Tagged: Daily Promises

“He does not ration His gift of the Spirit.” –John 3:34 In today’s Gospel, we are told: “He does not ration His gift of the Spirit.” Many older readers might remember the shortages of material goods during the gasoline rationing in the early 1970s or the massive rationing during World War II. If you have lived during a time of rationing, you have learned how to adapt (Phil 4:11-12). Jesus reveals in today’s Gospel passage that God does not ration His gift of the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:34). Perhaps many of us have become accustomed to living without the Holy...

“Go out now and take your place in the temple precincts and preach to the people all about this new life.” –Acts 5:20 The Mass readings this week have been talking about being “born again,” begotten from above (see Jn 3:5). Just as an infant needs to be taught how to live in a new world, so “newborn” Christians need to be nurtured and taught. Thus, the angel commands the apostles to teach “the people all about this new life” (Acts 5:20). Parents, do you remember when your newborn infant was delivered in the hospital room? The baby had never...

“None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common.” –Acts 4:32 Early Christians “shared all things in common” (Acts 2:44). This work of the Holy Spirit was a powerful witness to Jesus’ Resurrection (Acts 4:33). Sharing all things in common requires a miraculous unity. “The community of believers were of one heart” (Acts 4:32). Furthermore, sharing all things in common is motivated by such zeal for evangelization that we pool our resources to maximize our evangelistic outreach. When we become one in heart, mind, and possessions, we begin to be one as Jesus and...

“Clothe yourselves with humility, because God ‘is stern with the arrogant but to the humble He shows kindness.’ ” –1 Peter 5:5 After Mark quit the first missionary journey (Acts 13:13), he changed his mind and was willing to be taken on the second missionary journey (Acts 15:37). This may have been an act of repentance and humility. When St. Paul refused to take St. Mark (Acts 15:38), Mark must have eventually accepted this, for Mark was later on good terms with Paul (see Col 4:10; 2 Tm 4:11). This reconciliation required acts of humility from both Mark and Paul....

“These have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that through this faith you may have life in His name.” –John 20:31 Alleluia! Jesus is risen! Has this last week been one of the greatest weeks in your life, not because of what you’ve done, but because of what the risen Lord has done? Or are you still locked in the upper room with all the doubting Thomases and fearful disciples? “Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!” (Jn 20:27) “There is nothing to fear” (Rv 1:17). Jesus is “the...