During this Pentecost novena, which begins today, we must replace our Judases with Matthiases. The apostles had spent nearly every day with Judas for about three years. After he sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver and then committed suicide (Mt 27:3-5), the apostles were probably traumatized, guilt-ridden, and confused. They had to deal with this catastrophe before they could receive the Holy Spirit of Pentecost. They had to replace the pain associated with Judas with the peace and healing associated with St. Matthias.
To receive the Holy Spirit this Pentecost, you too may have to replace the trauma of a divorce with the grace of forgiveness and healing. If you have been abused physically, emotionally, or sexually, you may need to replace your pain with the miracle of God's love.
Because of being hurt and rejected, we usually try to forget about the Judases who have walked away from our lives, but we must replace them. First, we must forgive our Judases. Then, we must ask the Lord to work all things together for our good (Rm 8:28) by replacing disgrace with grace. The miracle of Matthias precedes the miracle of Pentecost.
| PRAYER: | Father, I take my pain to the cross and let the crucified Jesus heal and transform me. |
| PROMISE: | "You are My friends if you do what I command you." ––Jn 15:14 |
| PRAISE: | St. Matthias rejoiced when punished for teaching about Jesus (Acts 5:40-41). |
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