Pentecost Novena Day 7 - Thursday
Pray: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created,
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of Your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read:
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
John 17:20-26
Be silent:
Pray: Jesus, baptize me, that is, immerse me in the Holy Spirit and in the fire of purification (Matthew 3:11).
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Thursday, June 5, 2014, St. Boniface, Pentecost Novena - Day 7
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11, Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11, John 17:20-26
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060514.cfm
THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MEN
"Paul, it should be noted, was aware that some of them were Sadducees and some Pharisees." -Acts 23:6
St. Paul's trial before the Sanhedrin was not going well. The high priest had already "ordered his attendants to strike Paul on the mouth" (Acts 23:2). Paul's audience was obviously not receptive. Then Paul had a great idea on how to get out of the mess he was in. He turned the Sadducees of the Sanhedrin against the Pharisees of the Sanhedrin. His trick seemed to work at first, as the Pharisees and the Sadducees started fighting each other (Acts 23:9). However, Paul's trick soon backfired, and he was almost torn to pieces in the ensuing riot (Acts 23:10). Paul subsequently was left in prison for two years (Acts 24:27), almost drowned in a shipwreck (Acts 27:14ff), and kept under house arrest in Rome for two more years (Acts 28:30).
The "morals of the story" are:
* Human ingenuity can backfire on you.
* You can lose four years by taking short cuts to save time.
* The Lord is merciful and is willing to work all things together for the good of those who love Him (Rm 8:28).
"Flesh begets flesh, spirit begets spirit" (Jn 3:6). Don't do your thing. Follow the lead of the Spirit (Gal 5:25). Our best laid plans fail. The Lord's plans always succeed.
Prayer: Father, I will crucify my flesh (Gal 5:24) and live by the Spirit.
Promise: "I do not pray for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that all may be one as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; I pray that they may be [one] in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." -Jn 17:20-21
Praise: St. Boniface wrote: "What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of Christ."
(For a related teaching, order our leaflet, "Living in Reality", or our four-tape audio series starting with AV 38-1 or two-tape video series starting with V-38.)
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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 June 1, 2014 through July 31, 2014
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 2, 2014
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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