Daily Retreat 05/19/09
2009 May 19 Tue:Easter Weekday
Acts 16:22-34/ Ps 137(138):1-2ab. 2cde-3. 7c-8/ Jn 16:5-11
From today’s readings: “He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.... In the presence of the angels I will sing Your praise; I will worship at Your holy temple, and give thanks to Your name.... But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.”
Rejoice in coming to faith!
We’re all familiar with the conversion of St. Paul, but actually, the Acts of the Apostles is full of conversions! The first reading today relates the conversion of a most unlikely candidate - the jailer who had charge of Paul and Silas! Having been instructed to guard the apostles securely, he certainly did his best, locking them in the deepest dungeon and shackling their feet for good measure.
When the miraculous earthquake freed the prisoners, the jailer reasoned that he would be blamed for their escape. Because his failure to contain the prisoners would have cost him his life after a court-martial, in utter hopelessness, he prepared to commit suicide. But Paul’s voice assures him that the prisoners have not left, so with the relief of a man who has just escaped death, he throws himself down before the apostles with the question, “What must I do to be saved?”
Do you and I realize that our salvation, even if not so dramatic, is still every bit as climactic? The jailer and his family rejoiced and reveled in the gift of their faith - only hours earlier, he had been a doomed man; now, through his baptism, he was a new man! We too, can best appreciate the gift of faith leading to salvation by recalling the doom that would be ours without our Savior - and thus, we too rejoice and revel and thank God for making us His!
Acts 16:22-34/ Ps 137(138):1-2ab. 2cde-3. 7c-8/ Jn 16:5-11
From today’s readings: “He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.... In the presence of the angels I will sing Your praise; I will worship at Your holy temple, and give thanks to Your name.... But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.”
Rejoice in coming to faith!
We’re all familiar with the conversion of St. Paul, but actually, the Acts of the Apostles is full of conversions! The first reading today relates the conversion of a most unlikely candidate - the jailer who had charge of Paul and Silas! Having been instructed to guard the apostles securely, he certainly did his best, locking them in the deepest dungeon and shackling their feet for good measure.
When the miraculous earthquake freed the prisoners, the jailer reasoned that he would be blamed for their escape. Because his failure to contain the prisoners would have cost him his life after a court-martial, in utter hopelessness, he prepared to commit suicide. But Paul’s voice assures him that the prisoners have not left, so with the relief of a man who has just escaped death, he throws himself down before the apostles with the question, “What must I do to be saved?”
Do you and I realize that our salvation, even if not so dramatic, is still every bit as climactic? The jailer and his family rejoiced and reveled in the gift of their faith - only hours earlier, he had been a doomed man; now, through his baptism, he was a new man! We too, can best appreciate the gift of faith leading to salvation by recalling the doom that would be ours without our Savior - and thus, we too rejoice and revel and thank God for making us His!
posted by FrPitstick | 5/16/2009
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