God Allows Miracles

4/30/2018

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.

Acts 14:5-18

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

I've always been amazed by magic: seemingly creating something from nothing, moving an object from my hand to somewhere else without moving it or taking a cell phone and putting it into a melon. (I saw that trick on Ellen once. I still have no idea how that happened!) But these are just tricks, slights of hand as they say. They aren't really creating something from nothing.

God did that though, created something from nothing, and it's not magic. It's not a trick. It's no slight of hand. He created us. Before we were conceived, we were nothing. There isn't a little bank of souls up in heaven waiting for mommies and daddies to want them. That's more of a story we tell little kids. Before we were conceived, we didn't exist, and then God created us (something) from nothing.

WOW! It's hard to comprehend. So we call it magic, but really it's a miracle.

Miracles are hard for us to understand and comprehend. And if we're being honest, by "hard" I mean impossible. In the first reading we hear about the miracles that were being done through the faith of the apostles in the early Church. People were walking, being healed and experiencing miracles. The witnesses didn't call it magic (I don't think they had a reference point for card tricks and cell phones in melons in 1st Century Lystra). They called them Zeus and Hermes, greek gods, their only point of reference for 'great tricks' in their culture.

But these were tricks, they were miracles. Miracles are hard for us to comprehend because they defy natural law. They don't compute, a little like a cell phone showing up in a melon. We have to see them with the eyes of faith. They require us to trust in God's goodness and mercy. Miracles force us to see beyond what is possible to what is eternal, what is beyond us, and what extraordinary and heavenly.

God allows us to see miracles here on earth so we can begin to comprehend just a little about how amazing He is! Look for all of the miracles surrounding you today in nature, in friends, in Mass, in babies - and be amazed at how great our God is!

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

Where has God worked a miracle in your life? Have you thanked Him for it?

Do you believe in miracles? What is golding you back?

Where in life do you need a miracle? Where have you asked God for one?

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"God works miracles."

"Lord I believe, help my unbelief."

"Jesus, I trust in you."

Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

God allows us to see miracles here on earth so we can begin to comprehend just a little about how amazing He is! Look for all of the miracles surrounding you today in nature, in friends, in Mass, in babies - and be amazed at how great our God is! At the end of the day, write down all of the places you saw God work a miracle today. Then write one place in your life where you need God to work a miracle and ask for the trust in God to know it will happen.

Smartphone Lock Screen

The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.

Today's prayer was prepared by Katie Herzing, a former youth minister turned parish evanglization consultant living in North Carolina.

If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.

CARPE VERBUM