|
Message of the Day
|
|
-Our Lord put these words into my mind:
“You’re written in My hands and feet. See? I’ll never forget you. I’m happy I suffered these wounds for you. I’ll never get angry and leave you. I’ll always love you. So don’t be afraid. Don’t fear, even if the world seems to be against you. They just don’t understand you.”
- Margery Kempe, The Book of Margery Kempe
(Marvelous affirmations from Jesus to repeat to oneself.) |
|
Readings of the Day
|
Acts 12:24—13:5a; Psalm 67:2-3, 5,
6 and 8
Jn 12:44-50
Jesus cried out and said,
“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe
them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words
has something to judge him: the word that
I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is
eternal life.
So what I say, I say as the Father told
me.”
USCCB lectionary
|
|
Reflection on the Scripture
|
“The Father Who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to speak. Since I know that His commandment means eternal life, whatever I say is spoken just as He
instructed Me.” —John 12:49-50
When we say we believe in Jesus, we are believing not only in Him but also in God the Father (Jn 12:44). When we see Jesus, we see the Father (Jn 12:45; 14:9). When we hear the words of Jesus and obey Him, we are hearing and obeying the Father, for the Father has commanded Jesus “what to say and how to speak” (Jn 12:49). Jesus said: “The Father and I are One” (Jn
10:30).
Jesus became a man to reveal our Father to us (Lk 10:22) and to show us the Father’s love (Jn 15:9). By His death and Resurrection, Jesus gave us the opportunity to have a new nature and be adopted by God the Father (see Rm 8:15). He made it possible for us to be sons and daughters of God the Father (see 1 Jn 3:2). Jesus then taught us to pray “Abba” (“Father”). Jesus is the only Way for us to
go home to our Father (Jn 14:6). Jesus has shown us the Father, and that is enough for us (see Jn 14:8). Prayer: Abba... Promise: “After they had fasted and prayed, they imposed hands on them and sent them off.” —Acts
13:3 Presentation Ministries
|
|
Spiritual Reading
|
|
|
|
Readings from Jesus Alive in Our Lives, by Philip St. Romain. Ave Maria Press, 1985. Contemplative Ministries, Inc. 2011. Part Three, Gift of the Spirit Chapter 4: Transformative
Gifts - Selected quotes
Let’s spend a little time going through these gifts, reflecting on their meaning and the evidence of them we find in Scripture and in our own lives.
A. Wisdom. There is a wisdom that
comes from human experience, but that is not the same thing as the Gift of Wisdom, which enables one to share in God’s own perspective concerning a situation. Wisdom makes use of faith, human experience and reason and points the way to practical exercises of faith. Because of Holy Wisdom, one’s conscience is moved to act correctly and in accordance with God’s will.
B. Understanding.
This gift makes possible the comprehension of divine truth. Again, it works in concert with human understanding, but to help us grasp something of the mysteries of revelation in a manner that supports and informs one’s faith.
C. Counsel is specific guidance from the Spirit, enabling us to discern good from evil and, in certain circumstances, the better course of
action.
D. Fortitude is a gift of courage, providing strength and energy to remain faithful and resolute during times of adversity.
E. Knowledge refers, here, to a direct grasp of God—a kind of experiential “knowing” the ways of the divine. Because we have knowledge of God, we are
better able to discern the ways of God and to act accordingly.
F. Piety moves one to a deep love and devotion for God. It is this gift that makes it possible to keep the first commandment—that we love God above all else.
G. Fear of the Lord pertains to the dread of sin instilled by the Spirit; it is also a
kind of holy reverence, taking expression in a desire to avoid offending God and to worship Him in religious ways.
Paperback and eBook versions
|
Please support this outreach with a tax-deductible donation. |
|
|
