GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 8TH MAY 2017
MONDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE
FIRST READING: Acts 11:1-18
PSALM: Psalm 42: 2-3; 43:3-4
GOSPEL: John 10:11-18
THEME: SURPRISED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
One trait of a healthy spiritual life is openness to be surprised by God. Rigidity is a big obstacle to spiritual growth. Often, the Spirit of God enters into places where our fine theological ideas cannot go. He steps in and all the rules we make are broken.
The story of the conversion of Cornelius, as recounted by Peter in the First Reading, was a mind-boggling event for the early Jewish Christians. Gentiles were generally not considered by the Jews as part of God’s chosen people. However, Cornelius – a gentile – received the Holy Spirit. Secondly, he received the Holy Spirit before baptism (one would have expected that the Holy Spirit would be given only after baptism). Thirdly, he received the Holy Spirit in his house – the very place where a pious Jew would not enter for fear of being defiled. In sum, the Holy Spirit took the early Jewish Christian community by a big surprise.
It appears the Holy Spirit is always on a daily search looking for any heart that is ready to receive him. Over the years, as I listen to the different stories of how people have encountered the Holy Spirit, I have come to the conclusion that in matters of the Spirit, we need a humble heart. I have heard of people being filled with the Holy Spirit while driving in their cars. Some have burst out in tongues while taking their shower and others have been touched by the Lord in their sleep. The subsequent positive change in their character and lifestyle attests that they have truly had a divine encounter. Indeed, the Spirit blows wherever he wills and often causes surprises.
PRAYER: Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me…I let go of my rigidity and pride. I surrender like a child in your hands. Have your way in my life and cause a change in me. For the sake of the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen)