Let Go of Everything But God

I must let go.
For so long I have held to the habit of holding on.
Even my muscles
Are tense; deeply fearful are they
Of relaxing lest they fall away from their place.

I cling clutchingly to my friends
Lest I lose them.
I live under the shadow of being supplanted by another.
I cling to my money, not so much
By a wise economy and a thoughtful spending
But by a sense of possession that makes me depend upon it for strength.

I must let go -
Deep at the core of me
I must have a sense of freedom -
A sure awareness of detachment - of relaxation.

I must let go of everything.
I must let go of pride. But -
What am I saying? Is there not a sense of pride
That supports and sustains all achievement,
Even the essential dignity of my own personality?

It may be that I must let go
My dependence upon triumphing over my fellows, which seems
To give me a sense of security in their midst.
I cringe from my pain; I do not relish
The struggle of life but I do not want to let go
Because the hurt and the tension of contest feed
The springs of my pride. They make me deeply aware.
But I must let go of everything.

I must let go of everything but God.
But God - May it not be
That God is in all the things to which I cling?
That may be the hidden reason for my clinging.
It is all very puzzling indeed. When I say
"I must let go of everything but God"

What is my meaning?
I must relax my hold on everything that dulls my sense of Him,
That comes between me and the inner awareness of His Presence
Pervading my life and glorifying
All the common ways with wonderful wonder.

"Teach me, O God, how to free myself of dearest possessions,
So that in my trust I shall find restored to me
All I need to walk in Thy path and to fulfill Thy will.
Let me know Thee for myself that I may not be satisfied
With aught that is less."

~Howard Thurman (1900-1981)
(Deep Is the Hunger)

The Visitation of Mary

Blessed are you among women! (Luke 1:42)

Don’t you find it remarkable that God chose to bring about his work of redemption through two human babies and their mothers? Jesus was still in Mary’s womb, yet in his presence, Elizabeth and her own unborn son, John, were filled with the Holy Spirit. This scene gives us a glimpse of the immense love of God, who simply can’t wait to share his life with his people. What a fore­shadowing this is of the glory of the risen Christ, who longs to pour out his Spirit on all people!

Elizabeth’s humble response to the work of God must have brought great comfort to Mary. In Elizabeth, she finally found someone with whom she could share her joy and wonder. Who else at this time could understand the song well­ing up within Mary’s heart? Who else would believe her story of an angelic visitation and a miraculous conception? Rather than being jeal­ous of her younger relative’s exalted position, Elizabeth rejoiced with Mary and embraced her own sup­portive role.

While this meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is unique, there is something here that we can all experience. Each of us is capable of bearing Christ to others. Our eyes have been opened to the glory of this truth, and that’s why we rejoice and are humbled in the presence of so holy a vessel as a sister or brother in Christ. Even nonbelievers can move us to great reverence because they too are created in God’s image and have just as much potential to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If God has so highly honored human beings this way, how can we fail to show them equal honor?

God used Jesus, even when he was just a fetus in the womb, to pour out divine life. Everyone, no matter how young or old, no matter how strong or weak, has been cre­ated as a dwelling place for God. So let’s long for God’s presence even more—just as we try to treat every­one around us with the dignity they deserve.


“Jesus, as you opened Elizabeth’s eyes in the presence of Mary, so open my eyes to those who also bear Christ. Help me to honor the potential of each person to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you!

All my hope lies in your great mercy

Where did I find you in order to make your acquaintance in the first place? You could not have been in my memory before I learned to know you. Where then could I have found you in order to learn of you, if not in yourself, far above me? “Place” has here no meaning: further away from you or toward you we may travel, but place there is none. O Truth, you hold sovereign sway over all who turn to you for counsel, and to all of them you respond at the same time, however diverse their pleas.

Clear is your response, but not all hear it clearly. They all appeal to you about what they want, but do not always hear what they want to hear. Your best servant is the one who is less intent on hearing from you what accords with his own will, and more on embracing with his will what he has heard from you.
Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you!
Lo, you were within,
but I outside, seeking there for you,
and upon the shapely things you have made
I rushed headlong – I, misshapen.
You were with me, but I was not with you.
They held me back far from you,
those things which would have no being,
were they not in you.
You called, shouted, broke through my deafness;
you flared, blazed, banished my blindness;
you lavished your fragrance, I gasped; and now I pant for you;
I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst;
you touched me, and I burned for your peace.

When at last I cling to you with my whole being there will be no more anguish or labour for me, and my life will be alive indeed, alive because filled with you. But now it is very different. Anyone whom you fill you also uplift; but I am not full of you, and so I am a burden to myself. Joys over which I ought to weep do battle with sorrows that should be matter for joy, and I do not know which will be victorious. But I also see griefs that are evil at war in me with joys that are good, and I do not know which will win the day. This is agony, Lord, have pity on me! It is agony! See, I do not hide my wounds; you are the physician and I am sick; you are merciful, I in need of mercy.

Is not human life on earth a time of testing? Who would choose troubles and hardships? You command us to endure them, but not to love them. No-one loves what he has to endure, even if he loves the endurance, for although he may rejoice in his power to endure, he would prefer to have nothing that demands endurance. In adverse circumstances I long for prosperity, and in times of prosperity I dread adversity. What middle ground is there, between these two, where human life might be free from trial? Woe betide worldly prosperity, and woe again, from fear of disaster and evanescent joy! But woe, woe, and woe again upon worldly adversity, from envy of better fortune, the hardship of adversity itself, and the fear that endurance may falter. Is not human life on earth a time of testing without respite?

On your exceedingly great mercy, and on that alone, rests all my hope.

The Confessions of St Augustine

Teacher... we want you to do us a favour (Mark 10:35)

“Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” (Mark 10:37)

It’s Friday night—family night at home, when everyone sits together to play a game or watch a movie on TV. As the mother sits on the sofa, two of her kids rush to join her, eager to have her arms around them as the movie starts. But the other three kids protest: “That’s not fair! They got to sit with you last week!” It may seem selfish of the two children to try to get the privileged spots again, but it is understandable. All the kids enjoy the affirmation and comfort of being close to their mother. In their minds, there’s no better place in the world than sitting right next to her!

Keep this scene in mind as you think about today’s Gospel reading, when James and John ask Jesus for special seats next to him when the kingdom of God comes. Of course, this is not the kind of behavior you would expect from grown men who had already been following Jesus for a few years, but it does give you some idea of why they made their request. It also helps explain the other disciples’ reaction. Who wouldn’t want to be as close to Jesus as possible?

Jesus pulls the rug out from under the disciples when he tells them that the most privileged posi­tion is the position of service, not of intimate comfort. Like the disciples, we all want the sense of intimacy and closeness to the Lord to go on forever. But part of growing up into Christ means learning to find him in the world as well as in our prayer. It means coming to the point where we discover him in the cry of the poor, in the fellowship of our broth­ers and sisters, and in the faithful living out of our vocations.

We should always keep seeking the Lord in personal prayer. But we should also remember how much he enjoys meeting us as we imitate him by pouring ourselves out for other people. How amazing that a life of service would bring us to such deep intimacy with the God of the universe!


“Jesus, I am amazed at all the ways you are with me. Open my eyes to see you today. Open my heart to feel your presence.”

Even the angels long to catch a glimpse of these things (1 Peter 1:12)

“As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15)

At any other time in the church year, we might find this exhortation intimidating. There’s no way I can be as holy as Jesus, certainly not in every single thing I do! It’s just not humanly possible, no matter how pure my inten­tions and strong my willpower. I can’t possibly eliminate selfishness from my nature. I can’t love the way God loves.

True enough. This is the humble place we all occupy as a fallen race of sinners. This is the starting point for each and every one of us, and we are wise to have it in the forefront of our memories.

However, two days after the great Feast of Pentecost, we hear these words with different ears. God has already poured out his Spirit to transform us. That Spirit turned twelve timid people into eager evan­gelists willing to go wherever God sent them. They even became willing to sacrifice their lives if God granted them the privilege of following in his Son’s steps!

