Message of 1-14-08
Published: Sun, 01/13/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"God is more eager to bestow blessings on us than we are to receive
them."
- St. Augustine -
(What blessings would you like for God to bestow on you today?
Consider deeply, then ask in good faith.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Sm 1:1-8; Ps. 116:12-13, 14-17, 18-19; Mk 1:14-20
R. (17a) To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Come after me."
The year 2008 is only two weeks old, yet for many of us, New Year's
Day seems like a long time ago. Today we're invited to consider
beginnings as we listen to the first verses of the books of Samuel
and Mark. We hear the story of Hannah's barrenness and her
desperate longing for a child. We hear the call of the first
disciples, a call they were so quick to answer that it must have
been the fulfillment of a deep longing of their own. Time passes
quickly. Let's slow down today and accept the invitation to begin
once again, listening for the voice of Jesus calling us.
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to your presence, my ears to your voice,
my heart to your love. Amen.
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LECTIO DIVINA PROCESS
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html
First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:
* Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.
* Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?
* Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.
* Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God.
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THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S "THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY"
from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm
295. In ransoming His creatures, the Redeemer makes them His
members. We receive this redemption, not as a gift coming from
another, but as the grace incorporating them into that other.
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