"It is impossible for us not to speak
about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20.
I think about these ordinary men and women,
much like you and me,
who witnessed such extraordinary events, miracles,
and HAD TO speak about them!
Even if the authorities told them to shut up,
they could not quench that inner urge
to tell the world about the awesome truth
that Jesus is alive and His words are true!
"As they prayed, the place where they were shook,
and they were all filled with the HOLY SPIRIT."
Acts 4:31.
Those were exciting times!
Imagine the room shaking after you pray
as if there's an earthquake!
Imagine a huge crowd of people
speaking in different languages.
Imagine "uneducated men of no standing"
speaking in confidence and power,
unafraid of the angry authorities
who throw them in jail!
Imagine these same men
getting freed by an angel,
and going back to preaching!
Imagine healings happening left and right,
and even the shadow of Peter
falling on the sick healing!
We ask, why doesn't this happen now?
If it does, we're not going to believe it anyway, will we?
I think the first step is to believe
it can happen today,
that God's power is available for us today,
and start laying hands on sick people
and praying big prayers.
Allow God space for miracles and He will come through!
Catholics believe in the fellowship of the saints.
When we are baptized in Christ,
by grace, all of us are saints with a small 's'.
Yesterday we recognized two new saints with a big S.
Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII.
There are many wonderful stories about them
but this is my favorite.
In 1945, Edith Zierer was freed from a Nazi labor camp.
She was so weak she collapsed in a busy village train station.
Many passed by but no one helped
until a young seminarian stopped to give her
a cup of tea and a sandwich.
He also carried her on his back to catch a train many miles away
and accompanied her to where she wanted to go.
In 1978, Edith read in her Jewish newspaper
that Karol Wojtyla was elected Pope!
She recognized the name
of her rescuer and wrote him.
When they met, Edith recited a line from the Torah:
"One who saves a life, it is as if he saves the whole world."
I believe God gives us all opportunities to save lives.
It may not be as dramatic as Edith's story,
but let us keep a look out for those opportunities all the same!
I find a lot of inspiration
visiting here:
So many WONDERFUL blogfriends
to discover!
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ReplyDeletePatsy,
ReplyDeleteA wonderful story and shared at a momentous time. I was present when Pope John Paul celebrated Mass in Ottawa Sept 20th 1984. Thank you for joining us this week at Word Art Wednesday with your wonderful art.
Abundant Blessings, Carole
Beautiful and inspirational. Visiting you made me smile and feel His joy.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!