Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: June 2, 2025

Monday of the 7th Week of Easter

Scripture Text:  Acts 19:1-8

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They answered him, "We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." He said, "How were you baptized?" They replied, "With the baptism of John." Paul then said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Altogether there were about twelve men.He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.

 Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The first reading for today from the Acts of the Apostles recounts Paul’s arrival in Ephesus and the baptism of the Spirit.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I recognize the Spirit at work in my life? Do I seek the Spirit’s help? Do I cooperate with the Spirit’s graces?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only-begotten Son to redeem us so that we might better become the daughters and sons You created us to be. He calls us to follow Him as His disciples and to live the commandments He gave to us – commandments of love – to love You with all our being and strength and to love one another as He has loved us. And He promised us the Spirit, a gift from You, to help us on our journey in Him to You and life in You. Send your Spirit to awaken in us the true faith and hope that unlocks the love within us. Grant that we may cooperate this day with the grace and guidance of the Spirit as we make our way. We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.