Page 3 - Nihil Obstat News Today

how to rise from the dead “God formed man to be imperishable; the image of His own nature He made him.” —Wisdom 2:23 The Lord wants us to rise from the dead. He will do this by His almighty power, but we must let it be done (see Lk 1:38). We let the Lord raise us from the dead by believing in Him. Jesus told Jairus at the news of his daughter’s death: “Fear is useless. What is needed is trust” (Mk 5:36). At the cemetery following Lazarus’ death, Jesus likewise said: “I am the Re...

Cervantes: Jesus Christ: You will not be left to walk alone through this tragedy

teach the old testament “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets.” —Matthew 5:17 When the Bible speaks of “the Law and the Prophets,” it refers to the Old Testament. Peter preached from the Old Testament on the day of Pentecost, and three thousand people received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17, 25, 34). “The ministry of the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:8) began by the preaching of the ministry of the Law and the Prophets. Jesus’ Transfiguration featured the Law, repres...

brilliant, gifted, talented — and incomplete “When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained to him God’s new way in greater detail.” —Acts 18:26 Apollos was “a man of eloquence,” “an authority on Scripture,” “instructed in the new way of the Lord,” “full of spiritual fervor,” and both accurate and fearless in his speech and teaching (Acts 18:24-26). This man had a lot going for him. Yet when Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos speak, t...

that’s a no-know? “What you are thus worshiping in ignorance I intend to make known to you.” —Acts 17:23 Without divine revelation, we “grope” for the truth (Acts 17:27). Humanity desires to know the God of truth, for God has made us for Himself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 30). Without divine revelation, our spiritual vision is blurred and indistinct (see 1 Cor 13:12). By our human reason, we may advance somewhat in our kno...

the spirit of martyrdom “He will bear witness on My behalf. You must bear witness as well.” —John 15:26-27 As we near the end of the fifty day Easter season, we look forward to receiving the Holy Spirit in a new way this Pentecost. When the Spirit comes, He will bear witness for Jesus. He will expect us to bear witness as well (see Acts 1:8). When we witness for Jesus, we will lead many to Christ and transform the world. However, not everyone will accept our witness. Some will reject Jesu...

the spirit is a movin’ (on) “The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were surprised that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, whom they could hear speaking in tongues and glorifying God.” —Acts 10:45-46 We are two weeks away from Pentecost, a world-changing, life-changing outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God wants to pour out His Spirit on “all flesh” (see Jl 3:1), including on those like Cornelius who have never had the opportunity...

resistance training “Through all this, the congregations grew stronger in faith.” —Acts 16:5 There is a form of exercise called resistance training. Physical endurance and muscle tone is built through encountering resistance and persevering in the exercise despite that resistance. When the person finds it easier to do the exercise, the amount of resistance is then increased until the person can overcome that level as well. Just as exercises build strength through overcoming resistance, so...

voluntary slavery “I no longer speak of you as slaves.” —John 15:15 Jesus calls us, His disciples, “slaves.” Later, He may call us “friends.” To be a friend of Jesus, we must first be His slave. To know what Jesus is doing, we must first obey without knowing what He is doing (Jn 15:15). To be aware of Jesus as Love (1 Jn 4:16), we must first know Him as Lord. God’s Word commands us to “be slaves of Christ the Lord” (Col 3:24). The idea of being anyone’s slave is disturbing...

submit to the church “The apostles and presbyters accordingly convened to look into the matter.” —Acts 15:6 What did you eat for breakfast this morning? What did you eat for supper last night? Had the outcome of the meeting between St. Paul, St. Barnabas, and the church in Jerusalem gone differently, you might not be eating bacon or ham in your meals (see Acts 15:29). Your life could be quite different, and perhaps you might not even be a Christian at present, if the Christian leaders in ...