PRAYER: “GRANT, ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL GOD, THAT WE MAY IN TRUTH RECEIVE A SHARE IN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST YOUR SON. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Acts 16:22-34; Ps 137:1-3,7-8 and Jn 16:5-11.
An Advocate is a person who speaks in favour of somebody, especially in a law court. The Holy Spirit is an Advocate par excellence. When we believe and trust in the Lord, we receive this Divine Advocate. He speaks for us in most cases, or certain times, especially when we do not know what to say and do and be free, he teaches us what to say and do. He can release us from troubles and dangers. He has done it today for Paul and Silas, together with the other prisoners in the Philippian cells.
Paul and Silas are stripped, beaten and placed in stocks in the inner cell. (In fact, stocks in cells were designed for holding the most dangerous prisoners in absolute security). Paul and Silas committed no crime. They are peaceful men. Paul and Silas are not criminals, but men of peace, who preach the Good News of the Resurrected Christ to people. Despite this dismal situation, Paul and Silas praise God, praying and singing as the other prisoners listen.
There is a great lesson for us. No matter what our circumstances, we should praise God. It was not only Paul and Silas who praised God in prayer and singing when they were in trouble (in cells), but several of the Apostles and other Saints did it in their persecutions and tribulations. Indeed, our gloomy looks, and attitudes will never change our situation. However, despite our unbearable situation, if we still praise God in prayer and in thanksgiving, something positive may come out of that. Try it and you may not regret it.
Truly, a happy or joyful Christian is a blessing to others, though he or she may be undergoing serious challenges and troubles in life. This has been revealed in the lives of Paul and Silas. Singing and praising God that they were also going through a bit of the suffering that Jesus underwent, the jailer and his entire family believed in Jesus and received salvation (great blessings). However, an unhappy Christian is a contradiction in terms. It means the person is not imbued with the Holy Spirit. Just like on the one hand, a happy and joyful Christian is a blessing to others, on the other hand, a sad and gloomy Christian, as a friend of mine put it one time, is a curse and a virus to people around him/her and to the whole world. Reflect seriously upon this.
May we be joyful Christians wherever we find ourselves, come what may. May we not be gloomy believers, so as not to infest people who are around us. May the Holy Spirit come and fill our hearts as we believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. May He grant us sufficient graces to handle our everyday misfortunes, hardships, persecutions, worries and anxieties in life. Amen. May Saints Nereus and Achilles intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the names Nereus and Acilleus.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “HEAR, O LORD, OUR PRAYERS, THAT THIS MOST HOLY EXCHANGE, BY WHICH YOU HAVE REDEEMED US, MAY BRING YOUR HELP IN THIS PRESENT LIFE AND ENSURE FOR US ETERNAL GLADNESS. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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