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Friday, April 13, 2018

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Pope St. Martin I


Acts 5:34-42
Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
John 6:1-15

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multiplication tests

"He knew well what He intended to do but He asked this to test Philip's response." —John 6:6

When Jesus saw several thousand people "coming toward Him, He said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?' " (Jn 6:5) "He asked this to test Philip's response" (Jn 6:6).

Jesus sees over four billion people who don't know Him personally and therefore don't even have the chance to love Him. Then, to test you, Jesus says to you: "Where will you and I obtain hundreds of thousands of workers for this harvest?" (see Mt 9:37) What will you say to Jesus? What will you do? Will you pass the test?

Jesus sees over nine million babies being killed by surgical and chemical abortion in the USA each year. To test you, He says to you: "What are we going to do about it?" Will you pass the test, or be bogged down in the apparent statistical impossibility of stopping Planned Parenthood and its henchmen?

Jesus sees countless broken marriages, single parents, fatherless children, broken hearts, abused people, refugees, oppressed people, sick people, etc. To test you, you know what Jesus is saying. What are you and Jesus going to do about it? Don't tell Jesus that you're only one person, you don't have much money, you're not famous, you're too old or too young, or nobody else is doing anything. Give Jesus all your loaves, all your fish, and all your life.

Prayer:  Father, I give You my seemingly insignificant "all" to be multiplied into Your sufficiency.

Promise:  "Day after day, both in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news of Jesus the Messiah." —Acts 5:42

Praise:  Pope St. Martin I endured inhumane treatment in prison, public insults, and floggings for the sake of the Truth of the Faith.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Seek First the Kingdom.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 12, 2017

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