Attend our upcoming Discipleship Retreat, "The Most Magnificent Fruit = Christian Community", April 17-19, 2015 at the Paul Jansen Discipleship Center in Peebles, OH. For more information or to register visit this link:
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/event.asp?eventID=278
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, April 12, 2015, Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday
Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 5:1-6, Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24, John 20:19-31
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041215.cfm
THE ROAD TO POWER
"With power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus." -Acts 4:33
Pope John Paul II called our culture a "culture of death." This seems to indicate that the new life in the risen Christ has not been widely accepted. Why have we not been effective in witnessing with power for the risen Christ?
To witness with power, we must witness with our lips and our money and possessions. "None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common" (Acts 4:32). However, even if we did pool our resources, we would probably make a mess of it because we don't have the unity, community, authority, submission, accountability, and stability necessary to organize and distribute wisely a large outlay of financial responsibilities.
How can we willingly suffer the pains of growing in unity so that we can live a community life that supports and directs radical commitment and powerful witnessing for the risen Christ? We must obey the Lord's constant command: "Do not fear."
How can we overcome fear, be "of one heart and one mind," live a new, free life, and be a powerful "witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus"? (Acts 4:32, 33) "Love has no room for fear; rather, perfect love casts out all fear" (1 Jn 4:18).
To begin moving towards being powerful witnesses for Jesus, we need to receive His love much more deeply. This love will cover a multitude of sins (1 Pt 4:8) and motivate us to fearlessness, unity, commitment, and power (see 2 Cor 5:14).
Prayer: Father, use every circumstance of my life, especially my death, to bear witness powerfully to Your risen Son.
Promise: "Everyone begotten of God conquers the world, and the power that has conquered the world is this faith of ours." -1 Jn 5:4
Praise: Praise Jesus, Lord and God! (Jn 20:28) He holds the keys to death and the nether world (Rv 1:18). He is risen forever!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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, 2015 through May 31, 2015
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 21, 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 © 2015 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