Hearing Is Believing

In the gospels we see accounts of Jesus at prayer, and in the account of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, we hear some of the words Jesus is saying in prayer. Clearly, when Jesus prays he enters into a "communion", presence with the Father. Consider these text:

• + And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His VOICE you have never heard, his form you have never seen; Jo.5:37
• + It is written in the prophets, `And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Jo.6:45
• + I have much to say about you and much to judge; but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." Jo.8:26
• + I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father." Jo.8:38
• + For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. Jo.12:49
• + No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. Jo. 15:15

As Christians, when we pray, we enter into a communion of spirits with Jesus. We too, seek to "hear", (Lord speak ... I am listening.) This form of prayer is essential to the evangelist. Like Jesus, the evangelist is to proclaim what they hear. When Jesus said, "... you have not known him; I know him … and I keep his word." Jo.8:55 , he was showing the religious leaders what was missing in their leadership. How can you talk about someone you do not know?

Praying With Scriptures

The best place to begin praying, so as to hear the Voice of the Lord, is with the scriptures. Scripture is the Word of God. Already, God is speaking through the written Word. 

Listen! What do you Hear?

Learning how to "listen" to the scriptures is different from reading the scripture or studying the scriptures. You see the words on the page, the sound of the words comes to you as the reader speaks. But, what do you hear? Little children are often corrected, "... pay attention, I'm speaking to You!" The dictionary defines "attention" this way: 

(... a concentration of the mind on a single object or thought, especially one preferentially selected from the many, with a view to clarifying receptivity by narrowing the range of stimuli.)

When we come to prayer, our minds may be a blur of thinking about all manner of things, creating so much static in our minds that hearing the Lord's voice will be virtually impossible. Having a passage, even a verse, even a single word of scripture helps us to concentrate, and so begin the process of listening.

"Preferentially selected from the many ..."  Having a structured approach to selecting scripture for one's prayer, is most helpful. There are several approaches one can use. Choosing the best one for your spiritual journey at this time is very important. But it all begins when you open the Word and pray - "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

More on selecting scripture for prayer to come.

Tell The Good News

Having now complete our series on Baptism In The Holy Spirit, which followed our Lenten series and prepared us for the celebration of Pentecost, I will begin  a new series, focused on Evangelization. 

In Mark's gospel account, Ch. 16: we have what is called, "the Great Commission". Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.  Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation". 

From its earliest beginnings, the Church has been called to this vocation of evangelization. As seen in this text from Mark it has two aspects;

1. Believe in your own heart.
2. Share your belief with others.

At first, this sharing of faith was directed to those who did not know Christ or his gospel; which continues to be its purpose today. The "New" evangelization has a different focus, it is directed to those who are already numbered among believers, but who have become disconnected from a living faith, a faith that influences their life, who may still attend worship occasionally, all be it, nominally. Studies in profiles of religious belief and practice in Europe and North America today, show a marked decline in all Christian churches.

Our focus this past Easter time, leading up to Pentecost, has been on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is first stage of evangelization, being able to say, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, "Jesus is Lord! I have been touched in my deepest being, by his love for me. I truly know him and desire to draw ever closer to him. Teach me Lord." It is on this foundation of a living, personal faith, that the second part of evangelization, called catechises, can begin to instruct us, unpack for us, the mysteries of our faith.

These two aspects of belief are inseparable. Both must coexist if one's faith is to be true faith. We will continue in these pages, to seek to deepen our experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or as it is also called today, "the Grace of Renewal", and to see how we can be evangelist of this beautiful grace for others.

Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Mark 9:23-24

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Thirteen

PENTECOST

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”

PRAYER FOR GRACE:

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you.

POINTS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PRAY:

• Today is the birthday of the Church.
• What Jesus' disciples are experiencing is a direct result of the action of the Holy Spirit's presence in their midst.
• They go from hiding in fear, behind locked doors, to the market place, for all to see and hear.
• The tongues of meany languages, is a sign of the Church's universal mission to preach the gospel.
• Each one of us is called to be an evangelist; most important to realize in these days of the New Evangelization. 
• "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1Peter 3:15) This is the way we are to evangelize. 
• Who will ask us about our faith if they are not inspired by what they see in our lives?
• The gifts of the Spirit are meant to empower our life of faith. The fruits of the Spirit are the evidence, for all to see, that the Spirit is working in us.
• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Gal. 5:22

REVIEW OF PRAYER:

• Was there a time in your prayer that evoked a change in the way you were feeling?
• Were you able to picture the event in your imagination?Did you identify with any particular person in the passage?
• Was there anything in your prayer that touched your heart?
• Can you name the feelings you experienced?
• Did you hear the Spirit, in your mind's ear, speaking to you?
• What areas of your personal life seemed to be coming to mind as you prayed?
• Do you have a desire to return again to this passage and prayer?
• Described what you have learned.
• What questions do you now have following your prayer?

