Friday, October 17, 2014, St. Ignatius of Antioch
Ephesians 1:11-14, Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13, Luke 12:1-7
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/101714.cfm
THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE DOWNPAYMENT
"When you heard the glad tidings of salvation, the word of truth, and believed in it, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit Who had been promised." -Ephesians 1:13
We're all going to rise from the dead. Those who believe in Jesus and have lived for Him will see Him face to face and be perfectly happy forever with Him in heaven. We know this because the Lord has revealed it to us through His Church and Word.
Many people, however, deny such things as resurrection from the dead, Judgment Day, heaven, and hell. They live as if this life is all there is (see 1 Cor 15:32). To confirm us in our belief in eternal happiness, our heavenly Father and Jesus have sent the Holy Spirit. "We yearn to have our heavenly habitation envelop us" (2 Cor 5:2). "God has fashioned us for this very thing and has given us the Spirit as a Pledge of it" (2 Cor 5:5). "He is the Pledge of our inheritance, the first Payment against the full redemption of a people God has made His own, to praise His glory" (Eph 1:14). By the Holy Spirit, we experience God's love, have an awe in His presence, become empowered by His gifts, receive true freedom, and are transformed into God's image and likeness.
This amazing life in the Spirit is the first payment, the pledge of our inheritance. We won't live long enough to personally experience the fulfillment of many of God's promises. By the Spirit, however, we will experience a few of God's wondrous works. These initial experiences confirm us in our faith that everything else the Lord has promised will be done (see Jos 23:14). Those of us who are alive in the Spirit have seen enough of God's glory to know that it's all true. Alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit!
Prayer: Holy Spirit, be as active as possible in my life.
Promise: "Fear nothing, then. You are worth more than a flock of sparrows." -Lk 12:7
Praise: St. Ignatius advised his flock: "Turn a deaf ear to the talk of anyone whose language has nothing to do with Jesus Christ."
(Pray about coming to our Discipleship Retreats. Call our Discipleship Center at 937-587-5464 for more information.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from October 1, 2014 through November 30, 2014
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 24, 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2014 Presentation Ministries
To add your e-mail address to this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp
To remove your e-mail address from this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp?mode=r
No comments:
Post a Comment