May 15, 2013

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Reading 1 Acts 20:28-38

At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.

Responsorial Psalm PS 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab

R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!”
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Jn 17:11b-19

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Wednesday, May 15, 2013 >>

St. Isidore the Farmer (USA)
Pentecost Novena - Day 6

Acts 20:28-38
View Readings

Psalm 68:29-30, 33-36

John 17:11-19

GOD'S ENLARGING WORD

"I commend you now to the Lord, and to that gracious word of His which can enlarge you." —Acts 20:32

As Pentecost approaches, the Lord shines the spotlight ever more brightly on His Word. In the sixth day of the Pentecost novena, we are praying for a great outpouring and reception of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday. One of the first actions the Holy Spirit does is to break open the Word of God, make it come alive (Heb 4:12), and use it to enlarge His people (Acts 20:32).

On the first Christian Pentecost, the Spirit inspired St. Peter to preach from the Psalms (Acts 2:25ff). The Spirit then immediately used the proclaimed Word to bring three-thousand people to faith (Acts 2:41). When the Holy Spirit wields the Word of God (Eph 6:17), great growth and enlarging soon follow.

If we are serious about praying for the Holy Spirit, we need to dive into the Scriptures as never before. Many who receive the Holy Spirit find that one of the first effects is for the Scriptures to suddenly "leap off the page." However, no passages jump off the page at us if we haven't opened our Bibles. Jesus has given us God's Word (Jn 17:14). He also pours out the Spirit on us to make God's Word multiply in us. Let us accordingly do our part by reading our Bibles daily. Abide in God's Word (Jn 8:31), be enlarged (Acts 20:32), and thereby enlarge God's kingdom.

Prayer: Father, may Catholics increasingly read, pray, study, share, teach, and obey Your Word.

Promise: "I consecrate Myself for their sakes now, that they may be consecrated in truth." —Jn 17:19

Praise: St. Isidore, a farmer, began each day with morning Mass. He and his wife are both canonized saints.

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