Chapter Four
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
We know the effects of the baptism in the Holy Spirit from the thousands of people who have experienced this spiritual awakening. Each story is unique and individual, but internalized the gifts that come from this experience: a feeling of the strong power and presence of God, a bountiful increase in peace, love, joy, healing, deliverance and healing.
“In
effect, Jesus’ whole mission was aimed at giving the Spirit of God to men and
baptizing them in the ‘bath’ of regeneration,” the Pope said. “This was realized through his glorification,
that is, through his death and resurrection:
Then the Spirit of God was poured out in a super-abundant way, like a
waterfall able to purify every heart, to extinguish the flames of evil and
ignite the fires of divine love in the world.”
The
Pope went on to state that “the Acts of the Apostles present Pentecost as a
fulfillment of such a promise and therefore as the crowning moment in Jesus’
whole mission. After his resurrection,
he himself ordered his disciples to stay in Jerusalem, because, he said,’ In a
short time you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit’; and he added: ‘You will
have the power of the Holy Spirit, who will descend upon you and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, in all of Galilee and Samaria unto the ends of the
earth.’”
FOUR EFFECTS OF
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
First
We Know that Jesus is With Us
First gift is recognized by almost
everyone who have received Baptism in the Holy Spirit, is a certainty that
Jesus lived, died, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is alive and
with us always. One individual stated
that “even though I knew Jesus in faith and in theory before, but after
receiving Baptism in the Holy Spirit, I know for sure that Jesus is active in
my life. Jesus is a historical
person. He lived among us on earth two
thousand years ago. He is God.
Saint
Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit when Ananias of Damascus laid hands on him,
and afterward when he was baptized with water.
The Conversion of Saint Paul
Acts of the Apostles 9: 1-19
1Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats
against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked
him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men
or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in
chains. 3On his
journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed
around him. 4He fell to
the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6Now get up
and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men who
were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could
see no one. 8Saul got up
from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to
Damascus. 9For three days he was unable to see, and he
neither ate nor drank.
10There was a disciple in
Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11The Lord
said to him, “Get up and go to the street
called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.
He is there praying, 12 [i and n a vision] he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay [his] hands on him,
that he may regain his sight.” 13But Ananias
replied, “Lord, I have heard from many
sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones* in Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name.” 15But the
Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a
chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and
Israelites, 16and I will show him what he will have to suffer
for my name.” 17So Ananias
went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,
Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain
your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.” 18Immediately
things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and
was baptized, 19and when he
had eaten, he recovered his strength.
SecondWe Our Life is Converted
I cannot have Jesus without making spiritual changes in my life. Jesus inspires me and fills me with the grace to look within myself and discern those qualities that glorify God and those that pull me toward the temptations of the Evil One. For some of us, this represents a change from a life of sin exclusion from God's graces to the good life - good in every respect. This grace has brought many to a life of fervent, zealous love of God.
From Guilt - To Good
From Guilt - To Good
Looking back on our lives we may find an extended period of time during which we have been living in the darkness of sin. Do not despair! Baptism in the Holy spirit will bring a moment of conversion when we move from a sinful life to a good life in the loving arms of God. However, this is not automatic. We must really want this to happen! (In the words of a wonderful Cardiologist telling me to quit smoking, "You gotta-wan-ta!). Making a positive step toward the light of God will require a plan for stepping out of the darkness and confusion in our soul caused by Satan. For me, this decision and consequent action was accomplished in a split second (I finally got to that spiritual "wan-ta"). And, it was fun. It allowed me to be a truly care-free person - able to finally find the right answer to the question of life and death posed to me by my Father on my 13th birthday: "Son, what would you do if you knew for certain that you were to die in one hour?" My answer at that time of raging hormones and general attitude of a budding teenager was, "Well, Dad, I'd run and find a Priest in order to go to Confession." Now, after this experience, I would simply say that "I would go on doing whatever I had been doing because I know God is with me and will greet me with love on the other side of the threshold." This, my friends, is a great feeling of inner peace. They are wrong, who think that a "conversion experience" is not pleasurable.
Some people think that they have never experienced the love and mercy of God. They are a slave to the world of immediate gratification, to sin, to Satan. Their human condition enhances the passions, addictions, and bondage to this life on earth. This attitude reflects a pampered life of being an easy mark for temptation. In the long run, it will destroy everything - marriage, career, health. It is all linked to loneliness and selfishness. A conversion experience - Baptism in the Holy Spirit - will allow us all to become "all that we can become." It will liberate us from the shackles of sin, so that we can walk or run on any road that points us to the Kingdom of God.
