Attend our upcoming Discipleship Retreat, "40 Hours Devotion and Family Campout", Jun 22 - 24 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Discipleship Center in Peebles, OH. For more information or to register visit http://www.presentationministries.com/general/event.asp?eventID=335
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, April 16, 2018
Acts 6:8-15, Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30, John 6:22-29
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041618.cfm
PEACE ON A ROLLER COASTER
"Throughout, Stephen's face seemed like that of an angel." -Acts 6:15
As the early Church received grace after grace, it received suffering after suffering. The first people to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost were falsely accused of being drunk (Acts 2:13). They were not stopped by this injustice, and three thousand were baptized that day (Acts 2:41). After Peter and John healed the man born lame, they led thousands more to Christ (Acts 4:4). Then the Church suffered the arrest of Peter and John (Acts 4:3). After they were released, "through the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders occurred among the people" (Acts 5:12). Next, all the apostles suffered by being arrested, threatened, and beaten (Acts 5:40). "As the number of disciples grew," there was a serious disagreement between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians (Acts 6:1ff). The first deacons dealt with that problem. After this series of sufferings, the number of the disciples "enormously increased" (Acts 6:7). The Church's next suffering was the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:60).
Luke's insight into the attitude of the Church towards all these sufferings may be expressed when he commented: "Throughout, Stephen's face seemed like that of an angel" (Acts 6:15). In other words, "the Church was at peace" (Acts 9:31). The first word the risen Christ said and says is: "Peace" (Mt 28:9; Jn 20:19, 21).
Prayer: Father, give me the peace "beyond all understanding" (Phil 4:7).
Promise: "This is the work of God: have faith in the One Whom He sent." -Jn 6:29
Praise: Sarah was diagnosed with cancer three times and she prayed in surrender to Jesus. Each time the cancer disappeared.
(For a related teaching on "Shalom", order, listen to or download our CD 82-3 or DVD 82 on our website.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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, 2018 through May 31, 2018
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 12, 2017
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 © 2018 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