Message of 8-16-07
Published: Thu, 08/16/07
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Breath in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
- Augustine
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Jos 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17; Ps 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Mt 18:21–19:1
R.
Alleluia!
When Israel came forth from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of alien tongue,
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his domain.
The sea beheld and fled;
Jordan turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like the lambs of the flock.
Why is it, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
You mountains, that you skip like rams?
You hills, like the lambs of the flock?
When Israel came forth from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of alien tongue,
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his domain.
The sea beheld and fled;
Jordan turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like the lambs of the flock.
Why is it, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
You mountains, that you skip like rams?
You hills, like the lambs of the flock?
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Praying the Daily Gospels
- by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 18:21-19:1 (The mercy of God)
Forgiveness is one of the most humbling of all practices and one of the most difficult. That is why Peter asks Jesus if there is a limit to the number of times that God—and we—can forgive others. Jesus reply reveals the incomprehensible depths d)f God’s forgiveness and our awesome responsibility to extend this grace to others.
• Suppose God
were to treat you as you have treated other people. How well would you
fare? Which would you prefer to have God extend to you, justice or
mercy?
• Is it difficult for you to forgive those who have wronged you? Is it difficult to ask for forgiveness when you’ve done wrong to another?
• Pray for the grace to know that you are a forgiven sinner.
• Is it difficult for you to forgive those who have wronged you? Is it difficult to ask for forgiveness when you’ve done wrong to another?
• Pray for the grace to know that you are a forgiven sinner.
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
- by Thomas a Kempis -
- Speaking to Christ:
A person who loves You and recognizes Your benefits, therefore, should be
gladdened by nothing so much as by Your will, by the good pleasure of
Your eternal decree. With this he should be so contented and consoled
that he would wish to be the least as others wish to be the greatest;
that he would be as peaceful and satisfied in the last place as in the
first, and as willing to be despised, unknown and forgotten, as to be
honored by others and to have more fame than they. He should prefer
Your will and the love of Your honor to all else, and it should
comfort him more than all the benefits which have been, or will be,
given him.
-------- 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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