Message of 9-7-15

Published: Mon, 09/07/15

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: September 7, 2015
Message of the Day

It is not of God’s severity that He requires much from us; it is of His great kindness that He will have the soul to open herself wider, to be able to receive much, that He may bestow much upon her. Let no one think that it is hard to attain thereunto. Although it sound hard, and is hard at first, as touching the forsaking and dying to all things, yet, when one has reached this state, no life can be easier, or sweeter, or fuller of pleasures; for God is right diligent to be with us at all seasons, and to teach us, that He may bring us to Himself, when we are like to go astray. None of us ever desired anything more ardently than God desires to bring us to the knowledge of Himself.

- Johannes Tauler


(God knows how to "grow us" more than we know ourselves. Give God permission to do so this day.)
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Readings of the Day
COL 1:24–2:3;    PS 62:6-7, 9;    LK 6:6-11

R.  In God is my safety and my glory.

Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.

Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!

USCCB lectionary
Reflection on the Scripture

"The scribes and Pharisees were on the watch to see if He would perform a cure on the Sabbath so that they could find a charge against Him." –Luke 6:7


Jesus could have healed the man with a withered hand on a day other than the Sabbath or in private. Yet Jesus refused to be intimidated and manipulated by His enemies. In fact, Jesus publicly displayed this healing on the Sabbath (Lk 6:8ff). As expected, Jesus' opponents "went crazy" (see Lk 6:11) and eventually had Him crucified.


Jesus is courageous, fearless, and confrontational. He did not compromise His principles, even if He had to suffer severely. Jesus is courageous and crucified because He loves those with withered hands and withered spirits. Jesus, Who is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16), wants the healing and salvation of all people (1 Tm 2:4) so much that He freely chose death on the cross – even for the salvation of His enemies.


Let us be like Jesus, or we will be one of Jesus' enemies. Let us suffer with Jesus, or we will inflict suffering on Him (see Heb 6:6) and His disciples. Let us love enough to be courageous and crucified.


PRAYER: Father, make me more like Jesus every day.


PROMISE: "Even now I find my joy in the suffering I endure for you. In my own flesh I fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His body, the Church." –Col 1:24

mycatholic.com

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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 5: The Teaching of Philosophy on Man and His Unity

100. The soul does not know without the body.

101. Love of nature expands the soul to the proportions of the universe for which it arouses love.
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