PRAYING WITH MARY ON PENTECOST

Holy Mary Mother of God, on Pentecost Day / you gathered all the friends of Jesus / in that meeting room of prayer. / Jesus had instructed that all must come together in prayer, / to wait in trusting hope for the Promised One to come. / In the mystery of God’s grace, / let us gather with you now. / We desire with all our hearts, / that the Anointing of Pentecost may come upon us once again. / Pray for us dear Mary, that the Mighty Wind of God’s Breath / will come and fill our house of prayer. / Pray that Jesus your Son / will send down upon us now, those tongues of flame, / to enkindle in our hearts the fire of love and the light of faith . / Pray that our tongues be freed so that we might fill this house with the praises of God. / Pray O Queen of heaven, that the Holy Spirit will give to our hearts a song of joy and thanksgiving / for His mighty works now done in our midst.

Come Holy Spirit, come. / Come down upon us now. / Melt our frozen hearts, reshape our distorted minds, / renew our sagging spirits with your Breath of Life. Fr. Curtin

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Twelve

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

 No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.

Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. You know how, when you were pagans, you were constantly attracted and led away to mute idols. Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. 

• To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; 
• to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 
• to another faith by the same Spirit; 
• to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; 
• to another mighty deeds; 
• to another prophecy; 
• to another discernment of spirits; 
• to another varieties of tongues; 
• to another interpretation of tongues. 

But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

PRAYER FOR GRACE:

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you.

POINTS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PRAY:

• The gifts are spiritual, yet real, discernible, and not merely one's natural ability.
• The gifts are given to individuals, but they are meant to be used for the benefit of the whole Body, the Church.
• We all have a vocation, a calling from God. Each day will have its special task. Do you know what is your's for today?

REVIEW OF PRAYER: 

• Was there a time in your prayer that evoked a change in the way you were feeling?
• Were you able to picture the event in your imagination?Did you identify with any particular person in the passage?
• Was there anything in your prayer that touched your heart?
• Can you name the feelings you experienced?
• Did you hear the Spirit, in your mind's ear, speaking to you?
• What areas of your personal life seemed to be coming to mind as you prayed?
• Do you have a desire to return again to this passage and prayer?
• Described what you have learned.
• What questions do you now have following your prayer?

Novena To The Holy Spirit - continues

The text for the novena is posted on the page; Novena to the Holy Spirit.

You may also wish to pray the Chaplet For The Grace Of Renewal, also found on the Pages, side bar.

By virtue of our baptism, each one of us is given a part in the work of the Church, the building up of God's Kingdom on earth. We all have a job to do, and a responsibility to complete the work God has given us. The Spirit gives us the tools we need, and guides us in the ways to best fulfill our calling. Therefore, pray to know your specific task each day. Ask the Holy Spirit for the tools, the gifts you will need - they will be given.

You are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God. You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is fitted together and takes shape as a holy temple in the Lord; in him you are being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Eleven

Ascension of the Lord

"Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky ........

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Acts 1:

PRAYER FOR GRACE:

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you.

POINTS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PRAY:

• ..... but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” one week remaining until Pentecost and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
• It is called the "Gift" of the Holy Spirit. We do not merit such a gift by our actions.
• Without the Holy Spirit, our religious striving will be in vain.
• "Were not our hearts burning within us ..." These holy days of Pentecost are meant to fill our hearts with a new desire for a new outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• What measure do you give now for the desire in your own heart?

REVIEW OF PRAYER: 

• Was there a time in your prayer that evoked a change in the way you were feeling?
• Were you able to picture the event in your imagination?Did you identify with any particular person in the passage?
• Was there anything in your prayer that touched your heart?
• Can you name the feelings you experienced?
• Did you hear the Spirit, in your mind's ear, speaking to you?
• What areas of your personal life seemed to be coming to mind as you prayed?
• Do you have a desire to return again to this passage and prayer?
• Described what you have learned.
• What questions do you now have following your prayer?

Novena To The Holy Spirit

The text for the novena is posted on the page; Novena to the Holy Spirit.

You may also wish to pray the Chaplet For The Grace Of Renewal, also found on the Pages, side bar.

