Message of 3-12-08
Published: Fri, 03/07/08
"As God created all things by His word, so do we by prayer obtain
whatever God wills. Nothing has so great a power to obtain grace
for us as prayer when rightly made; for it contains the motives by
which God easily allows Himself to be appeased and to incline to
mercy."
(Pope Leo XIII [19th C.], "Exeunte Jam Anno")
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56; Jn 8:31-42
R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."
"Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
"Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
"Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim;
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
"Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever."
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
'You are trying to kill me because my word has no room among you.'
These direct words were spoken to those Jews who thought that their
status as children of Abraham guaranteed their righteousness. What
guarantees our righteousness? What word of God has no room among
us? The word challenging us to forgive? The word challenging us to
consider the lilies? The word challenging us to care for the least
ones? Perhaps we kill this Word by calling it a "metaphor" or an
"ideal" or making exceptions for our situation.
Lord Jesus, during these last days of Lent, broaden my mind to
receive your word; open my heart to embrace the truth that will set
me free.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
A man may go into the field and say his prayer and be aware of God,
or, he may be in Church and be aware of God; but, if he is more
aware of Him because he is in a quiet place, that is his own
deficiency and not due to God, Who is alike present in all things
and places, and is willing to give Himself everywhere so far as
lies in Him. He knows God rightly who knows Him everywhere. St
Bernard saith, "How is it that mine eye and not my foot sees
heaven? Because mine eye is more like heaven than my foot is. So,
if my soul is to know God, it must be God-like."
- #2, The Nearness of God
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REVIEW OF DAY
- from, "Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day. Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.
1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.
2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.
* What happened? What did I do today?
* How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
* Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?
3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.
4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.
5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.
6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.
This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.
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SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
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