Category: Daily Reflections

“They were deeply distressed to hear that they would never see his face again.” –Acts 20:38 St. Paul knows he is about to die. He is not concerned with himself. He had long ago repented of all sin and abandoned himself into God’s loving hands. Paul is concerned that his followers remain grounded in the truth. He wants them to guard themselves and others against those savage wolves who will try to lead his flock astray with false teaching after he dies (Acts 20:28-30). Jesus is about to die. He is not concerned with Himself, having daily abandoned Himself into...

“I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit and not knowing what will happen to me there.” –Acts 20:22 St. Paul met with the leaders of the Ephesian church for the last time. They would never see his face again (Acts 20:25). Each of us also regularly see people for the last time. Under these circumstances, can we say what Paul said? Can we say that we’ve “told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”? (see Acts 20:20, 27) Have we “insisted solemnly on repentance before God and on faith in our Lord Jesus”?...

“The saying in Scripture uttered long ago by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David was destined to be fulfilled in Judas.” –Acts 1:16 Before the Holy Spirit came at the first Christian Pentecost, Jesus’ disciples needed to resolve several problems related to leadership. They: recognized Peter as the leader of the apostles despite his three denials of Christ, accepted the apostles as leaders despite their abandonment of Christ before His death, discerned that they should replace Judas, who betrayed Christ and committed suicide, discerned that Judas’ replacement should be someone who was with Jesus throughout His public ministry...

“Until now you have not asked for anything in My name…” –John 16:24 When I take my youngest son to piano lessons, he always asks me to buy him an ice cream cone. Sometimes I have no money or time; other times I do buy him the cone. Yet even if it’s been weeks without a cone, he never neglects to ask. Jesus Himself tells us: “I give you My assurance, whatever you ask the Father, He will give you in My name” (Jn 16:23). Often Christians are disappointed when the answer to a sincere prayer request was not what...

“On that day you will have no questions to ask Me.” –John 16:23 When we are with Jesus in heaven, all the difficult questions will pass away. We won’t need to know why bad things happen on this earth. Seeing Jesus face-to-face will be more than enough. Being with Jesus will cause all else to melt away. Until that day in heaven for which we long and sacrifice, we do not have the answers we want. Rather, we have the Answer, that is, the Holy Spirit. Today begins the Pentecost Novena, nine days of prayer to prepare for receiving the...