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Wednesday, April 14, 1999

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Acts 5:17-26
Psalm 34
John 3:16-21

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jesus teaches

"Those men you put in jail are standing over there in the temple, teaching the people." —Acts 5:25

Jesus wants His sheep to be fed physically and especially spiritually (see Jn 21:15, 17). He wants His people to be taught His good news. Jesus Himself repeatedly gave up His rest and food to teach vast crowds "at great length" (Mk 6:34). "He would teach in the temple by day" (Lk 21:37). After Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus risen from the dead, she called Him "Rabbouni" ("Teacher") (Jn 20:16). Jesus spent the afternoon of the day of His resurrection teaching the Bible as He walked for miles with two of His disciples (Lk 24:27). Jesus spent the evening of the day of His resurrection opening the apostles' minds to the understanding of the Scriptures (Lk 24:45).

After the first Christian Pentecost, the newborn Church caught on to Jesus' emphasis on teaching. The Church devoted herself to the apostles' teaching (Acts 2:42). After an angel freed the apostles from jail, "they went into the temple at dawn and resumed their teaching" (Acts 5:21). They "filled Jerusalem" with their teaching (Acts 5:28). "Day after day, both in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news of Jesus the Messiah" (Acts 5:42). They concentrated on "prayer and the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4). "The word of God continued to spread" (Acts 6:7).

Prayer:  Father, I join the movement of proclaiming Your word.

Promise:  "Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life." —Jn 3:16

Praise:  "When the afflicted man called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress He saved him" (Ps 34:7). Alleluia!

Reference:  (We offer a book, How to Teach the Bible, to help lay people teach the Bible.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, October 9, 1998


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 17, 1998