Good Friday - 2008
Published: Mon, 03/10/08
A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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Good Friday
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Turn your eye, the eye of faith, to the cross and see these two
things - the crucifiers and the Crucified. See the crucifiers, the
haters of God and of His Son. They are yourself. Read in them your
own character. See the Crucified. It is God Himself; incarnate
love. It is He who made you, God manifest in flesh, suffering,
dying for the ungodly. Can you suspect His grace? Can you cherish
evil thoughts of Him?
- Horatius Bonar
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 52:13--53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 ; Heb
4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1--19:42
R. (Lk 23:46) Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
For all my foes I am an object of reproach,
a laughingstock to my neighbors, and a dread to my friends;
they who see me abroad flee from me.
I am forgotten like the unremembered dead;
I am like a dish that is broken.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God.
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors."
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- John 18: 1 - 19: 42 (Jesus arrested condemned, crucified)
Crucifixion was not the kind of death a community would choose for
its hero. Roman crucifixion was reserved for the most heinous
criminals in society and was intended to discourage other criminals
from testing the Pax Romana. Since the Jews were not permitted to
carry out the death sentence, they needed to convince the Roman
procurator, Pontius Pilate, that Jesus deserved to die. Though
Pilate seems reluctant to comply, he finally gives in, and Jesus
is lifted up."
- After reading through John's passion narrative, spend some time
reflecting on the cost of loving as Jesus loved.
- Bonhoeffer, a Protestant pastor killed by the Nazis, wrote
that when Jesus Christ calls a person, he bids him or her to come
and die. How do you feel about this?
- Pray for the grace to be willing to lay down your life today for
the sake of love.
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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 noted:
That in his trouble of mind, he had consulted nobody, but knowing
only by the light of faith that GOD was present, he contented
himself with directing all his actions to Him, i.e., doing them
with a desire to please Him, let what would come of it.
That useless thoughts spoil all: that the mischief began there; but
that we ought to reject them, as soon as we perceived their
impertinence to the matter in hand, or our salvation; and return to
our communion with GOD.
- Second Conversation
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