Message of 8-9-07

Published: Thu, 08/09/07



MESSAGE OF THE DAY

Never believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; never tell even that unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary - and that God is listening while you tell it.
   - William Penn

(And that would be the end of gossip!)

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SCRIPTURE READINGS
      http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/

Nm 20:1-13;   Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9;   Mt 16:13-23

R.    (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tested me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”

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Praying the Daily Gospels
 - by Philip St. Romain:
 - http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614

- Matthew 16: 13-23 (Jesus, Peter, and the Church)

Of the four evangelists, only Matthew speaks of Jesus founding the Church. He also speaks of the privileged place of Peter as leader of the Church—a responsibility so important that Peter’s words would become binding for the salvation of souls. When Peter tries to sway Jesus from his destiny, Jesus rebukes him; as leader of the Church, Peter must learn to submit his will to God’s.

• Spend some time with the passage, "Who do you say that I am?”  Respond as honestly as you can.

• How do you feel about the manner in which Church authorities exercise power? On what issues do you respect their leadership most? Least?

• Pray that our Church leaders may exercise authority wisely.

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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
    - by Thomas a Kempis -

   Therefore, O Lord God, I consider it a great blessing not to have many
   things which human judgment holds praiseworthy and glorious, for one
   who realizes his own poverty and vileness should not be sad or
   downcast at it, but rather consoled and happy because You, O God, have
   chosen the poor, the humble, and the despised in this world to be Your
   friends and servants. The truth of this is witnessed by Your Apostles,
   whom You made princes over all the world. Yet they lived in this world
   without complaining, so humble and simple, so free from malice and
   deceit, that they were happy even to suffer reproach for Your name and
   to embrace with great affection that which the world abhors.
       -- Bk. 3, Chapter 22

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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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