Message of 10-22-08
Published: Sun, 10/19/08
How did the rose ever open its heart and give to this world all of
its beauty? It felt the encouragement of Light against its being;
otherwise we all remain too frightened.
- Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky, "Love Poems from God"
(God as Light warming your being . . . pause awhile to feel the
Warmth.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Eph 3:2-12; Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6; Lk 12:39-48
R. (see 3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of
salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from "Daily Reflections"
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Jesus is asking us to live our lives with freedom - with the
freedom that comes from knowing who we are. That freely lived
identity is formed and tested in our everyday lives. It is formed
by the defining relationships in our lives and by the choices we
make, which shape us into the persons we become. This faithful
freedom to be who we are called to be is tested by all the
attractions of the world, which pull us in other directions.
Usually it is greed or lust - something just looks so attractive
that we feel drawn to want it or to at least try it. Sometimes it
is fear - anxiety, and worries about the "what ifs," steal our
ability to be courageous and steadfast. In all of these defining
moments of our lives, Jesus is there coming to meet us with the
offer of grace, with the gift of freedom, with the loving encounter
that calls us to be our most loving and self-sacrificing selves. He
simply asks us to be ready to meet him at the time he comes to us
today.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
The second reason why I set sanctification above humility is that
humility stoops to be under all creatures, and in doing so goes out
of itself. But sanctification remains self-contained. But to remain
contained within oneself is nobler than to go out of oneself for
any purpose whatever; therefore saith the Psalmist, "The King's
daughter is all glorious within," that is, all her glory is from
her inwardness. Perfect sanctification has no inclination nor
going-out towards any creature; it wishes neither to be above or
below, neither to be like nor unlike any creature, but only to be
one. Whosoever wishes to be this or that wishes to be somewhat; but
sanctification wishes to be nothing.
- #6, Sanctification
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REVIEW OF DAY
- from, "Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day. Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.
1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.
2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.
* What happened? What did I do today?
* How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
* Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?
3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.
4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.
5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.
6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.
This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.
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SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
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