Day 117, Acts 10
Good day everyone! What a powerful day with Saint Peter today!
Peter is in Joppa — but first we can see that this chapter is split into three things!!!
1- The Vision of Cornelius
2- The Vision of Peter
3- Peter’s Speech
Don’t you just love it — when God blesses he always groups people together and there is always a blessing a building of faith and a lesson!!!
Go God!
So first let’s look at Cornelius —
He is a centurion and a devout God-fearing man- with his whole household he would give alms to the Jewish people — and pray to God constantly — how cool –
They were not Jewish but they did all these things in one accord –
I love the time we see here… 3 o’clock in the afternoon — we know this as Mercy Hour –
back then they knew it was when Jesus died — well maybe not Cornelius!
And here he is “plainly seeing an angel” in a vision coming to him and saying,
“Cornelius” don’t you just love the way he is called by name!!!
I love the way the angel responds to his “What is it sir?”
“Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God”
Isn’t that what we all long to hear!!!
The angel said to send some men to Joppa to summon Peter — and Cornelius immediately obeys –
now imagine this — he doesn’t even ask why? I mean one day this happens out of no where!!!
He must have thought it odd — but I imagine when you encounter an angel of God — it takes on a whole other meaning!
So here we see good faithful man and his family —being called on by God — in response to his prayers and almsgiving — they have risen up as a memorial to God —
he’s not jewish — and he is visited – not one of the “CHOSEN ONES”
MEMORIAL — so important to God — the Mass is a memorial — we remember — we make present the memory of Jesus Christ –
interesting — and now on to PETER —
Then the next day—-
Peter had a vision — while these guys were on their way — Peter is praying on the roof terrace — I was there in Joppa — right at the spot where they say he prayed —
beautiful view of the ocean right there!!!
it is on the beach — but at that point very little shore line — so it is like you are on the ocean –
it was NOONTIME — ok time we pray to Mary — time Jesus began his suffering on the cross -
Peter was hungry and wished to eat –
He goes into a trance — and then sees a vision of a white sheet and on it all the animals of the world –four – legged that is…
and God says Peter slaughter and eat –
Peter says he could never do that for he had never eaten any meat that is profane and unclean –meaning sacred and cleansed —
for this was there law — and the Jewish law had them using meat to sacrifice to God — they didn’t eat random meat –
God lets Peter know in this visual that what God has made clean he is not to call profane!
and don’t you just love how he tells Peter this THREE TIMES!!! Peter will never get away from having to hear things three times — of course I think of the Trinity — one for the Father one time for the Son and one time for the Holy Spirit!
As soon as Peter is summoned by the THREE men (what a coincidence)– he is told by the Holy Spirit to go and meet them –he realizes that this was the point — that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with a gentile — which was what the Centurion was…
But Peter says that God has shown him that he was not to call any person unclean or profane –
When Peter and Cornelius were meeting it was 3 o’clock and Cornelius explained what had happened before at the 3 o’clock hour –
He knew that God had a message for him and he had summoned Peter to come tell him –
Cornelius obediently was ready to listen to all that the Lord had commanded Peter –
Peter’s Speech –
Peter begins with His number one lesson — IN TRUTH…God shows no partiality!
Peter begins to testify to all that he had seen and heard — and about Jesus Christ and how he witnessed his life death and resurrection…
a true testimony Peter gives — and what happens?
POWER
while he was still speaking of “these things” the HOLY SPIRIT fell on all who were listening to the word!
This is the best part which is why I am bolding!!! Baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT –
all the circumsized were amazed that the Holy Spirit was being poured out on the uncircumsized — and they could hear them speaking in tougues so they knew it was the real thing!!!
And they were glorifing God!!!
Peter said to his boys…
“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?”
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ —
This is the same kind of power we can experience –and should!
This is the same thing that can happen to all those people we know and love out there who we know as “GOOD PEOPLE” who don’t truly know Jesus Christ –
We sometimes hear people say — oh well — he’s a good person — isn’t that enough for heaven?
The key here is that good people can be good conversions into a fully knowledge and experience of JESUS CHRIST –
NO HOLY SPIRIT and they cannot truly know God — the father and the son!
So we must be open to whomever and wherever God calls us — to share and spread His word!
In doing so we will truly see conversion and transformation in our world!
So thanks for being here today —
The Holy Spirit finally allowed me to continue with this Acts of the Apostle blog —
Tomorrow I am hoping for Chapter 11 — God is so good — I will mostlikely post during the day or night — so stick with it –
Today starts the novena to the Sacred Heart — 9 days until the great feast and in the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — followed by Immaculate Heart of Mary — the two hearts go together!
God bless — and keep me in your prayers that I may continue through Acts and beyond!!!
Good stuff — please share!
PS — pretty amazing that I can remember writing this blog during January in the midst of big snow storms — and here I am and with NO AIR CONDITIONING — feeling the heat — seems like yesterday we were just starting out —
GOD IS GOOD! PTL!
