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They who can no longer listen to one another will soon no longer be listening to God either; they will always be talking even in the presence of God. This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there will be nothing left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious words … never really speaking to others.
- Dietrich
Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
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ACTS 14:5-18; PS 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16
JN 14:21-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
"Master, then what
happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
"I have told you this while I am with
you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name --
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you."
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"The Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My name, will
instruct you in everything, and remind you of all that I told you." —John 14:26
The Holy Spirit instructed Paul and Barnabas to: - endure persecution (Acts 14:5ff),
- flee persecution (Acts 14:6),
and
- continue "to proclaim the good news" (Acts 14:7).
The Holy Spirit instructed Paul that: - a man crippled from birth had the faith to be saved (Acts
14:9), and
- he should heal the crippled man by crying out in a loud voice: "Stand up! On your feet!" (Acts 14:10)
The Holy Spirit instructs us about:
- being witnesses for the risen Christ (Acts
1:8),
- "God's wisdom: a mysterious, a hidden wisdom" (1 Cor 2:7),
- what "eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man" (1 Cor 2:9),
- "what lies at the depths of God" (1 Cor
2:11),
- the Church and the vocation to the single life,
- marriage and parenting,
- work,
- lifestyle,
- repentance and forgiveness,
- death and life after death, and
- the end of the world and Jesus' final coming.
Be docile to the Holy Spirit's instructions.
Prayer: Father, may the Spirit be as active as possible in my life.
Promise: "Anyone who loves Me will be true to My word, and My Father will love him; We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him." —Jn 14:23
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence - by Jean-Pierre de Caussade Section II: The Duties of Each Moment
“The power of the most High shall over-shadow thee” (Luke i, 35), said the angel to Mary. This shadow, beneath which is hidden the power of God for the purpose of
bringing forth Jesus Christ in the soul, is the duty, the attraction, or the cross that is presented to us at each moment. These are, in fact, but shadows like those in the order of nature which, like a veil, cover sensible objects and hide them from us. Therefore in the moral and supernatural order the duties of each moment conceal, under the semblance of dark shadows, the truth of their divine character which alone should rivet the attention. It was in this light that Mary beheld them. Also
these shadows diffused over her faculties, far from creating illusion, did but increase her faith in Him who is unchanging and unchangeable. The archangel may depart. He has delivered his message, and his moment has passed. Mary advances without ceasing, and is already far beyond him. The Holy Spirit, who comes to take possession of her under the shadow of the angels words, will never abandon her. — Book
1, Chapter 1
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