Posted on 03/30/2002 7:53:37 PM PST by malakhi
Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. - John Adams |
Methinks this stud was named incorrectly. ;o)
Monday, May 12, 2003 St. Leopold Mandic, Capuchin, Priest (Memorial) |
||
|
The following is, as usual, from The Word Among Us:
This Pentecost happened suddenly, while Peter was speaking with a gathering of Gentiles who had not yet been baptized or received instruction in the Jewish law. Peter later reported to the other apostles that he watched with amazement as "the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning" (Acts 11:15). After that, he baptized them without delay!
This was a new and radical course of action because up to this point, everyone had assumed that following Christ also meant following Jewish law. However, through a vision, the Holy Spirit had prepared Peter to take a different approach (Acts 11:5-10). Thus, when the other apostles and disciples called him to account for receiving non-Jews into the church, Peter overcame their objections so that they, too, glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted life-giving repentance" (11:18)!
It no doubt took some time for the Jewish Christians to understand the full implications of Peter's action. It required not only a lot of theological reflection and discussion, but a radical faith and trust in the Holy Spirit's leading. Peter showed the way. His docility and obedience to the Spirit's prompting set the stage for a new work of grace for bringing Jews and Gentiles together as one in Christ.
The same Holy Spirit is at work in the church today, half a century after Pope John XXIII prayed for a new Pentecost. Now as a new millennium unfolds, we are in a new season of evangelization, spiritual renewal, and ecumenical cooperation. How greatly we need Peter's docility and obedience to the Spirit! May we follow in his footsteps and demonstrate the same openness to the new ways in which God chooses to work today.
"Lord, open my heart to the new ways you are working in the world. May I never lose sight of your Spirit."
----------
God bless.
AC
Your just jealous Al...that area is the best part of Texas. :-)
LOL!!! Only if you consider it's location relative to South Padre Island. Other than that, there's not much to it. Go on up the Rio Grande to Big Bend, and then I may agree with you.
God: whom no one loses, unless decieved;
You can't lose Him once you have accepted Him, because He never loses one of His children, He will not allow them to be decieved to the point that they become lost again.
whom no one seeks,
Interesting point. In our Sunday school class the teacher has said several times that we are born believeing in God. That we have to be taught not to believe in him. The bible never tries to prove God's exsitence, it is written assuming you believe in Him already. The point is do you accept or reject His ways.
whom no one finds unless made pure.
Putting the cart before the horse. You are made pure after you find and accept Jesus.
Becky
Poll Results
I have to run now and won't return till later, maybe much later. I am interested in reactions.
Yes, I agree.
Then why are we given the parable of the prodigal son? We can lose our way. Been there, done that. I was raised in a Christian family and even had my share of those saving moments. I still remember my baptism very well and how overcome with the Spirit I was that day. I attended numerous revivals and had a really incredible experience in becoming closer to our Lord during summer camp one year. I was at that time "saved" as you NCs like to call it. During my college years I fell away from my faith and if I had perished during that time, I guarantee you I would not have been in the promised land. It wasn't until He woke me up to my ways that I got back on track. Allow me to share that with you here ...
Early one morning I woke up in a cold sweat after a dream. In the dream, I was preparing to be executed and it scared the daylights outa me. Didn't think much of the dream at first, just shrugged it off as nothing. A few weeks later, there it was again. This time I was already strapped to the gurney and was laid out with arms stretched out to the side (kind of as if on a cross). As the IVs were about to be administered, I calmly said, "Into your hands, I commit my spirit" (Psalm 31:5). Immediately I was back home in the company of my wife. This was clearly a call from our blessed Lord to repent from my sins and commit my life to him. Why would I receive such a message if I was in no danger of losing my inheritance?
whom no one seeks,
You left off a part ... unless stirred up.
Interesting point. In our Sunday school class the teacher has said several times that we are born believeing in God. That we have to be taught not to believe in him. The bible never tries to prove God's exsitence, it is written assuming you believe in Him already. The point is do you accept or reject His ways.
So if a person is raised in an environment where God is never mentioned, what then? Unless the person is "stirred up" what will make him/her seek God?
whom no one finds unless made pure.
Putting the cart before the horse. You are made pure after you find and accept Jesus.
Okay, but what about this angle ... We are made pure by the sacrifice of Jesus. Without that, we would not find God.
I'd say that last one is a toss up. ;o)
Never said she was. Can you share some of the sermon with us?
No particular reason. I was doing some reading last night, and came across that poem. I liked how he captured the perspective of those who "seek the City of God". "There is no solace on earth for us" -- we are pilgrims here, not permanent residents. Ultimately, what we seek is beyond the world.
mrs. malakhi went to the Catholic mass yesterday. The "sermon", if you can call it that, was about the parish buying a house near the church for the priest to live in, and remodelling the rectory attached to the church for additional office space. She was disappointed that they didn't say anything about mothers. :o/
That's pathetic. There's a time and place for such addresses, but during a homily on such a day, it's out of place.
The point is you DIDN"T perish, and He brought you back. The prodigal son DIDN"T perish, he came back. Think about it. Was it your power that brought you back or God's.
Becky
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.