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Wednesday, September 5, 2001

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Colossians 1:1-8
Psalm 52
Luke 4:38-44

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raised from the bed

Jesus "stood over her and addressed Himself to the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them." —Luke 4:39

We may be a lot like Simon's mother-in-law. Jesus has come to our house, and we have the awesome privilege of waiting on Him and His disciples. However, there's a problem. We may be sick, weak, fearful, selfish, or sinful. We may be spiritually on "bed rest." We may be passive spectators and mere consumers who take but don't give. We need a miracle to free us from this rut.

Jesus will do the miracle of raising His Church from the bed. He will activate His body by getting most of its parts to work rather than most not working. First, Jesus wants us to intercede for the parts of His body (see Lk 4:38; 1 Tm 2:1). As we petition the Lord in place of the inactive members of His body, Jesus frees the Church from apathy, lukewarmness, and mediocrity. The Church stands up immediately and waits on Jesus. Then Jesus' body attacks the gates of hell, which cannot prevail against  it (Mt 16:18). Moving in the power of the Spirit, the Church brings about the renewal of the earth (see Ps 104:30). Let Jesus raise the Church from the bed.

Prayer:  Father, make the Church bristle with strength as hundreds of thousands of its members come to life.

Promise:  "He it was who told us of your love in the Spirit." —Col 1:8

Praise:  Jesus touched the fearful, guilt-ridden Cassie in a deep way and she began to live a life of all-consuming service.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, February 13, 2001


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 20, 2001