~ JOY IN THE SPIRIT ~
"The disciples could not but be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit." -Acts 13:52
Paul and Barnabas suffered "violent abuse" and were expelled from the territory of Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:45, 50). Most people react to abuse with anger, unforgiveness, or other forms of retaliation. We tend to attack the abuser physically or at least in court. However, Paul and Barnabas responded to the abusive treatment they suffered by being "filled with joy and the Holy Spirit" (Acts 13:52).
The Holy Spirit makes us holy. He transforms us and empowers us to act in godly ways. In the Spirit, we respond to evil with good (see Rm 12:21), to violence with forgiveness, and to rejection with love. The Holy Spirit can take someone like Philip, who Jesus said didn't even know Him (Jn 14:9), and turn him into a missionary-martyr-saint. The Spirit can turn a fearful man like Peter into the preacher of Pentecost, the first Pope, and a glorious martyr. The Spirit can take us in our selfishness and compulsions and make us loving, pure, and free.
On the first Easter evening, Jesus breathed on the apostles and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22). The Father and Jesus continue to give us the Spirit.
Receive the Holy Spirit now and live a new life.
Prayer: Father, where there is hatred, let me give love, and where there is injury, pardon (from the Prayer of St. Francis).
Promise: "I solemnly assure you, the man who has faith in Me will do the works I do, and greater far than these." -Jn 14:12
Lord, let your Spirit shine on me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXnY-dcAR1g&feature=related
2 comments:
Dear children! Today I call you, through prayer and sacrifice, to prepare yourselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Little children, this is a time of grace and so, again, I call you to decide for God the Creator. Allow him to transform and change you. May your heart be prepared to listen to, and live, everything which the Holy Spirit has in his plan for each of you. Little children, allow the Holy Spirit to lead you on the way of truth and salvation towards eternal life. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, May 25, 1998
I arise today through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit's gifts of peace, patience, love, joy, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, humility, forgiveness, goodness, fortitude, discipline, truth relinquishment, good self-image, prosperity, charity, obedience, a sound mind, order, fulfillment in Christ, acceptance of self, acceptance of others, trust, freedom from addictions, freedom of having to control, freedom from shame, wholeness, wellness, health, wisdom, knowledge, understand, and the light and life of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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