PRAYING WITH MARY ON PENTECOST 

Holy Mary Mother of God, on Pentecost Day / you gathered all the friends of Jesus / in that meeting room of prayer. / Jesus had instructed that all must come together in prayer, / to wait in trusting hope for the Promised One to come. / In the mystery of God’s grace, / let us gather with you now. / We desire with all our hearts, / that the Anointing of Pentecost may come upon us once again. / Pray for us dear Mary, that the Mighty Wind of God’s Breath / will come and fill our house of prayer. / Pray that Jesus your Son / will send down upon us now, those tongues of flame, / to enkindle in our hearts the fire of love and the light of faith . / Pray that our tongues be freed so that we might fill this house with the praises of God. / Pray O Queen of heaven, that the Holy Spirit will give to our hearts a song of joy and thanksgiving / for His mighty works now done in our midst. 

Come Holy Spirit, come. / Come down upon us now. / Melt our frozen hearts, reshape our distorted minds, / renew our sagging spirits with your Breath of Life. Fr. Curtin

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Ten

Novena To The Holy Spirit

Beginning Friday, May 10th. 2013

The text for the novena is posted on the page; Novena to the Holy Spirit. 

You may also wish to pray the Chaplet For The Grace Of Renewal, also found on the Pages, side bar.

PRAYER FOR THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world / my need for your presence in my life. / I am alone and in darkness without you. / I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. / Even though I struggle against them,/ it is sin that so easily dominates my life. / Who can save me but you alone, / my Lord and my God. / Deliver me from the Evil One. / Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. / Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. / Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory / reign now in my heart. / Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. / Raise me up to a New Life in you. Fr. Curtin

PRAYING WITH MARY ON PENTECOST 

Holy Mary Mother of God, on Pentecost Day / you gathered all the friends of Jesus / in that meeting room of prayer. / Jesus had instructed that all must come together in prayer, / to wait in trusting hope for the Promised One to come. / In the mystery of God’s grace, / let us gather with you now. / We desire with all our hearts, / that the Anointing of Pentecost may come upon us once again. / Pray for us dear Mary, that the Mighty Wind of God’s Breath / will come and fill our house of prayer. / Pray that Jesus your Son / will send down upon us now, those tongues of flame, / to enkindle in our hearts the fire of love and the light of faith . / Pray that our tongues be freed so that we might fill this house with the praises of God. / Pray O Queen of heaven, that the Holy Spirit will give to our hearts a song of joy and thanksgiving / for His mighty works now done in our midst. 

Come Holy Spirit, come. / Come down upon us now. / Melt our frozen hearts, reshape our distorted minds, / renew our sagging spirits with your Breath of Life. Fr. Curtin

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Nine

Paul’s Farewell Speech at Miletus.

From Miletus he had the presbyters of the church at Ephesus summoned. When they came to him, he addressed them, “You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia. I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes. I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace.

“But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again. And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.  Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears. And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated. I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You know well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with them all. They were all weeping loudly as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him, for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

PRAYER FOR GRACE:

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you.

POINTS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PRAY:

• See how far and wide the gospel has spread under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
• The "New Evangelization", must seek this same source power and guidance, the Holy Spirit.
• The core of Paul's preaching: "I earnestly bore witness ...... to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus." 
• Paul exhortation to the leaders (bishops/priests today) Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood. 
• What binds the Church together in unity is true affection, sown in each one's heart by the Holy Spirit.  When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with them all. They were all weeping loudly as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him, for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship. 
• “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35.

REVIEW OF PRAYER: 

• Was there a time in your prayer that evoked a change in the way you were feeling?
• Were you able to picture the event in your imagination?Did you identify with any particular person in the passage?
• Was there anything in your prayer that touched your heart?
• Can you name the feelings you experienced?
• Did you hear the Spirit, in your mind's ear, speaking to you?
• What areas of your personal life seemed to be coming to mind as you prayed?
• Do you have a desire to return again to this passage and prayer?
• Described what you have learned.
• What questions do you now have following your prayer?

This Friday begins the Novena to the Holy Spirit. I have added a page with the text of this novena. Let us all join in this powerful prayer.

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Eight

The Stoning of Saint Paul

In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city.  On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. 

Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the Church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Then they spent no little time with the disciples.

PRAYER FOR GRACE:

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you.

POINTS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PRAY:

• See how Paul, who made himself the enemy of Jesus, is now his great champion. This is a favorite way the Spirit chooses. Your past does not disqualify you as a witness to faith; grace has freed you, and qualified you.
• After Satan fails to prevent you from drawing closer to Jesus, he will set about to discourage you and make you turn back. “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.”
• During times of struggle in your life, look for the opportunity to turn it into a time grace and witness to the Spirit's power sustaining you.
• There are two reporting's going on in the world today; loud and relentless bashing of the Church, and  "... and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith ..."

