Message of 6-23-08
Published: Sat, 06/21/08
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Stillness within one individual can affect society beyond measure.
- Bede Griffiths
(Stillness-within is not in conflict with activity-without.
Indeed, we are much more effective in all that we do when we act
out of peace and inner stillness.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18; Ps. 60:3, 4-5, 12-13; Mt 7:1-5
R. (7b) Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.
O God, you have rejected us and broken our defenses;
you have been angry; rally us!
You have rocked the country and split it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
You have made your people feel hardships;
you have given us stupefying wine.
Have not you, O God, rejected us,
so that you go not forth, O God, with our armies?
Give us aid against the foe,
for worthless is the help of men.
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REFLECTION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged."
While we take these words as an admonition for how we view our
fellow human beings, we often reserve our harshest judgments for
ourselves. Indeed, we're our own worst critics. We continually beat
ourselves up for our shortcomings and develop a very negative view
of ourselves. We must, however, remember the singular fidelity of
the Lord. God doesn't delight in our failings, just as we shouldn't
feel the need to point out weaknesses in others or ourselves. What
we must do is continually accept the challenge to live in a way
that is pleasing to the Lord and to find hope in the redemptive
power of Christ. God knows what's in our hearts. We shouldn't be
harder on others or ourselves than God in his infinite compassion
will be.
"For the grace to recognize that God will look upon us with mercy
and love, we pray."
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LECTIO DIVINA PROCESS
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html
First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:
* Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.
* Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?
* Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.
* Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God.
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THEOLOGICAL GEMS FROM EMIL MERCH'S "THEOLOGY OF THE MYSTICAL BODY"
from http://www.innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/theolgems.htm
394. God is known to others as inaccessible... but as regards the
sacred humanity, God is attained as the first thing known and as
always known.
The Word is God, He is Being itself.
-- Christ's knowledge: is radically different. It is a knowledge
which God evokes in a man by causing that man to be Himself.
-- as compared with human knowledge, it is absolute knowledge.
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