Some people think that they have never experienced the love and mercy of God. They are a slave to the world of immediate gratification, to sin, to Satan. Their human condition enhances the passions, addictions, and bondage to this life on earth. This attitude reflects a pampered life of being an easy mark for temptation. In the long run, it will destroy everything - marriage, career, health. It is all linked to loneliness and selfishness. A conversion experience - Baptism in the Holy Spirit - will allow us all to become "all that we can become." It will liberate us from the shackles of sin, so that we can walk or run on any road that points us to the Kingdom of God.
A New World of God
The Holy Spirit will lead us to a better life of inner peace as promised by Jesus. The Conversion experience leads to a new world of God. Religious activities and prayer will no longer be a routine. Rather, they will lead us to a new enthusiasm that arises when we are embraced by God. This positive feeling will be multiplied many times over. We will discover new opportunities to cement our relationship with God and serve our fellow man here on earth. An amazing benefit is an increased awareness of temptations and sinful detours in our road of life. Accompanying this vision of the wiles of Satan's temptations is a certain knowledge of a protective shield of grace with us always. As our love of God grows and grows the consequences of violating that love through sin becomes abhorrent.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit leads us to experience the power of God, and this will transform us to become a new creation of God.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit leads us to experience the power of God, and this will transform us to become a new creation of God.
Third
A Powerful Prayer Life
If we are like most people, our prayer
life has been infrequent and filled with distractions. It seems that random -
and not so random - thoughts flood our senses the moment we take time to say a
prayer. We often say (or think) "with all the things I've got to do, there
just isn't time right now to kneel and pray. I've got to work hard to make a
living so I can take care of my family, and . . .
I
am reminded of a powerful message taught to me by my then 12-year-0ld daughter.
She was enrolled in the sixth grade at a Catholic grade school. I was a fair-haired young executive heading up
quality General Electric Aircraft Engines. One evening my daughter approached
me after dinner. "Dad, I have something very important to say and I want
to talk with you right now!" I replied that it wasn't a good
time because I had to go to a meeting, but that we could sit right down and
talk for a few minutes.
She
sat down and said, "Dad, I've been playing basketball at All Saints for
over a year now. And you haven't been to a single game! Don't you want to see
me play?"
I
gave the standard busy dad reply: "Princess, I really do want to see you
play. I am very proud that you are doing so well. But I have to work very hard
and travel a great deal around the world to be able to earn what it takes to
keep you in this great private school and to be able to pay for your college
one day. I just don't have the time to leave work during the day and attend any
of your games."
I
will share the exact words of my 12-year-0ld daughter because
they were burned into my soul: "Dad, I love you. I know you are
busy and don't have the time. But I also know that in the long run we all do
what we want to do!"
Fourth
Praying in Tongues
We will discuss praying in tongues in subsequent lessons.
THE PRACTICAL BIBLE LESSON
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Day 1
Matthew 3: 1-12
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
1In those
days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea 2[and]
saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3It was of him that
the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
“A voice of one crying out in the
desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” 4John wore clothing
made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was
locusts and wild honey.
5At that
time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going
out to him 6and were
being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. 7When he saw
many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
from the coming wrath? 8Produce good fruit as evidence of your
repentance. 9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have
Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham
from these stones. 10Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good
fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11I am baptizing you with water, for
repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and
gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable
fire.”
In
all four books of the Gospel, John the Baptist prophesied that Christ will come
later, with stronger power, because he will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Mt 3:2We do not require reform or change just
because of disciplinary reasons. We need to change to ready for the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer: Father, enlighten my
understanding, strengthen my will, purify my heart, and make me holy.
Mt 3:3Who
is guiding us like John was guiding those who followed him? Who prepares us for
Jesus?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to repent
of my past sins and to resist temptation in the future. Help me rise above my human weaknesses and to
grow stronger in my relationship with you.
Mt 3:4 John led a very strict and Spartan
life. We also need a guide. The sincerity of such a guide is a sign that we
need to realize in order to focus on the message.
Prayer: Almighty and loving Father, I
adore you and glorify you. Help me to
see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in
this world, a child of yours called to respect and love all whose lives I
touch, those in authority over me and those under my authority, my friends and
my enemies.
Mt 3:5-6 We
will see many others who have also flocked to hear the teaching about the grace
of Pentecost and receive the mercy of God.
Prayer: O Holy Spirit, help me conquer
anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me forget myself and reach out toward
others.
