Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Acts 16:22-34, Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8, John 16:5-11

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will guide you to all truth. Jn 16:7, 13



Acts 16:22-34, Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8, John 16:5-11


Acts 16:22-34

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

A crowd can be easily swayed to act either for good or ill. More often than not the people in a crowd are unaware that they are being manipulated either subtly or blatantly. The voices of reason are always drowned out under the collective roar of the herd. 

Paul and Silas are stripped, beaten, imprisoned and are ordered to be guarded strictly. They are not focused on their wounds or their circumstances rather, they rejoice that they have been called to suffer humiliation and pain for the sake of the Gospel. They sing hymns of praise and thanksgiving while the rest of the prisoners listen to them in awe and are themselves comforted. We read that a powerful earthquake causes the doors of the prisons to burst open and the chains of all the prisoners were loosed. When the prison guard saw what had occurred he was about to throw himself on his sword and die, when Paul assured him that none of them had escaped. The jailor was so impressed and so relieved he fell on his knees before Paul and Silas in gratitude. He was aware that a greater power was at work and asked, "What must I do to be saved?" 

This is all that is needed. We need to take only the first step and God will do the rest. They both spoke the Word to the jailors and all the members of his household and they all believed and were saved. The jailor ministered to them. Bathed their wounds and in return, God who cannot and will not be outdone in generosity gave them the Kingdom.  They celebrated with a meal and there was much rejoicing that they were granted the awesome gift of faith in You.

May I never forget that all I am required to do is witness to my faith in my own life and You will do the rest.

Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

Your Name means one who saves. It is You who have saved me over and over again from my own stupidity and pride. I have been childish and foolish. I have allowed my own petty feelings to have power over my actions.   

The psalmist shows me once again what is required of one who believes. I must be filled with praise and thanksgiving always no matter how deeply I may be wounded. I am called to make all my needs known to You and I must rejoice because I am confident that You have heard and will answer me. You save me constantly from my own willfulness and stupidity. You always show me infinite tenderness and kindness even when I least deserve it. You give me strength. You enable me to fulfill all my duties well because I have entrusted them to You and have asked for Your help. You never fail me.

Thank You Beloved for Your assurance that the work of salvation that You have begun in me You will complete. You will never give up on me for You know that if You did I would be lost forever.

John 16:5-11

Dear Love, Beloved of my soul,

It is in the nature of human beings to cling desperately to the present and not desire change. But change is necessary for growth. Change is necessary for new and wonderful things that God has planned to occur. We cannot stagnate if we do we rot. You had to go to the Father at the end of Your earthly mission - You were sent for a purpose and once that purpose was accomplished we had to move on to the next stage. The story of salvation had to move along. You had to return to the Father in order to send Your Holy Spirit without whom we would remain retarded in our faith, we would flounder and we would never reach the full stature to which God would enable us to grow into with His help. Present grief must be overcome and our hearts must fill with expectation and longing for the fulfillment of God's promise to send us the Advocate who can only come once You return to Your Father. He proceeds from the Father and from You and He will convict the world - those who believe will be saved, those who reject You will be condemned because they continue to reject You and prefer to wallow in their sins.

Evil has lost. The victory is won. We choose which side we want to be on the winning or losing side.

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Now I am going to the one who sent me,
and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.
But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.
For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.
But if I go, I will send him to you.
And when he comes he will convict the world
in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation:
sin, because they do not believe in me; 
righteousness, because I am going to the Father
and you will no longer see me;

condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned."



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