Acts 9:1-20
Psalm 117:1-2
John 6:52-59
View Readings
PRAYING UP A STORM
"He is there praying." —Acts 9:12
The early Church was a praying Church. The Church was born at Pentecost after a nine-day gestation period of prayer (see Acts 1:14). After Pentecost, the Church devoted itself to prayer (Acts 2:42). So powerful were the Church’s prayers that sometimes the building where the Church prayed shook (Acts 4:31). The apostles concentrated on prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). The early Church was a praying Church.
The immediate results of the Church’s prayers were mixed. The number of disciples “enormously increased” (Acts 6:7), but persecution against the Church likewise increased. The more the Church prayed, the better and the worse it got. Finally, Stephen, one of the first deacons, was murdered, martyred, stoned to death. How’s that for an answer to prayer? Nonetheless, the Church kept praying. Soon, a Samaritan town came to Christ (Acts 8:14), an Ethiopian was baptized and took the Gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 8:38ff), and Saul, the dreaded persecutor of the Church, was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-18).
Prayer changes things. It can change opposition into persecution and murder, and persecution and murder into the evangelization of the world. In this Easter season, pray as if your life and the salvation of others depended on it.
Prayer: Father, may I pray up a storm of persecution and evangelization.
Promise: "Let Me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." —Jn 6:53
Praise: Many pious traditions weave an inspiring story of St. George's heroics. The Church declares for certain his charity, virtue and martyrdom. He is the patron saint of England.
(For a related teaching on Lord, Teach Us to Pray, order, listen to, or download our CD 57-3 or DVD 57 on our website.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."
"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period from April 1,2021 through May 31, 2021 Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 5,2020"
The "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") 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 the "Nihil Obstat" 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/series/obob
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright ©
To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email
To remove your e-mail address from this list, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment