Message of 7-25-08
Published: Tue, 07/15/08
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
What God asks is a will which will no longer be divided between Him
and any creature, a will pliant in His hands, which neither desires
anything nor refuses anything, which wants without reservation
everything which He wants, and which never, under any pretext,
wants anything which He does not want.
- Francois Fenelon
(How well do you measure up to this difficult standard?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
2 Cor 4:7-15; Ps 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6; Mt 20:20-28 (13:
18-23 for Ordinary Time)
R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 13: 18-23 (A parable explained)
Jesus taught his disciples many things that he did not explain to
the crowds. He wanted to be certain that his disciples understood
his words because he knew that they would one day need to expound
on them. In today's reading he explains the meaning of the parable
of the sower, leaving its symbolism intact while developing its
meaning.
- What kinds of seeds have you sowed at work recently? Choose a few
people with whom you work and examine how you have related to them
during the past two days. How often were you critical of them, at
least silently? Resolve to be more affirming.
- What is growing in the good soil of your heart? In the briers? In
the rocky ground? Along the path?
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Benedictine Approach)
1. Relax. Settle in. Be aware that God is here, now, loving you.
2. Read a short passage of Scripture as though God were speaking
directly to you in it.
3. Choose a phrase from the passage that strikes you and repeat it
slowly, prayerfully, non-analytically.
4. When your heart is full, express to God the needs and sentiments
awakened by your meditation. When you're done, read another passage
and repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. If, at any time, you feel moved to simply be present to God in
loving silence, put the Scripture aside and rest in God.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "The Practice of the Presence of God," by Brother Lawrence
Brother Lawrence noted:
That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of
GOD, his soul being at that time insensible to everything but
Divine love: and that when the appointed times of prayer were past,
he found no difference, because he still continued with GOD,
praising and blessing Him with all his might, so that he passed his
life in continual joy; yet hoped that GOD would give him somewhat
to suffer, when he should grow stronger.
- Fourth conversation
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