That Spirit took people who spoke different languages, came from dif­ferent cultures, and lived in different degrees of wealth and poverty, and knit them into a close community one in heart and mind, holding everything in common (Acts 4:32).

This is the Spirit who was poured into our hearts at baptism—the same Spirit who still lives in us, eager to fill us with his grace and shape us into Christ’s image.

Holiness is not an impossible task set before us, a distant vision that lies far beyond our reach. No, it’s a gift poured into our hearts by a gracious and merciful God. In fact, holiness is a Person, the Spirit of a committed friend who once was dead but now lives. By the gift of baptism, that holiness, that Person, now dwells in us. Rather than an occasion for anxiety or fear, the call to holiness is a call to rejoice—and a call to embrace the One who can make us holy as he is holy.


“Holy Spirit, I praise your name. I set my hope on the grace you poured into my heart at baptism. Come, Spirit, and clothe me in the holiness of Christ!”

This is a cause of great joy for you (1 Peter 1:6)

“… A new birth to a living hope.” (1 Peter 1:3)

“Yes,” your doctor says. “The test results confirm it. You are preg­nant.” The excitement you feel on hearing these words is indescribable. You’re having your first child!

As the months progress, you find yourself focusing less on yourself and more on the little person you are carrying. It’s all about the baby now. At fleeting moments you may think about the pain of childbirth or the nighttime feedings or the other ways your life will change. But these thoughts never last long. Why? Because you are looking for­ward in anticipation to the miracle of a new child. Someone new will come into your life——a completely new person created by God and conceived in love.

In today’s first reading, St. Peter speaks of another birth——a spiritual birth into Jesus’ own death and res­urrection. It’s a birth into a “living hope” and “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfad­ing” (1 Peter 1:3,4). It’s the birth of an eternal, heavenly life in our own mortal hearts, the birth of a new relationship with Almighty God, and the birth of a new identity for us: child of God and coheir with Christ.

So here’s a question: If the com­ing birth of a new child fills us with joy and eager expectation, why does the world often look at the spiritual life as a list of chores? It can be easy for anyone with a worldly philosophy to reduce this new life to a matter of obeying commandments, fit­ting in prayer times, and avoiding condemnation.

Don’t let that happen to you! God has called you to share in his glory. Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and human minds have not conceived all the wonders that your heavenly Father has in store for you. And these wonders are not meant just for heaven. Even today, your heart can be filled with love. Right now, you can lay your burdens at the feet of the Lord. All this week, you can move in confidence and peace, knowing that your Redeemer is with you always.

We have so much to rejoice in, because our God is faithful and lov­ing and true!


“Father, I praise you for your great mercy! Your salvation leaves me filled with awe!”

God's Spirit Is In My Heart

God’s Spirit is in my heart,
He has called me and set me apart.
This is what I have to do,
What I have to do.

He sent me to give the Good News to the poor,
Tell pris'ners that they are pris'ners no more,
Tell blind people that they can see,
And set the downtrodden free
And go tell everyone,
The news that the Kingdom of God has come,
And go tell everyone,
The news that the Kingdom of God has come.

Just as the Father sent me,
So I’m sending you out to be
My witnesses throughout the world,
The whole of the world.

He sent me to give the Good News to the poor,
Tell pris'ners that they are pris'ners no more,
Tell blind people that they can see,
And set the downtrodden free
And go tell everyone,
The news that the Kingdom of God has come,
And go tell everyone,
The news that the Kingdom of God has come.

Don’t worry what you have to say,
Don’t worry because on that day
God’s Spirit will speak in your heart,
Will speak in your heart.

He sent me to give the Good News to the poor,
Tell pris'ners that they are pris'ners no more,
Tell blind people that they can see,
And set the downtrodden free
And go tell everyone,
The news that the Kingdom of God has come,
And go tell everyone,
The news that the Kingdom of God has come.

Receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22)

Today is the feast of Pentecost. Are we Pentecostal? During the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in the days of Mussolini, Christian believers suffered considerable persecution. In his book, Fire on the Mountains, Raymond Davis tells of the love demonstrated by believers for each other during this period of affliction, which in turn made a major impression on unbelievers.For example, no provision was made to feed the prisoners in jail by the invading army. This was the responsibility of relatives and friends. Christians in the prisons had no problem, though. They were well cared for by friends and family. In fact, so much food was brought to them by fellow believers and church groups that enough remained to feed the unbelieving prisoners also. This observable love, vibrant though nonverbal, brought many to seek the Lord. Such love was previously unheard of. As a result the word spread far and wide. Nonbelievers sought out believers to learn more about the Christian faith. When prisoners who had come to know Christ while in jail were released, they went back home and attended the nearest church. It is only right, then, that we should pray that we might be a “Pentecostal church,” if we understands what that means.

The word Pentecost is Greek for pentecostes which means “fiftieth.” The feast received this name because it was celebrated fifty days after the Feast of the Passover. It is celebrated by Jews as well as Christians. Another name for the Jewish Pentecost is Shebuot or "The Feast of Weeks." It was originally a day of thanksgiving celebrated seven weeks after the beginning of the harvesting for the completion of the harvest.

The Christian Pentecost marks the end and the goal of the Easter season. For Christians, it is a memorial of the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and the Virgin Mary in the form of fiery tongues, an event that took place fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. The Paschal mystery of the Passion, the Death, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of Jesus is completed in the sending of the Holy Spirit by the Father at the request of the Son upon his disciples. The feast also commemorates the official inauguration of the Christian Church by St. Peter’s apostolic preaching, which resulted in the conversion of 3000 Jews to the Christian faith. Pentecost is thus the official birthday of the Church.

Today’s Scripture readings remind us that Pentecost is an event of both the past and the present. The main theme of today’s readings is that the gift of the Holy Spirit moves its recipients to action and inspires them to share this gift with others. The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-11) describes in detail the miraculous transformation that took place during the first Pentecost, thus fulfilling Jesus’ promise to his apostles. The first manifestation of their reception of the Holy Spirit came when the apostles began to proclaim the good news of Jesus, and everyone there (regardless of their many different native languages), was able to understand them “in his own tongue.” The Jews in the crowds came from sixteen different geographical regions. The miracle of tongues on Pentecost thus reverses the confusion of tongues wrought by God at the Tower of Babel, as described in Genesis 11.

In the second reading (I Cor 12:3-7, 12-13), St. Paul explains how the sharing of the various spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit enriches the Church. He refers to the varieties of gifts given to the church as coming from the same Spirit who activates all of them in Christians for the common good. They are described as gifts, fruits and charisms of the Spirit. They may take different forms like prophecy, teaching, administration, acts of charity, healing and so on. Paul insists that these spiritual gifts are to be used in the present time for the benefit of others, for the common good and for the building up of the body of Christ.

Today’s gospel relates how the risen Jesus entrusted his apostles with the continuance of the mission given him by his heavenly Father as well as the authority to forgive sins. “Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” These wonderful words which bind together inseparably the presence of the Holy Spirit and the gift of forgiveness are referred to directly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But they have a much wider meaning. Those words indicate the power we are all given of being the agents of forgiveness in the world of today, which is often fiercely judgmental and vengeful.

We need to constantly remind ourselves that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit. We ought to cultivate the spirit of forgiveness. Today’s feast offers us the chance of looking at the role which forgiveness should play in our dealings with others. Thus, we are challenged to examine our sense of compassion, patience, tolerance and magnanimity. Learning to forgive is a lifelong task, but the Holy Spirit is with us to make us agents of forgiveness. If we are prepared on this day of Pentecost to receive the Holy Spirit into our lives, we can have confidence that our lives will be marked by the Spirit of forgiveness.

