Message of 9-7-07
Published: Sat, 09/01/07
When I find myself racing around, trying to fill a day with
mindless tasks or petty entertainment, this is usually the time
that God whispers to my heart to draw away with Him and to silence
my heart as He wishes to speak.
- Katherine Walden
(I call these times "mini-sabbaths," and they can be as brief as
five minutes. Oh what a difference they can make in keeping one
centered and at peace.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Col 1:15-20; Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5; Lk 5:33-39
R. (2b) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
For he is good,
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
- - -
Praying the Daily Gospels
- by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Luke 5: 33-39 (Jesus, the bridegroom.)
Far from being rigid ascetics, Jesus and his disciples are
considered quite lax when compared with other Jewish notions of
spirituality. Jesus explains that he and his disciples are more
interested in celebrating life than in shriveling in old traditions.
- What are some of your 'old skins" that you find hardest to shed
for the sake of the gospel? Pray for the grace to be willing to
change these habits.
- Think of something worth celebrating today. Call it to mind
several times through the day and share your joy with others.
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ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE
- by Jean Pierre de Caussade, S.J.
What was best for the moment that has passed is so no longer
because it is no longer the will of God which, becoming apparent
through
other circumstances, brings to light the duty of the present
moment. It is
this duty under whatever guise it presents itself which is
precisely that
which is the most sanctifying for the soul. If, by the divine
will, it is a
present duty to read, then reading will produce the destined
effect in the
soul. If it is the divine will that reading be relinquished for
contemplation, then this will perform the work of God in the
soul and
reading would become useless and prejudicial. Should the divine
will
withdraw the soul from contemplation for the hearing of
confessions, etc.,
and that even for some considerable time, this duty becomes the
means of
uniting the soul with Jesus Christ and all the sweetness of
contemplation
would only serve to destroy this union.
-- 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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