Music Info
Veni lumen cordium
By Margaret Rizza
Fountain of Life | Kevin Mayhew (Used with permission)
Script
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Today is Tuesday the 28th of April in the season of Easter.
Veni, lumen cordium, veni sancte spiritus. Come Holy Spirit. Come, light of our hearts. When we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit prays in us. As I begin my prayer today, I pause for a few moments to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten me, to invite the Holy Spirit into my life, into my mind and into my heart.
Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 7:51-8:1
(Stephen said to them) ‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are for ever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.’ When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.
Can you imagine this scene: Stephen full of faith and the Holy Spirit, his accusers driven to violence, Saul standing by supporting their actions. How does it seem to you in your mind’s eye?
As Stephen gives his life as witness to Jesus, how does Jesus look at him? How does Jesus look at Saul?
As you listen again, imagine Jesus watching what is going on. In spite of what is happening to him, Stephen is able to see a vision of heaven and the glory of Christ.
In spite of what is happening in the world and in your life at the moment, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where God is and what God is doing.