Pentecost is not just one day, but an everyday choice. Just as without breath, life ceases to exist so also without the Spirit, the church is a field of dry, dead bones. Today is a great day to ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle in us the spirit of new life and enthusiasm, the fire of God's love. Right now, stop and take a few deep breaths. In your mind, imagine yourself breathing in the Spirit and breathing out your sin. Picture your¬self accepting the Lord and his plans, and letting go of your own plans and visions. Know that what you are breathing in is pure, holy, and intoxi¬cating. Jesus has great plans for every member of his church. And that includes you. Now let us fervently repeat St. Augustine’s Holy Spirit prayer:

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy;
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy;
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I may always be holy. Amen.

Saint Philip Neri, Priest

Saint Philip Romolo Neri (Italian: Filippo Neri) (21 July 1515 – 25 May 1595), also known as Apostle of Rome, was an Italian priest, noted for founding a society of secular priests called the "Congregation of the Oratory".


Philip Neri was born at Florence, of pious and respectable parents. From his very childhood, he gave evident promise of future sanctity. Whilst yet a young man, he gave up an ample fortune which he inherited from an uncle, and went to Rome, where he studied theology and philosophy, and devoted himself wholly to the service of Christ Jesus. Such was his abstemiousness, that he frequently passed three days without eating anything. He spent much time in watching and prayer. He frequently made the visit of the Seven Churches of the City, and was in the habit of spending the night in the Cemetery of Calixtus, in the contemplation of heavenly things. Being ordained priest out of obedience, he devoted himself without reserve to saving souls, and, even to the last day of his life, he was assiduous in hearing confessions. He was the spiritual father of a countless number of souls; and in order to nourish them with the daily food of God's word, with the frequency of the Sacraments, with application to prayer, and with other pious exercises, he instituted the congregation of the Oratory.

He was ever languishing with the love of God, wherewith he was wounded. Such was the ardour that glowed within him, that, not being able to keep his heart within its place, his breast was miraculously enlarged by the breaking and expansion of two of his ribs. Sometimes, when celebrating Mass, or in fervent prayer, he was seen to be raised up in the air, and encircled with a bright light. He looked after the needy and the poor with an all-providing charity. He was once rewarded by a visit from an Angel, who appeared to him in a beggar's garb, and Philip gave him an alms. On another occasion, when carrying loaves to the poor, during the night, he fell into a deep hole, but was drawn forth by an Angel without having sustained any injury. So humble was he, that he had an abiding dread of everything that savoured of honour; and he was most resolute in refusing every ecclesiastical dignity, though the highest offices were more than once offered to him.

He possessed the gift of prophecy, and could miraculously read the inmost thoughts of others' souls. Throughout his whole life, he preserved his chastity unsullied. He had also a supernatural power of distinguishing those who were chaste from those who were not so. He sometimes appeared to persons who were at a distance, and assisted them in moments of danger. He restored to health many that were sick and at death's door. He also restored a dead man to life. He was frequently favoured with apparitions of heavenly Spirits and of the Blessed Mother of God. He saw the souls of several persons ascending, amidst great brightness, into heaven. At length, being in his eightieth year, he slept in the Lord; it was in the year of our Redemption 1595, the eighth of the Calends of June (May 25th), the feast of Corpus Christi, after having said Mass with extraordinary spiritual joy, and at the very hour which he had foretold, which was shortly after midnight. The miracles, wherewith he had been honoured, being authentically proved, he was canonized by Pope Gregory XV.


Born :-- July 22, 1515, Florence

Died : -- May 25, 1595, Rome

Honored in : -- Roman Catholic Church

Beatified : -- 11 May 1615 by Pope Paul V

Canonized : -- 12 March 1622 by Pope Gregory XV

Feast : -- 26 May

Patronage : -- Rome, US Special Forces, ICRSS

Prayer to Saint Philip Neri

Prayer to Saint Philip Neri

O glorious St. Philip,
who wast so favoured by God with the gift
of consoling and assisting thy spiritual children
at the hour of death, be also
my advocate and father when I shall find myself
at that dreadful moment.
Obtain for me that at that hour
the devil may not conquer me,
nor temptation overcome me,
nor fear itself revile me;
but that, strengthened by a lively faith,
a fervent hope and, a sincere charity,
I may sustain with patience
and perseverance that supreme struggle,
and that, full of confidence in the mercy of the Lord,
and in the infinite merits of Jesus Christ
and the protection of the Most Blessed Mary,
I may deserve to die the death of the just,
and be united with thee
and all the saints in the blessed home of Paradise,
to praise and enjoy the Lord forever.

Amen.

(An Indulgence of 100 Days, once a day)

The Lord is very near, do not be anxious about anything

Always rejoice in the Lord

The Apostle commands us to rejoice, but in the Lord, not in the world. For, you see, as Scripture says, whoever wishes to be a friend of this world will be counted as God’s enemy. Just as a man cannot serve two masters, so too no-one can rejoice both in the world and in the Lord.

Let joy in the Lord win and go on winning, until people take no more joy in the world. Let joy in the Lord always go on growing, and joy in the world always go on shrinking until it is reduced to nothing. I do not mean that we should not rejoice as long as we are in this world, but that even while we do find ourselves in this world, we should already be rejoicing in the Lord.

Someone may argue, “I am in the world; so obviously, if I rejoice, I rejoice where I am”. What of it? Because you are in the world, does it mean that you are not in the Lord? Listen to the same Apostle in the Acts of the Apostles, speaking to the Athenians, and saying about God and about the Lord, our Creator, In him we live, and move, and are. Since he is everywhere, there is nowhere that he is not. Is it not precisely this that he is emphasising to encourage us? The Lord is very near; do not be anxious about anything.

This is something tremendous, that he ascended above all the heavens but is still very near to those who dwell on earth, wherever they may be. Who can this be that is both far away and close at hand, except the one who became our near neighbour out of mercy?

The whole of the human race, you see, is that man who was lying in the road, left there by robbers, half dead, who was ignored by the passing priest and Levite, while the passing Samaritan stopped by him to take care of him and help him; and when the Immortal, the Just, was far away from us mortals and sinners, he came down to us to become – that far distant being – our near neighbour.

He has not treated us according to our sins. For we are his children. How do we prove this? The only Son died for us so that he would not remain the only child. He did not want to be alone, who died alone. The only Son of God made many children for God. He bought himself brothers and sisters with his blood; rejected, he accepted us; sold, he bought us back; dishonoured, he honoured us; killed, he brought us life.

So then, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord, not in the world; that is, rejoice in faithfulness and not in iniquity; rejoice in the hope of eternity and not the brief flower of vanity. Rejoice thus, and wherever you are here, as long as you are here, the Lord is very near: do not be anxious about anything.

~Saint Augustine

He welcomed all who came to visit him (Acts 28:30)

“With complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:31)

Imagine being the soldier guard­ing Paul during his house arrest in Rome! He would have seen this great apostle and evangelist toward the end of his life. He has been tested by trials and proved faith­ful through all his journeys. Now Paul could take advantage of two years of relative peace to wrap up his affairs. He wrote many letters to the churches he had founded and tried to reconcile with his adversar­ies. And over all, he never stopped proclaiming Jesus to any who would listen.

This house arrest at the end of Acts is thought to immediately pre­cede Paul’s execution. Even then, at the end of his life, Paul did not stop preaching. Even then, God called him to proclaim the gospel, teach, and intercede for the fledgling church. Especially then, nearing the end of his life, Paul was so vitally important to God.

Some of us may be in a simi­lar situation—slowed down by age, health concerns, or other constraints. But no matter what lim­itations we may face, we will never lack an opportunity to be of service to God. He will never tell us he doesn’t need us anymore! Like Paul, we can continue to share the gospel. We can spend time in intercessory prayer, both for our personal and family needs and for the broader and far-reaching needs of the world. We can write to our loved ones, encouraging them in their relation­ship with God.

Don’t ever think that you are useless to the Lord! Don’t feel inad­equate! Jesus will take whatever you can do, big or small, and infuse it with his grace and his transforming power. Your experience, faithful­ness, and even suffering are of great value to the kingdom of God! You can be a dramatic influence on your friends, family, or neighbors by your faith-filled presence, no matter where you are!


