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Monday, May 29, 2017

THE SPIRIT OF PARADOX - One Bread, One Body, 5/30/2017

Pentecost Novena Day 5 - Tuesday

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 20:17-27
John 17:1-11

Be silent

Pray: Father, send the Holy Spirit to give me the power to be a witness for Jesus. May I not be ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Tuesday, May 30, 2017, Pentecost Novena - Day 5

Acts 20:17-27, Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21, John 17:1-11
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/053017.cfm

THE SPIRIT OF PARADOX

"The Holy Spirit has been warning me from city to city that chains and hardships await me. I put no value on my life if only I can finish my race." -Acts 20:23-24

The Holy Spirit, being God, is paradoxical. The Holy Spirit gives us light to see what we've never seen before. We can see into the future, receive insights about the past, and recognize in the present great opportunities, which we have never noticed before. At the same time, our life in the Holy Spirit often puts us in the position where we have no idea what will happen to us (see Acts 20:22). We see so much more, but we also see that our "so much more" is nothing compared to the blinding light of the mystery of God.

In the Holy Spirit, we receive not only light but life - abundant life (see Jn 10:10). The Spirit makes us more alive than ever before. Paradoxically, however, we receive this full life by dying to self. "Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may also be revealed" (2 Cor 4:10). We have life in the Spirit only because we have death in the Spirit.

Human beings naturally fear paradoxes. Therefore, we fear mystery and the Holy Spirit. But the Lord repeatedly commands us not to fear, and He graces us accordingly. Jesus said: "Fear is useless. What is needed is trust" (Mk 5:36). Come, Holy Spirit!


Prayer: Father, on this fifth day of the Pentecost novena, I accept the grace to trust the Holy Spirit.

Promise: "Eternal life is this: to know You, the only true God, and Him Whom You have sent, Jesus Christ." -Jn 17:3

Praise: After resisting for years, Philip asked for prayers for the Holy Spirit.

(For a related teaching, order our tape "Don't Stifle the Spirit" on audio AV 56-3 or video V-56.)

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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, 2017 through May 31, 2017
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 1, 2016

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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