Message of 8-18-08
Published: Sat, 08/16/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"As the body must be born after completing its development in the
womb, so a soul, when it has reached the limit of life in the body
allotted it by God, must leave the body."
- St. Anthony the Great -
(And so it shall be for all who are born. Who do you feel about
this? Are you ready?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Ez 24:15-23; Dt. 32:18-19, 20, 21; Mt 19:16-22
R. (see 18a) You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you.
You forgot the God who gave you birth.
When the LORD saw this, he was filled with loathing
and anger toward his sons and daughters.
"I will hide my face from them," he said,
"and see what will then become of them.
What a fickle race they are,
sons with no loyalty in them!"
"Since they have provoked me with their 'no-god'
and angered me with their vain idols,
I will provoke them with a 'no-people';
with a foolish nation I will anger them."
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he
had many possessions."
We are indeed blessed, but in the midst of abundance it is easy to
forgo the prospect of treasure in heaven for the glitz and
immediacy of earthly blessings. No wonder Jesus' words sadden the
young man. If we work hard for our possessions, we feel we are
entitled to them. The suggestion that we relinquish what we have
attained is disheartening -- until we truly look into the eyes of
the poor, needy, lonely or despairing. The young man strives to be
perfect, but how can he be if he allows those around him to remain
broken? In giving of ourselves and sharing our material goods, we
obtain richness in our connectedness. When we focus less on fearing
the commandments and more on following Jesus, we will be prosperous
in faith and love.
"For the grace to recognize God's blessings in all their forms, 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
412. Christ's members are indeed light, in Him and through Him. The
life that comes to them from Him is designed to make known to them
what He is and what God is in Himself, as well as to acquaint them
with what they are.
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