Message of 4-11-16

Published: Mon, 04/11/16

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: April 11, 2016
Message of the Day
It is an old custom of the servants of God to have some little prayer ready and to be frequently darting them up to Heaven during the day, lifting their minds to God out of the mire of this world. those who adopt this plan will get great fruits with little pains.  
- St. Philip Neri -

(Short prayers throughout the day . . . mindfulness of God.)
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Readings of the Day
Acts 6:8-15;    Ps. 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30;    Jn 6:22-29

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Though princes meet and talk against me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors.

I declared my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts.

Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.

USCCB lectionary
Reflection on the Scripture
“They could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.”

The story of Stephen, the first martyr, continues today. Last Saturday we heard that he and six others were chosen to tend to the material needs of the community. They were the first deacons. Suddenly Stephen is not only working in the first-century food pantry, but his preaching has caused him to be brought before the Sanhedrin. Commentators point out that Luke is intent on showing Stephen to be like Jesus, even down to the charges brought against him: blasphemy, threatening the temple, challenging Mosaic law. This first martyr was not a great scholar or a priest. He was one who told the simple truth and ministered to the poor. We’re called to do the same.

“O God, bless those called to be deacons and inspire all of us to testify to the truth when we speak and serve others when we act.”

- from preacherexchange.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 III: Christ

Chapter 9: Christology and the Mystical Body

231. God, and more precisely the Word, is the universal archetype, in particular for humanity.

232. Christ as man takes all mankind to Himself.

God alone is present to the being of all things, because He is Being itself.
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