Message of 5-7-18

Published: Mon, 05/07/18

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: May 7, 2018

Message of the Day

Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people’s, if we are always criticizing trivial actions which often are not real defects at all, but we construe them wrongly through our ignorance of their motives.

- Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), The Interior Castle

Readings of the Day

ACTS 16:11-15; PS 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B

JN 15:26—16:4A

Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.

"I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
They will expel you from the synagogues;
in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God.
They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.
I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you."

USCCB lectionary

Reflection on the Scripture

"When the Paraclete comes, the Spirit of truth Who comes from the Father — and Whom I Myself will send from the Father — He will bear witness on My behalf." —John 15:26

The Holy Spirit bears witness for Jesus, and we must bear witness too (Jn 15:27). When we witness for Jesus, we will see God open the hearts of many people, and they will give their lives to Jesus (see Acts 16:14-15). On the other hand, in our witnessing for Jesus, we will encounter strong opposition. Some of those putting us to death will even think they are worshipping God (Jn 16:2).

Witnessing for Jesus means telling someone about your personal experience of Jesus' love. Witnessing is very simple. We do it frequently when we bring up how parents, spouses, children, family, and friends love us. The Lord has chosen to make witnessing for Him extremely powerful in proclaiming His Gospel to the world. Thus, witnessing is especially threatening to the devil (see Rv 12:11), who vehemently attacks anyone who even thinks of witnessing for Jesus. However, the Lord has given His witnesses a Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, Who will give power and boldness to Jesus' witnesses, especially when the devil is trying to intimidate them (Acts 1:8). Then, they witness with power to Jesus' death and Resurrection (Acts 4:33) and make disciples for Jesus of all the nations (Mt 28:19).

Don't give in to the evil spirit's intimidation. Rather, give in to the grace of the Holy Spirit to witness for Jesus.

Prayer: Father, may I witness for Jesus throughout my life and all the way to death.

Promise: "I have told you all this to keep your faith from being shaken." —Jn 16:1

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Spiritual Reading

Abandonment to Divine Providence

- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade

Section II: The Duties of Each Moment

There are remarkably few extraordinary characteristics in the outward events of the life of the most holy Virgin, at least there are none recorded in holy Scripture. Her exterior life is represented as very ordinary and simple. She did and suffered the same things that anyone in a similar state of life might do or suffer. She goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth as her other relatives did. She took shelter in a stable in consequence of her poverty. She returned to Nazareth from whence she had been driven by the persecution of Herod, and lived there with Jesus and Joseph, supporting themselves by the work of their hands. It was in this way that the holy family gained their daily bread. But what a divine nourishment Mary and Joseph received from this daily bread for the strengthening of their faith! It is like a sacrament to sanctify all their moments. What treasures of grace lie concealed in these moments filled, apparently, by the most ordinary events. That which is visible might happen to anyone, but the invisible, discerned by faith, is no less than God operating very great things.

— Book 1, Chapter 1

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