Message of 12-3-08
Published: Sat, 11/29/08
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"If God's incomprehensibility does not grip us in a word,
if it does not draw us into his superluminous darkness,
if it does not call us out of the little house
of our homely, close-hugged truths
... we have misunderstood the words of Christianity.
(Karl Rahner, "Poetry and the Christian")
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Mt 15:29-37
R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my
life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from "Daily Reflections"
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
We have a challenge before us. Can we believe that the problems of
the world, of the U.S. can be turned around? Can we believe in
possibilities? Can we look for the possible? Can we help create a
New World, not just for ourselves, but for others also.
God wants us to be happy, to prosper, to share life and love with
one another. God Provides by giving us the Spirit to be courageous
in times of trouble; to be loving in times of grief; to build
communities of care with one another.
"How is your God Providing for you????
And are you helping God provide for Others???"
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
Here some one may make the objection: "Are then all good works and
prayers thrown away, since God is unmoved by them, and at the same
time we are told to pray to Him for everything?" In answer to this
I say that God from all eternity saw everything that would happen,
and also when, and how He would make all creatures: He foresaw also
all the prayers which would be offered, and which of them He would
hear: He saw the earnest prayers which thou wilt offer tomorrow,
but He will not listen to them tomorrow, because He heard them in
eternity, before thou wast a person at all. If, however, thy prayer
is half-hearted and not in earnest, God will not deny it now,
seeing that He has denied it in eternity. Thus God remains always
in His immovable sanctity, but sincere prayer and good works are
not lost, for whoso doeth well, will be well rewarded.
- #6, Sanctification
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REVIEW OF DAY
- from, "Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day. Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.
1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.
2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.
* What happened? What did I do today?
* How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
* Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?
3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.
4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.
5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.
6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.
This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.
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SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
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