A Good Man

They sent Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion; for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith.
Acts.11:22-24

Barnabas was nicknamed Son of Encouragement for good reason. The source of his good will and optimism? The Holy Spirit and faith.

The Bible is full of manly role models. Barnabas is up there among them. His generosity in giving the proceeds of a land sale to the apostles first gains the attention of the early Church. He becomes a trusted member who is sent out on missions, initially by himself and then with Paul. 

Barnabas is remembered not only for his generosity and encouragement but also for his goodness, faithfulness and for being Spirit-filled. I would be happy to be remembered with any one of these characteristics, to be remembered as a good man.

Saint Barnabas, please pray that I may be filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.

Hear and Obey

Then Ananias went. He entered the house, and at once laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’
Acts.9:17

Ananias wanted to run away from Saul. Jesus told him to run to him. In his obedience he gave Saul a gift. New sight and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus called Ananias and Ananias heard him, remonstrated but finally obeyed. There have been times I have not wanted to do something yet have felt compelled, convicted even, to do it. Each time I have been obedient, the Holy Spirit has been involved. 

I need to hear and obey if I want the Holy spirit to work in my life. What an exciting way to live.

Jesus, you know my fears. Help me overcome them and obey. Come Holy Spirit.
Saint Ananias, please pray for me.

Guide

When Philip ran up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ ‘How can I’ he replied ‘unless I have someone to guide me?’ 

Philip is directed by the Holy Spirit to a divine appointment where he helps a man ultimately receive new life in Jesus. How did he do this? By guiding him.

I was guided by various people in my conversation and early days as a Christian. I am forever grateful to these good souls who not only talked but walked the talk. 

One of the names of the Holy Spirit is Paraclete, or guide. Each time I guide someone in their faith walk it is the Holy spirit working through me, just as he did through Philip. What an honor. What a joy.

Holy Spirit, guide me to guide others as you did with Philip, that all may be drawn to Jesus.
Saint Philip, please pray for me.

Sates and Slakes

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst. 
Jn.6:35

Hunger and thirst. Two fundamental human emotions that demand being met in order to stay alive. Jesus meets the demands of both and gives eternal life.

I remember, before my conversion, the gnawing hunger of my soul. I tried the world's remedies. They didn't work. 

Jesus sates my hunger and slakes my thirst. He satisfies me. Jesus, you are the bread of my life. 

Peace Be With You

Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ 
Lk.24:36

Jesus appears to the disciples who are still trying to understand what has happened because of the empty tomb. His first words to the early Church still need to be heard in the Church today. "Peace be with you."

No matter our station in life, we all long for peace. It's a universal human longing. The disciples had all abandoned Jesus at his crucifixion. They needed to receive Jesus' peace because it also meant they had received his forgiveness. 

I need to receive Jesus' peace because I also am in need of his forgiveness.

Thank you Jesus for your peace beyond understanding. Thank you Jesus for your forgiveness.

Job Description

You, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them.
Acts.6:3

The Apostles instruct the early Church on what characteristics men must have before delegating them; good reputation, wisdom and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  What was the duty of these worthy and pious men? Simply to hand out food.

It appears that to do anything in the name of Jesus, be it menial or elevated, the Holy Spirit is required, not just required but essential. The servant duty of handing out food required good, wise men filled with the Holy Spirit. These are the essential qualities needed in any job description within the Church.

How do I measure up? 

Come Holy Spirit. Make up what I lack within me.
Saint Stephen, please pray for me.

Hand it Over

Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?
Jn.6:9

Jesus sees the need and the solution to the five thousand's hunger. The apostles only see the problem. The little boy simply sees Jesus.

I'm often like the apostles. Problems loom large, sapping energy and faith. The little boy wouldn't have known how Jesus would use his humble offering, he just gave it anyway. His open mouthed, simple gaze showed all the faith needed for Jesus to perform one of his greatest miracles. 

The lesson here. Yes, acknowledge the problem then turn to Jesus and offer whatever meager resource I have towards solving it. Then, and this is the key, leave it with Jesus to take care of. When I do this, problems become opportunities for miracles to happen.

Jesus, I place my trust in you.

Heavy Lifting

The Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
Jn.3:14,15

Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus where he came from, heaven, and what must be done with him, be lifted up.

I just can't ignore Jesus. He's either dead in the tomb or alive and lifted up. I have to make a choice. Moses' bronze serpent miraculously gave life when lifted up. Jesus says he can do the same if we lift him up, and we're talking about eternal life here. 

Previous verses hint at who will do the heavy lifting in us, the Holy Spirit. I can't lift Jesus up alone. I need the power of the Holy Spirit blowing and flowing within me.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

Come and Eat

Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ 
Jn.21:12

After a night of not catching any fish, the disciples are met on the beach by the resurrected Jesus. He draws them to him by the best of invitations. "Come and eat..."

Is there anything better sizzling in a pan than fish that thirty minutes earlier had been swimming in the sea? Jesus knows how to catch the attention of disappointed, lousy fishermen. The only times the apostles are recorded as catching fish is when Jesus directs them where to throw their nets. 

Jesus is about to give Peter his great commission to feed and take care of the lambs and sheep of the Church. He strengthens Peter physically then spiritually. Sharing a meal with others gives a powerful sense of belonging. In a world full of isolated and lonely people, this is still the best way to reach out.

Jesus, show me the people who need to hear the invitation, "Come and eat."

What Things?

Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. 

Jesus meets the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. It only takes two words from Jesus to draw out all their grief. "What things?"

People long to be heard. We get enough of being talked to, but to be really heard is rare. Jesus puts their dark story into perspective, placing it under the light of scripture, into the light of his story. The tragedy of his crucifixion is not the end of the story. In fact, it is only the title page of the real story, the story not of death and darkness but of light and life. This is the story in which I am a character with a role to play.

Jesus, you are the consummate listener. Help me be present and listen to those I meet today.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!