SPIRITUAL EXERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 104
STARTS THURSDAY 21st JANUARY 2010
“ABANDON YOURSELVES TO GOD”
(B) MARKS OF A LIFE SURRENDERED TO GOD
Weekly message No. 99 (16th January 1986).
Giving God the glory by living according to Our Lady’s call to prayer.
“Dear children! Today also I am calling you to prayer. Your prayers are necessary to me so that God may be glorified through all of you. Dear children, I pray you, obey and live the Mother's invitation, because only out of love am I calling you in order that I might help you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL:
This week we should often pray by praising God, especially in the Psalms.
(e.g. Psalms 145 to 150) or, by praying the Magnificat. (Friday - Luke 1:46-55)
Thursday: The true disciple.
Matthew 7:21-23.
21Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’
Friday: Our Lady’s Magnificat.
Luke 1:46-55.
46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
Saturday: Prayer in the name of Jesus will give glory to the Father.
John 14:13-14.
13Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
Sunday: We are chosen in Christ “to the praise of the glory of God’s grace.”
Ephesians 1:3-12.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. 5He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8which he lavished upon us. 9For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will, 12we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.
Monday: 1 Peter 2:9.
We are called “to sing the praises of God.”
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 9:10-15.
The generosity of Christians will promote the praise of God by those who are helped.
10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God; 12for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. 13Under the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ, and by the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others; 14while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Wednesday: Matthew 5:14-16.
Being a light for others by love.
14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”