Message of 1-18-08
Published: Sun, 01/13/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
- Toward the end of his life, Aldous Huxley wrote:
"It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human
problem all one's life and find at the end that one has no more to
offer by way of advice than, 'Try to be a little kinder.'"
(Do your part today.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22; Mark 2:1-12
R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart's desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
For you made him a blessing forever;
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Jesus can forgive sins
The Scriptures teach us that sin is a power which keeps us from
growing and which breaks up relationships. In today's reading
Jesus shows us that he can heal us from physical and spiritual
paralysis.
- Some theologians have stated that we sin most often not by doing
malicious and destructive things but by settling for less than the
best in ourselves. Think about this.
- What is paralyzing your love for family members? Pray for the
grace to overcome any obstacles.
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Benedictine Approach)
1. Relax. Settle in. Be aware that God is here, now, loving you.
2. Read a short passage of Scripture as though God were speaking
directly to you in it.
3. Choose a phrase from the passage that strikes you and repeat it
slowly, prayerfully, non-analytically.
4. When your heart is full, express to God the needs and sentiments
awakened by your meditation. When you're done, read another passage
and repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. If, at any time, you feel moved to simply be present to God in
loving silence, put the Scripture aside and rest in God.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "The Practice of the Presence of God," by Brother Lawrence
Br. Lawrence notes:
That as for the miseries and sins he heard of daily in the
world, he
was so far from wondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was
surprised there were not more, considering the malice sinners were
capable of: that for his part, he prayed for them; but knowing
that GOD
could remedy the mischiefs they did, when He pleased, he gave
himself
no further trouble.
That to arrive at such resignation as GOD requires, we should
watch
attentively over all the passions which mingle as well in
spiritual
things as those of a grosser nature: that GOD would give light
concerning those passions to those who truly desire to serve
Him. That
if this was my design, viz., sincerely to serve GOD, I might
come to
him (Bro. Lawrence) as often as I pleased, without any fear of
being
troublesome; but if not, that I ought no more to visit him.
- First Conversation
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