SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 128
STARTS THURSDAY 8th JULY 2010
THE FRUITS OF “MARIAN HOLINESS OF LIFE”
Weekly message No. 123 (3rd July 1986).
3. “Faithfulness” in the life of prayer with Our Lady.
“Dear children! Today I am calling you all to prayer. Without prayer, dear children, you are not able to experience either God, or me or the graces which I am giving you. Therefore, my call to you is that the beginning and end of your day always be prayer. Dear children, I wish to lead you daily more and more in prayer, but you are not able to grow because you do not desire it. My call, dear children, is that for you prayer be in the first place. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL:
During this week try to be prayerful in every situation,
i.e. relating everything in your daily life to God.
Thursday: The test of truth: “You will be able to tell them by their fruits.”
Matthew 7:15-20.
15Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Friday: A parable about perseverance in prayer.
Luke 18:1-8.
1And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’ 4For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man, 5yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” 6And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Saturday: A parable about persistence in prayer.
Luke 11:5-8.
5And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 6for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything? 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
Sunday: “Stay awake, praying at all times …”
Luke 21:36.
36But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man."
Monday: Staying awake in praying for God’s holy people.
Ephesians 6:18-20.
18Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Tuesday: Persevering in prayer and being thankful.
Colossians 4:2-4.
2Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; 3and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, 4that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak.
Wednesday: Being prayerful by doing everything as if done for the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-24.
23Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.