“Lord, thank you that you treasure me, that you actually need me! Help me to slow down enough so that I can listen to what you want me to do right here and right now!” Help me to win the race, so that I can receive the prize.”

May they all be one (John 17:21)

“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” (John 17:20)

When we enter into a time of intercessory prayer, it’s not uncom­mon to bring our own priorities to the forefront of our minds. We bring to God the issues that concern us and challenge us on a regular basis. How will I pay these bills? Can I trust my teenager to drive? How can I maintain a happy marriage? But if we look at Jesus’ prayer on the night before he died, he wasn’t con­cerned with these things. Instead, his heart went out to his followers, to those who would come after them, to those who didn’t believe in him, and even to the state of the world in general.

Even here, on his final night, Jesus was teaching us to keep sight of the bigger picture: his promise to be with us always and our call to preach his gospel. His primary concern was that all people would come to know his Father’s love for them.

Jesus also prayed that our hearts would be filled with love for other people and a desire that everyone would come to the blessings of liv­ing in his kingdom. In other words, he prayed for our unity in him. He prayed that we would work to overcome all of our differences, pull down every dividing wall between us, and learn to live in harmony with each other. He prayed this because he knew that unity is the most powerful sign of his king­dom—a sign that brings even more people to believe.

These are all such noble, holy intentions. How could we ever live up to them, especially when the duties of life are clamoring for our immediate attention? Jesus promised that if we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteous­ness,” “all these things” will be given to us as well (Matthew 6:33). If you want to see the bigger pic­ture, spend time every morning in prayer. Fix your eyes on Jesus as he is enthroned in heaven, and he will give you a heavenly perspective on your life. He is praying for you today—just as he prayed for his apostles centuries ago!


“Lord, give me a fresh perspective so that I can stay focused on your will.”

The Spirit changes those in whom he comes to dwell

If I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you

After Christ had completed his mission on earth, it still remained necessary for us to become sharers in the divine nature of the Word. We had to give up our own life and be so transformed that we would begin to live an entirely new kind of life that would be pleasing to God. This was something we could do only by sharing in the Holy Spirit.

It was most fitting that the sending of the Spirit and his descent upon us should take place after the departure of Christ our Saviour. As long as Christ was with them in the flesh, it must have seemed to believers that they possessed every blessing in him; but when the time came for him to ascend to his heavenly Father, it was necessary for him to be united through his Spirit to those who worshipped him, and to dwell in our hearts through faith. Only by his own presence within us in this way could he give us confidence to cry out, Abba, Father, make it easy for us to grow in holiness and, through our possession of the all-powerful Spirit, fortify us invincibly against the wiles of the devil and the assaults of men.

It can easily be shown from examples both in the Old Testament and the New that the Spirit changes those in whom he comes to dwell; he so transforms them that they begin to live a completely new kind of life. Saul was told by the prophet Samuel: The Spirit of the Lord will take possession of you, and you shall be changed into another man. Saint Paul writes: As we behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, that glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit, transforms us all into his own likeness, from one degree of glory to another.

Does this not show that the Spirit changes those in whom he comes to dwell and alters the whole pattern of their lives? With the Spirit within them it is quite natural for people who had been absorbed by the things of this world to become entirely other-worldly in outlook, and for cowards to become men of great courage. There can be no doubt that this is what happened to the disciples. The strength they received from the Spirit enabled them to hold firmly to the love of Christ, facing the violence of their persecutors unafraid. Very true, then, was our Saviour’s saying that it was to their advantage for him to return to heaven: his return was the time appointed for the descent of the Holy Spirit.

~Saint Cyril of Alexandria

Pope's Luncheon speech with the Cardinals, 21 May 2012

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER BENEDICT XVI
AT THE END OF THE TABLE WITH THE CARDINALS
(Sacred College of Cardinals)

Ducal Hall
Monday, May 21, 2012

Your Eminence,
Dear Brother,

In this moment my words can only be words of thanks. First, I thank the Lord for giving me so many years; years with many days of joy, wonderful time, but also with dark nights. But in retrospect we realize that the nights were necessary and good, reason for thanksgiving.

Today the word ecclesia Militans is a bit 'out of fashion, but in reality we can better understand which is true, possesses truth. We see how evil wants to rule the world and that it is necessary to enter the struggle against evil. We see how it manifests itself in so many ways, with different forms of bloody violence, but also masked by good, and thus destroying the moral foundations of society.

St. Augustine said that all history is a struggle between two loves: love of oneself even to contempt of God, or love of God to the contempt of self in martyrdom. We are in this fight and in this fight it is very important to have friends. And as for me, I'm surrounded by friends of the College of Cardinals, they are my friends and I feel at home, I feel confident in this company of great friends who are with me and together with the Lord. Unanimous and constant prayer is a precious instrument in overcoming all of the trials that may arise in the path of life, because it is our being deeply united with God that allows us to also be deeply united to others.

Thanks for this friendship. Thank you, Your Eminence, for all you have done to right up to this point today, and everything you have done. Thank you for the fellowship of joys and sorrows. Let us go forward, the Lord said: Courage, I have overcome the world. We are the team of the Lord, then the winning team. Thanks to you all. The Lord bless you all. And toast.

The Spirit dwells in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple

The mission of the Holy Spirit in the church

When the Son completed the work with which the Father had entrusted him on earth, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost to sanctify the Church unceasingly, and thus enable believers to have access to the Father through Christ in the one Spirit. He is the Spirit of life, the fountain of water welling up to give eternal life. Through him the Father gives life to men, dead because of sin, until he raises up their mortal bodies in Christ.

The Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple. He prays in them and bears witness in them to their adoption as sons. He leads the Church into all truth and gives it unity in communion and in service. He endows it with different hierarchical and charismatic gifts, directs it by their means, and enriches it with his fruits.

By the power of the Gospel he enables the Church to grow young, perpetually renews it, and leads it to complete union with its Bridegroom. For the Spirit and the Bride say to the Lord Jesus: “Come!”

In this way the Church reveals itself as a people whose unity has its source in the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The whole company of the faithful, who have an anointing by the Holy Spirit, cannot err in faith. They manifest this distinctive characteristic of theirs in the supernatural instinct of faith (‘sensus fidei’) of the whole people when, from the bishops to the most ordinary lay person among the faithful, they display a universal agreement on matters of faith and morals.

This instinct of faith is awakened and kept in being by the Spirit of truth. Through it the people of God hold indefectibly to the faith once delivered to the saints, penetrate it more deeply by means of right judgement, and apply it more perfectly in their lives. They do all this under the guidance of the sacred teaching office: by faithful obedience to it they receive, not the word of men but in truth the word of God.

Moreover, the Holy Spirit not only sanctifies and guides God’s people by the sacraments and the ministries, and enriches it with virtues, he also distributes special graces among the faithful of every state of life, assigning his gifts to each as he chooses. By means of these special gifts he equips them and makes them eager for various activities and responsibilities that benefit the Church in its renewal or its increase, in accordance with the text: To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for a good purpose.

These charisms, the simpler and more widespread as well as the most outstanding, should be accepted with a sense of gratitude and consolation, since in a very special way they answer and serve the needs of the Church.

From the dogmatic constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council

I protected them and kept them safe (John 17:12)

“I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.” (John 17:13)

What would you pray for if you were facing a brutally painful, lin­gering death? Strength? Peace? The grace to endure it faithfully? Jesus prayed for his friends. He was con­cerned for what he had begun in their hearts. He wanted it to con­tinue and bear fruit until the day they were reunited with him. And guess what? He included us in his prayer. Us! With love and compas­sion, he asked his Father: “Keep them in your name. Protect them. Consecrate them.”

Keep them: Jesus asked his Father to hold you securely to him­self. He will do it! Your heavenly Father will never turn his back on you. He will never abandon you to whatever may come. No one can take you out of his hand. So talk to him about your dreams and hopes and fears, your strengths and weaknesses. Spend time in his presence listening for his voice.

