Message of 10-27-08
Published: Sat, 10/25/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"So your mind must be completely free, and only then can you find
out what is true--not by the acceptance of some superstition . . .
nor by following some guru. Only when you have this freedom, this
freedom from external influences as well as from your own desires
and longings so that your mind is very clear--only then is it
possible to find out what God is."
- J. Krishnamurti, "On God"
(J.K. is more a Buddhist than a Christian, but this particular
teaching resonates strongly with that of many Christian saints and
mystics, pointing out the importance of true detachment.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Eph 4:32-5:8; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Lk 13:10-17
R. (see Eph. 5:1) Behave like God as his very dear children.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Be kind to one another ... forgiving one another as God has forgiven
you."
How painfully challenging it is to be kind and forgiving toward
"wrong thinkers" who oppose me in my family, church or workplace.
It's often easier to fight because "I know I'm right; I must make
him see the light," or to close my heart against someone because of
what "she did to me, after all I've done for her." At such times it
is best to remember that God has forgiven me more than I will ever
be required to forgive, that our actions and demeanor often do more
than our words to win over another, and that God has not commanded
me to win, only to love.
"That my attitude toward others may always reflect God's love."
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LECTIO DIVINA PROCESS
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html
First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:
* Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.
* Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?
* Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.
* Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God.
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THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S "THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY"
from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm
437. Christ is the Spirator, and the members of Christ are members
of the Spirator.
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