Monday, August 08, 2005

CQOD: 08/14/05 -- Erasmus: works do not make you pious

Christian Quotation of the Day

August 14, 2005
Commemoration of Maximilian Kolbe, Franciscan Friar, Priest, Martyr, 1941
Meditation:
    Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.
    -- Romans 14:13-15

Quotation:
    Paul does not forbid you to use rites and ceremonies, but it is not his wish that he who is free in Christ should be bound by them. He does not condemn the law of works if only one uses it lawfully. Without these things perhaps you will not be pious; but they do not make you pious.
    ... Desiderius Erasmus (1466?-1536)

Quiet time reflection:
    Am I honoring some religious practices above love and consideration for the brethren?


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CQOD Compilation Copyright 2005, Robert McAnally Adams, Curator
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CQOD: 08/13/05 -- Taylor: entering on your neighbor's privacy

Christian Quotation of the Day

August 13, 2005
Feast of Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down & Connor, Priest, Teacher, 1667Commemoration of Florence Nightingale, Social Reformer, 1910Commemoration of Octavia Hill, Worker for the Poor, 1912
Meditation:
    We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
    -- 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Quotation:
    Let us not inquire into the affairs of others that concern us not, but be busied within ourselves and our own spheres; ever remembering that to pry into the actions or interests of other men not under our charge may minister to pride, to tyranny, to uncharitableness, to trouble, but can never consist with modesty; unless where duty or the mere intentions of charity and relation do warrant it... Knock, therefore, at the door before you enter upon your neighbor’s privacy: and remember, that there is no difference between entering his house and looking into it.
    ... Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667), Holy Living [1650]

Quiet time reflection:
    Teach me to be respectful of others' privacy.


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CQOD Compilation Copyright 2005, Robert McAnally Adams, Curator
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CQOD: 08/12/05 -- Owen: truth and holiness

Christian Quotation of the Day

August 12, 2005
Meditation:
    Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
    -- 2 Cor. 7:1 (NIV)

Quotation:
    Sometimes truth is lost first in a church, and then holiness, and sometimes the decay or hatred of holiness is the cause of the loss of truth. But if either is rejected, the other will not abide.
    ... John Owen (1616-1683)

Quiet time reflection:
    Show me what I must do to live out truth and holiness before my church.


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CQOD: 08/11/05 -- Newman: a living sacrifice

Christian Quotation of the Day

August 11, 2005
Feast of Clare of Assisi, Founder of the Order of Minoresses (Poor Clares), 1253
Commemoration of John Henry Newman, Priest, Teacher, Tractarian, 1890
Meditation:
    Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
    -- Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Quotation:
    One secret act of self-denial, one sacrifice of inclination to duty, is worth all the mere good thoughts, warm feelings, passionate prayers, in which idle people indulge themselves.
    ... John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Quiet time reflection:
    Is there a part of my life that I have not offered to God?


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CQOD: 08/10/05 -- Maurice: called to unity

Christian Quotation of the Day

August 10, 2005
Feast of Lawrence, Deacon at Rome, Martyr, 258
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
    -- John 17:20,21 (NIV)

Quotation:
    Unless we look upon ourselves as called to unity, we shall never be united. If God does not will that we should be united, what can our devices for producing it avail? Whereas, if we believe that it is His will, and that we are fighting against His will by our divisions, we have a right confidently to hope that He will at last bring us to repentance, or, if we do not repent, will accomplish His purposes in spite of us.
    ... F. D. Maurice (1805-1872), Hope for Mankind

Quiet time reflection:
    Show me how to be more of one mind with the other believers.


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CQOD: 08/09/05 -- Thomas à Kempis: excusing others

Christian Quotation of the Day

August 9, 2005
Feast of Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers’ Union, 1921
Meditation:
    "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
    "The servant fell on his knees before him. `Be patient with me,' he begged, `and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
    "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. `Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
    "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, `Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
    "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
    "Then the master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,' he said, `I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
    "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
    -- Matt. 18:23-35

Quotation:
    Thou knowest well how to excuse and color thine own deeds; but thou art not willing to receive the excuses of others. It were more just that thou shouldest accuse thyself, and excuse thy brother.
    ... Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), Of the Imitation of Christ, II.iii. [1418]

Quiet time reflection:
    Must I forgive the undeserving?


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Sunday, August 07, 2005

CQOD: 08/08/05 -- Tauler: receiving the Creator

Christian Quotation of the Day

August 8, 2005
Feast of Dominic, Priest, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221
Meditation:
    [John the Baptist:] He must increase, but I must decrease.
    -- John 3:30 (ASV)

Quotation:
    Verily, if thou desirest to have the Creator of all creatures, thou must renounce all creatures; for it cannot be otherwise, but only insomuch as thy soul is emptied and bared; the less of the creature, the more of God: this is but a fair bargain.
    ... Johannes Tauler (ca. 1300-1361), The Inner Way

Quiet time reflection:
    Teach me to love You as You love the church.


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CQOD Compilation Copyright 2005, Robert McAnally Adams, Curator
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