Protect them: Jesus knows what can threaten the good work he has begun in you. And so he prayed particularly that the Father would shield you from those things. Amid trials and illness, setbacks and disappointment, God will defend your faith. He takes the offense for you, too, enabling your faith to grow and prosper, because it’s not just “your” faith, it’s his life in you. You can walk in freedom and confidence, because the Father does protect you. This evening, review today’s events. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where he protected you and helped you grow.

Consecrate them: To his prayers for our welfare, Jesus added another request. He asked that we would be set apart as holy and dedicated for a specific purpose. That’s for every one of us, not just the exception­ally talented, outgoing and naturally able ones. You are set apart! Your life here is not an accident. It is not pointless, useless, or meaningless. It is ordained, by God, for something only you can accomplish.

Jesus loves you and cares for you. Reread today’s gospel, and insert yourself where Jesus speaks of those whom the Father has given him. Then simply worship him for loving you so deeply.


“Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your love and care! Holy Spirit, help me to grow in knowledge of God’s love, protection, and plans for me.”

Fr Rufus Pereira - A Clarification

Fr Rufus Pereira - A Clarification

Sir, Your issue of May 12 carried an Obituary in which it was reported that "Fr Pereira was also Director of the Catholic Charismatic Bible Institute that was recently integrated into the ICCRS, Rome, as responsible for the global ministry of healing and deliverance." Since the same report has been published elsewhere too, may we clarify the several things that are garbled, for there never was, nor is, such a thing as the Catholic Charismatic Bible "Institute," nor is the Catholic Bible Institute connected with the ICCRS in Rome or the deliverance ministry. When started in 1979 in the Jesuit Villa, Versova, Bombay, by the Chairman, Fr Fio Mascarenhas SJ and his colleagues in the National Service Team(NST), it was called the Catholic Charismatic Bible College. After Fr Fio was transferred to Rome in 1981 (to become Director and eventually Chairman of ICCRS), Fr Rufus became its Director and Mr Terence Fonn its Asst. Director. This "College" was closed down in 1986 by the NST. When on Fr. Fio's return to India, he again became the NST Chairman in 1993, he restarted it in the Jesuit premises of Campion School, Mumbai, and appointed Fr. Rufus again as Director, and Dr Renu Silvano as Asst. Director.

With the encouragement of Cardinal Ivan Dias; a Public Trust called the Catholic Bible Institute was formed in the Archdiocese of Bombay in 1998, with the word "Charismatic" dropped to emphasize that its services were for the universal Church and not just for a Movement, and the word "College" was changed to "Institute" to signify that its focus was the biblical pastoral needs of the Church rather than just academic study. Dr. Renu Silvano, STD, OCV became its Director, and Fr. Rufus and the NST eventually withdrew from any responsibility over it. (Fr. Rufus of course continued to be its great friend, recommending it to his contacts!). This "Catholic Bible Institute" acquired its own premises in Bandra, Mumbai, and has no connection with ICCRS, nor is it invovled in any ministry of deliverance, its sole objective is to help disciples "love, study, and interpret the Bible in a Catholic way." Besides an annual month - long course for students from all over the world, it conducts various evening classes and weekend biblical retreats for the people of Mumbai, and publishes the free, full-colour magazine BIBLE AGLOW amd other useful publications on biblical spirituality.

--Bro Inacin Fernandes, Secretary of the Trust
-from the Letters to the Examiner

They were yours; you gave them to me (John 17:6)

“This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3)

In this wonderful prayer of Jesus, we get a glimpse of eternity: not harps and jewels but intimacy with God. Nor do we have to wait until we die to experience this. Jesus knows us inside and out, and he longs for us to know him too, to let his love begin to transform us here and now.

“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me,” he says to his Father. And what is that name that shines forth from Jesus? John tells us over and over in his letter: “God is love” (1 John 4:16). As Trinity, God is forever in loving relationship of mutual affection and respect shared by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is this rich relationship that God now invites us to enter into.

This is the power of divine revelation! Scientists and philoso­phers studying the natural world may reasonably conclude that there is a wise and powerful creator. They may also be able to discover the moral law he has placed within his human creatures. But research and philosophy alone are not capable of bringing us into personal contact with this Creator. Only God himself can open our eyes to his love. Only he can tell us that he has sent his only Son to rescue us from sin and bring us into his embrace. It’s good to stretch our minds, to tackle the questions that scholars look into. But the revelation that God is love puts all of our scientific and schol­arly discoveries about the Lord in a new and more glorious light.

Tonight, look back over your day with the eyes of faith, enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Look for the many wonderful signs God gave you of his overwhelming love. Perhaps you have caught a glimpse of him in nature, in the words of Scripture, in the gener­osity of a friend, or in an inspiration to do something you weren’t plan­ning to do. Enjoy those glimpses, but don’t stop there. Receive each as an invitation to deepen your friendship with him even more.


“Jesus, your name is Love. Your mercy has come to me in so many ways, but I am most grateful for the privilege and joy of knowing you.”

But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33)

“We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:2)

These Ephesians were almost completely in the dark! But while they were innocently unaware of the Holy Spirit, he was, of course, well aware of them. You could even say that the Spirit sent Paul as a spokes­man to “introduce” himself. And the new friends quickly made up for lost time.

Think about your best friend. Do you remember when you met? Would you say that you’re better friends now than you were at first? Of course! Friendships grow over time. At first, we know them, then we know them, and then we really know them. The knowledge grows deeper every year. Eventually we know what things they like, what makes them laugh, what they might say in a certain situation, even what they might think and not say! It takes a certain mutual effort and patience for a relationship to develop so deeply, but it is well worth the effort.

Our relationship with the Lord is no different. If we want it to grow, it also takes time and patience. It takes making sure that we have time alone with him every day in prayer and in his Word. It takes examining our hearts to see what areas aren’t quite submitted to him. It takes small steps of faith in the direction he’s leading us. And as for patience, well, we have to learn to wait on the Lord for guidance. Then sometimes we even have to be patient with our­selves when we don’t get it right!

All this effort and patience we contribute may seem small, though, when compared to the effort and patience God puts into this relation­ship. Think about all the ways he has gone the extra mile for you. He gave you his only Son Jesus. He has given you his Spirit. He sends you messages of love and grace every day in a thousand different ways. He is incredibly merciful—even long­suffering—because he treasures your friendship so deeply.

Friendship with the Lord never goes stale. No matter how well you know him, there’s always more. His love is deeper, his majesties are higher, and his faithfulness is greater than you will ever know. And that means there’s always more ways your friendship with him can sur­prise and inspire you!


“Lord, thank you for calling me your friend. All I want is to know you more.”

Final Goodbye To Fr. Rufus Pereira, 2012

More than 4,000 people gathered to bid their final goodbyes to Fr. Rufus Pereira, priest, exorcist and healer of the Archdiocese of Bombay, India. Fr. Rufus Pereira, who held healing services across the globe, passed away peacefully in sleep at his London residence, due to a cardiac arrest.

The funeral procession that left at 2:30 pm (IST) from his family home, 24 New Kantwadi en route to St Andrew's School grounds on Saturday 19th May 2012, comprised of people from all walks of life, including inter faith and inter religious.

Prior to this, the priest's body was at the Chapel of Rest, 14 Watford Way, Hendon, London NW4 3AD, until a Memorial Funeral Mass was held on 15th May at 4pm (BST), St. James, Spanish Place, 22 George Street, London W1U 3QY.

The Proper Mass for Fr. Rufus was held on 19th May at 4pm, St Andrew's School Grounds, Hill Road, Bandra, Mumbai, 400050 India, followed by the Burial at St. Andrew's Church Cemetery, Bandra, Mumbai.

Published by Olivia
Copyright© 2012 All rights reserved

Jesus Is The Joy Of Living

Jesus is the joy of living
He's the king of life to me.
Unto him my all i'm giving
His forever more to be.