Mt 3:7-8We
have to get rid of all elements in our life which are not in accordance with
the teaching of the Word of God in the Bible.
Prayer: Jesus, make me prudent in
planning, courageous in taking risks.
Make me patient in suffering, and unassuming in prosperity.
Mt 3:9-10When we stand in the presence of God we
will not be able to rely on family lineage or any other excuses we have
more-or-less gotten away with in this life to mitigate our sins, bad habits,
and addictions.
Prayer: Keep me, Loving Father,
attentive at prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, and firm
in my good intentions.
Mt 3:11We
must put forth much effort to prepare for God’s grace. The Holy Spirit will be
given to us from above, and only with the strength of this grace will we be
able to conquer the evil one.
Prayer: Jesus, let my conscience be
clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, and my life well ordered.
Concerning Prayer
 |
| Lord, teach us how to pray. |
5When you
pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the
synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to
you, they have received their reward. 6But when
you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in
secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 7In praying, do not
babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many
words. 8Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you
need before you ask him.
9This is how you
are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed
be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread; 12and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; 13and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. 14If you forgive
others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15But if you
do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.
Be baptized in the Holy Spirit. We will
rejoice in the gift of prayer. Jesus will tell us how to best use this gift.
Mt 6:5I should have pure intentions in prayer to God. Please do not glorify me, but glorify God.
Mt 6:6I
must find where appropriate, confidential, personal prayer. Please pray we must
always lead us to the Father.
Prayer: My Lord Jesus, I worship you as
my first beginning. I long for you as my
last end. I praise you as my constant
helper and call on you as my loving protector.
Mt 6:7-8In
our prayer, we will talk less and more experience the love of the Father.
Prayer: Loving Father, guide me by your
wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me
with your power.
Mt 6: 9-13Our
Father is the perfect prayer, tells us that prayer direction in which we must
move forward.
Prayer: I offer you, Father, my
thoughts, to be fixed on you; my words, to have you for their theme; my
actions, to reflect my love for you; my suffering, to be endured for your
greater glory.
Day
3
Matthew 11: 25-30
Matthew 11: 25-30
Jesus Thanks His Father
25At that time Jesus
said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for
although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have
revealed them to the childlike. 26Yes,
Father, such has been your gracious will. 27All things
have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to
reveal him.
28“Come to me, all
you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find
rest for your selves. 30For my yoke
is easy, and my burden light.”
The
prayer of Jesus to God the Father has revealed to us. Through the baptism in
the Holy Spirit, He gives us His own relationship with the Father. In grace,
all is revealed to us.
Mt 11:
25-26Let your prayers be filled with praise to God, the one
thing we need to learn from the group in prayer.
Prayer: Father, put me on guard against
my human weakness. Let me cherish your
love for me, keep your law, and come at last to salvation and eternal life in
your heavenly kingdom.
Mt 11: 27
Through pray, we enter into the experience of Jesus with the Father. Thank you
Jesus for us to know the Father.
Prayer: Jesus, teach me to realize that
this world is passing, that my true future is the happiness of heaven, that
life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal.
Mt 11: 28I have come to Jesus to strengthen. Do not carry the burden of innovation without letting the Holy Spirit within.
Prayer: Almighty God and Loving Father,
help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, but a greater
trust in your infinite love and goodness.
Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven.
Mt 11: 29In prayer, we take the yoke of Jesus (it is the duty of life) and with Him.
Prayer: Adorable Jesus, my Savior and
Master, model of all perfection, I resolve and will, this day, imitate your
example to be, like you, mild, humble, chaste, zealous, charitable and
resigned.
Mt 11: 30The gong bear that Jesus placed on us (love and responsibility), quiet and gentle.
Prayer: My sweet Jesus, I thank you for
all the benefits which I have received from you this day. Give me light to see what sins I have
committed, and grant me grace to be truly sorry for them.
Day 4
Matthew 17: 1-8
Matthew 17: 1-8
The Transfiguration
1After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his
brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like
the sun and his clothes became white as light. 3And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing
with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is
good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents* here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast
a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased; listen to him.”
6When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and
were very much afraid. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise,
and do not be afraid.” 8And when the disciples raised their eyes, they
saw no one else but Jesus alone.
Go up the mountain with Jesus is the
biblical image of the gift of prayer. The distractions of the world need to put
aside the great weight and have tried to climb up to the Lord.
Mt 17: 1Jesus
invited us to come and pray to Him alone.
