Message of 11-7-08
Published: Thu, 10/30/08
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- - -
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful
heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so
it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
- Henry Ward Beecher
(Take time this day to thank God for all the blessings you can call
to mind; thank God for your struggles and hardships as well.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Phil 3:17--4:1; Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5; Lk 16:1-8
R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Luke 16: 1-8 (The clever manager)
At first glance, this appears to be a parable of forgiveness, but
it is much more. When Jesus commends the manager for his cleverness
in assuring his future, he also chides his followers for their lack
of initiative in the things of God. What if we were to give as much
time and effort to building the kingdom of God as we do to securing
a living and advancing ourselves professionally? What would the
world be like?
- Divide a sheet of paper into three columns. In the first
column, list activities in which you are regularly engaged
(employment, sleep, recreation, for example). In the second column,
write the amount of time you spend each week on each activity. In
the third column, list the reasons why you engage in each activity.
Study this list awhile, praying for wisdom to help you reorganize
your life, if necessary.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "The Practice of the Presence of God," by Brother Lawrence
For the first years, I commonly employed myself during the time set
apart for devotion, with the thoughts of death, judgement, hell,
heaven, and my sins. Thus I continued some years applying my mind
carefully the rest of the day, and even in the midst of my
business, to the presence of GOD, whom I considered always as with
me, often as in me.
- Second Letter
______________________________
* Web Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?dailyseed
* RSS: http://www.aweber.com/z/rss/?dailyseed