Tagged: Daily Reflection

“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. There were in the company about twelve men in all.” –Acts 19:6-7 The twelve Ephesian men so readily gave their lives to Jesus and received the Holy Spirit because they had received John’s baptism of repentance (see Acts 19:3-4). At the first Christian Pentecost, Peter told the people to repent in order to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). On the evening of the day on which Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus commanded His...

“He was lifted up before their eyes in a cloud which took Him from their sight.” –Acts 1:9 When Jesus ascended into heaven, He mounted “His throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts” (Ps 47:6). All the angels and saints were giving Jesus a “prostrate ovation” in recognition that He, the Lord of lords and the King of kings, had accomplished the plan of salvation. The apostles shared in this worship of the glorified and enthroned Christ, but they “had entertained doubts” (Mt 28:17). On the cross, when Jesus said: “It is finished,” His disciples probably thought...

“When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained to him God’s new way in greater detail.” –Acts 18:26 The first Christian Pentecost had two parts. The Spirit was poured out on 120 disciples of Jesus in an upper room at 9AM on a Sunday (Acts 1:14, 15; 2:15). Later that day, the Spirit was received by 3,000 people in the streets of Jerusalem (Acts 2:41). Not only does “charity begin at home,” but often Pentecost begins at home, or at least in an upper room. Then it hits the streets, only to return to the home,...

“May another take his office.” –Acts 1:20 During this Pentecost novena, which begins tomorrow, we must replace our Judases with Matthiases. The apostles had spent nearly every day with Judas for about three years. After he sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver and then committed suicide, the apostles were probably traumatized, guilt-ridden, and confused. They had to deal with this catastrophe before they could receive the Holy Spirit of Pentecost. They had to replace the pain associated with Judas with the peace and healing associated with Matthias. To receive the Holy Spirit this Pentecost, you too may have to...