Message of 7-6-15

Published: Mon, 07/06/15

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: July 6, 2015
Message of the Day
“Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in which you allow the other to enter into the very center of your person, allow Him to speak there, allow Him to touch the sensitive core of your being, and allow Him to see so much that you would rather leave in darkness. And when do you really want to do that?” 
- Henri Nouwen, With Open Hands

(Do you?)
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Readings of the Day
GN 28:10-22A;    91:1-4, 14-15;    MT 9:18-26

R. In you, my God, I place my trust.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge. 

Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress. 

USCCB lectionary
Reflection on the Scripture
"Before Jesus had finished speaking to them, a synagogue leader came up." –Matthew 9:18

While Jesus was talking about a new way of living and fasting, "a synagogue leader came up, did Him reverence, and said: 'My daughter has just died. Please come and lay Your hand on her and she will come back to life' " (Mt 9:18). Jesus then raised the little girl from the dead (Mt 9:25). This resurrection-miracle immediately followed His healing a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years (Mt 9:22). These miracles of healing and resurrection are put in the context of Jesus' words on fasting. This may imply that fasting according to Jesus' will is powerful enough to heal the sick, even the long-term sick, and to raise the dead.

I have not seen many people take Jesus seriously about fasting, but the few who have fasted as Jesus has directed have not had any complaints. They have found that the Bible's promises relating to fasting are all true and in fact understated. A few of the saints have realized this, and they have sought God's permission to fast very frequently.

Many of us feel helpless surrounded by a "culture of death." We wish we could do something to love the Lord and serve His people. Fasting may be one of our best opportunities to express our love. Make July a "fast month."

PRAYER:  Jesus, teach us to pray (Lk 11:1) and fast. Make me docile.

PROMISE:  "There was the Lord standing beside him." –Gn 28:13

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Spiritual Reading
Theological Gems from Emile Merch's Theology of the Mystical Body
- selected by Jim and Tyra Arraj

Book I: Theological and Philosophical Introduction

Chapter 2: Theology as Science and as Search for Unity

36. The mind must gravitate toward unity with all its weight; it must love unity in its own special way as befits a mind, for it must aspire after God with its whole strength.

So far as natural reason goes, God is known as though unknown, since He is known only by way of negation, analogy and transcendence.
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