Message of 12-15-08
Published: Wed, 12/10/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"Question: When is a person sure of having arrived at purity?
Answer: When s/he considers all human beings are good, and no
created thing appears impure or defiled. Then s/he is truly pure
in heart."
- Isaac of Nineveh [7th C], "Ascetic Treatises," 85
(Don't know about you, but I've a ways to go. For the grace to
press onward . . . )
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a; Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9; Mt 21:23-27
R. (4) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Show us, Lord, your love, and grant us your salvation."
The Gospel Acclamation verse for today indicates the ideal attitude
of the good disciple or student. I've found that there are three
kinds of students: the Challenger, whose goal is to win the
argument; the Questioner, whose goal is knowledge; and the Seeker,
whose goal is wisdom. These correspond to the stages of life --
adolescence, the middle years and older age. The Pharisees were not
looking for wisdom or even answers. They were trying to trap Jesus,
to win. Notice how deftly Jesus avoids the trap.
"Lord Jesus, make us seekers after you and fill our hearts with
your wisdom so that we may be like your holy mother --
Christ-bearers to this needy world."
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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
463. The Trinity, which does not express itself in creatures and
hence is unknowable except through revelation, represents God as He
is in Himself and for Himself alone.
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