5/18/13

Pentecost Novena

Pentecost Novena Day 9 - Saturday

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 28:16-20, 30-31
John 21:20-25

Be silent

Pray: Father, renew my Baptism and Confirmation. Stir into flame the gifts of the Spirit in my life (see 2 Timothy 1:6-7).

On or near Pentecost, ask another Christian to lay hands on you (see Acts 19:6) and pray for you to receive the Holy Spirit. After receiving these prayers, thank the Holy Spirit for coming to you, go to Mass as often as possible, and share your faith in Jesus. Come, Holy Spirit!
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Saturday, May 18, 2013, Pope St. John I, Pentecost Novena - Day 9

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31, Psalm 11:4-5, 7, John 21:20-25
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051813.cfm

UNHINDERED

"For two full years Paul stayed on in his rented lodgings, welcoming all who came to him. With full assurance, and without any hindrance whatever, he preached the reign of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." -Acts 28:30-31

In its original Greek, the Acts of the Apostles ends with the word translated "without hindrance" (Acts 28:31). This seems an abrupt and less than grand finale. Moreover, it seems unusual for Luke to claim that Paul proclaimed God's kingdom "without hindrance" after Paul had been confined to a room for two years, under house arrest, with a soldier at the door (Acts 28:16).

Luke ends Acts by showing that there is no chaining God's word (2 Tm 2:9) and no stopping the Christian people. You can lock us up, but we'll still take the Gospel to the ends of the earth by world-changing intercession, mountain-moving faith, and enemy-converting redemptive suffering. You can kill us, but we will rise from the dead and be resurrection witnesses with even greater power.

The only thing that can stop us is us. Repent. Live in faith. Obey God. Receive the Spirit. Be His witness (Acts 1:8). Renew the face of the earth (Ps 104:30). Come, Holy Spirit of Pentecost! Come again! Come now! Alleluia!

Prayer: Father, may this be the greatest Pentecost.

Promise: "There are still many other things that Jesus did, yet if they were written about in detail, I doubt there would be room enough in the entire world to hold the books to record them." -Jn 21:25

Praise: Pope St. John I suffered imprisonment for love of truth and unity during which he ultimately died for his faith in Jesus.

Holy Spirit Come With Your Fire    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOIj242UxpM

1 comment:

Ed Sousa said...

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen.