Message of 12-6-07
Published: Thu, 11/29/07
Lord, You shine into my soul
like the sun glows on gold,
and when I rest in You,
what rich joy I have.
In fact, You clothe Yourself, God,
with my soul.
You are her most intimate piece of clothing against the skin.
- Mechthild of Magdeburg, "The Flowing Light of the Godhead"
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Mt 7:21, 24-27
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD's;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
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ADVENT MEDITATION
Thursday , First Week in Advent
Psalm 118: 1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27
Is. 26: 1 - 6
"Thou shalt keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on
Thee."
This passage from today's reading was given to my wife and I in a
nicely framed poster when we got married 23 years ago. We liked it
so much that we hung it in our living room next to the front door
so that whenever we'd leave the house, we'd have a chance to be
reminded of its message.
Down through the years, I've been impressed again and again with
this truth: God's peace surpasses all understanding, but worldly
peace is always tinged with anxiety.
* How can you keep your mind fixed on God this day?
* "Let us trust in you for ever, for you, Our God, are an
everlasting Rock."
In what part of your life do you need to trust more in God this
day? Pray for the grace to do so.
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
- by Thomas a Kempis -
If you seek this or that, if you wish to be in this place or that
place, to have more ease and pleasure, you will never rest or be
free
from care, for some defect is found in everything and everywhere
someone will vex you. To obtain and multiply earthly goods,
then, will
not help you, but to despise them and root them out of your
heart will
aid. This, understand, is true not only of money and wealth, but
also
of ambition for honor and desire for empty praise, all of which
will
pass away with this world.
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 27
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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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