Category Archives: Acts

Follow Him

Rembrandt (1606-1669)
St. Peter and St John Healing the Paralytic
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Peter said [to the man crippled from birth], “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” Luke 9:16-17a

We all have been blessed with the love of God to give each other. We follow the way of Jesus with our kindness, our attentiveness, our generosity, our care for the ill and dying, our compassion for those who are troubled, our patience with those who irritate us, our efforts to pray for and forgive those who have hurt us. When we do our best to love one another, we are carrying out the healing mission of Jesus.

Today I will follow the Lord by giving a bit of myself as an act of love to the people around me.

Filled with the Spirit of Love

Steffen Papenbroock
“Heart of Fire”

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:3-4a

The Holy Spirit is our moment-to-moment guide as we struggle to remain faithful to God’s command to love one another. The Holy Spirit opens our minds to discern our gifts and talents and how best to use them in service to each other. The Holy Spirit opens our hearts to face our darkest memories, let go of resentment and grudges, reconcile with those we have hurt, speak out against unjust systems and the inhumane treatment of any of God’s precious children, and show mercy to all of God’s people.

The Holy Spirit gives us the courage to trust God in everything.

Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to fill me with the peace and love of Christ.

Faithful to the voice of love

Gebhard Fugel (1863-1939)
The Multitude, 1933
Scheyern Abbey

Remain faithful to the grace of God.
Acts 13:43d

We are graced to hear in the voice of Jesus unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, and peace for all people of every nation, race, culture, and tongue. May our hearts be open to become what we hear.

Today I will open my heart to hear the gentle voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd calling me to love my neighbor as myself.

Rise from the dead

Frank Wesley (1923-2002)
Mary at the Tomb
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN

For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead. John 20:9

We rarely understand God’s vision for us or for the world. Where we see disharmony, God is creating harmony. Where we see suffering, God is healing wounds. Where we see death, God is preparing a glorious resurrection.

Today I will thank Jesus for teaching me how to empty myself of ego and humbly do God’s will of love and service to others. I will sit quietly and contemplate what rising from the dead means to me.

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Ed de Guzman
Pentecost
gouache on special paper, 2014

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6

We work together in harmony to bring about God’s vision of love and peace for humankind. We are not in competition. We are each a part of the body of Christ, given the Holy Spirit in order to serve God’s human family.

Today I will reflect on the spiritual gifts I have been given. I will ask the Holy Spirit to show me how best to use these gifts to bring peace, harmony, and love to the world.

Take refuge in the Lord

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Ascension of Jesus
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

We belong to God, who is Love. There is no fear when we are in Love.

Today I will give all of my fears to the Lord. I will take refuge in the Lord’s strength and kindness and trust that all shall be well.

We are God’s people

Anton Mauve, 1838-1888
Shepherd and Sheep
oil on canvas, ca.1880
Cincinnati Museum of Art

The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:52

In every moment I have the option to rejoice in God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.

May I remember to turn to the light in hard times. May I ask the Lord to guide me in the way of wisdom, understanding, compassion, forgiveness, peace, and kindness.

The breath of love and compassion

Pentecost

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:4-5

Today I will use my gifts to bless the people in my family, community, country, and world with love and peace.

May I embody God’s compassion with every breath I take.

Entwined

A street of Pillars at the ruins of the city Samaria
PALÄSTINA und das OSTOJORDANLAND (Julius Hoffmann, Stuttgart, 1925)

[Jesus said to his disciples:] “I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.” John 14:20

Time passes, life events impact us, we adapt, grow, develop, move on.

But our union with God never changes. We are forever entwined with God, eternally in harmony with kindness, compassion, reverence, joy, and love.

Untamed

“Tame” does not describe the Holy Spirit. Be prepared to be surprised, overwhelmed, consumed, humbled, delighted by the movement of the Spirit in your life.

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:2-4a