Message of 8-17-07

Published: Fri, 08/17/07



MESSAGE OF THE DAY

Our good Lord, the Holy Spirit -- endless life dwelling in our souls -- always protects us and gives us peace.  Through grace, God's Spirit brings each soul to tranquility and makes it obedient and reconciles it to God.  Our good Lord constantly leads us on this path of mercy while we're in this unpredictable life.
- Julian of Norwich, "Revelations"

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

Jos 24:1-13;   Ps 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22 and 24;   Mt 19:3-12

R.    His mercy endures forever.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever;
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his mercy endures forever;
Give thanks to the LORD of lords,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who led his people through the wilderness,
for his mercy endures forever;
Who smote great kings,
for his mercy endures forever;
And slew powerful kings,
for his mercy endures forever.

And made their land a heritage,
for his mercy endures forever;
The heritage of Israel his servant,
for his mercy endures forever;
And freed us from our foes,
for his mercy endures forever.

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

- Matthew 19: 3-12 (Marriage and divorce)

To understand the significance of today’s reading, we must first realize that some Jewish traditions permitted a man to divorce his wife if he had lost interest in her or found her wanting in household skills. Jesus counters this tradition by holding out as God’s will the indissolubility of the marriage commitment. He also states some people would be better off not married.

• Several early Fathers of the Church believed that God frowned d)n sexual intercourse and that the Holy Spirit deserted people during sexual union. What is your response to such an assertion?

• Why would an adult person choose to remain unmarried? Do you believe this is healthy?

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ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE
   - by Jean Pierre de Caussade, S.J.

   Our whole science consists in recognising the designs of God for the present
   moment. All reading not intended for us by God is dangerous. It is by doing
   the will of God and obeying His holy inspirations that we obtain grace, and
   this grace works in our hearts through our reading or any other employment.
   Apart from God reading is empty and vain and, being deprived for us of the
   life-giving power of the action of God, only succeeds in emptying the heart
   by the very fullness it gives to the mind.

         -- Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 5

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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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