Message of 2-23-16

Published: Tue, 02/23/16

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
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Message of the Day
“I shrink every time I look at the cross because I feel I could die thinking of the pain of it, yet, in spite of this deep repugnance of mine, my heart welcomes all the sufferings it entails and in these I find all my delight.”
- Gemma Galgani -

(If we can find joy amidst our sufferings, we have nothing to fear. How does the cross help you to realize this possibility?)
 
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Lectionary Readings

Is 1:10, 16-20;   Ps. 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23;    Mt 23:1-12

R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

"Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold."

"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"

"When you do these things,
shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way
I will show the salvation of God."

UCCB Lectionary
 
Reflection on the Scriptures

Humility frees us to love and serve others selflessly, for their sake, rather than our own. Paul the Apostle gives us the greatest example and model of humility in the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and …who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). Do you want to be a servant as Jesus served and loved others? The Lord gives grace to those who humbly seek him.

“Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of self-concern, conceit, and sinful pride. Help me to be humble as you are humble and to be generous in loving and serving others.”

DailyScripture.net
 
Spiritual Reading

The Cloud of Unknowing, by Anonymous


How that a man’s affection is marvelously changed in ghostly feeling of this nought, when it is nowhere wrought.


For he that abideth feeleth sometime some comfort, and hath some hope of perfection; for he feeleth and seeth that many of his fordone special sins be in great part by help of grace rubbed away. Nevertheless yet ever among he feeleth pain, but he thinketh that it shall have an end, for it waxeth ever less and less. And therefore he calleth it nought else but purgatory. Sometime he can find no special sin written thereupon, but yet him think that sin is a lump, he wot never what, none other thing than himself; and then it may be called the base and the pain of the original sin. Sometime him think that it is paradise or heaven, for diverse wonderful sweetness and comforts, joys and blessed virtues that he findeth therein. Sometime him think it God, for peace and rest that he findeth therein. Yea! think what he think will; for evermore he shall find it a cloud of unknowing, that is betwixt him and his God.


- Chapter 69


(The term, "ghostly" = "spiritual".)
 
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