PRAYER: “MAY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT COME TO US, WE PRAY, O LORD, THAT WE MAY KEEP YOUR WILL FAITHFULLY IN MIND AND EXPRESS IT IN A DEVOUT WAY OF LIFE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Acts 19:1-8; Ps 67:2-7; Jn 16:29-33
In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul is in Ephesus and finds some disciples there who honestly tell Paul that they only receive the baptism of John the Baptist (Baptism of Repentance) administered by Apollos. Paul eventually lays his hands on them and they receive the Holy Spirit (Confirmation). In the portion of the Gospel of John, Jesus tells his disciples in plain terms that they will abandon him in his passion, but he will not be alone because his Father is with him. Jesus has to make this known to the disciples as a way of encouraging them to live in his peace, be united with and live as one with him, especially in his suffering.
Once again, being one and united with Jesus entails sacrifice and suffering. When we have to sacrifice and suffer for his sake, for our faith and belief and for doing what is right and just, then, we are sharing in our little way, in the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We cannot avoid pain and suffering in this life. There is also no Christianity without sacrifice, without the cross and without pain and suffering. In fact, there is no glory and salvation without the cross. The Dagaaba proverb about a bird that says: “It is only when the back of your head gets sour that you can enjoy fatty and oily food” (“Kpaareng mang miing ka fo di bon kaa”), adds more meaning to the above. Jesus however assures the disciples and all of us for that matter, that he will guide us safely through any difficulty or trial provided we are on his side.
It is however unfortunate that some people including some men and women of God go around preaching a contrary message(s) of salvation to people, that suffering should not be part of this life. Such so-called men and women of God tell their listeners that if they are suffering, they should come to them and be delivered. We have to take note and acknowledge the Trial Sufferings which James talks about in the first chapter of his Epistle. Some sufferings are allowed by God to bring out the best in us: “…consider it a great joy when trials of many kinds come upon you…the testing of your faith produces perseverance….” (James 1:2ff).
One other lesson we learn from today’s scriptures, especially the passage from the Acts of the Apostles is the honesty of the disciples in Ephesus who received baptism of repentance from Apollos. Honesty is a great virtue and if people could live just an iota of it in the world, in our nations, in our societies, in our workplaces and in our families, the world could be a peaceful place for us to live in. Unfortunately, we live in a world characterised by gross dishonesty and deceit. We have dishonesty and deception in all spheres of human life and activity. The examples are so glaring and we all know them and we all have our areas where we are dishonest and deceptive.
We pray that the Lord may grant us his Spirit of patience, courage and endurance to always persevere in the face of trials, tribulations, pain, suffering and persecutions, especially when they are trial sufferings. May the Lord always guide us safely through them all. Let us also pray that the Lord may forgive us for the many times that we have been dishonest and deceptive in what we do or say. May the Lord grant us His Spirit of truth and honesty as we live and work. Stay blessed and have a great and wonderful day.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, MONDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “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 at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “GRACIOUSLY BE PRESENT TO YOUR PEOPLE, WE PRAY, O LORD, AND LEAD THOSE YOU HAVE IMBUED WITH HEAVENLY MYSTERIES TO PASS FROM FORMER WAYS TO NEWNESS OF LIFE. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.”
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!