrow only takes place with this Gift.

- by Mike Cherney

Creighton Online Ministries

Spiritual Reading

Stages of Growth in Christian Prayer
- by Philip St. Romain
  (based on the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross)

Transition From Active Prayer to Infused Contemplation (part two)

       The first two of St. John's signs indicate that one is no longer growing
       through the practice of active prayer forms but that this is not due
       to spiritual neglect or lack of discipline.  The third sign, however,
       indicates the actual beginnings of contemplation, probably as
       the prayer of quiet.  Saint John encourages one in this situation
       to diminish the amount of time spent in active prayer and to
       enjoy the general, loving awareness of God.


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