Message of 1-29-16

Published: Fri, 01/29/16

“The presence of God” means a lively, attentive realization of God’s absolute presence — God is everywhere, in all places, in all things, in all people. Wherever birds ﬂy, they encounter the air; so wherever we go or wherever we are, we ﬁnd God present.
- St. Frances de Sales

("God is everywhere" . . . here and now . . . always loving.)

Readings of the Day

2 SM 11:1-5-10A, 13-17; PS 51:3-7, 10-11; MK 4:26-34

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”

I have done such evil in your sight
that you are just in your sentence,
blameless when you condemn.
True, I was born guilty,
a sinner, even as my mother conceived me.

Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
the bones you have crushed shall rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my guilt.

USCCB Lectionary

Amazon Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.

Scripture Reflection

Mark 4: 26-34 (The mustard seed)

The kingdom of God will conquer, Jesus assures us, for God's will is sovereign. Grace reaches deeper than sin; evil will be uprooted.

* Do you believe you have made progress in your life in growing closer to Christ during the past few months? Years? How has grace transformed you?

* Do you feel hopeful about God's kingdom conquering evil? Why? Why not? How does this affect your everyday attitude?

Paperback, Kindle

Spiritual Reading

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

Treats of the great need which we have to beseech the Eternal Father to grant us what we ask in these words: “Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo.” Explains certain temptations. This chapter is noteworthy.

Consider, daughters, in how many ways these enemies do us harm. Do not suppose that the sole danger lies in their making us believe that the consolations and the favours which they can counterfeit to us come from God. This, I think, in a way, is the least harmful thing they can do; it may even help some whom this sensible devotion entices to spend more time in prayer and thus to make greater progress. Being ignorant that these consolations come from the devil, and knowing themselves to be unworthy of such favours, they will never cease to give thanks to God and will feel the greater obligation to serve Him; further, they will strive to prepare themselves for more favours which the Lord may grant them, since they believe them to come from His hand.

- Chapter 36

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

Paperback, Kindle

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