I will do what he commands me
Anywhere He leads I'll go
Jesus is the joy of living
He's the dearest friend I know

I have found a wondrous Saviour
Jesus Christ , my soul's delight
Every blessing of his favour
Fill my heart with hope so bright

I will do what he commands me
Anywhere He leads I'll go
Jesus is the joy of living
He's the dearest friend I know.

God has ascended amid shouts of joy (Psalm 47:5)

Go into the whole world and pro­claim the gospel. (Mark 16:15)

Today’s readings describe the ascension of the Lord Jesus into his heavenly glory after he had promised his disciples his Holy Spirit as their source of heavenly power, and commanded them to bear witness to him throughout the world by their lives and preaching. But the ascended Jesus is still with us through his indwelling of the Holy Spirit as he has promised, "I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” Today’s feast celebrates Jesus’ final glorification after his suffering, death and resurrection – a glory in which we hope to share.

There is the funny story of a young army recruit standing at attention on the drill field. The drill instructor yells, "Forward, march!" And the entire ranks begin to move, all except this one raw recruit. He's still standing there at attention. So the drill instructor strolls over to him and yells in his right ear, "Is this thing working?" "Sir, yes, sir!" The recruit yells. Then the drill instructor walks around to the other ear and yells, "Is this thing working?" "Sir, yes, sir!" The soldier says. "Then why didn't you march when I gave the order?" "Sir, I didn't hear you call my name." Some of us are like that soldier, standing around waiting for God to call our names. But the great commission given by Jesus on the day of his Ascension is a blanket order. It has everyone's name on it. And you can be sure that the man in charge says, "Go! Make disciples! Teach!” It is your mission and my mission.

The first reading, gives an account of the event of Jesus’ ascension as recorded in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1: 1-11). Jesus instructed his apostles to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the baptism by the Holy Spirit so that they might become his “witnesses to the ends of the earth” by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then a cloud took Jesus from the sight of the disciples, and two heavenly messengers in white garments gave them the assurance of Jesus’ return in glory.

Today's psalm, “God is king of all the earth,” celebrates God's universal kingship. It was originally sung in connection with a cultic procession honouring the Ark of the Covenant. By his Ascension, the risen Lord likewise "mounts his throne" in glory.

In the second reading Paul explains the theological meaning of Jesus’ exaltation by saying, "May God enlighten the eyes of our hearts, so that we may know the great hope to which we have been called." Our great hope is that one day we, too, will be ascending to heavenly glory, provided we carry out the mission entrusted to us by the ascending Lord. Our mission is to preach the Good News of salvation to the whole world in word and deed. We continue to receive the divine assistance and spiritual gifts necessary for our Christian witnessing through the Spirit of the risen and ascended Jesus living within us.

In today's gospel Jesus gives his final message, his final instructions, his final promise, and his final blessing to his apostles. Our mission, as recorded in Mark, Acts and Mathew, is to
1) “proclaim the good news to the whole creation” (Mark.16:15).
2) “Preach the good news and be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).
3) “Make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
Completing Jesus’ mission should be our goal in life, and the prospect of sharing the ascended Jesus’ heavenly glory should be the driving force of our lives.

Each Sunday we profess through the Creed, "He ascended into heaven." Christ’s Ascension, his return to his Father with his “Mission Accomplished,” was a culmination of God’s divine plan for Christ. Jesus’ Ascension was the grand finale of all his words and works, done for us and for our salvation. It was a culmination, but not the conclusion. As he is now with God in glory, he is now with us in Spirit: "Lo, I am with you always." The feast of the Ascension celebrates one aspect of the resurrection, namely Jesus’ exaltation. He did not wait 40 days to be glorified at God’s right hand. That happened at his resurrection. The focus of this feast is the heavenly reign of Christ. The Lord would be “seated at God’s right hand,” meaning He alone would be in control of the continuing plan of salvation through the Spirit, unrestricted by time, space or culture. Thus, the Paschal Mystery of Jesus' passion, death, resurrection, ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit form one unbroken reality which is to be understood by faith. This continuing plan of salvation will come to its fulfillment with Christ’s return in glory to pass the Final Judgment on all humanity.

In one of the great cathedrals of Europe there is a baptistery that tells the story. The water flows through it reminding us that Jesus says he is the living water. To be baptized, a person walks down three steps, each one marked by a word: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Descending the steps the convert is plunged beneath the water to die to sin and then raised from the depths to newness of life in Christ. To leave the baptistery now he must climb three steps, each one marked by a word: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So it is that a new creature is born, a new breed of man, a citizen of a new kingdom, a breed apart. Dead to sin, he is alive to God and is sent forth to grow to love and to give light to a lost, dying world. He doesn't do it alone. He does it in the Church, in little communities. In these, people demonstrate, in their way of being together, God's eternal kingdom come upon them. It took Michelangelo over ten years to paint the Sistine Chapel. Our missionary commission lasts until the job gets done, until life is over, "until the close of the age."

To be a Christian is to be a proclaimer and an evangelizer. There is a difference between preaching and proclaiming. We preach with words but we proclaim with our lives. Therefore let us ask the guidance of the Spirit of God, to bear witness to Jesus by our transparent Christian lives. Amen

“Lord, Jesus I thank and praise you for calling me to assist in your divine plan of salvation. Use me Lord, to the fullest extent possible!”

Update Funeral Details of Fr. Rufus Pereira

*Mass and Burial will be held on 19th May at 4pm, (IST)
St Andrew's School Grounds,
Hill Road, Bandra,
Mumbai- 400050
India.

The procession from his family home,
24 New Kantwadi enroute to St Andrews Grounds will start around 2pm(IST)

The *funeral Mass of Fr Rufus will be on St Andrew’s School Grounds on
Saturday 19 May 2012 at 4 p.m. IST and NOT in St Andrew’s Church.*

God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise (Psalm 47:7)

“All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to God with joyful cries.” (Psalm 47:2)

Have you ever given the Lord a rousing round of applause? When we’ve enjoyed a great concert, we clap exuberantly to show our appreciation. Sometimes we cheer. We may even give the performers a standing ovation and keep on applauding until they give us an encore. So let’s take the advice of the psalmist today and join him in a round of applause and loud shouts of acclamation for the Lord!

The Bible is filled with the wor­ship of God. From its pages echo the voices of countless men and women—as well as myriads of angels—who offer cries and prayers of homage to the Lord. In the Book of Psalms especially, we find many inspired songs that extol the Lord and his greatness.

Today’s responsorial psalm (47) is a “kingship” psalm honoring God as the sovereign ruler of the world. It’s one of the Psalter’s greatest hymns inviting us to sing the praises of the Lord. As King of all the earth, he is worthy of adoration. The word “worship” is, in fact, derived from an Old English word meaning “to acknowledge the worth or value of something.” Psalm 47 celebrates God’s greatness and declares that the whole earth recognizes his suprem­acy and power. It calls men and women everywhere to express this worship not only vocally in “cries of gladness” but also in a noisy, joyous gesture: “All you peoples, clap your hands” (Psalm 47:2).

Gestures often have a way of expressing our feelings better than words. David danced with joyful abandon before the ark of the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14,16). The wise men prostrated themselves before the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:11). So why not try adding some body lan­guage to your prayer time today? Lift your arms in praise, bow in rever­ence, dance for joy, lie prostrate in worship, even jump and stomp in excitement! You may feel silly at first, but gestures like these can break down barriers and lead you into greater freedom in your relationship with Jesus. So applaud him as your king. Then as your day unfolds, let your praises spill over into all that you do for him, the sovereign Lord of your life.


“All praise to you, my Lord and King! You are worthy to receive ‘power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing!’ (Revelation 5:12).”

Shame turns into honour when we seek God’s glory

The life of Jesus revealed in us

Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercy and God of all consolation who consoles us in all our trials and enables us to console others who are being tried, for we urge them on as God urges us on. As we share generously in the sufferings of Christ, so do we share generously in his consolation.

The words are those of Saint Paul the apostle. He was beaten with rods three times, flogged five times, stoned once and left for dead; he suffered every persecution men can inflict, his body was twisted by pain and toil. And all this was his lot not just on one or two occasions, for he writes: We are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in us.

