Proclaiming the Gospel with wisdom

Acts 14:5-18

Eventually with the connivance of the authorities a move was made by gentiles as well as Jews to make attacks on them and to stone them. When they came to hear of this, they went off for safety to Lycaonia where, in the towns of Lystra and Derbe and in the surrounding country, they preached the good news. There was a man sitting there who had never walked in his life, because his feet were crippled from birth; he was listening to Paul preaching, and Paul looked at him intently and saw that he had the faith to be cured. Paul said in a loud voice, ‘Get to your feet-stand up,’ and the cripple jumped up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done they shouted in the language of Lycaonia, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form.’

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REMAIN UNITED TO THE FATHER

“Do not be afraid; remain united with me always and in all circumstances” (Inner Word).

We know that the Lord often exhorts us not to be afraid. The supernatural world is often foreign to human beings, and it is not uncommon for us to be frightened by natural realities. In the context of the inner word on which we are meditating, it is appropriate to emphasize “not to be afraid at all”. Obviously, our Father wants an undivided trust on our part; a trust so great and strong that no circumstance, no matter how difficult, can frighten us.    Read More

Bearing abundant fruit

Jn 15:1-8

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are clean already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.

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THE LORD PROTECTS THE SOJOURNER

“The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless” (Ps 146:9).

In His love and providence, our Father has all people in view; and He exhorts us to pay special attention to those who are easily marginalized. Strangers are liable to be exploited and deceived, if love does not take care of them and meet their foreign character with gentleness, so that they may know that they are sheltered by this love.

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Loving the love of God

Jn 14:7-14

I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.

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God’s plan stands firm for ever

Acts 13:26-33

In those days, when Paul came to Pisidian Antioch, he said in the synagogue: ‘My brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and all you godfearers, this message of salvation is meant for you. What the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did, though they did not realise it, was in fact to fulfil the prophecies read on every Sabbath. Though they found nothing to justify his execution, they condemned him and asked Pilate to have him put to death. When they had carried out everything that scripture foretells about him they took him down from the tree and buried him in a tomb.

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 Preach the gospel to the whole creation

Mk 16:15-20

Jesus said to His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Read More

WONDERFUL WORKS

“He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful” (Ps 111:4).

It is not only the great wonders that the Lord accomplished in the history of the people of Israel that must remain engraved in our memory, but every day countless miracles of our Father take place before our eyes, which must arouse in us the gratitude and love that are due to us. If we overlook them, we will not be able to truly perceive the loving providence of our Father, and consequently our hearts will not easily rise to Him. This is why the Psalmist exhorts us: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Ps 103:2).

Our Father knows how easily we forget His goodness. That is why He gives us a memory of His wonders. This living memory of God in us is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father and the Son send to remind us of all that Jesus said and did:

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (Jn 14:26).

When we become aware of the wonders of the Lord, which are so numerous and so great that even eternity will not be enough to praise Him sufficiently, it becomes increasingly clear to us that everything our Father does is an expression of His love. In this way, our eyes are opened and praise flows naturally from our hearts. And it is the Holy Spirit Himself who cries out within us: “Abba, beloved Father” (Gal 4:6), revealing to us ever more deeply His grace and mercy.