Message of 8-29-08
Published: Thu, 08/21/08
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
God's work is done in secret, yet the Lord wants to be known.
God's coming will be very sudden. God also wants to be trusted
because He's so friendly and kind. May the Lord be blessed!
- Julian of Norwich, "Revelations"
(Amen!)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Cor 1:17-25; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11; Mk 6:17-29
R. (5) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
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- Matthew 25: 1-13 (Preparedness pays)
Today's parable is based upon traditions that seem strange to many
of us in the West. After a couple married, they went to their home
and were treated like royalty by friends and relatives for several
days. Late-comers were barred from this ceremony. Because no one
was allowed outside at night without a light of some kind, people
waiting for a nocturnal arrival of the couple needed plenty of oil
if they were to gain admittance to the ceremony. In the same way,
Jesus tells us, we are to be vigilant for his return.
- How do you feel when you reflect upon the fact that you will die?
- "Those who weep loudest at funerals are those who never said, I
love you' when they had the chance," Leo Buscaglia said. How can
you tell the people you care for that you love them today?
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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 counseled:
That when we enter upon the spiritual we should consider, and
examine to the bottom, what we are. And then we should find
ourselves worthy of all contempt, and such as do not deserve the
name of Christians, subject to all kinds of misery, and numberless
accidents, which trouble us, and cause perpetual vicissitudes in
our health, in our humours, in our internal and external
dispositions: in fine, persons whom GOD would humble by many pains
and labours, as well within as without. After this, we should not
wonder that troubles, temptations, oppositions and contradictions,
happen to us from men. We ought, on the contrary, to submit
ourselves to them, and bear them as long as GOD pleases, as things
highly advantageous to us.
- Fourth conversation
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