Message of 4-2-08
Published: Thu, 03/27/08
"So, brethren, 'rejoice in the Lord,' not in the world. That is,
rejoice in the truth, not in the wickedness; rejoice in the hope of
eternity, not in the fading flower of vanity. That is the way to
rejoice. Wherever you are on earth, however long you remain on
earth, 'the Lord is near, do not be anxious about anything.'"
- Anthony of Egypt -
(No matter what one's circumstances, it is always possible to
rejoice more and be less anxious. Give your heart to rejoicing
that the Spirit may remove all fear from your being.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 5:17-26; Ps. 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Jn 3:16-21
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
from "Praying the Daily Gospels," by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- John 3: 16-21 (Jesus sent to save, not judge)
Many people believe that Gods judgment works as a positive
endorsement for, or negative decision against, us. Jesus' teaching
about light and darkness reminds us that judgment means that God
will honor the choices we have freely made. Those who reject Jesus
and the way to God, he reveals, will be allowed to experience the
darkness of soul they have chosen. God gives us freedom to respond
to his love or to reject him. If this were not true, we could not
share in God's love.
- Verse 20 implies that those who hate the light are ashamed and
afraid to change. Is there anything from your past of which you
are ashamed and believe that God has not forgiven? Ask for
forgiveness.
- Is it easy for you to change attitudes and behaviors that
conflict with the way of love? Pray for the grace to change.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
The whole Being of God is contained in God alone. The whole of
humanity is not contained in one man, for one man is not all men.
But in God the soul knows all humanity, and all things at their
highest level of existence, since it knows them in their essence.
Suppose any one to be in a beautifully adorned house: he would know
much more about it than one who had never entered therein, and yet
wished to speak much about it. Thus, I am as sure, as I am of my
own existence and God's, that, if the soul is to know God, it must
know Him outside of time and place. Such a soul will know clearly
how near God's kingdom is.
- Sermon 2, The Nearness of the Kingdom.
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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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