Acts 18:1-8, Psalm 98, John 16:16-20
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MAKE ROOM FOR PENTECOST
"You will grieve for a time, but your grief will be turned into
joy." —John 16:20
Jesus tells us: "Whoever asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; whoever
knocks, is admitted. What father among you will give his son a snake if he
asks for a fish, or hand him a scorpion if he asks for an egg? If you,
with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much
more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
(Lk 11:13)
Tomorrow begins the Pentecost Novena, nine days of prayer in preparation
for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The nine days of a novena
have been compared to the nine months of pregnancy, and this analogy is
particularly apt for the Pentecost novena. The first disciples wanted the
Holy Spirit badly enough to dedicate themselves to intense, prayerful
preparation (Acts 1:14). We must likewise hunger and prepare for the
Spirit today.
God wants to lavish the Spirit on us this Pentecost (Ti 3:6). We can
contracept the coming of the Holy Spirit in our lives by ignoring the
novena. We can begin the novena, but abort the Spirit's coming to us by
deciding that the labor pains (Jn 16:21) are too much to bear. Or we can
complete the novena and bring Pentecost to birth by devoting ourselves to
constant prayer these next nine days (Acts 1:14).
Choose life! (Dt 30:19) To those who "wait" for the Spirit (Acts 1:4),
Jesus promises: "Within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit" (Acts 1:5).
Prayer: Father, may I be as eager for the Holy Spirit as a newborn baby is
for milk (1 Pt 2:2).
Promise: "Many of the Corinthians, too, who heard Paul believed and were
baptized." —Acts 18:8
Praise: St. Christopher and his twenty-four companions in Mexico,
twenty-two priests and three laymen, chose eternal life by giving up their
earthly lives in martyrdom.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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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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