Daily Retreat 05/20/07
2007 May 20 SUN: Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 7:55-60/Ps 96(97)/Rev 22:12-20/John 17:20-26
(In some regions, the liturgical celebration of Ascension Thursday is transferred to this Sunday)
Acts 1: 1-11/ Ps 46(47): 2-3. 6-7. 8-9 (6)/ Heb 9: 24-28; 10: 19-23/ Lk 24: 46-53
From today's readings: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them.... The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.... Come, Lord Jesus!... Righteous Father, the world also does not know You, but I know You, and they know that you sent Me."
Novena
A novena is a nine day commitment to pray for a particular petition. Why nine days? Acts 1:14 relates that the disciples were all gathered with Mary in prayer - this was the time between the Ascension of Jesus (forty days after Easter) and the Coming of the Holy Spirit ("Pentecost" - fifty days after Easter). The disciples would have certainly been praying for the fulfillment of Jesus' words, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you..." (Acts 1:8).
The scripture readings offer material for a novena theme, for they all include instances of prayer which reflect a commitment to praying more than on a single occasion. In the first reading, Stephen's last words are a prayer of forgiveness: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" When you and I pray for the grace to forgive others from our heart, oftentimes, it's very difficult to do that completely in one moment, and so we should commit ourselves to regularly mentioning that petition in prayer until we have completely forgiven wrongs done to us.
The second reading ends with that all important petition that is found at the end of the Bible: Come Lord Jesus! Obviously, this prayer should be made regularly - it makes a good final prayer at the end of each day.
The prayer that Jesus makes in chapter 17 of the Gospel of St. John is the sublime summary of Our Lord's whole lifetime of prayer. Read the whole chapter, and thank Jesus for His prayers for you and me!
Acts 7:55-60/Ps 96(97)/Rev 22:12-20/John 17:20-26
(In some regions, the liturgical celebration of Ascension Thursday is transferred to this Sunday)
Acts 1: 1-11/ Ps 46(47): 2-3. 6-7. 8-9 (6)/ Heb 9: 24-28; 10: 19-23/ Lk 24: 46-53
From today's readings: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them.... The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.... Come, Lord Jesus!... Righteous Father, the world also does not know You, but I know You, and they know that you sent Me."
Novena
A novena is a nine day commitment to pray for a particular petition. Why nine days? Acts 1:14 relates that the disciples were all gathered with Mary in prayer - this was the time between the Ascension of Jesus (forty days after Easter) and the Coming of the Holy Spirit ("Pentecost" - fifty days after Easter). The disciples would have certainly been praying for the fulfillment of Jesus' words, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you..." (Acts 1:8).
The scripture readings offer material for a novena theme, for they all include instances of prayer which reflect a commitment to praying more than on a single occasion. In the first reading, Stephen's last words are a prayer of forgiveness: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" When you and I pray for the grace to forgive others from our heart, oftentimes, it's very difficult to do that completely in one moment, and so we should commit ourselves to regularly mentioning that petition in prayer until we have completely forgiven wrongs done to us.
The second reading ends with that all important petition that is found at the end of the Bible: Come Lord Jesus! Obviously, this prayer should be made regularly - it makes a good final prayer at the end of each day.
The prayer that Jesus makes in chapter 17 of the Gospel of St. John is the sublime summary of Our Lord's whole lifetime of prayer. Read the whole chapter, and thank Jesus for His prayers for you and me!
posted by FrPitstick | 5/10/2007
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