CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND THE SPIRIT - One Bread, One Body, 4/3/2008

EASTER CHALLENGE: Read the whole New Testament this Easter. Follow our
reading guide:

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/NTEaster.asp
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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Acts 5:27-33, Psalm 34, John 3:31-36
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/040308.shtml

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND THE SPIRIT

"We gave you strict orders not to teach about that name, yet you have
filled Jerusalem with your teaching." —Acts 5:28

Peter and the apostles proclaimed that the Holy Spirit was given to those
who obey God (Acts 5:32). Jesus promised an unrationed outpouring of the
Holy Spirit to those who believed in and obeyed Him (Jn 3:34, 36).
Receiving the Holy Spirit is intimately connected with obedience.

Peter and the apostles replied to the Sanhedrin: "Better for us to obey
God than men!" (Acts 5:29) When the apostles mentioned obedience to God,
they contrasted this with civil disobedience, that is, disobedience to
man. In effect, the apostles were saying that the Holy Spirit is given to
those who obey God by disobeying the Sanhedrin's prohibition of witnessing
for Jesus. The Sanhedrin did not miss the point. Upon hearing the
apostles' comment, they "were stung to fury and wanted to kill them" (Acts
5:33).

To receive the Spirit, we must obey God rather than men. For example, we
must stand up for life even when the government demands taxes to finance
abortion. We must not laugh at "dirty jokes" or participate in gossip,
even when the unwritten laws of the office pressure us into compliance. We
must witness for Jesus, even if it is considered out of place by our
classmates or co-workers. We must disobey the written and unwritten laws
of men which contradict the will of God. Then we will receive an
unrationed outpouring of the Spirit (see Jn 3:34).

Prayer: Father, may I consider it a privilege to suffer for love of You
(see Acts 5:41). Come, Holy Spirit!

Promise: "Whoever believes in the Son has life eternal. Whoever disobeys
the Son will not see life, but must endure the wrath of God." —Jn 3:36

Praise: Obeying the Church, Linda spoke to a fellow parishioner who was
perpetuating a faulty liturgical practice.

(For a related teaching, order our tape on "Spiritual Adultery" on audio
AV 53-1 or video V-53.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from April
1, 2008 through May 31, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, October 23, 2007

The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.

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