Prayer:
I offer you, my loving Father, my whole being, and in particular all my
thoughts, words, actions and sufferings of this day.
Mt 17: 2 My reward us to see the revealed nature of
God's great miracle Jesus when He gave for us.
Prayer: May your miraculous Transfiguration,
Lord Jesus, serve to strengthen my faith and my resolve to love God and my
neighbor and be true to your law.
Mt 17: 3 I
also know the holy close of Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, I consecrate this day to
the glory of your name that I may find acceptance in your sight. Mt 17: 5I will have experience with the Father and His relationship with His Son, Jesus.
Mt 17: 6Sometimes we will be overwhelmed by the
experience of prayer, talking to Heaven (Father).
Prayer: Almighty God, I give you thanks
from the depth of my heart that you have created me after your own image and
likeness, that you have redeemed me by the precious blood of your dear Son, and
that you have preserved me and brought me safe to this day.
Mt 17: 7 I will hear Jesus speak and experience
the wisdom, His calm.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, I firmly believe that you are present in the Blessed
Sacrament as true God and true Man, with your Body and Blood, Soul and
Divinity. Mt 17: 8I always keep my eyes reduced to Jesus, through the prayers of the Bible.
Prayer:
Jesus, my Redeemer and my Judge, I adore your Divine Majesty together
with the angels and saints. I believe, O
Lord. Increase my faith.
Day 5
Matthew 21: 12-17
Matthew 21: 12-17
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
12Jesus entered the
temple area and drove out all those engaged in selling and buying there. He
overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were
selling doves. 13And he said to
them, “It is written: ‘My house shall be
a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves.” 14The blind and the
lame approached him in the temple area, and he cured them. 15When the
chief priests and the scribes saw the wondrous things* he was doing, and the children crying out in the
temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant 16and said to him,
“Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; and have you never
read the text, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nurslings you have brought forth
praise’?” 17And leaving
them, he went out of the city to Bethany, and there he spent the night.
Church invites us to pray. Sacred
buildings that exist for a purpose. The purification of the temple provides
basic guidelines on the attitude of prayer. (We need to purify the first place
our heart, is the temple of God No dwell)
Mt 21: 12 When Jesus comes to us, he will purify us pray.
Prayer: Jesus, in you alone I place all
my hope.
Mt 21: 13 Please note the definition of the Temple of the Lord: Praying with Father. House or my life, is no longer a haven of sin and selfishness, but to the Temple of God's reign. Prayer: Jesus, you are my salvation and my strength, the source of all good. Through your mercy, through your passion and death, I hope to obtain the pardon of my sins, the grace of final perseverance, and a happy eternity.
Mt 21: 14
Jesus not only purifies only. He will heal us, when we come to Him.
Prayer: Jesus, my God, I love you with
my whole heart and above all things.
Send your healing graces to me to purify me and heal me.
Mt 21: 15 No pray, we would like the priest did not understand the inner workings of Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, Jesus you are the one
supreme Good and infinitely perfect being.
You have given your life for me, a poor sinner, and in your mercy you
have even offered yourself as food for my soul.
Mt 21: 16 So, become like a child in prayer, praise our Father in heaven, very light sauce.
Prayer: Jesus, I love you. Inflame my heart so that I may love you more.
Mt 21: 17 Jesus will never give up and leave us. He promised that he would be with us always, even to the end of the age.
Prayer: Jesus, safeguarded by you, may
we never swerve from the right road, and surely reach your kingdom where we
will be with you for all eternity.
Day 6
Matthew 22: 1-14
Matthew 22: 1-14
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
1Jesus again in reply spoke to them in
parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast* for his son. 3He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests
to the feast, but they refused to come. 4A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and
fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ 5Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to
his farm, another to his business. 6The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and
killed them. 7The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those
murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is
ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. 9Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite
to the feast whomever you find.’ 10The servants went out into the streets and
gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. 11But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man
there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you
came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. 13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands
and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing
and grinding of teeth.’
14Many are invited, but few are
chosen.”
Wedding
is often used in the Bible symbolizes all pray - friendship with God, enjoy the
power of God, and the experience of the Kingdom.
Mt 22: 1 Jesus
says to us when we pray, it is easy to understand as the parable of him.
Prayer: Holy Spirit of God, take me as your disciple; guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me.
Prayer: Holy Spirit of God, take me as your disciple; guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me.