REVIEW OF PRAYER: 

• Was there a time in your prayer that evoked a change in the way you were feeling?
• Were you able to picture the event in your imagination?Did you identify with any particular person in the passage?
• Was there anything in your prayer that touched your heart?
• Can you name the feelings you experienced?
• Did you hear the Spirit, in your mind's ear, speaking to you?
• What areas of your personal life seemed to be coming to mind as you prayed?
• Do you have a desire to return again to this passage and prayer?
• Described what you have learned.
• What questions do you now have following your prayer?

Holy Mary Mother of God, on Pentecost Day, you gathered all the friends of Jesus in that meeting room of prayer. Jesus had instructed that all must come together in prayer, to wait in trusting hope for the Promised One to come. In the mystery of God’s grace, let us gather with you now. We desire with all our hearts that the Anointing of Pentecost may come upon us once again. 

Pray for us dear Mary, that the Mighty Wind of God’s Breath will come and fill our house of prayer. Pray that Jesus your Son will send down upon us now, those tongues of flame, to en kindle in our hearts the fire of love and the light of faith. Pray that our tongues be freed so that we might fill this house with the praises of God. 

Pray O Queen of heaven that the Holy Spirit will give to our hearts a song of joy and thanksgiving for His mighty works now done in our midst. Come Holy Spirit, come. Come down upon us now. Melt our frozen hearts, reshape our distorted minds, and renew our sagging spirits with your Breath of Life. Fr. Curtin

Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Seven

Saint Peter In Prison

About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (It was the feast of Unleavened Bread. He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know for certain that [the] Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.” 

When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is called Mark, where there were many people gathered in prayer. When he knocked on the gateway door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it. She was so overjoyed when she recognized Peter’s voice that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They told her, “You are out of your mind,” but she insisted that it was so. But they kept saying, “It is his angel.” But Peter continued to knock, and when they opened it, they saw him and were astounded. He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and explained to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison, and said, “Report this to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place. At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. Herod, after instituting a search but not finding him, ordered the guards tried and executed. Then he left Judea to spend some time in Caesarea.

PRAYER FOR GRACE:

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you.

POINTS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PRAY:

•  The battle of the cross of Jesus, in which Satan was defeated, is now being  waged against the infant Church. (Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon   ....  the huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it .....Re. 12:) 
• No human resource, of its own, can prevail against these attacks, but the Church is now empowered by the Spirit, and equipped with powerful chrism's 
• People today, often report the experience of someone entering their life, seemingly out of nowhere, and influencing their conversion or return to the faith.
• The presence and action of the Spirit abounds in our world today, do we perceive it?
• Make it a point in the days to come, to be aware of your surroundings and grace at work.

REVIEW OF PRAYER: 

• Was there a time in your prayer that evoked a change in the way you were feeling?
  
• Were you able to picture the event in your imagination?Did you identify with any particular person in the passage?
• Was there anything in your prayer that touched your heart?
• Can you name the feelings you experienced?
• Did you hear the Spirit, in your mind's ear, speaking to you?
• What areas of your personal life seemed to be coming to mind as you prayed?
• Do you have a desire to return again to this passage and prayer?
• Described what you have learned.
• What questions do you now have following your prayer?

In 1977, the synod of bishops met in Rome to discuss the theme, "Catechesis In Ourtime." There was a special focus on the catechesis of children and young people. Three years earlier a synod on evangelization had taken place  with its document on evangelization, Evangelii Nuntiandi. These two synods, 1974 and 1977, are complimentary to each other, and clearly define the terms, evangelization and catechesis.

In paragraph #19 we have the following:

• Catechesis and the Initial Proclamation of the Gospel
  
  
  19. The specific character of catechesis, as distinct from the initial conversion - bringing proclamation of the Gospel, has the twofold objective of maturing the initial faith and of educating the true disciple of Christ by means of a deeper and more systematic knowledge of the person and the message of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  
  
  But in catechetical practice, this model order must allow for the fact that the initial evangelization has often not taken place. A certain number of children baptized in infancy come for catechesis in the parish without receiving any other initiation into the faith and still without any explicit personal attachment to Jesus Christ; they only have the capacity to believe placed within them by Baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit; and opposition is quickly created by the prejudices of their non-Christian family background or of the positivist spirit of their education.
  
  

The sacrament of baptism brings the soul into communion with the Holy Spirit. But this "explicit personal attachment to Jesus Christ", is the result of the soul cooperating with the Holy Spirit. What has occurred in recent years, often called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, or the Grace of Renewal, is people  awaking to and cooperating with the Holy Spirit to bring about this, "explicit personal attachment to Jesus Christ". It is my hope, that these exercises of prayer, may contribute to this, "awaking to the Grace of Renewal".