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).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, May 12, 2016, Sts. Nereus & Achilleus, St. Pancras, 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/051216.cfm
FROM BAD TIMES COME THE BEST TIMES
"Just as you have given testimony to Me here in Jerusalem, so must you do in Rome." -Acts 23:11
Do you think you're having a bad week? Compare your worst week to St. Paul's bad week. Paul was quietly praying in the Temple. Some antagonistic Jews who knew Paul from Asia recognized him and "began to stir up the whole crowd there. They seized him" (Acts 21:27). The whole city came after Paul (Acts 21:30). "Attempts were being made on his life" (Acts 21:31). Soldiers "arrested Paul and had him bound with double irons" (Acts 21:33). A crowd followed Paul, "shouting, 'Kill him! Kill him!' " (Acts 21:36) A little later, the crowd again "began to shout, 'Kill him! Rid the earth of the likes of him! He isn't worthy to live!' " (Acts 22:22) Subsequently, in a trial before the Sanhedrin, Paul was nearly torn to pieces (Acts 23:10).
At this low point, Jesus appeared to Paul that night and encouraged him. Jesus then commissioned Paul to testify to Him in Rome (Acts 23:11), which represented "the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The Lord used these traumatic disasters to orchestrate Paul's mission to Rome, the center of power at the time.
When the sky is falling around you, "keep up your courage!" (Acts 23:11) Though you may not be able to see it, your own Rome might be just around the corner. God can transform the present disasters into far-reaching, earth-shaking triumphs.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, light Your fire on the earth (Lk 12:49), even if that means I have to be tried in that fire (1 Pt 1:6-7).
Promise: "Father, all those You gave me I would have in My company where I am, to see this glory of Mine." -Jn 17:24
Praise: Fourteen-year-old St. Pancras courageously refused to deny his Lord and was beheaded for his faith in Jesus.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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, 2016 through May 31, 2016
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 6, 2015
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 © 2016 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