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Friday, May 9, 2008, Pentecost Novena - Day 8
Acts 25:13-21, Psalm 103, John 21:15-19
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/050908.shtml
PERSON TO PERSON
"Do you love Me?" —John 21:15, 16, 17
Christianity is the only religion in history to believe in the
Incarnation, that is, in God becoming a human being. Thus, only Christians
believe we can have a personal relationship with God as a human being. The
uniqueness and essence of Christianity is personal relationship,
communion, intimacy, and love.
Some would argue that Jesus' ascension ends the opportunity for a personal
relationship with God because we can no longer see, hear, and feel Jesus'
physical body. This would be true except for the Holy Spirit. Jesus
promised: "It is much better for you that I go. If I fail to go, the
Paraclete will never come to you" (Jn 16:7). By the power of the Spirit,
we can have a personal relationship with the body of Jesus in two new
ways. "It was in one Spirit that all of us, whether Jew or Greek, slave or
free, were baptized into one body" (1 Cor 12:13). In the Spirit, we become
members of Christ's body, the Church. Although the Church is not Christ's
physical body, it is truly His body (see Acts 9:4; Mt 25:40; Mt 18:20)
through which we can have a personal relationship with God. The Spirit
also opens us to Jesus' body in the Eucharist (see Acts 2:42) by which we
can relate to Jesus so personally that we live in Him and He in us (see Jn
6:56).
It's better for us that Jesus ascended. By the Spirit, we now can have a
much more intimate, personal relationship with God by becoming part of His
body, the Church, and by receiving God into our bodies in Holy Communion.
The third Person of the Trinity makes possible a continuing, deeper,
personal relationship with God.
Prayer: Father, when I receive Communion and hear the words "Body of
Christ," may I say "Amen" with a greater love than ever.
Promise: "They differed with him over issues in their own religion, and
about a certain Jesus Who had died but Who Paul claimed is alive." —Acts
25:19
Praise: Warren met Jesus inside his jail cell. Though still in prison,
Jesus has set Warren free (Jn 8:36).
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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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