Message of 9-12-07
Published: Tue, 09/04/07
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we
take between two deep breaths, or the turning inwards in prayer for
five short minutes.
- Etty Hillesum
(Pause often this day to call to mind God's presence. These
mini-sabbaths can make a huge difference in the quality of
attention you bring to whatever it is you do.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Col 3:1-11; Ps 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab; Lk 6:20-26
R. (9) The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
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Praying the Daily Gospels
- by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
Luke 6: 20-26 (Blest are the poor)
Luke has simplified the list of beatitudes dlescribed in Matthew,
eliminating material that his non-Jewish audience would not have
properly appreciated. Nevertheless, we are left with blessings andl
curses which should deeply challenge us.
- Which of the beatitudes do you find most consoling? Why?
- Which of the 'woes" disturb you most? Why? How does this
challenge you to change?
- Pray for the grace to be willing to change for the sake of the
kingdom.
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MYSTICISM
- by Evelyn Underhill -
It is not love but lust--the possessive case, the very food of
selfhood--which poisons the relation between the self and the
external world and "immediately fatigues" the soul. Divide the
world into "mine" and "not mine," and unreal standards are set up,
claims and cravings begin to fret the mind. We are the slaves of
our own property. We drag with us not a treasure, but a chain.
"Behold," says the "Theologia Germanica," "on this sort must we
cast all things from us and strip ourselves of them: we must
refrain from claiming anything for our own. When we do this, we
shall have the best, fullest, clearest, and noblest knowledge that
a man can have, and also the noblest and purest love and desire."
"Some there are," says Plotinus, "that for all their effort have
not attained the Vision. . . . They have received the authentic
Light, all their soul has gleamed as they have drawn near, but they
come with a load on their shoulders which holds them back from the
place of Vision. They have not ascended in the pure integrity of
their being, but are burdened with that which keeps them apart.
They are not yet made one within."
--- Part 2, Chapter 3
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MEDITATING ON SCRIPTURE (Method of St. Francis de Sales)
A. Settling in: call to mind God's presence; address oneself to God
in vocal prayer.
B. Reading the Scripture passage slowly, prayerfully.
C. Exercise of the will and intellect in considering the message:
what is this passage saying? what is it calling forth from me?
D. Conclusion: acts of thanksgiving, remorse and intercessions
awakened by the meditation.
E. Application: Immediate follow-through on resolutions made.
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