“Keep Them in Your Name” by Philip Russell

“Keep Them in Your Name” by Philip Russell

Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

“Good Shepherd” by Brother Mickey O’Neill McGrath

At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:

"Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock

of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,

in which you tend the Church of God

that he acquired with his own Blood.

I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,

and they will not spare the flock. Acts 20:28-29

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:

"Holy Father, keep them in your name

that you have given me,

so that they may be one just as we are one.

When I was with them, I protected them in your name that you gave me,

and I guarded them, and none of them was lost

except the son of destruction,

in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. John 17:11B-12

Piety

Just ponder that statement from the other day...That “lonely” time between Jesus’s Accession to His Father and the Giving of the Holy Spirit.

Truth is...we need not “Be lonely” because unlike his Apostle/Disciples, we have no “Stop-Gap.”  We are living in the “Truth” – his word and his promise.  We are filled with “Paschal Joy.” We are the “sheep of His flock.”

Study

I read today’s account from Acts of the Apostles, and as I study, some things never change Doubt, Fear, and Discouragement!

They are often the “Wolves” that rob is of “owning” the Joy and Peace that are ours in Christ Jesus through the indwelling of The Holy Spirit!

(No need to wait until Sunday)!

Action

Paul filled with the Holy Spirit endured even hardship for his love of Jesus and the “Truth of his Word.”

Boniface, Apostle to the Germanic Peoples, took the Truth and laid “the ax” to falsehood. He cut down the tree where Thor was worshipped. That simple act of TRUTH caused conversion for those non-believers.

They were, thus, able to receive the “Truth of the Word.”

So, what is that “sacred tree,” that falsehood in our hearts that needs to be “brought down” that we might live in Truth and Joy and Peace?

Onward Disciples All!