Acts 4:12

Acts 4:12

Peter and John Before the Council

1AND as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the officer of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead:  3And they laid hands upon them, and put them in hold till the next day; for it was now evening.  4But many of them who had heard the word, believed; and the number of the men was made five thousand. 

5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their princes, and ancients, and scribes, were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6And Annas the high priest, and Caiphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. 7And setting them in the midst, they asked: By what power, or by what name, have you done this? 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: Ye princes of the people, and ancients, hear:  9If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole:  10Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

Intention

All the people of my life,
I place in Your Life.
Living Savior,
One with the Father,
The Spirit,
And lowly me,
Look on my memory,
And on my forgetfulness.

Search my corridors and halls.
Find all those faces and voices
Of my past, present and forgotten.
Forgive them,
As You’ve forgiven me.
Draw them,
As You have drawn me.

Prepare a heavenly paradise,
In which each may dwell.
Life is short;
Memories fleeting.
You alone endure.
Embracing all,
In Your Eternity.

Amen.

Copyright Joann Nelander  © 2011    All rights reserved

 

Candles on Altars

Candles on Altars

All men are candles,
Burning on some altar.
Some disappear into nothingness,
Before worldly idols,
Unable to sustain their spark
Beyond the veil,
Into eternity.

Others light the heavens
As they are consumed
On the altar of Love,
Merging imperceptibly,
Creature with Creator.

When my wax is spent,
I pray I am not distracted
By my sin.
When I melt
Into the arms of God,
May it be that Love,
That lit my flame,
Outshines my imperfections
In holy consummation.

Burn candle, all alight
Warming with mercy rays the night,
To Penetrate hearts of friend and foe,
To soothe and mend wounds,
Dispelling darkness
With the Uncreated Light
That set creation into being.

Now and forever,
I cast myself
Into the flame,
The furnace of His Sacred Heart.
Passing through pierced side,
One with the Virgin,
Holy angels and expurgated saints of ole,
Melted in union,
I am formed anew in Christ,
With the Father and Spirit,
Candle, altar and Salvation might.

© 2013 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved