Message of 7-21-08
Published: Tue, 07/15/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
God never simply buries our dead and broken dreams because He'd be
burying our hearts along with our dreams. One of two positive
things will happen. Either the dream will become fertilizer for
something even better, or the Lord will give me the gumption and
oomph to bring my dream to fruition. I can't lose either way!
- Noni Joy Tari
(Has this been your experience? What dream(s) in you are alive and
well at this time in your life? Which seem to be fading?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Mi 6:1-4, 6-8; Ps 50:5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23; Mt 12:38-42
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
"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."
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"You have been told ... what the Lord requires of you: Only to do
right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God."
We are plainly told what the Lord wants us to do: three simple
things. There's nothing impossible or extraordinary on the list, at
least at first glance. But we often have a way of messing up
seemingly uncomplicated things like righteousness, goodness and
humility. We forget that we live for the kingdom. We fail to lead
others to Christ. We get selfish and sidetracked. And that's
exactly when we need to stop and recall how straightforward living
for the Lord can be.
"For right judgment, integrity and holiness, 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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