Message of 2-8-08
Published: Mon, 02/04/08
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
The highest perfection consists not in interior favors or in great
raptures or in visions, or in the spirit of prophecy, but in the
bringing of our wills so closely in conformity with the will of God
that, as soon as we realize that He wills anything, we desire it
ourselves with all our might, and take the bitter with the sweet,
knowing that to be His Majesty's will.
-- Teresa of Avila
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 58:1-9a; Ps. 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19; Mt 9:14-15
R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 9: 14-15: Jesus the bridegroom
Jesus viewed his coming as a time of grace, and he believed that
this ought to be celebrated. Many times he likened God's kingdom
to a wedding feast, where people rejoiced and had fun. The day
would come, however, when fasting would be appropriate. That time
is now.
- Read Isaiah 58: 1-9--today's first reading--for a better
understanding of the kind of fast that God desires. How can you
better exemplify this spirit of fasting in your lifestyle?
- Pray for the grace to hunger for the things of God.
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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
Brother Lawrence taught:
That since that time he had passed his life in perfect liberty and
continual joy. That he placed his sins betwixt him and GOD, as it
were, to tell Him that he did not deserve His favours, but that GOD
still continued to bestow them in abundance.
That in order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually,
and referring all we do to Him; we must at first apply to Him with
some diligence: but that after a little care we should find His love
inwardly excite us to it without any difficulty.
- Second conversation
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