Mt 22: 2 Prayer
to take us on a joyful experience, friendship with God.Prayer: Holy Spirit of God, bind my
hands that they may not do evil. Cover
my eyes that they may see evil no more.
Mt 22: 3 Previously, the Father
invites us to come to Jesus, to pray. Maybe sometimes I refuse?
Prayer: Holy Spirit of God, sanctify my
heart that evil may not dwell within me.
Mt 22: 4 King
khongnan the God Undeterred, he continued to call me.
Prayer: Holy Spirit of God, be my
guide. Wherever you lead me, I will
go. Whatever you forbid me, I will
renounce. Whatever you command me, in your
strength, I will do. Lead me, then, unto
the fullness of your truth.
Mt 22: 5-6 Please
please please be patient, because when we become tired, even angry with the
call of God.
Prayer: O Spirit of Wisdom, preside
over all my thoughts, words and actions from this hour until the moment of my
death. O Spirit of Understanding,
enlighten and teach me.
Mt 22: 9 He
will continue to call until we receive them.
Prayer: Spirit of Counsel, direct my
inexperience. Spirit of Fortitude,
strengthen my weakness. Spirit of
Knowledge, instruct my ignorance. Sprit
of Piety, make me fervent in good works.
Mt 22: 10 When received the call of God, we
realize that there are many others also gathered by the Lord, to sing praises to
love Him.
Prayer: Heavenly Spirit, make me
persevere in the service of God, and enable me to act on all occasions with
goodness and kindness, charity and joy, with long-suffering, mildness and
fidelity. Let the heavenly virtues of modesty,
continence and chastity adorn the temples you have chosen for your abode. spirit of Holiness, by your all powerful
grace, preserve me from the misfortune of sin.
Day 7
Matthew 25: 1-13
Matthew 25: 1-13
The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
1“Then the kingdom of
heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the
bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them, 4but the wise brought flasks of oil with their
lamps. 5Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all
became drowsy and fell asleep. 6At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the
bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their
lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some
of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But 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.’ 10While 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. 11Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord,
open the door for us!’ 12But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do
not know you.’ 13Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor
the hour.
Her parable of the 10 virgins would
suggest the need for collaboration and rewards faithful feelings to God,
through prayer.
Mt 25: 1 10 her virgin all religious and less interested in waiting for Jesus.
Prayer: Almighty and loving Father, I
believe you are present with me.
Although my eyes don’t see you, my faith senses you. Take any stray thoughts from my mind. Make me understand the truths which you wish
to teach me. Let me make up my mind to
put them into practice. Loving Father,
speak to my soul.
Mt 25: 2 I only succeeded waiting Lord Jesus,
if we know that He is God and only in God's new success. If not, we are just
cute guys.
Prayer: Grant, O Lord, to your Church
Militant on earth, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm. Give peace and order to all nations, and make
the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our
salvation. To Him be glory and honor
forever.
Mt 25: 3-4 To understand success, we need to use all means necessary to protect our relationship with Jesus. God is all.
Prayer: My Lord Jesus, I have no idea
where I am going. I do not see the road
ahead of me. I cannot know where it will
end. Nor do I really know myself, and
the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually
doing so. But I believe that the desire
to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart
from that desire. And I know that if I
do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about
it.
Mt 25: 5 The normal demands of life, such as the need to eat, sleep, does not preclude us ready Lord.
Prayer: My Lord Jesus, I will trust in
you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Mt 25: 6 invitation to pray and receive the
Lord, given to everyone.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, send forth your
light and your truth, that they may shine upon the earth; for I am as the earth
that is empty and void, until you enlighten me.
Pour forth your grace from above.
Mt 25: 7-8 With a heart full search of Jesus, we will not
allow anything to prevent or dissipate our vocation.
Prayer: Water my heart, sweet Jesus,
with the dew of heaven. Send down the
waters of devotion to wash the face of the earth, to bring forth good and
perfect fruit.
C10 Faithful in prayer leads us to encounter God and in Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, lift up my mind,
oppressed with the load of sins, and raise my whole desire toward heavenly
things, that, having tasted the sweetness of the happiness above, I may have no
pleasure in thinking of the things of the earth.
Mt 25: 13 Get ready to pray always. God invites us to meet God at any time, day or night. Prayer: My sweet Jesus, draw me away, and deliver me from all unstable comfort of creatures; for no created thing can fully quiet and satisfy my desires. Join me to yourself by an inseparable bond of love, for you alone can satisfy my heart and soul. Without you all things are frivolous.
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend me in battle.
Be my safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, I humbly pray.
And O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
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