Through Cursillo, charismatic renewal, Christ Renews, Marriage Encounter, retreats, missions, and other renewal programs, the water of the Holy Spirit has trickled into our society. Many, however, are so spiritually dry they mistake the trickle for a river. The trickle is not a river, but it could become a river if it rolls on to the sea. Trickles that go nowhere dry up. Trickles that flow into ponds become stagnant, for a pond has no outlet. Occasionally, the pond becomes agitated. We may even see a miracle or a healing (see Jn 5:7, 9), and call this renewal. Yet the pond soon becomes stagnant again.
However, some trickles, driven to share the Gospel in the power of the Spirit, roll on to the sea of God's love. They become rivers whose banks are filled with life and fruit (see Ez 47:7ff).
A holy Lent makes the waters of Baptism trickle from the Church. A holy Easter forms the river of Pentecost. Don't be dry or stagnant. "Let him who is thirsty come forward; let all who desire it accept the gift of life-giving water" (Rv 22:17).
| PRAYER: | Father, may I feel compelled to share the Gospel (see 1 Cor 9:16). |
| PROMISE: | "Remember, now, you have been cured. Give up your sins so that something worse may not overtake you." –Jn 5:14 |
| PRAISE: | Coming to the Lord after a deep conversion brought Michael to an ocean of God's love. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College