Friday, May 25, 2007
> >Pentecost Novena - Day 8
St. Bede the Venerable
Pope St. Gregory VII
St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
do you love jesus?
"Peter was hurt because He had asked a third time, 'Do you love Me?' So he said to Him: 'Lord, You know everything. You know well that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.' " —John 21:17
If we love Jesus, we will feed His sheep, that is, we will feed God's people with God's word, for "not on bread alone is man to live but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God" (Mt 4:4; Dt 8:3). Peter showed his love for Jesus by standing up on the first Pentecost Sunday, proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, and leading three thousand people to Jesus and the life in the Spirit (Acts 2:14). If we love Jesus, we will stand up this Pentecost 2007 and lead people to Jesus and the Spirit.
We may not have the opportunity to speak to thousands as Peter did, but we will receive phone calls, write letters, and have conversations. We will have opportunities to share Pentecost with a spouse, children, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, and friends. We will have a lampstand to let the light of Pentecost shine for all in the house (Lk 11:33). If we are not willing to proclaim the Spirit on the streets, we will not receive the Spirit in the upper room. Worst of all, we will show that we don't love Jesus because we have refused to feed His sheep with the feast of Pentecost.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, give me the love that will result in evangelization. May I share the gospel with at least three people in the next three days.
Promise: "Instead they differed with him over issues in their own religion, and about a certain Jesus Who had died but Who Paul claimed is alive." —Acts 25:19
Praise: Nearly all of St. Bede's extensive writings have been preserved for thirteen centuries, and are still being used by the Holy Spirit today.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 16, 2006
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.