Message of 10-31-07
Published: Sat, 10/27/07
- 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
Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is
constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of
God.
- Thomas Merton
(What are you most grateful for these days?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Rom 8:26-30; Ps 13:4-5, 6; Lk 13:22-30
R. (6a) My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.
Look, answer me, O LORD, my God!
Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death
lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him";
lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.
Though I trusted in your mercy,
Let my heart rejoice in your salvation;
let me sing of the LORD, "He has been good to me."
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Scripture Meditation
The beatitudes which Jesus offers us are a sign of contradiction to
the world's understanding of happiness and joy. How can one
possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and
persecution? Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in
possessing God as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the
spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God's word and Spirit.
Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful
freedom from the burden of guilt and spiritual oppression. God
reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and
happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven
will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can
expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: "No one can live without
joy. That is why a person deprived of spiritual joy goes after
carnal pleasures." Do you know the happiness of hungering and
thirsting for God alone?
"Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that
leads to everlasting peace and happiness. May I desire you above
all else and find perfect joy in doing your will."
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net
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MYSTICISM
- by Evelyn Underhill -
The true rule of poverty consists in giving up those things which
enchain the spirit, divide its interests, and deflect it on its
road to God--whether these things be riches, habits, religious
observances, friends, interests, distastes, or desires--not in mere
outward destitution for its own sake. It is attitude, not act, that
matters; self-denudation would be unnecessary were it not for our
inveterate tendency to attribute false value to things the moment
they become our own. "What is poverty of spirit but meekness of
mind, by which a man knows his own infirmity?" says Rolle, "seeing
that to perfect stableness he may not come but by the grace of God,
all thing that him might let from that grace he forsakes, and only
in joy of his Maker he sets his desire. And as of one root spring
many branches, so of wilful poverty on this wise taken proceed
virtues and marvels untrowed. Not as some, that change their
clothes and not their souls; riches soothly it seems these forsake,
and vices innumerable they cease not to gather. . . . If thou truly
all thing for God forsake, see more what thou despised than what
thou forsaketh."
------ 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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