Message of 8-10-07
Published: Fri, 08/10/07
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"When perfect love has driven out fear, or fear has been transformed into love, then everything that has been saved will be a unity growing together through the one and only Fullness, and everyone will be, in one another, a unity in the perfect Dove, the Holy Spirit."
- Gregory of Nyssa, "Homilies on the Song of Songs," 15
(Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done . . .)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
2 Cor 9:6-10; Ps 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9; Mt. 16: 24-28
R.
(5) Blessed the one who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
Lavishly he gives to the poor,
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
Lavishly he gives to the poor,
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
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Praying the Daily Gospels
- by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 16: 24-28 (The meaning of self-denial)
The gospel says we must die to ourselves, so it is important that we understand what this means. Jesus neither calls us to despise ourselves nor to deny our personal dreams and ambitions—unless they lead to sin. The self we are to deny is that strong tendency in each of us to be selfish and unconnected to others—to be ruled by instinct and desire rather than by truth and love. The cross is the way to grow into the higher, spiritual self.
• Review your
past day, focusing on a few key events. What decisions did you make?
What were your motives behind these decisions?
• “Incarnation happens with every decision to love” is a doctrine of the mystics. How do you understand this? Pray for the grace to be more conscious of the loving alternatives you have for each decision you make.
• “Incarnation happens with every decision to love” is a doctrine of the mystics. How do you understand this? Pray for the grace to be more conscious of the loving alternatives you have for each decision you make.
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- Anyone want a gmail address?
I have numerous invitations I can send out. This would give you a permanent lifetime POP email and webmail address.
See http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about.html for more info, and, if interested, send me an email with your request and I'll invite you. Google will send instructions on what to do after that.
- mailto:phil@shalomplace.com
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ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE
- by Jean Pierre de Caussade, S.J.
As fire gives out
heat, and not philosophical discussions about it, nor knowledge of its
effects, so the designs of God and His holy will work in the soul for its
sanctification, and not speculations of curiosity as to this principle and
this state. When one is thirsty one quenches one's thirst by drinking, not
by reading books which treat of this condition. The desire to know does but
increase this thirst. Therefore when one thirsts after sanctity, the desire
to know about it only drives it further away. Speculation must be laid
aside, and everything arranged by God as regards actions and sufferings must
be accepted with simplicity, for those things that happen at each moment by
the divine command or permission are always the most holy, the best and the
most divine for us.
-- Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 4
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Contemplative Method)
- adapted by Philip St. Romain from a variety of sources -
A. Select a short passage that you will use for prayer.
B. Settle in by sitting straight (on tailbone, spine erect). Notice sensations in your body, sounds around you, the manner of your breathing. Call to mind that God is present in and amidst all of this.
C. Read the passage aloud slowly, prayerfully. Let the words make their own impact, and voice whatever they awaken in your mind and heart to God.
- proceed to Step E if you already feel yourself coming to contemplative silence -
D. Read the passage a second time silently. Again, voice whatever is awakened to God, or acknowledge before God in your heart. Let this be a spontaneous conversation which includes your questions, intellectual reflections, petitions, resolutions, and so forth.
E. Read the passage a third time. If there is a word or phrase that sums up this passage, or that speaks to you in a special way, repeat it in your mind prayerfully. Let it express your willingness to allow God to be God in your life.
F. Allow yourself to simply be present to God in loving silence, aware of God's unfailing Presence to you in love. When distractions come which capture your attention, re-introduce the sacred word from Step E. Continue with this resting until your prayer time is over.
G. Close your prayer time with a sincere vocal recitation of the Lord's prayer, putting your whole being into the words.
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