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Thursday, May 8, 2008, Pentecost Novena - Day 7
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11, Psalm 16, John 17:20-26
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/050808.shtml
"UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL"
"I pray that they may be [one] in Us, that the world may believe that You
sent Me." —John 17:21
Jesus prays that we would be one as He and the Father are One. Then the
world will believe that the Father sent the Son. The people of the world
closely observe Christians fighting with each other. The devil showcases
to non-Christians our racism, denominations, divisions, and jealousies.
This turns them off to the gospel. Then, with world evangelization stalled
through the disunity of Christians, Satan proceeds to massacre babies in
the womb, destroy young people, break up marriages, pervert society,
promote his kingdom of darkness, and lead people to eternal damnation. We
can see why Jesus has prayed for two thousand years that Christians be
one.
Jesus' prayer for unity begins to be answered when we are filled with the
Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the Source of unity (Eph 4:3). "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). We are "one in the Spirit." The Spirit
reverses divisions which go back to the first sin and were exacerbated at
the tower of Babel (see Gn 11:9). By the Spirit of Pentecost, all nations
can once again communicate with each other and be restored to the unity of
paradise (see Acts 2:5-11). Then, as at the first Christian Pentecost, the
Spirit showcases our unity to lead thousands into God's kingdom (see Acts
2:41), and the strongholds of the devil are destroyed (see 2 Cor 10:4).
Come, Holy Spirit of unity, evangelization, and victory.
Prayer: Father, on this seventh day of the novena to the Holy Spirit, may
I participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion. May I be in communion
and union with You and all people.
Promise: "I find myself on trial now because of my hope in the
resurrection of the dead." —Acts 23:6
Praise: William's parish includes blacks, whites, and Hispanics who had
previously been culturally divided.
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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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