"Out of the men who have been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was living with us, from the time when John was baptizing until the day when he was taken up from us, one must be appointed to serve with us as a witness to his resurrection." (Acts 1: 21-22)
Attributes of the apostle and the witness:
"Father, you called St. Matthias to share in the mission of the apostles. By the help of his prayers, may we receive with joy the love you share with us and be counted among those you have chosen….." (Prayer on the feast of St. Matthias)
The choice, the call and the anointed.
Every Christian has be chosen, called and anointed to share in the mission of the apostles. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of mission will lead and guide each one to his path.
"You have not chosen me; I have chosen you. Go and bear fruit that will last." (John 15: 16)
Lord, lead me; guide me; use me.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 19 – 20)
Jesus Christ is Emmanuel – "God with us." He promises: "Behold, I am with you always."
At the beginning of his Gospel, St. Matthew writes:
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel." (Matthew 1:21)
At the end of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Jesus promises: "Behold, I am with you always."
Jesus Christ is with us in the Eucharist. He is with us in all the mission fields in the world.
"Go and teach all nations, I am with you always, until the end of the world." (Matthew 28: 19, 20)
Lord, lead me, guide me and use me.
"May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your heart be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy one…." (Ephesians 1: 17-18)
Lord, bless me with the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Bless me with a strong hope.
"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." (Acts 1: 7-8)
You will receive power from the Holy Spirit.
You will be my witnesses everywhere.
When will these promises be fulfilled? Wait for the Lord. Wait patiently for the Lord.
"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." (Acts 1: 4-5)
Wait for the promises of the Father. (122108)
Wait for the promises of the Enterprise.
Teach me to wait. Help me to wait.
How to wait: Wait with oil burning in your lamp: the 7-Way Plan.
"If our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, Your Majesty, he will save us; and even if he does not, then you must know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have set up." (Daniel 3:17 – 18)
A good paraphrase of the above scripture which I like is this: "If we live, we live; if we perish, we perish."
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26: 39) Again, we can paraphrase Christ's sentiments thus: "If I live, I live; if I die, I die."
"For though the fig tree blossom not | nor fruit be on the vines, |Though the yield of the olive fail| and the terraces produce no nourishment, | Though the flock disappear from the fold | and there be no heard in the stalls, | Yet will I rejoice in the Lord |and exult in my saving God. (Habakkuk 3: 17 – 18) Prophet Habakkuk's word can me summarized with - "If we live, we live; if we perish, we perish."
"If you make my word your home |you will indeed be my disciples; | you will come to know the truth, | and the truth will make you free." (John 8: 31 – 32)
When we are faithful to the teachings of Jesus, we will have the faith and courage to appropriate the above scriptures. We will know that God is faithful come what may.
"Father in heaven, our minds were prepared for the coming of your kingdom when you took Christ beyond our sight so that we might seek him in his glory. May we follow where he has led and find our hope in his glory…." (Mass of the Ascension)
The ascension took Christ beyond our sight. Now we can see Christ with the eyes of faith. Where Christ is, there is the kingdom of God.
"The Lord says, I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last." (John 15: 16, 19)
Lord, if you have chosen me, I will go. Fill me with the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of evangelization so that I can go and bear spiritual fruits for you.
"Lord God, by this holy exchange of gifts you share with us your divine life. Grant that everything we do may be directed by the knowledge of your truth……" (Prayer in Mass)
The Eucharist is a holy exchange of gifts. God takes our bread and wine and transforms them into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ which is then given back to us.
"Grant that everything we do may be directed by the knowledge of your truth´ Knowledge of truth comes from the word of God. We pray that we gain genuine knowledge through the word of God. We pray also that this knowledge influence everything we do.
"However, when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth." (John 16: 13)
Spirit and the truth
Spirit of truth
Most Holy Spirit, come and teach me your truth. Remove from me all falsehood.
The Spirit leads the Church to the fullness of truth on the word of God
"Nor is [God] he in need of anything, that he should be served by human hands; on the contrary, it is he who gives everything – including life and breath to everyone." (Acts 17:25)
All blessings come from our God. All life, all breath come from God. God gives to everyone whatever he has. All talent, time and treasure come from God.
"Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. Through your goodness, we have this bread to offer, the fruit of the earth and the work of human hands. It shall become for us the bread of life." We answer this offertory prayer with the affirmation – "Blessed be God forever." So, even the gifts we bring to God are provided to us by God Himself.
"Father, we honor Saints Nereus and Achilleus for their courage in dying to profess their faith in Christ. May we experience the help of their prayers at the throne of your mercy….." (Prayer in the Mass of the feast of St. Nereus and Achilleus)
They showed courage in dying to profess their faith in Christ. Am I ready to resist temptation to the point of blood? The martyrs died for Christ through the power of Christ. I too can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
"I will be a witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers." (Psalm 18: 50; 21:23)
This is my desire.
O Lord, how, when? Wait! (Psalm 42 – 122108)
"Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead; and so enter into his glory." (Luke 24: 46, 26)
Those who suffered:
There is a divine necessity of suffering.
1 "Then 2 the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
3 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'
While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.
4 Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'
But he said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'
Therefore, stay awake, 5 for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The foolish virgins did not anticipate a delay and were unprepared when the bridegroom was long delayed. (v5)
St. Augustine in his Sermons, 93 wrote: "Watch with the heart, watch with faith, watch with love, watch with charity, watch with good works […]; make ready the lamps, make sure they do not go out […], renew them with inner oil of an upright conscience; then shall the Bridegroom enfold you in the embrace of his love and bring you into his banquet room, where your lamp can never be extinguished."
When I reflect on the above, I think of the message of 122108: Wait!
"6
Why are you downcast, my soul; why do you groan within me? Wait for God, whom I shall praise again, my savior and my God." (Psalm 42: 6)
"I will send you the Spirit of truth; he will lead you to the whole truth." (John 16: 7, 13)
Thank you Jesus. Open my heart and mind to learn all that I can from the Spirit of truth.
