5/16/13

Pentecost Novena

Pentecost Novena Day 7 - Thursday

Pray: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created,
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of Your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read:
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
John 17:20-26

Be silent:

Pray: Jesus, baptize me, that is, immerse me in the Holy Spirit and in the fire of purification (Matthew 3:11).
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Thursday, May 16, 2013, Pentecost Novena - Day 7

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11, Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11, John 17:20-26
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051613.cfm


"I do not pray for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their word." -John 17:20

When St. Paul was on trial before the Jewish Supreme Court, the Sanhedrin, he tricked his enemies into fighting each other so that he could get off the hook. However, Paul's stratagem backfired on him. The dispute between Paul's enemies grew so turbulent that the Roman "commander feared they would tear Paul to pieces. He therefore ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him back to headquarters" (Acts 23:10). That night, after Paul's plans had failed and he was sitting in jail, the Lord appeared to Paul and announced that Paul would be His witness in Rome, the center of the Western world (Acts 23:11). In our weakness, God's power reaches perfection (2 Cor 12:9).

On this seventh day of the Pentecost novena, we need to realize our weakness so that we will depend on and cry out for the power of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:8). When Jesus had ascended and His apostles were at their weakest, they received the Holy Spirit. Throughout history, Christians have received the Spirit when persecuted and even imprisoned for their faith in Jesus. The Lord has "singled out the weak of this world" to receive the Spirit and "to shame the strong" (1 Cor 1:27).

To receive the Spirit, choose the weakness of gospel poverty, persecution, obscurity, docility, simplicity, and sacrifice. Embrace the weakness of the cross (see 2 Cor 13:4), then receive the Spirit.

 Jesus, without You I can do nothing (Jn 15:5). Come, Holy Spirit!

"I have given them the glory You gave Me that they may be one, as We are One - I living in them, You living in Me." -Jn 17:22-23

Holy Spirit Come Fill This Place    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us1I0fw7hKo

2 comments:

Ed Sousa said...

Come Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, My Light, my Love, my Strength, be with me now and always:
in all my doubts, anxieties and trials,
Come Holy Spirit;
in hours of loneliness, weariness and grief,
Come Holy Spirit,
in failure, in loss and in disappointment,
Come Holy Spirit,
when other fail me, when I fail myself,
Come Holy Spirit,
when I am ill, unable to work, depressed,
Come Holy Spirit
now and forever, and in all things,
Come Holy Spirit

Ed Sousa said...

Our Lady's Medjugorje Message of May 25, 2000

"Dear children! I rejoice with you and in this time of grace I call you to spiritual renewal. Pray, little children, that the Holy Spirit may come to dwell in you in fullness, so that you may be able to witness in joy to all those who are far from faith. Especially, little children, pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that in the spirit of love, every day and in each situation, you may be closer to your fellow-man; and that in wisdom and love you may overcome every difficulty. I am with you and I intercede for each of you before Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call."