Message of 7-31-08
Published: Thu, 07/17/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
God shows us His love for us not only when we do good, but also
when we offend and displease Him. How patiently he endures our
transgressions; and when He chastises, how mercifully He chastises!
- Seraphim of Sarov
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Jer 18:1-6; Ps 146:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab; Mt 13:47-53
R. (5a) Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
Put not your trust in princes,
in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.
When his spirit departs he returns to his earth;
on that day his plans perish.
Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD, his God.
Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
- feast of St. Ignatius Loyola
"Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my
hand, house of Israel."
We might not care for the idea of being wet clay in the hands of a
potter, but when the potter is the Lord, we are truly blessed. God
knows exactly how to form us into a unique vessel for eternal joy.
Ignatius of Loyola sought riches and glory until a war wound forced
him to rest while his shattered leg mended. He was moved by the
scriptures and the life of Jesus to surrender to the Lord, and by
God's grace he was remade into a great spiritual leader, mystic and
the founder of the Society of Jesus.
"Take, Lord, receive all my liberty. Give me only your love and
your grace."
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Carmelite Method)
A. Introduction: settling in, relaxing in awareness of God's
presence.
B. Reading the text slowly, prayerfully.
C. Meditation: imaginative representation of the material; reflection
on the meaning of the material and its application to one's life.
D. Affective prayer: conversation with God, attentive to sharing
feelings awakened in meditation. Prayer of petition, thanksgiving,
remorse.
E. Resting in God in silent loving awareness, if moved to do so.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Voice of Christ
MY CHILD, trust firmly in the Lord, and do not fear the judgment
of
others when conscience tells you that you are upright and
innocent. For
it is good and blessed to suffer such things, and they will not
weigh
heavily on the humble heart that trusts in God rather than in
itself.
Many people say many things, and therefore little faith is to be
put in
them.
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 36
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