Message of 10-23-08
Published: Sun, 10/19/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- - -
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
The hope that is left after all your hopes are gone -- that is pure
hope, rooted in the heart.
- David Steindl-Rast, "Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Eph 3:14-21; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19; Lk 12:49-53
R. (5b) 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.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Not peace, but division."
Is anyone comfortable with this Gospel passage? My question belies
the problem. We seek comfort from our religion, not challenge. We
seek justification, assurance that the status quo -- maybe with a
few tweaks -- is just fine. That nice is good enough and all that
can reasonably be asked of us. One commentator suggests that faith
in Jesus divides the eager from the contented. Perhaps the division
is also within each of us, that part which longs for the easy life
against that part which strives to be a true and worthy disciple.
We can be the latter if we simply stop protecting the former.
"Lord Jesus, help us live today without regard for our own comfort.
St. John of Capistrano, patron of military chaplains, protect those
in harm's way."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Voice of Christ
My child, it often happens that a man seeks ardently after
something
he desires and then when he has attained it he begins to think
that it
is not at all desirable; for affections do not remain fixed on the
same thing, but rather flit from one to another. It is no very
small
matter, therefore, for a man to forsake himself even in things
that
are very small.
A man's true progress consists in denying himself, and the man
who has
denied himself is truly free and secure. The old enemy, however,
setting himself against all good, never ceases to tempt them,
but day
and night plots dangerous snares to cast the unwary into the net
of
deceit. "Watch ye and pray," says the Lord, "that ye enter not
into
temptation."[39]39
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 39
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You can help to "grow" this newsletter by forwarding copies to
friends and family members. Subscribe info is listed below.
Thanks for your support.
- - - -
Please help support Heartland Center's Internet ministries:
- For more info on tax-deductible donations, see
http://shalomplace.com/seed/donations.html.
Thanks for your consideration!
--------------------------------------
- - -
* Web Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?dailyseed
* RSS: http://www.aweber.com/z/rss/?dailyseed