FIRE!

FIRE!

 

“… enable your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness….” As they prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. – Acts 4:29, 31

 

When I arrived in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, I prayed, “Lord, open doors for me to share Your Word!” There, I met all sorts of Filipinos — influential persons, priests and nuns, and people in the Renewal movement. I even told some of them of my desire to serve. All to no avail.

A year later, I went home to Manila for my annual holiday. That’s when I got my “break.” I was able to speak at a Life-in-the- Spirit type of seminar.

When I returned after my vacation, I spoke to an ordinary Papua New Guinean warehouse worker about the Lord. I mentioned to him that I write for Didache and I gave him a copy. He introduced me to his uncle, who in turn invited me to attend and give a sharing at their weekly gathering.

The following week, they gave me a chance to give a teaching. As I prayed for them during the altar call, people fell down — slain in the Spirit! Others trembled uncontrollably. Some even wailed out loud.

I know that the fire of the Spirit filled these people, me included.Danny Tariman (danny@ dtariman.com)

 

REFLECTION:

“Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire. Be still before the Lord; wait for God.” (Psalm 37:4,7)

 

Lord, use us to bring Your Word and Your presence to the world.

 

COMING BY NIGHT TO SEE JESUS

 

Nicodemus is afraid to approach Jesus at daytime as others might see that he has sympathies for the message Jesus preaches and this will not endear him to his fellow Pharisees and leading Jewish citizens of his time. Yet, he has questions that need answers so he takes the risk to approach Jesus and ask Him. Too often today, when we do not understand a particular teaching, we do not take the time and effort, and yes, even risk, to seek out a proper understanding in case it may have consequences for the way we live our faith and lives.

We hide behind the excuse of being unsure instead of “grasping the bull by the horns” so to speak, and finding out the right answers. Aquinas tells us that if we are in this state of indecision regarding a moral issue, we should not act until we resolve the issue. And it is our moral and religious responsibility to resolve it as soon as possible by the requisite study and/or seeking guidance from those who can help us. Failure to do this means that we are acting in bad conscience. Consequently we sin if the choice we make is incorrect precisely because we have failed to discern our choice properly. As a lawyer might say, this is similar to the adage that ignorance of the law is no excuse. That is, deliberate uncertainty about an action is no excuse if the action is a sinful one.

I hope and pray that we all have the willingness and courage to do as Nicodemus did. It could be a matter of salvation that is at hand. For example, Catholic politicians who wilfully fail to uphold the moral teachings of the Church, particularly in a predominantly Catholic country, seriously endanger their salvation. They are guilty not just of personal sin but they endanger the conscience of less informed members of the faithful and woe to such people — it is better they be thrown into a lake with a millstone around their necks than to lead a “little one” of God astray.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

Reflection Question:

Are there any areas in my life where I am wilfully ignorant of the Church’s teaching and thus culpable for my actions in this regard?

 

Holy Spirit, lead me to the truth so that I will never wilfully act against my best judgment of a particular moral issue.

 

St. Damian, pray for us.