WEEK NINETEEN: FROM DISBELIEF TO BELIEF - DAY 5
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on John 20: 19-23: Appearance to the Disciples: "Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whole sins you retain are retained."
Read the Reflection; ask for the grace to be glad and rejoice intensely because of the great joy and the glory of Christ our Lord (#221)
In John, the Resurrection, Ascension, and Imparting of the Holy Spirit are seen as different aspects of the same divine mystery. The disciples are transformed by the gift of the Holy Spirit being given to them by the Risen Jesus. Two points are worthy of note in this resurrection event. Jesus, the Risen Lord, breathes the Holy Spirit into his apostles. He breathes into them His own divine life through His Holy Spirit. Secondly, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives his apostles the power to forgive and retain sin. God took an amazing risk, to allow humans to exercise this power in His name. Twenty centuries of chosen humans, our bishops and priests, exercising this power in Jesus' name, has turned out to be an immense grace. God always knows best.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
MORNING PRAYER: Act of Faith; Act of Hope; Act of Charity; Daily Offering
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on John 20: 19-23: Appearance to the Disciples: "Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whole sins you retain are retained."
Read the Reflection; ask for the grace to be glad and rejoice intensely because of the great joy and the glory of Christ our Lord (#221)
In John, the Resurrection, Ascension, and Imparting of the Holy Spirit are seen as different aspects of the same divine mystery. The disciples are transformed by the gift of the Holy Spirit being given to them by the Risen Jesus. Two points are worthy of note in this resurrection event. Jesus, the Risen Lord, breathes the Holy Spirit into his apostles. He breathes into them His own divine life through His Holy Spirit. Secondly, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives his apostles the power to forgive and retain sin. God took an amazing risk, to allow humans to exercise this power in His name. Twenty centuries of chosen humans, our bishops and priests, exercising this power in Jesus' name, has turned out to be an immense grace. God always knows best.
As with Jesus, so with us, we will live and serve in the power and overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. This is what St. Cyril of Alexandria, circa 435, had to say about Genesis 2:7 (the Lord God...blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being) and John 20: 21-22: "Christ's act (of redemption) was a renewal of that primal gift and of the inbreathing bestowed on us, bringing us back to the form of the initial holiness and carrying man's nature up, as a kind of first fruits among the holy apostles, into the holiness bestowed on us initially at the first creation." The breathing of the Holy Spirit upon us by Jesus is our re-creation. We are begotten of the Spirit who will guide us to all truth and in doing so will give glory to Jesus!
The Prince of Peace enters the room, you are there contemplating the world outside and His words of comfort are; "Peace be with you." The disciples have watched their world go from a sense of normal to something completely different, in a sense the outside world is foreign. Jesus breaths on them and gives them the breath of Life, His Holy Spirit. In our own lives, every breath you take is from above, every situation is there for a purpose and Jesus is the answer. As you breath in and out you are receiving life, it can be His life if you so chose. The disciples learned this lesson and went forth with a deeper knowledge of what God was calling them too and empowering them to not go alone.
What is God saying to you?
Dear Lord God, I am thankful for the Breath of Your Holy Spirit that empowers my action. Help me navigate the world around, May I see what You see, may I hear what You hear and may I respond as You do through me. Thank You Father for the blessings of loved ones who are with us to be part of the journey. Continue to bless this day and all You gave for each of us. Come Holy Spirit, Come Holy Spirit, Come Holy Spirit, Come, Amen.
The Prince of Peace enters the room, you are there contemplating the world outside and His words of comfort are; "Peace be with you." The disciples have watched their world go from a sense of normal to something completely different, in a sense the outside world is foreign. Jesus breaths on them and gives them the breath of Life, His Holy Spirit. In our own lives, every breath you take is from above, every situation is there for a purpose and Jesus is the answer. As you breath in and out you are receiving life, it can be His life if you so chose. The disciples learned this lesson and went forth with a deeper knowledge of what God was calling them too and empowering them to not go alone.
What is God saying to you?
Dear Lord God, I am thankful for the Breath of Your Holy Spirit that empowers my action. Help me navigate the world around, May I see what You see, may I hear what You hear and may I respond as You do through me. Thank You Father for the blessings of loved ones who are with us to be part of the journey. Continue to bless this day and all You gave for each of us. Come Holy Spirit, Come Holy Spirit, Come Holy Spirit, Come, Amen.
Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us
St Joesph, Most Prudent, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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