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