I AM INNOCENT OF THE BLOOD OF ALL MEN 1 st Sunday of Abib 1728/2012

I AM INNOCENT  Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. Acts 20:26

 25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 32 “ So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Eph 20:25-32

(S T. J OHN S ABA ) Put on humility all the time, to turn yourself into a dwelling place for God.

G REAT HARVEST AND FEW LABOURERS  Then He said to them, “ The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few ; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest. Lk 10:2

L AMBS AND WOLVES  Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.  Lk 10:3

T WO KINDS OF RECEIVERS  5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘ Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. Lk 10:5,6

R ETURNED INTO MINE OWN BOSOM  But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. Ps 35:13

T WO CITIES  Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘ The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘ The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ Lk 10:9-11

Y OUR N AMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN  Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Lk 10:17-20

S T A UGUSTINE  "I (Christ) am the food of full- grown men. Grow and you shall feed on me. But you shall not change me into your own substance, as you do with the food of your body, instead you shall be changed into me “. Confessions, VII 10 (PL 32, 742) ed & trs. R.S. Pine-Coffin, Penguin 1971, p. 147.