In all these tribulations he does not murmur or complain about God, as weaker men do. He is not saddened as those who love status and pleasure are. He does not beg God to be relieved of them, as men do who are unaware of their true value and therefore will have no part of them. He does not make light of them, as men do who set little value upon them. On the contrary, fully aware of the value of these tribulations and rising above his own weakness, Paul blesses God amid his sufferings and thanks him as though he had bestowed a fine reward. He thinks it an honour to be able to suffer for him who subjected himself to so very much shame in order to free us from the dreadful effects of sin; who exalted us by giving us his Spirit and making us adopted sons of God; and who gave us, in his own person and through his own efforts, a proof and pledge of heavenly joy.

Dear brothers and sisters, I pray God may open your eyes and let you see what hidden treasures he bestows on us in the trials from which the world thinks only to flee. Shame turns into honour when we seek God’s glory. Present affliction becomes the source of heavenly glory. To those who suffer wounds in fighting his battles God opens his arms in loving, tender friendship, which is more delightful by far than anything our earthly efforts might produce. If we have any sense, we shall yearn for these open arms of God. Can anyone but a man in whom all desire is dead fail to desire him who is wholly lovable, wholly desirable?

If you long for these festivals of heavenly joy, if you want to behold them and take part in them, be assured that there is no better way to reach them than the way of suffering. This is the way Christ and his disciples have always travelled. He calls it a narrow way, but it leads straight to life. That is why he tells us that if we want to join him, we shall travel the way he took. It is surely not right that the Son of God should go his way on the path of shame while the sons of men walk the way of worldly honour: The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant greater than his master.

God grant that our hearts may find no rest and seek no other food in this world, save in hardship and suffering beside the Lord’s cross.

~From a letter by Saint John of Avila

I will see you again and you will rejoice (John 16:22)

“No one will take your joy away from you.” (John 16:22)

Suppose you were to find a very old locket that was engraved inside. The words on the inscription may not mean much to you, but they were probably very special to the original owner of the locket. That is, after all, the nature of an engrav­ing: to convey a lasting message to a loved one.

Do you know that God has been engraving your heart with words of love since the day he created you? These declarations are uniquely yours. He has permanently etched them into your being, and nothing can ever remove them.

What does the engraving say? Only you can discover that. But you can be sure that they are words of love and delight from your heavenly Father. You are precious to him, and he wants you to know this every day. It’s a truth that can guide you through this life with all of its ups and downs. Just as God does not change, his truth, written on your heart, will not change. He is always with you, ready to brush away any discouragement or hurt or fear that may have covered up the words. He is always ready to open your eyes so that you can read the prom­ises he has made to you. Do you remember the times you were filled with peace? Do you recall the times you knew that you were forgiven? Each of these events uncovers that inscription a little more.

As you go about your day today, try to discover your inscription. Your Father’s love never fades, never changes, never weakens. The words are just as clear today as they were a month, a year, even decades ago. The joy he gave you then, the hope he poured out on you before, is still fresh and new today. Your Father can make everything new again, so feel free to declare his words whenever you face temptation or frustration. Nothing can stand against God’s promises. In the light of his love, all darkness is scattered and overcome!


“Father, I am grateful for every word of love you have inscribed in my heart. Thank you for filling my heart with your love and making that the foundation for my whole life.”

All became believers in the Lord (Acts 18:8)

“Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.” (Acts 18:1)

With all of its sermons, conver­sions, miracles, and travels, the Book of Acts gives us a bird’s eye view of the early church. It doesn’t give us the full stories of all the heroes and heroines of that first generation of Christians. To paraphrase what John said about his Gospel, “there wouldn’t be enough books in the entire world” to write down all those stories (John 21:25)!

Think, for example, about Barnabas. He was instrumental in starting Paul on his apostolic career, introducing him to the Apostles and journeying with him for a time (Acts 9:27; 13:1-3). But we don’t hear much more about him after that point.

Think, too, about Priscilla and Aquila. We meet them in today’s reading, recently arrived in Corinth after being ordered out of Italy by the emperor Claudius. They welcomed Paul into their home and worked beside him during his stay. Later on, they meet Apollos, realize he is not teaching the full Gospel, and invite him into their home to train him more fully. Later in the New Testament, we learn that they trav­eled with Paul, and on at least one occasion risked their lives for him (Romans 16:3-4). They were a gener­ous couple, opening their home to church services and constantly nur­turing new believers in the Lord (1 Corinthians 16:19).

Finally, think of the many people whose names are listed at the end of many of Paul’s letters—people like Epaenetus, Mary, Andronicus, Junias, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodion, and Narcissus (Romans 16:3-11).

So many names—so many peo­ple—so many stories! And each one of them was essential to the growth and success of God’s work. And so are we! There is no such thing as nonessential support staff in the kingdom of God. There are no second-tier builders of the church—at least not in God’s eyes. He has a perfect plan for each of us. We will make a difference in the world as we embrace the calling God has for us. Regardless of whether or not we are in the spotlight, our faith­fulness is crucial. The kingdom of God depends on it!


“Holy Spirit, thank you for all the heroes of the faith! And thank you for calling me to be a hero, too. Help me to follow your lead.”

For in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28)

“What...you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:23)

Athens: one of the great cities of the classical world. It was a cultural center and home to the philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as many renowned dramatists and artists. Athens was one of the first known democracies in history, and inspired the foundation of democ­racies in our own time. Above all, Athenians were an intellectually curi­ous people. As St. Luke tells us, they “used their time for nothing else but telling or hearing something new.” (Acts 17:21).

But while the Athenians were busy filling their minds, their hearts remained unsatisfied. Paul knew this because of the shrines he saw there devoted to so many different deities—gods of weather, war, agri­culture, learning, and many more. Yet despite all these gods, they knew something was missing, for they had erected an altar to “an unknown God” (Acts 17:23). Paul pointed to that altar to make his point: What all their gods couldn’t do for them, this unknown god could—and his name was Jesus Christ.

These Athenians are not unlike many contemporary people who are looking for God and may not even know it. They may have success­ful careers and a good family. They may own the latest in technology and be on the cutting edge of news, knowledge, and culture, yet still be discontented. They may possess so much, but have so little internally to show for it.

How can we help those who are still searching? How can we show them that Jesus really is the “unknown god” everyone is looking for? It may go against our common sense, but the best way is for us to discover Jesus more deeply in our own lives. We can’t think that we are immune to the temptation to look elsewhere for fulfillment and meaning. But the more deeply we are attached to the Lord, the more clearly our light will shine. We will demonstrate a sense of contentment that will surprise every searcher. Our willingness to forgive, our peace amid struggles, our wisdom for life— all of these will tell everyone around us: I found it! And you can too!


“Here I am, Lord. Mold me into your image for all the world to see.”

He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God (Acts16:34)

“About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earth­quake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open.” (Acts 16:25-26)

Paul and Silas had no idea what God was up to. They were pretty sure God didn’t want them to languish in prison for the rest of their lives, but they didn’t know whether to pray for a miraculous release, dismissal of the charges against them, or a legal vic­tory. But they did know some things. They knew Jesus was alive and with them. They knew God was in charge and could use every circumstance to bring glory to his name. So they began to praise him aloud, singing songs of joy and victory.

God acted dramatically. He sent an earthquake that opened the prison doors and broke the pris­oners’ chains. Then he gave the apostles the right words to say to the terrified jailer. He also worked in the prisoners’ hearts, for none of them tried to escape. And finally, he worked in the heart of the jailer himself, bringing him and his entire household to conversion!

In difficult circumstances, we too may be perplexed about how to pray. We don’t always know which out­come would be best for us and for everyone involved. So how should we begin?

A good first step would be to recall the power and goodness of our heavenly Father. Let these memo­ries move you to praise him and to proclaim your trust in his love. Recall that he is Lord of the whole universe. Affirm that he is at work in this world he created. Believe that he loves you and has called you to advance his kingdom. Then, armed with these marvelous truths, offer him your praise and worship. As you recall his truths, you will also know his love. And that love will soften your heart and open you to his direction.

