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Monday, May 17, 2010

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Pentecost Novena - Day 4


Acts 19:1-8
Psalm 68:2-7
John 16:29-33

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god's loneliness

"An hour is coming — has indeed already come — when you will be scattered and each will go his way, leaving Me quite alone." —John 16:32

Jesus promised He would not leave us orphans (Jn 14:18). As with all His other promises, He has kept His word. He has been and will be with us always (Mt 28:20).

Although Jesus has never deserted us, through our sins we have repeatedly left Him "quite alone" (Jn 16:32). Furthermore, although God the Father is always with Jesus (Jn 16:32), our sins so obscured the Father's presence that Jesus screamed from the cross: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mk 15:34) We left Jesus "quite alone."

Jesus kept His promise to always be there for us by sending us the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16-18). By the power of that same Holy Spirit, we will always be there for Him and not leave Him "quite alone." Instead of doing our own thing and scattering from the Good Shepherd and His flock (see Jn 16:32), the Holy Spirit will strongly oppose our selfish desires of the flesh (see Gal 5:17) and unite us to the Lord and His Church (see 1 Cor 12:3, 13).

Without the Holy Spirit, we will leave Jesus alone, reject Him, crucify Him, and hold Him up to contempt (Heb 6:6). If you love Jesus and don't want to reject Him, cry out for the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:  Father, on this fourth day of the Pentecost novena, give me the desire to make reparation for rejecting and ignoring You, Jesus, and the Spirit.

Promise:  "As Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came down on them and they began to speak in tongues and to utter prophecies. There were in the company about twelve men in all." —Acts 19:6-7

Praise:  Sarah often takes time to visit and adore the eucharistic Jesus in the tabernacle.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape Staying Filled With the Spirit on audio AV 57-1 or video V-57.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 9, 2009

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