Message of 5-7-08
Published: Sat, 05/03/08
The greatest thing is to be found at one's post as a child of God,
living each day as though it were our last, but planning as though
our world might last a hundred years.
--C. S. Lewis
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 20:28-38; Ps. 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab; Jn 17:11b-19
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
"Confess the power of God!"
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from "Daily Reflections"
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Today Jesus is just as concerned for the spiritual well being of
you and I and all his followers as he was on that long ago day when
he was preparing to end his life here on earth. As he did then, he
today commends all of us to the care of his heavenly father that we
might always be protected from sin and evil. And just as Paul long
ago commended the people of Ephesus to the loving care of Almighty
God, so Pope Benedict commended us with his heartfelt "God Bless
America" shortly before the conclusion of his visit.
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
God created the soul after the image of His highest perfection. He
issued forth from the treasure-house of the everlasting Fatherhood
in which He had rested from all eternity. Then the Son opened the
tent of His everlasting glory and came forth from His high place to
fetch His Bride, whom the Father had espoused to Him from all
Eternity, back to that heaven from which she came. Therefore He
came forth rejoicing as a bridegroom and suffered the pangs of
love. Then He returned to His secret chamber in the silence and
stillness of the everlasting Fatherhood. As He came forth from the
Highest, so He returned to the Highest with His Bride, and revealed
to her the hidden treasures of His Godhead.
- #3, "The Angel's Greeting"
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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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