Friday, May 1, 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Friday, 1 May 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Friday, 1 May 2015
Meditation: Acts 13:26 “Brothers! — sons of Avraham and those among you who are ‘God-fearers’! It is to us that the message of this deliverance has been sent! 27 For the people living in Yerushalayim and their leaders did not recognize who Yeshua was or understand the message of the Prophets read every Shabbat, so they fulfilled that message by condemning him. 28 They could not find any legitimate ground for a death sentence; nevertheless they asked Pilate to have him executed; 29 and when they had carried out all the things written about him, he was taken down from the stake[a] and placed in a tomb.
30 “But God raised him from the dead! 31 He appeared for many days to those who had come up with him from the Galil to Yerushalayim; and they are now his witnesses to the people.
32 “As for us, we are bringing you the Good News that what God promised to the fathers, 33 he has fulfilled for us the children in raising up Yeshua, as indeed it is written in the second Psalm,
‘You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.’[b][Footnotes:
Acts 13:29 Deuteronomy 21:23
Acts 13:33 Psalm 2:7]
Saint Joseph the Worker
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our fathers he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children. (Acts 13:32-33)
What do you think about prophecy? Today’s Mass readings are like two lamps that illuminate this enigmatic gift. We find the first lamp in Acts, as Paul preaches the gospel to the Jews in Pisidian Antioch. Drawing from traditional messianic prophecies in the Hebrew Scripture, he points to Jesus as their fulfillment. His sermon even includes a verse from today’s psalm prophesying about the divine sonship of Christ. In the light of this first lamp, we discover that prophecy reveals Jesus and points people to him! Other Scripture passages confirm this point, that “witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
Now, look at today’s Gospel reading. Jesus told his disciples that he would go away but would come back for them and welcome them into his Father’s house. By the light of this second lamp, we can see that prophecy is meant to encourage people. Even if their delivery sometimes seems harsh, these prophecies are intended to help God’s people down the right path. Essentially, prophecy in the Scriptures is nothing more than giving a message from God.
In this sense, we’re all meant to prophesy: to give people a message that will help them draw closer to the Lord and to encourage them along their path to him.
Could God give you a special, uplifting word that strikes someone’s heart? Absolutely! Especially as you go through your day keeping one ear tuned to his voice. Even if you don’t receive a specific message, you still have something to say. You have the story of the dramatic twists and turns that your life has taken and the ways God has revealed himself to you.
Today, come to Jesus with an open heart and mind. Pay attention to the thoughts that come to you in prayer—about your family, a friend, or a neighbor. Does he have a message about his grace that he wants you to share?
“Here I am, Lord! Give me the heart of a prophet!” Amen!
Psalm 2:6 “I myself have installed my king
on Tziyon, my holy mountain.”
7 “I will proclaim the decree:
Adonai said to me,
‘You are my son;
today I became your father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make
the nations your inheritance;
the whole wide world
will be your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron rod,
shatter them like a clay pot.’”
10 Therefore, kings, be wise;
be warned, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve Adonai with fear;
rejoice, but with trembling.
John 14:1 “Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also. 4 Furthermore, you know where I’m going; and you know the way there.”
5 T’oma said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Yeshua said, “I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.
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