Category: Bible Study

“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...

“When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained to him God’s new way in greater detail.” –Acts 18:26 Satan’s most effective way of preventing us from receiving the Holy Spirit’s graces is to make us think we already have them. We certainly won’t seek what we think we’ve already found. The devil tries to pass off good things for God’s things. For example, Apollos had many good things about him. He was eloquent, “an authority on Scripture and instructed in the new way of the Lord,” and “full of spiritual fervor” (Acts 18:24-25). Yet he didn’t...