Message of 5-14-08
Published: Wed, 05/07/08
I cannot live in mediocrity, content with merely knowing that there
is more of God to experience and explore -- and then do nothing
about it. Truths that are not experienced are, in effect, more like
theories than truths. Whenever God reveals truth to us He is
inviting us into a divine encounter.
- Bill Johnson, "Face to Face with God"
(This is a good attitude with which to prayerfully approach the
Scriptures -- to view them as "invittions to an encounter with the
divine.")
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Ps. 113:1-8; Mk. 9: 38-40
R. (8) The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his
people.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
To seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
- from "Daily Reflections"
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Today's very short gospel from Mark contains one of my favorite
stories. It fits well with the realities of modern life and with
the Old Testament reading too.
The disciples are concerned that someone else is driving out demons
in Jesus's name. Essentially they are suggesting to Jesus that he
protect his turf and make clear that only He is a fully sanctioned
demon-driver. Jesus, of course, sees the big picture. Driving out
demons, healing the sick, feeding the poor or whatever other work
of charity one might imagine is a good thing no matter who
sanctions it. One can almost feel Jesus's bemusement at his
disciples' entreaties. And then he utters one of the most famous
and gentle rebukes in the Bible: "For whoever is not against us is
for us."
Oh, to be able to see the world in these terms consistently.
Unfortunately we often see it the other way: that everyone who
fails to praise us is really against us. . . Deep inside, we often
would prefer that half as much good be done if we could get all the
credit than if twice the good were to be done with the credit
shared. So here we must imitate Jesus and worry not about who is
getting the credit but rather about whether God's work is being done.
(by Pat Borcher)
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
THE everlasting and paternal wisdom saith, "Whoso heareth Me is not
ashamed." If he is ashamed of anything he is ashamed of being
ashamed. Whoso worketh in Me sineth not. Whoso confesseth Me and
feareth Me, shall have eternal life. Whoso will hear the wisdom of
the Father must dwell deep, and abide at home, and be at unity with
himself. Three things hinder us from hearing the everlasting Word.
The first is fleshliness, the second is distraction, the third is
the illusion of time. If a man could get free of these, he would
dwell in eternity, and in the spirit, and in solitude, and in the
desert, and there would hear the everlasting Word. Our Lord saith,
"No man can hear My word nor my teaching without renouncing
himself. All that the Eternal Father teaches and reveals is His
being, His nature, and His Godhead, which He manifests to us in His
Son, and teaches us that we are also His Son.
- Sermon 4, "True Hearing"
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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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