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Homily of the Day
April 7, 2016

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles Peter and the apostles tell the leaders who had given them orders to stop preaching about Jesus that they could not but preach about the Lord Jesus: “Better for us to obey God rather than any human authority.” Before he ascended back to his heavenly Father, Jesus instructed them to preach the Good News, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation.” (Mk16:15) No one can stop them from sharing the Good News with others, Jew or Gentile, male or female.
In the Gospel reading John whose role was to prepare for the coming of the Lord as Messiah informs his listeners that the One to come represents God and will speak for God. Indeed when Jesus came, he not only spoke for God his Father. He entrusted himself completely to the Father and the Father’s will: at his agony in the garden, “Father, if it is your will, remove this cup from me; still not my will but yours be done.” (Lk 22: 42) And his dying prayer, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk 23: 46)
Following Jesus, are we able to live out what we pray in the Our Father, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”?

34 posted on 04/07/2016 7:46:04 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Espa�ol

All Issues > Volume 32, Issue 3

<< Thursday, April 7, 2016 >> St. John Baptist de la Salle
 
Acts 5:27-33
View Readings
Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20 John 3:31-36
Similar Reflections
 

MAKING WAVES?

 
"Better for us to obey God than men!" �Acts 5:29
 

The Holy Spirit is given to those that obey God (Acts 5:32). Additional movements of the Spirit are given to those who obey God in greater ways. The experience of Jesus' disciples illustrates this principle. They obeyed Him by devoting themselves to constant prayer for nine days (Acts 1:14). Then they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Before they received the Spirit a second time (Acts 4:31), they obeyed the Lord to a much greater degree. "They devoted themselves to the apostles' instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42). "Those who believed shared all things in common; they would sell their property and goods, dividing everything on the basis of each one's need" (Acts 2:44-45). Before a third wave of the Spirit came, they obeyed to the point of being arrested, having been "judged worthy of ill-treatment for the sake of the Name" (Acts 5:41). Before the next wave of the Spirit, Steven obeyed to the point of giving up his life for Jesus and becoming the first martyr.

The Holy Spirit is not rationed (Jn 3:34) but given lavishly (Ti 3:6). The waves keep on coming to those who keep on obeying in ever greater ways. Do you want a new wave of the Spirit? In what way will you obey the Lord as never before? The Holy Spirit continues to be given to those who obey God � more.

 
Prayer: Father, I will obey You even to death and the cross, and therefore be exalted (see Phil 2:8-9). Come, Holy Spirit, with wave after wave of Your gifts and graces.
Promise: "Whoever believes in the Son has life eternal. Whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure the wrath of God." �Jn 3:36
Praise: St. John Baptist de la Salle fathered many Christians by founding the Christian Brothers.

35 posted on 04/07/2016 7:47:33 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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