Message of 7-31-15

Published: Fri, 07/31/15

You were created to be an instrument of God. When you are not being used as an instrument of God, neither you nor God will find satisfaction in your use. There is a word for things that are not used for their intended purpose - it’s call perversion. God created you for His own good. When you are used for bad your use is being perverted. And there is no satisfaction in perversion. Whether we’re talking about perverting sex, perverting money, perverting time or perverting our lives - there is no satisfaction in perversion.

- Randy Hunt

(It is good to see where such perversion is found in our lives that we might renounce it to turn more fully to God. What might this mean for you at this time?)

Readings of the Day

LV 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34B-37; PS 81:3-6, 10-11; MT 13:54-58

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel,

the pleasant harp and the lyre.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

at the full moon, on our solemn feast.

For it is a statute in Israel,

an ordinance of the God of Jacob,

Who made it a decree for Joseph

when he came forth from the land of Egypt.

There shall be no strange god among you

nor shall you worship any alien god.

I, the LORD, am your God

who led you forth from the land of Egypt.

USCCB Lectionary

Amazon Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.

Gospel Reflection

How easily familiarity breeds contempt. Jesus could do no mighty works in his hometown because the people who were familiar with him were closed-minded and despised his claim to speak and act in the name of God. If people come together to hate and refuse to understand others different than themselves, then they will see no other point of view than their own and they will refuse to love and accept others. How do you view those who are familiar to you? With kindness and respect or with a critical and judgmental spirit?

The Lord Jesus offers us freedom from sin, prejudice, contempt, and fear. His love and grace sets us free to love others with the same grace and mercy which he has shown to us. Only Jesus can truly set us free from the worst tyranny possible - slavery to sin and the fear of death. His victory on the cross brings us pardon and healing, and the grace to live holy lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you know the joy and freedom which Christ's love brings to our hearts?

"Lord Jesus, your love conquers every fear and breaks the power of hatred and prejudice. Flood my heart with your mercy and compassion, that I may treat my neighbor with the same favor and kindness which you have shown to me."

DailyScripture.net

Spiritual Reading

The Way of Perfection, by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Continues the same subject. This is very suitable for reading after the reception of the Most Holy Sacrament.

If you grieve at not seeing Him with the eyes of the body, remember that that would not be good for us, for it is one thing to see Him glorified and quite another to see Him as He was when He lived in the world. So weak is our nature that nobody could endure the sight -- in fact, there would be no one left to endure it, for no one would wish to remain in the world any longer. Once having seen this Eternal Truth, people would realize that all the things we prize here are mockery and falsehood. And if such great Majesty could be seen, how could a miserable sinner like myself, after having so greatly offended Him, remain so near to Him? Beneath those accidents of bread, we can approach Him; for, if the King disguises Himself, it would seem that we need not mind coming to Him without so much circumspection and ceremony: by disguising Himself, He has, as it were, obliged Himself to submit to this. Who, otherwise, would dare to approach Him so unworthily, with so many imperfections and with such lukewarm zeal?

- Chapter 34

(Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.)

Paperback (Kindle edition available)

Please support this outreach with a tax-deductible donation.
http://www.heartlandspirituality.org/support.html

Web Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?dailyseed

RSS: http://www.aweber.com/z/rss/?dailyseed