Message of 11-9-15

Published: Mon, 11/09/15

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: November 9, 2015
Message of the Day

Why is it so important that you are with God and God alone on the mountain top? It’s important because it’s the place in which you can listen to the voice of the One who calls you the beloved. To pray is to listen to the One who calls you “my beloved daughter,” “my beloved son,” “my beloved child.” To pray is to let that voice speak to the center of your being, to your guts, and let that voice resound in your whole being.
—Henri Nouwen


(What are some of the ways you experience God calling you "my believed"?
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Readings of the Day
EZ 47:1-2, 8-9, 12;    PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9;    1 COR 3:9C-11, 16-17;    JN 2:13-22

R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.

There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.

The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth. 

USCCB lectionary
Reflection on the Scripture
The angel "brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out." –Ezekiel 47:1

From the Church flow the living waters which will change our culture of death into a civilization of love and life and "renew the face of the earth" (Ps 104:30).

For the Church to fully exercise her authority and power, she must be "built as an edifice of spirit, into a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Pt 2:5). "In Him you are being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit" (Eph 2:22). Everyone "must be careful how he builds" (1 Cor 3:10).

For the Church to be built up, bring Jesus to the world, and make every thought captive to Christ (2 Cor 10:5), she must be cleansed as Jesus cleansed the Temple (see Jn 2:15ff).

Let zeal for God's Church consume us (Jn 2:17; Ps 69:10). Let us cleanse the Church by first repenting of our sins in and against the Church. Let us build up the Church, especially by forming small Christian communities. Then we will see the Church exalted as the body of Christ (e.g. Eph 1:22-23), the bride of Christ (e.g. Rv 22:17), the pillar and bulwark of truth (1 Tm 3:15), " 'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people He claims for His own to proclaim the glorious works' of the One Who called you from darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pt 2:9). Love the Church as Christ loves the Church. Give yourself up for her (Eph 5:25).

PRAYER: Father, may zeal for Your Church consume me.

PROMISE: "Are you not aware that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" –1 Cor 3:16

PRAISE: Alleluia! Jesus is the Cornerstone, and the Church is His pillar and bulwark of truth. Praise our Lord forever!

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 Two: The Coming of Christ

Chapter 6: Creation

137. God is love, and love is more active the more it gives itself and the more unworthy its beneficiaries are.

141. The Incarnation remains essentially the remedy for sin. The Incarnation is an act in which God gives Himself, and when God gives Himself to sinners, He but gives Himself the more generously.
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