Reading 1
Acts 4:23-31
After their release Peter and John went back to their own people
and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them.
And when they heard it,
they raised their voices to God with one accord
and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth
and the sea and all that is in them,
you said by the Holy Spirit
through the mouth of our father David, your servant:
Why did the Gentiles rage
and the peoples entertain folly?
The kings of the earth took their stand
and the princes gathered together
against the Lord and against his anointed.
Indeed they gathered in this city
against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,
Herod and Pontius Pilate,
together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
to do what your hand and your will
had long ago planned to take place.
And now, Lord, take note of their threats,
and enable your servants to speak your word
with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Gospel
Jn 3:1-8
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to him,
“How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”
Jesus answered,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Meditation: Acts 4:23-31
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook. (Acts 4:31)
What a commotion! Peter and John had just healed a lame man in front of the Temple, drawing attention to themselves and their gospel. Seeing this, the Jewish leaders became infuriated and locked them in jail for the night. But they couldn’t trump up any charges against them, so they warned them never to proclaim the name of Jesus again. But Peter responded: “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
Peter and John didn’t cower. In fact, after they were released, their first act was to tell their brothers and sisters what had happened and to ask them all to pray for the Lord to pour out his Spirit and make them even more bold. Instead of focusing on the immediate danger, they saw the big picture and trusted that God would triumph. They knew that he loved them and was empowering them to serve him. And God answered their prayer by pouring out the Holy Spirit in a way that shook the building.
Note that these believers had already received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, but that didn’t stop them from praying for more. In fact, this is a prayer that God loves to answer. He knows that we can always use more of his grace, and he is more than happy to give it.
Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that overwhelm us: an unexpected illness, a sudden death, the loss of a job, a betrayal or disappointment. Of course our Father wants us to come to him and pour out our grief and our confusion. Of course he loves to comfort us. But don’t stop there! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the big picture, just as the apostles did. Remember that God loves you and everyone else involved in this situation with you. Remember that he is with you and that even in the midst of this situation, he can bring great glory to his name through you.
God loves to pour out more of his Holy Spirit on us! Don’t be afraid to ask! And to ask again. And again.
“Lord of heaven and earth, everything is in your hands. Open my eyes to see your face. Make me bold in proclaiming your victory. Come, Holy Spirit, and give me more!”
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