FROM BOGGED DOWN TO FIRED UP - One Bread, One Body, 5/14/2009

The April issue of My People Newspaper is now online. Articles include:

Hope Is Focus of Youth Day
Economic Crisis Threatens Human Rights
In Defense of Life: F O C A
Prison to Praise: What Are You Giving Up for Lent?
Church Reaches Out To Suffering
Jesus Is The Answer To Suffering

http://www.presentationministries.com/mypeople/latestMyPeople.asp
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Thursday, May 14, 2009, St. Matthias

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26, Psalm 113, John 15:9-17
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/051409.shtml

FROM BOGGED DOWN TO FIRED UP

"During those days, Peter stood up." —Acts 1:15

Jesus commands us to go forth, bear fruit (Jn 15:16), make disciples of
all nations (Mt 28:19), and take more initiative in building God's kingdom
than the worldly take in making money (Lk 16:8). We are to be zealous for
the Lord.

Nevertheless, many of us are rather apathetic and listless. We sit around
and think of all the things we should have done but have never
accomplished. We are like the disciples in the upper room who did not
replace Judas for over forty days. Some of us have a backlog of things to
do which spans forty days or even years.

The Holy Spirit is beginning to move in just a little way to motivate us
to do at least one thing. That one thing might be to be reconciled with
somebody, forgive someone, or repent of at least one sin. The Spirit is
moving ever so slightly. The water of the Spirit is merely trickling into
our lives (see Ez 47:2). If we obey the Spirit in this one way, that
trickle of the Spirit will become rivers of life-giving water (see Jn
7:38). By doing something in the Spirit, we open the floodgates for the
Spirit to be poured out in a new Pentecost.

Prayer: Father, change me from bogged down and clogged up to wide open and
free-flowing.

Promise: "It was not you who chose Me, it was I Who chose you to go forth
and bear fruit." —Jn 15:16

Praise: The Holy Spirit handpicked St. Matthias to fill the void of the
broken fellowship left after Judas' betrayal. According to tradition, he
was one of the seventy-two and baptized by John.

(For a related teaching, order our tape on "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" on
audio AV 43-1 or video V-43.)

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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, 2009 through May 31, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, October 3, 2008

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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