As you pray this way, you may get a sense of the direction you should go, or you may just have a deeper sense of trust in him. Whatever hap­pens, you’ll experience the chains of fear and confusion falling from you, and you’ll know the freedom of being a beloved child of God.


“Lord, I praise you with my whole heart. I trust that you are with me at all times and in all circumstances.”

Lord, you can read everyone's heart (Acts 1:24)

It is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us … become with us a witness to his resurrection. (Acts 1:21,22)

Peter, new head of the infant church, was thinking long-term. His concern, St. John Chrysostom tells us, “was to have eyewitnesses, even though the Spirit was to come upon all. It had to be someone who had lived with Jesus, not simply some­one who was a disciple.” It had to be someone who could look people in the eye and declare without a shadow of a doubt: “I saw him die. I saw him risen from the dead.” Many of Jesus’ followers could testify to his miracles; only a few, to the resurrection.

Such a testimony carries weight. It moves hearts and minds, and it provokes decisions. Chrysostom goes on: “The apostle who could say: ‘The very man who ate and drank and was crucified also rose from the dead’ would be more deserving of belief.” A person like this could stir up belief, or at least hunger to believe, in those who heard. And the whole world was waiting to hear, eager to receive this marvelous news.

The world is still waiting to hear—both about the power of the resurrection and what Jesus is doing today. And that’s why God calls every one of us to be a witness to some aspect of God’s life. God has worked in each of our lives in specific ways so that each of us can reveal something unique about who he is. Matthias witnessed the resur­rection, and was chosen to tell about that. But surely you have seen some­thing of who God is! Surely you have experienced his presence in a way all your own. Whatever it is, that is the “resurrection” God is calling you to proclaim.

Few of us will stand in a pulpit or on a street corner. But wherever you are, you can share what you know. Remaining peaceful in chaotic situ­ations speaks volumes about who Jesus is and what difference his life in you makes. Refusing to take offense, no matter how liberally it is offered, tells of a life steeped in forgiveness. Sometimes, too, your witness will be in words, as you announce Jesus’ power to heal, deliver, and forgive. Don’t sell your­self short. You are just as important today as Matthias was two thousand years ago!


“Jesus, you are risen! Show me today how and where to be your witness.”

So the churches were strengthened in the faith (Acts 16:5)

“The Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” (Acts 16:7)

Have you ever planned a trip? Maybe you’ve arranged transporta­tion, lodging, even meal plans. You’re packed and ready to go, tickets in hand, itinerary ready. Imagine what would happen if, at the last min­ute, everything falls through. Your transportation is canceled, the hotel is full, or your money is stolen. It’s hard to overcome your aggravation to see how it might be for the best. Paul’s second missionary journey is a similar story of plans being upset but a greater good being achieved by the Holy Spirit.

Paul must have felt very frus­trated. He and his companions had planned to visit a number of places, but they were “prevented by the Holy Spirit” at every turn. Why would God throw up so many obstacles? Didn’t he know that Paul was trying to spread the Good News? It must have been hard for Paul to comprehend all this with his rational mind.

But it begins to make sense when Paul has a vision of a fellow from Macedonia pleading for him to come to his land. Had Paul followed his own plans, he would have been too far away to answer that call. And it’s a good thing he followed the vision: From Macedonia, Paul brought the gospel to Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica, and many other places in what is now Greece.

Sometimes we don’t understand how the Holy Spirit is leading us. Still, if we choose to follow—even when it doesn’t make sense or even when it means a major change of plans—greater blessings will come. Of course God wants us to use wis­dom and good judgment as we make our plans. But he also wants us to remain open to his intervention. We can’t be so attached to our way that we cannot let it go when we have to. God knows what he is doing. So why not try this weekend—and then every couple of weeks from now on—to make at least one minor decision according to what you think the Holy Spirit is asking you to do. It may not seem logical, and it may have the risk of backfiring—that’s why it’s good to start small. But how else will any of us learn? Give it a try, and see what the Spirit does!


“Holy Spirit, give me the wisdom and discernment to know when you are directing me. I want to follow your plan.”

Some.. have upset you.. and disturbed your peace of mind (Acts 15:24)

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit.. not to burden you.. beyond these essentials” (Acts 15:28)

It’s a common frustration. You buy something on eBay or an online retailer, or even at the local hardware store. Then when you begin to use the item, you discover that it’s defec­tive—nicked, outdated, or missing a crucial bolt. The product can’t do the job you thought it could do.

In a way, this is why the new Christians of Antioch were upset. However, their disappointment cen­tered not on a product but on the gospel! These Gentiles had joyfully believed the good news announced by Paul, but after him came other preachers who claimed that he had given them a deficient message. It wasn’t enough to believe in Jesus, they said: “Unless you are cir­cumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved” (Acts 13:48; 15:1). The church’s leaders in Jerusalem ruled otherwise, and today’s reading quotes the letter in which they communicated their decision. Essentially, it was: No, you don’t need to observe the Mosaic law. Faith in Christ is what’s essential.

Christians no longer feel that they need to follow the Mosaic Law. We believe that we are saved by the grace of a loving Father who wants to give us good gifts. At least, that’s what we believe. But when our daily crosses get a bit too heavy, when we’re tempted, drained, confused, or at a loss, we can be tempted to think that the gospel is deficient or defec­tive in some way.

Jesus didn’t come to guarantee us health, wealth, and prosperity. He came to promise us one thing: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). He is with us to guide us, to comfort us, and to encourage us. He has given us his Spirit so that we can stand tall, even when all around us seems to be falling apart. He gives us the same promise he gave to St. Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed today, step back, consider the big picture, and put your faith in Jesus. For you, as for those early Christians, it’s the path to peace of mind.


“Lord Jesus, I see so many needs—mine, my family’s, those of the church and the world. Help me to look up, trust you to provide, and receive your gift of peace.”

The Unity of God

God wants to be thought of as our Lover.
I must see myself so bound in love
as if everything that has been done
has been done for me.
That is to say,
the Love of God makes such a unity
in us that when we see this unity
no one is able to separate oneself
from another.

~ Julian of Norwich
(Meditations With Julian of Norwich)

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you (John 15:9)

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love” (John 15:10)

How many times have we heard these words, felt warmed by them, and yet not really grasped the radi­cal truth behind them? Let’s take a look, for instance, at what Jesus means when he says, “As the Father has loved me.” Let’s consider a few instances in Jesus’ life where we get a glimpse into how much the Father loves his Son.

When Jesus was baptized by John, the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Jesus was God’s dearest treasure, the apple of his eye, and he wanted to make sure that everyone around knew how precious he was to him.

Then again, at Jesus’ transfigura­tion, God announced: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 17:5). God was pleased with his Son and honored him by raising him to heavenly status that day on the mountain, making his clothes brilliant white and his face shining like the sun. Again, we get a glimpse into the purity, passion, and power in the love that the Father has for Jesus.

So what does this have to do with us? Everything! Jesus is telling us he loves us in the same way and with the same intensity that the Father loves him. He is well pleased with us; we are his beloved, dear to his heart. We are the apple of his eye, a shining jewel in his sight.

Can you believe this truth when you fail to honor him? When you fall into sin or become complacent in your faith? You certainly can! Jesus died to pay for all those times you fail him. All you have to do is turn away from whatever is drawing you away from him and turn toward the light of his love. The more we soak up his power and light, the more we will be able to understand and experience the depths of his love for us. Jesus chooses to love us every moment of every day. May we never forget this awesome truth!


“Jesus, you make my joy complete with your love. I will choose to love you today, just as you have chosen to love and keep me for the rest of my life.”

Christians share their meals, but not their wives

The Christian in the world

Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.

And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labour under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law.

Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonour, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.

To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.

Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body’s hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together. The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution. Such is the Christian’s lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself.


~From a letter to Diognetus