our only need
"The place where they were gathered shook as they prayed. They were filled with the Holy Spirit." —Acts 4:31
When Peter and John were released from jail, they did not ask for:
- future safety,
- protection from their enemies,
- justice after being wrongly arrested, or
- an easier mission.
Rather, they asked to be filled again with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 4:31) and thereby receive "complete assurance," that is, holy boldness in witnessing for the risen Christ (Acts 4:29).
Let's not focus on the immensity of our problems and the human impossibility of dealing with them. It doesn't make that much difference whether we have to move a mountain or a mountain range. It's irrelevant whether we face thousands of enemies or only a few. Even if Satan himself is pulling out his heavy artillery, it isn't important. We must turn to the Spirit dwelling within us (see 1 Cor 3:16), Who can handle any degree of difficulty. We need only stir into flame the gift of the Spirit in our lives, for "the Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit, but rather One That makes us strong, loving, and wise" (2 Tm 1:6, 7).
Come, Holy Spirit! Give us Easter.
Prayer: Father, may I be baptized in and preoccupied with the Holy Spirit.
Promise: "The wind blows where it will. You hear the sound it makes but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes. So it is with everyone begotten of the Spirit." —Jn 3:8
Praise: Tom prays regularly for discernment to know what comes from the Holy Spirit and what comes from the evil one.
Reference: (For a related teaching on Pentecost Novena, order, listen to, or download our CD 103-1 or DVD 103 on our website.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, September 24, 2020
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