Further Up and Further In

The churches throughout Judaea, Galilee and Samaria were now left in peace, building themselves up, living in the fear of the Lord, and filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.Acts.9:31

Following Saint Paul's conversion there was a time of peace for the fledgling Church. This was not a time of inactivity. The Church built itself up preached the Good News and worked powerful signs and miracles.

The contemporary Church, although marginalised ridiculed and scandalised, is in relative peace. In our country at least, we aren't being dragged off to prison or stoned. But are we building ourselves up, living in the fear of the Lord, being filled with the Holy Spirit while performing miracles? Peace can be soporific, lulling me into inertia.

This time of pandemic has been a wake up for me. On the other side I don't want to fall back asleep. What do I want to take from this unique time of spiritual awakening? I've had increased time with God and ironically, increased time with others through phone calls and social media. This can be a starting point for a new "building up" of my faith life.

Jesus, I know there is more for me. Lead me further up and further in.
Little Flower, please pray for me.