Message of 5-11-15

Published: Mon, 05/11/15

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Monday: May 11, 2015
Message of the Day
O plain, and easy, and simple way of salvation, wanting no subtleties of art or science, no borrowed learning, no refinements of reason, but all done by the simple natural motion of every heart, that truly longs after God. For no sooner is the finite desire of the creature in motion towards God, but the infinite desire of God is united with it, co-operates with it. And in this united desire of God, and the creature, is the salvation and life of the soul brought forth.
-  William Law (1686-1761), The Spirit of Prayer 

("Thy will be done" this day.)
Webinar: How the New Testament Came to Be
May 20, 2015: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Presented by Jerry Truex, Ph.D.
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Readings of the Day
ACTS 16:11-15;    PS 149:1-6, AND 9B;    JN 15:26—16:4A

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.

Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.

Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

USCCB lectionary
Reflection on the Scripture
"A time will come when anyone who puts you to death will claim to be serving God!" –John 16:2

The Holy Spirit witnesses for Jesus and calls us to do the same (Jn 15:26-27). This is one of the main reasons why many Christians don't want the Holy Spirit to be very active in their lives. Although they realize that witnessing is an act of love which will lead people to Christ, they also know that witnessing will result in personally suffering and being persecuted. Jesus' witnesses will be expelled even from Church and, moreover, may be put to death (see Jn 16:2). In Greek, the word "witness" is "martyr," someone who physically lays down his life for Jesus and is violently put to death.

We all want life in the Holy Spirit, or we at least want the emptiness of life without the Spirit to be filled. However, we often don't want the Holy Spirit enough to suffer. The cost of Pentecost is the cross, and not many want to pay such a high cost.

Ask the Lord to give you a desire to receive the Holy Spirit that is even greater than the desire to avoid pain. Only love is stronger than our natural desire to avoid pain (see Sg 8:6; Ps 63:4). Look at a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross. Ask for and receive love. Strongly desire the Spirit. Thirst for the Spirit (Jn 7:37). Receive the Spirit. Receive an even greater love. Receive a new Pentecost.

PRAYER: Father, may I consider Your love a greater good than life (Ps 63:4).

PROMISE: "She already reverenced God, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying." –Acts 16:14


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Spiritual Reading
NOTES ON THE LIFE OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER
 
2714. Contemplative prayer is also the pre-eminently intense time of prayer. In it the Father strengthens our inner being with power through his Spirit "that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith" and we may be "grounded in love."
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church, IV, 3, 1)

- part 19 of 24

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, IV
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