Message of 2-14-08
Published: Thu, 02/07/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
A discipline won't bring you closer to God. Only God can bring you
closer to Himself. What the discipline is meant to do is to help
you get yourself, your ego, out of the way so you are open to His
grace.
- James Kushner
(What disciplines do you need to work at this time to get your ego
out of the way of God's love?)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Ps. 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8; Mt 7:7-12
R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
Prayer flows from the love of God; and the personal love we show to
our neighbor is fueled by the love that God has poured into our
hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Jesus concludes his
discourse on prayer with the reminder that we must treat our
neighbor in the same way we wish to be treated by God and by
others. We must not just avoid doing harm to our neighbor, we must
actively seek his or her welfare. In doing so, we fulfill the law
and the prophets, namely what God requires of us -- loving God with
all that we have and are and loving our neighbor as ourselves. The
Holy Spirit is every ready to transform our lives in Jesus' way of
love. Do you thirst for holiness and for the fire of God's love?
"Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am
-- a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love
all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under
my authority, my friends and my enemies. Help me to conquer anger
with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to
forget myself and reach out towards others." (Prayer attributed to
Clement XI of Rome)
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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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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis
The Voice of Christ
All is not lost when things go contrary to your wishes. You
ought not
judge according to present feelings, nor give in to any trouble
whenever it comes, or take it as though all hope of escape were
lost.
And do not consider yourself forsaken if I send some temporary
hardship, or withdraw the consolation you desire. For this is
the way
to the kingdom of heaven, and without doubt it is better for you
and
the rest of My servants to be tried in adversities than to have
all
things as you wish. I know your secret thoughts, and I know that
it is
profitable for your salvation to be left sometimes in
despondency lest
perhaps you be puffed up by success and fancy yourself to be
what you
are not.
-------- Bk. 3, Chapter 30
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