Message of 11-6-08
Published: Thu, 10/30/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it forgoes
revenge, and dares forgive an injury.
- Edwin Hubbel Chapin
(Whom do you need to forgive at this time?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Phil 3:3-8a; Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Lk 15:1-10
R. (3b) Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
What does Jesus' story about a lost sheep and a lost coin tell us
about God and his kingdom? Shepherds normally counted their sheep
at the end of the day to make sure all were accounted for. Since
sheep by their very nature are very social, an isolated sheep can
quickly become bewildered and even neurotic. The shepherd's grief
and anxiety is turned to joy when he finds the lost sheep and
restores it to the fold. The housewife who lost a coin faced
something of an economic disaster, since the value of the coin
would be equivalent to her husband's daily wage. What would she say
to her husband when he returned home from work? They were poor and
would suffer greatly because of the loss. Her grief and anxiety
turn to joy when she finds the coin. Both the shepherd and the
housewife "search until what they have lost is found." Their
persistence pays off. They both instinctively share their joy with
the whole community. The poor are particularly good at sharing in
one another's sorrows and joys. What was new in Jesus' teaching was
the insistence that sinners must be sought out and not merely
mourned for. God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but
desires that all be saved and restored to fellowship with him. That
is why the whole community of heaven rejoices when one sinner is
found and restored to fellowship with God. Seekers of the lost are
much needed today. Do you persistently pray and seek after those
you know who have lost their way to God?
"Lord Jesus, let your light dispel the darkness that what is lost
may be found and restored. Let your light shine through me that
others may see your truth and love and find hope and peace in you.
May I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have
shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be
merciful as you are merciful."
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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
You, Lord, are always the same. You remain forever, always good,
just, and holy; doing all things rightly, justly, and holily,
disposing them wisely. I, however, who am more ready to go
backward
than forward, do not remain always in one state, for I change
with the
seasons. Yet my condition quickly improves when it pleases You and
when You reach forth Your helping hand. For You alone, without
human
aid, can help me and strengthen me so greatly that my heart
shall no
more change but be converted and rest solely in You. Hence, if I
knew
well how to cast aside all earthly consolation, either to attain
devotion or because of the necessity which, in the absence of
human
solace, compels me to seek You alone, then I could deservedly
hope for
Your grace and rejoice in the gift of new consolation.
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 40
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