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If religion has raised us into a new world, if it has filled us with new ends of life, if it has taken possession of our hearts, and altered the whole turn of our minds, if it has changed all our ideas of things, given us a new set of hopes and fears, and taught us to live by the realities of an invisible world — then we may humbly hope that we are true followers of Jesus, and such as
may rejoice in the Day of Christ.
… William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life
(What parts of Law's descriptor do you relate to?) |
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ACTS 4:23-31; PS
2:1-3, 4-7A, 7B-9
JN 3:1-8
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him."
Jesus answered and said to
him,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Nicodemus said to him,
"How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?"
Jesus answered,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told
you,
'You must be born from above.'
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"They were filled with the Holy Spirit and
continued to speak God's word with confidence." —Acts 4:31
The apostles were thrown into prison by the Jewish leaders for healing a crippled man and then "teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection of the dead in the person of Jesus" (Acts 4:2). They were then threatened by the leaders to never mention the name of Jesus again (Acts 4:17) and were released. The apostles returned to the other disciples and prayed for complete assurance when they proclaimed the Word of
God (Acts 4:29-30). After this prayer, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They continued to speak God's Word with confidence (Acts 4:31).
Like the first believers in the risen Jesus, we must not be alarmed that the powerful of the world rage and conspire against us (see Acts 4:25). The Church and its members have been attacked for centuries. God in heaven simply laughs (Ps 2:4). He has eternal,
almighty power. The powerful of the world wield their power for but a moment in time.
Therefore, we must pray for that same confidence, assurance, and boldness that the apostles possessed. God wants us to confidently know that if He is for us, no one can be against us (Rm 8:31). "He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 Jn 4:4, RSV-CE). We are more than conquerors in Jesus (Rm 8:37).
Persevere in spreading the Word of God. We are invincible when we are rooted in Jesus and stand securely in the center of His will.
Prayer: May we stir up the Holy Spirit in the world, Lord Jesus. Raise up many teenagers and adults to accept holy, confident, and bold religious vocations and to speak God's Word with confidence.
Promise: "No one can enter into God's kingdom without being begotten of water and Spirit." —Jn 3:5
Presentation Ministries
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Theological Gems from Emile Merch's Theology of the Mystical Body - selected by Jim and Tyra Arraj
Book III: Christ
Chapter 14: The Holy Spirit
424. -- the Father and Son are not distinct from their love; they are distinct only as Speaker and Spoken.
This essential love subsists in three divine persons, just as the divine essence subsists in three persons.
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