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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, May 6, 2002 The Sixth Week of Easter Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word: Acts 16: 11-15 Psalm 149: 1-6, 9 John 15: 26--16: 4 A reflection on today's Scripture. . . . "I have told you this that you may not fall away." (John 16: 1) Today's readings bring to mind Christ's loving words, "I will not leave you orphaned." Jesus knew that the mission He had entrusted to His disciples was not one that could be accomplished through human wisdom and strength. Theirs was a spiritual mission, informing the world that it need not live in the darkness and misery of sin, but that in Christ it could be lifted up to a new life of peace, justice and truth. But how were they to accomplish this after Christ had left them? The Lord assured them He would send His Holy Spirit to remind them of all He had taught, to strengthen their faith and to give them courage to speak God's truth even in the face of fierce opposition by the world. At Pentecost we will see this promise fulfilled. Why is it that today Christ's Church is fragmented into thousands of denominations? Why are we not all vigorously proclaiming the Good News of salvation? Why are Christian voices not being heard loudly opposing the abominations being perpetrated by humans against humanity? Two inter-related reasons predominate: Christian church membership is not Spirit filled thereby failing to clearly reflect the image of Christ to the world; instead people prefer autonomy, freedom to indulge their every appetite. Many refuse to accept that we are not our own, that we are God's earthen vessels created to bear His very life, His goodness into this world. We idolize self, this flesh and all those things that appeal to the human eye and ego. Still, we have not been abandoned; the Holy Spirit ever awaits our seeing our true state and asking Him to fill the void within our hearts. Most Holy Spirit, grace us with the ability to wholly give ourselves to hearing and obeying You, that we may bear Christ's new life into this world. Amen. Marie L. Bocko OCDS ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website to your friends and Catholic webmasters. The meditations are in English & Spanish at http://www.borg.com/~joachim/DailyMeds.html (case sensitive). ARCHIVED Meditations: http://www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html and at: http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com For ALL communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (c)2002 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit. All scripture quotes are from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Catholic Bible. Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/ |
Title: Meditation: Monday, May 6, 2002
