Bible Study: Acts 13, 44 to 52 and John
14, 7 to 14.
Today’s first reading begins with a tone of sadness but ends on
a joyful note. Paul and Barnabas were beginning to make waves with their
preaching attracting multitudes to God but fellow Jews out of jealousy rose
against them.
This was the same jealousy that prevented the Pharisees from
receiving Jesus even though they were convinced that Jesus is the Messiah.
Jealousy is such a bad thing but as we see in this first reading today,
jealousy became the catalyst that made way for the Gospel to reach the
Gentiles.
In the midst of the persecution that arose against the
disciples, they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. One of the
fruits of the Holy Spirit is Joy. Not even the strokes of the cane was able to
dampen their joy. This shows clearly that the joy of the Holy Spirit is very
different from other joys.
This joy is one that goes beyond the emotional feeling of
excitement or sensory pleasure, it is joy that arises from the depths of one’s
heart, it is a spring of water which Jesus describes in his encounter with the
Samaritan woman; it is joy that cannot be quenched even by the mighty blows of
persecution or martyrdom. This is the joy that gave the martyrs courage to
smile even when they were been led to the gallows to be burnt at stake.
Jesus tells us indirectly what is responsible for this type of
joy when he said to Philip, “To have seen me is to have seen the Father.” If
the Holy Spirit is in you, then God is in you and if you carry God inside you,
you have no choice but to be HAPPY because happiness is not just a gift of God,
it is God itself.
Yesterday, Jesus began the Gospel by saying, “Let not your
hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” Today he seems to
build further on that by saying: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it
that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name I will
do it.”
Are you feeling sad? Why trouble your heart when you have Jesus?
Have you prayed about it and do you believe strongly in your heart that your
prayer is enough? Do you believe you just told a friend who has the power to do
anything? Song: What a Friend we have in Jesus….
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help us to do your will and be filled
with joy, peace and happiness everyday. Amen
God bless you. Good morning. Be
Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. Happy Weekend.
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