Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“They are Your gift to Me.” –John 17:24, RNAB Jesus said that God the Father’s gift to Him was twelve men (Jn 17:24). That very night, one of these twelve would betray Him (Mt 26:20-25, 47-50). His hand-picked leader would deny that he knew Him (Lk 22:57-60). All the rest, except St. John, would abandon Him (Mk 14:50). What a “gift”! Yet Jesus loves these apostles so deeply that He truly considers them a great gift. Jesus sees them not just for who they currently are, but for who they will become in Him and in the Holy Spirit. Thanks...

“I consecrate Myself for their sakes now, that they may be consecrated in truth.” –John 17:19 Today is the sixth day of the Pentecost Novena. Both the first reading and the Gospel reading are concerned with truth. St. Paul warns his disciples that men will distort the truth and attempt to lead them astray (Acts 20:30). Jesus likewise mentions in the Gospel reading that He has guarded His disciples and that they will need further protection (Jn 17:11-12). Jesus then consecrates Himself so that His disciples will be consecrated in truth (Jn 17:19). The next day, Pontius Pilate asked Jesus,...

“Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; He Whom you serve is the Lord.” –Romans 12:11 When you received the Holy Spirit, the devil immediately tried to extinguish the flame (1 Thes 5:19). At the same time, the Lord stirred the Holy Spirit into an even greater flame in your life (2 Tm 1:6). Yield to the Spirit. Put on the lampstand of your life the gifts and fruit of the Spirit (Lk 8:16). The Lord will continue to light your fire. With Mary, go into the hill country (Lk 1:39) and give as a gift what has...

“May He enlighten your innermost vision that you may know…the immeasurable scope of His power in us who believe. It is like the strength He showed in raising Christ from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in heaven.” –Ephesians 1:18-20 Jesus tried to tell us we had power to overcome all demons and to cure diseases (Lk 9:1). He told us we could “cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous, expel demons” (Mt 10:8). He even promised we would do greater by far than He ever did, if we only believed in Him (Jn 14:12)....

” ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They answered, ‘We have not so much as heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ ” –Acts 19:2 The Lord chooses the “lowborn and despised, those who count for nothing” (1 Cor 1:28). He pours out His Spirit on all mankind, even on the servants and handmaids (Acts 2:18; Jl 3:1-2). The “God-forsaken” Samaritans, the blasphemer Paul, and the pagan Cornelius received the Holy Spirit (see Acts 8, 9, 10). The twelve Ephesians, like the twelve apostles, received the Holy Spirit and “began to speak in tongues and to...