Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“Paul knelt down with them all and prayed. They began to weep without restraint, throwing their arms around him and kissing him, for they were deeply distressed to hear that they would never see his face again.” —Acts 20:36-38 When St. Paul knew that he was seeing the leaders of the church of Ephesus for the last time, he had no regrets, for he “never shrunk from announcing to [them] God’s design in its entirety” (Acts 20:27). Imagine the occasion when you will see your children, spouse, or brothers and sisters in Christ for the last time. Will you have...

“I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit and not knowing what will happen to me there — except that the Holy Spirit has been warning me from city to city that chains and hardships await me.” —Acts 20:22-23 The Holy Spirit will touch, bless, and enlighten us. He can be like a refreshing breeze, a warm fire, and cool waters. The Holy Spirit will also compel, warn (Acts 20:22-23), and convict us of our sins (Jn 16:8). He can be like a strong, driving wind (Acts 2:2), a purifying, consuming fire (see Heb 12:29), and raging...

“As Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came down on them and they began to speak in tongues and to utter prophecies.” —Acts 19:6 Most of you reading this have the Holy Spirit living and working within you through your Baptisms and Confirmations. So for you this Pentecost novena should result in growth in the Spirit. However, human beings, even Christians, usually don’t have a strong desire to grow. This is why the Lord commands us to grow (e.g. Eph 4:15; 2 Pt 3:18). Otherwise, we wouldn’t try to grow. Nevertheless, we may even ignore the Lord’s...

“Within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” —Acts 1:5 Jesus tried to give us the Holy Spirit three times. When He died on Calvary He gave over His Spirit (Jn 19:30), although only a few were present to receive the Spirit. Jesus’ second attempt to give us the Holy Spirit was on the first resurrection night. He breathed on His apostles and commanded: “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22). It seems that they only partially received the Spirit because they stayed locked up in the upper room. The Church received the fullness of the Holy...

Apollos established “from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.” —Acts 18:28 While in the city of Ephesus, Apollos unpacked the Old Testament Scriptures that referred to Jesus and established that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah (Acts 18:28). In so doing, Apollos imitated Jesus, Who, while walking on the road to Emmaus, unpacked the Old Testament Scriptures “beginning with Moses and all the prophets” and “interpreted for them every passage of Scripture which referred to Him” (Lk 24:27). As we progress through the Pentecost Novena, we increase our thirst to receive the Holy Spirit. A great way to open...