Message of 7-14-08
Published: Wed, 07/09/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
God looked into His heart long ago and fell so much in love with us
that He created us ou of sheer love. Love, you see, is the
explanation of all that is Good.
_ Cathering of Siena, "Letters"
("Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no
variation or shifting shadow." James 1, 17)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 1:10-17; Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23; Mt 10:34-11:1
R. (23b) 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 you 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."
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"I have come to bring not peace but the sword."
Jesus does not intentionally set us against the members of our own
family. Rather, he points out that no part of life is exempted
from the demands of discipleship, least of all our homes and
families. In fact, our commitment to Christ will affect all of our
relationships, and the ripples will be felt first and most
intensely by those closest to us. These folks are often our
clearest mirror for searching out and rectifying discrepancies in
our practice of faith. So let us cherish them -- both for the
support they offer and the challenges they present -- and remember
that they are first among those whom we are called to love and to
serve as Christ.
"For peace within our families, we pray."
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LECTIO DIVINA PROCESS
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html
First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:
* Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.
* Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?
* Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.
* Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God.
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THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S "THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY"
from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm
399. -- Our lack of understanding hides our humanity from us.
-- Christ's human consciousness must be conceived as the first
principle in the order of human consciousness.
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