The joy of conversion, Christian community, and the Catholic faith
Isaiah 50:5-9a; Pa 116:1-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35 Dear Holy Spirit, please increase our understanding. What joy do we receive from following Jesus? We don’t see much joy in the dimension of following Jesus in the first reading today from second Isaiah’s the third “Suffering Servant Song.” It is a prophetic message of some...
What struggles and sadness are you experiencing? What victories and joys are you celebrating? Sometimes we hesitate to give our all to enjoy the highs because we fear a low will burst the bubble of joy. We know what’s to come. Eventually, our highs will suddenly or gradually take us down. What good are these...
Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Ps 25:4-9; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20 In the early weeks after we celebrated the Birthday of Jesus, our Sunday Gospels are looking at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus begins his preaching ministry. Knowing that he needed help he walked along the Sea...
It was an historic moment as the Holy Father met with over 50,000 Renewal participants from 55 countries in Rome’s Olympic Stadium. His affirmation of love brought great joy and hope to the Renewal as reflected in these words: “You were born of the will of the Spirit as ‘a current of grace in the...
“Acquire the Holy Spirit, and a thousand around you will be saved." —St. Seraphim of Sarov Another translation, from the Orthodox Church, has it, "Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved." Both Orthodox and Roman Catholic historians agree on this quote: "It is necessary that the Holy Spirit enter our heart....
Your body’s immune system needs protection from all that attacks and sickens your body. But what about your resistance to spiritual attacks? How do you combat the constant assaults on your spirituality that leave you emotionally drained, confused and self-centered? Here are ten that work for me: Read more in New Evangelizers