After their release Peter and John went back to their own people
and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them.
And when they heard it,
they raised their voices to God with one accord
and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth
and the sea and all that is in them,
you said by the Holy Spirit
through the mouth of our father David, your servant:
Why did the Gentiles rage
and the peoples entertain folly?
The kings of the earth took their stand
and the princes gathered together
against the Lord and against his anointed.
Indeed they gathered in this city
against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,
Herod and Pontius Pilate,
together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
to do what your hand and your will
had long ago planned to take place.
And now, Lord, take note of their threats,
and enable your servants to speak your word
with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:23-31
The early Apostles prayed to God asking Jesus to “take note of their threats and enable you servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus”. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. What is your prayer? We have the same Holy Spirit that the Apostles were baptized with. I think we often ask for too little when God is ready to give so much. He wants to give us His ocean of mercy and we are afraid. We think we have sinned too much or are not perfect enough to approach Him. He wants our brokenness our littleness so that He can give us His mercy. Otherwise, His heart burns without being able to give away the mercy He died to give away to us. God is ready to give, are you ready to accept? Jesus died to give mercy to the whole world, His heart burns and He is greatly saddened when our souls do not continue to come back for His mercy.
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.” JN 3:1-8
We must be born of the water and Spirit or we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Then, our baptismal vows state that we reject Satan and all of his empty promises. We vow to grow in holiness. God’s grace brings us to holiness. We must continue to strive to live a faithful sacramental life where God’s grace and mercy flow freely to those who ask for it and continually try to convert and repent. We must live a life of prayer and educate ourselves on the Apostles teachings (the Gospels). Jesus asks us to join Him in the breaking of the bread where He makes Himself so little He fits between the priests two fingers so we can consume Him and be transformed by Him. Jesus invites us to gather others for a meal, many graces flow from sitting down and having a meal with others. Jesus asks us to live in fellowship. Gather together with the people of your parish and get involved in parish events, so that each small community of believers will continue to grow and be guided by the Holy Spirit. We have received the Holy Spirit, call the Spirit to guide you each day.
Come, Holy Spirit
fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love
send forth your Spirit
and they shall be created
and you shall renew the face of the earth (through us)!
Today’s challenge: Live like a disciple of Christ, be bold in living His Word, do not be afraid, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your endeavor to become a saint!
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
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