Pentecost Novena 2020 - Day 7: Intercession for Faith Formation

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Day 7: Intercession for Faith Formation
At Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household.  John 4:43-54

Meditation
Do you approach the Lord Jesus with expectant faith for healing, pardon, and transformation in Christ-like holiness?  Jesus' miracles are signs that manifest the presence of God and the coming of his kingdom of power and glory. When a high ranking official, who was very likely from King Herod's court, heard the reports of Jesus' preaching and miracles, he decided to seek Jesus out for an extraordinary favour. If this story happened today the media headlines would probably say: "High ranking official leaves capital in search of miracle cure from a small-town carpenter."
 
It took raw bold courage for a high-ranking court official to travel twenty miles in search of Jesus, the Galilean carpenter. He had to swallow his pride and put up with some ridicule from his friends. And when he found the healer carpenter, Jesus seemed to put him off with the blunt statement that people would not believe unless they saw some kind of miracle or sign from heaven. Jesus likely said this to test the man to see if his faith was in earnest. If he turned away in irritation or with discouragement, he would prove to be insincere. Jesus, perceiving his faith, sent him home with the assurance that his prayer had been heard.
 
It was probably not easy for this man to return to his family with only an assuring word from Jesus that his son would be healed. Couldn't Jesus have come to this man's house and laid his hands on the dying child? However, without a moment's hesitation the court official believed in Jesus and took him at his word. He began his journey back home with renewed faith and hope.
 
Jesus' miraculous healings show his generous kindness and extravagant love - a love that bends down in response to our misery and wretched condition. Is there any area in your life where you need healing, pardon, change, and restoration? If you seek the Lord with trust and expectant faith, he will not disappoint you. He will meet you more than half way and give you what you need. The Lord Jesus never refused anyone who put their trust in him. Surrender your doubts and fears, your pride and guilt at his feet, and trust in his saving word and healing love.  To grow in faith, the first steps are to surrender our life to Jesus and trust God.
 
Prayer
Lord Jesus, come to me.  Come with your Holy spirit and restore my faith.  I surrender all obstacles to faith that have been part of my life.  I repent of all my sin and say “yes” to you my Lord.  Set my heart on fire with a faith that is ready for adventure

Daily prayers to the Holy Spirit

Synod prayer: 
God our Father, you sent your Son to show us how to live fully in the Spirit.  Be with our diocesan family while we walk together in the generation ahead; may we become a people of evangelisation  who will go out to seek those  who do not know you;  a whole people of clergy and laity who will take on our proper vocations in the Church and share responsibility for our vision and mission;  a discerning people who together will come to know Your will  and have the generosity to follow Your call. 

Help us to be a Holy People who live by prayer and faith our pilgrimage on earth.  Send the Holy Spirit to guide us; to keep us united in purpose and give us courage for this journey of faith.  Help us in our deliberations and discussion to be aware of Your presence, to listen to Your voice and to discern Your will for our diocese in the months and years to come.

Our Lady of Paisley, pray for us.  Saint Mirin, pray for us.
 
Prayer for guidance this day:
Father in heaven: Yours is a Spirit of truth and love.  Pour that same Holy Spirit into my body and mind and soul.  Preserve me this day from all illusion and false inspirations and reveal your presence and purposes to me in a way that I can understand. 
I thank you that you will do this while giving me the ability to respond through Jesus Christ Our Lord.  Amen
 
Prayers of reflection:
Help me to be aware of your promptings and inspirations you have given me today and to know whether I responded to them or not.
 
Father in heaven, help me to recall with gratitude those occasions when I was aware of your presence today and to savour again what you mean to me.
 
Final prayer of the day:
Thank you, Father for the gift of your Spirit.  Today it has urged me to see you more clearly; to love you more dearly; to follow you more nearly.  Forgive my failings and now bless me as I sleep, so that refreshed by your Spirit I may rise with joy to sing your praises, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen.