+AMDG
Prayer Group Overview
Our prayer theme today was:
Protection against the false prophet, evil, the beast/antichrist, satan.
Protection from: war, persecution, chastisement
All the readings, chosen at random after a prayer to the Holy Spirit, are listed below. As we did last week, we will post each message in a separate post each day, with our thoughts/ comment attached. The Bible reading and summary/comment on it will be posted in full below.
The Readings today:
1.Bible:Acts 19: 4-36
Book of Truth:
2.God the Father: Children we are but just a short time away from the Great Day ( 23 August, 2013)
3.Mother of Salvation: Beware of the man, who declares himself to be the Son of Man (19 September 2014)
4. No sin is so grave that it cannot be forgiven (23 August 2011)
Bible Reading (Douay Rheims)
Acts 19: 4-36
[4] And he, beholding him, being seized with fear, said: What is it, Lord? And he said to him: Thy prayers and thy alms are ascended for a memorial in the sight of God. [5] And now send men to Joppe, and call hither one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:
[6] He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. He will tell thee what thou must do. [7] And when the angel who spoke to him was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a soldier who feared the Lord, of them that were under him. [8] To whom when he had related all, he sent them to Joppe. [9] And on the next day, whilst they were going on their journey, and drawing nigh to the city, Peter went up to the higher parts of the house to pray, about the sixth hour. [10] And being hungry, he was desirous to taste somewhat. And as they were preparing, there came upon him an ecstasy of mind.
[11] And he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth: [12] Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air. [13] And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter; kill and eat. [14] But Peter said: Far be it from me; for I never did eat any thing that is common and unclean. [15] And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God hath cleansed, do not thou call common.
[16] And this was done thrice; and presently the vessel was taken up into heaven. [17] Now, whilst Peter was doubting within himself, what the vision that he had seen should mean, behold the men who were sent from Cornelius, inquiring for Simon’ s house, stood at the gate. [18] And when they had called, they asked, if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, were lodged there. [19] And as Peter was thinking of the vision, the Spirit said to him: Behold three men seek thee. [20] Arise, therefore, get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
[21] Then Peter, going down to the men, said: Behold, I am he whom you seek; what is the cause for which you are come? [22] Who said: Cornelius, a centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and having good testimony from all the nation of the Jews, received an answer of an holy angel, to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. [23] Then bringing them in, he lodged them. And the day following he arose, and went with them: and some of the brethren from Joppe accompanied him. [24] And the morrow after, he entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, having called together his kinsmen and special friends. [25] And it came to pass, that when Peter was come in, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling at his feet adored.
[26] But Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise, I myself also am a man. [27] And talking with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. [28] And he said to them: You know how abominable it is for a man that is a Jew, to keep company or to come unto one of another nation: but God hath shewed to me, to call no man common or unclean. [29] For which cause, making no doubt, I came when I was sent for. I ask, therefore, for what cause you have sent for me? [30] And Cornelius said: Four days ago, unto this hour, I was praying in my house, at the ninth hour, and behold a man stood before me in white apparel, and said:
[31] Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thy alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. [32] Send therefore to Joppe, and call hither Simon, who is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side. [33] Immediately therefore I sent to thee: and thou hast done well in coming. Now therefore all we are present in thy sight, to hear all things whatsoever are commanded thee by the Lord. [34] And Peter opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive, that God is not a respecter of persons. [35] But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to him.
[35] In every nation: That is to say, not only Jews, but Gentiles also, of what nation soever, are acceptable to God, if they fear him and work justice. But then true faith is always to be presupposed, without which (saith St. Paul, Heb. 11. 6) it is impossible to please God. Beware then of the error of those, who would infer from this passage, that men of all religions may be pleasing to God. For since none but the true religion can be from God, all other religions must be from the father of lies, and therefore highly displeasing to the God of truth.
Thoughts on this reading:
Cornelius was a centurion, not a Jew, but he feared God. An angel apppeared to him and told him to call for Peter. He sent some servants to do this. At the same time, Peter, while praying had a vision of a a linen cloth being let down from heaven with all sorts of animals. He didn’t know what it meant. A voice told Peter to kill and eat, but Peter refused. He said that the animals were unclean. He didn’t know what the vision meant, but then 3 men sent by Cornelius came to the door. They stayed the night and the next day he went with them to Cornelius.
When they got there, Cornelius, who was a just man, had assembled a group of family and friends, ready to meet Peter. Peter realized, that in every nation, there are people who fear God – they are not all “unclean”. The faith of Cornelius came from God.
The warning for us is that we must fear God, and our beliefs must come from Him. It also shows us the mercy of God to all – irrespective of nation, provided that they want God’s mercy. (Cornelius called for Peter, and got all his friends there as well.)
Other thoughts on this reading:
The reading is about listening to heavenly visions and to God’s inspirations. It is about allowing God to reveal their meaning and the Holy Spirit to reveal it amongst us. (e.g. at our prayer groups.) This is not always instantaneous- as Peter finds out, but little lessons can be enormously significant. God worked through both Peter and Cornelius at the same time ( through a vision and an angel) and brought them together. Lastly the Holy Spirit revealed the meaning to all.
It is also about following the inspirations, that we have – in doing God’s work, and in spreading His Word.
We prayed today for protection against the false prophet and the antichrist.This was very appropriate for us in these days where the teachings of Jesus Christ and the ten commandments are being twisted to suit man, and turn away for God and His commandments.
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