The Daily Bread

BUKAS LOOB SA DIYOS COMMUNITY
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WSC REFLECTION GUIDE

Readings: Acts 12:1-11 Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul
Psalm 34: 2-9 June 29. 2008
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Matthew 16: 13-19

Word: The one who does the will of the Father will enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Theme: We do the will of the Father when we strengthen each other’s faith. (Commitment to Growth)
Promise: “Blessed the man who takes refuge in the Lord.” (Psalm 34:9)

Reflection:

“He said to them, ‘But you, who do you say that I am?’” (Matthew 16:15)

On this feast day, we celebrate the two main pillars of the early church, Peter and Paul. These two saints represent the two complementary dimensions of the Church, corporate and individual – the pastoral and the missionary. Peter maintains the traditions; Paul represents the drive to adapt, expand and amplify the Gospel. Peter is the centripetal force that seeks the center; Paul is the centrifugal force that reaches out to embrace different cultures. The Church needs both. Without the centering of Peter, the Church might well have been a loose collection of fragmented sects. Without the expansive force of Paul, the Church might have stayed a Jewish group in Jerusalem.

They are the most widely acclaimed saints in the Church and their names are joined, though they rarely worked side by side. Even their calls to be apostles of Jesus were different. Peter was brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew (John 1:42), without fanfare, while Paul met Jesus on his way to Damascus in a most dramatic way, with flashing lights that caused him to fall to the ground (Acts 9:3ff). Paul’s call to apostolate did not differ from the grace of conversion: “God chose to reveal his Son to me, so that I might announce…” (Galatians 1:16). The Galilean fisherman Peter and the scholarly Pharisee Paul – so different in personality, worldview and background – are forever joined in Christian awareness. Despite their differences, they were united by a fiery love of Jesus and the Church. And although they did not die on the same day, the Church celebrates their feast together in honor of their labors and their martyrdom.

From the first Pentecost, Peter’s leadership of the Church was evident. Peter moved from Jerusalem to Antioch to Rome, where for more than two thousand years his successors have continued to offer a dynamic link to Jesus’ desire to build his Church. The value of Peter’s faith and the foundation of his role as leader was his confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). This is the very faith that Paul referring to in his declaration that “No other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Though Paul was among the last to be called an apostle, it could well be argued that it was he who developed the doctrines of faith that became the basis for our creed and continue to define the Church today.

These two saints, Peter and Paul, have made it clear that our faith is not meant to be an individual, isolated thing. It’s not just “me and Jesus”. It’s “Christ and his Church”. God never wanted us to live in isolation from each other; Christ never intended for Christianity to be an individual experience. He gave a corporate dimension to our faith so that our experience of life in the spirit would be spurred on in power and supported in hope by the faithful witness of so many other believers, as our theme for the week tells us: “We do the will of the Father when we strengthen each other’s faith”.

By faith we are saved, and this faith is a gift from our Father in heaven. Through the Church, let us make known the manifold wisdom of our God. Peter and Paul are wonderful examples of God’s way of taking flawed individuals and turning them into powerful witnesses to the Gospel. Peter and Paul’s accomplishments are not simply their hard work, creativity and excellent administrative skills. Both were formed in the crucible of difficulties and failures that left them humbled. And because of the way God dealt with them, they became more aware of their need for him and were captivated by his love. Thus, God’s promise is accomplished in them: “Blessed the man who takes refuge in the Lord” (Psalm 34:9)

We too are all called to be saints, each in our own way. We have experienced the power of the Gospel in our lives in our moments of personal conversion and encounter with Jesus. But this will continue to happen in our lives only if we allow Jesus to form us. Our transformation, like those of Peter and Paul, must hinge on Jesus. We need to know that it is the Holy Spirit who can transform us, just as He changed the apostles Peter and Paul. We too are called to be pillars of the Church. As we let Christ’s firm but gentle and loving hand break our outer shell of self-sufficiency and allow the Holy Spirit to overcome all that binds us to sin and temptation, He will make known to us the mysteries of God so that we can grow in the knowledge of the Gospel.

There comes a time in our lives when, if we are to be Christ’s disciples in the manner of Peter and Paul, we must confront the question He asks of us today: “But you, who do you say that I am”? Jesus is looking for our own statement of faith. At every prayer time, at every Mass, in every encounter with others, let us pursue Jesus. He wants to meet with us even more than we want to meet with Him! Then we too can proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord by our lives in accordance with the Father’s will for us. Then God can make us into His faithful servants, just as He did Peter and Paul.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me to be one of your disciples and for sending your Holy Spirit to teach and remind me who Jesus is in my life. May I ever proclaim your Lordship and claim my inheritance in Christ, in fellowship with all your people. May I never become timid in accepting and proclaiming you, despite the many trials in my life. Most Holy Spirit, inspire me with a missionary zeal. Amen!


Suggested Personal Reflection Guide:
1. At this point in your faith walk with Jesus, who would you say He is in your life today? Is He the same as the first time you encountered Him?
2. Although Jesus mission is salvation for all, still he is your personal Lord and Savior. In response to this all consuming love, what could be you unique faith-statement?

Next Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:

June 30, 2008 (Mon): Am 2 :6-10, 13-16 ; Ps 50 :16bc-17- 18-23 ; Mt 8 :18-22
July 1, 2008 (Tue): Am 3:1-8, 4:11-12; Ps 5:4b-8; Mt 8:23-27
July 2, 2008 (Wed): Am 5:14-15, 21-24; Ps 50:7-13, 16bc-17; Mt 8:28-34
July 3, 2008 (Thur): Eph 2:19-22; Ps 117:1bc-2; Jn 20:24-29
July 4, 2008 (Fri): Am 8:4-6, 9-12; Ps 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131; Mt 9:9-13
July 5, 2008 (Sat): Am 9:11-15; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Mt 9:14-17
“ Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
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Reflection for the Month of May 2008

Word: To form Christian disciples requires total commitment to be a “living” Christ.
Order: “Go make disciples of all nations …teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 24:19-20)

Reflection:

The word for the month of May - To form Christian disciples requires total commitment to be a “living” Christ - challenges, and at the same time, invites each and every member of our Community to a renewal in our Life in the Spirit to become authentic disciples of Jesus by “living” him. “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). That is our divine inheritance, which we lost but was restored to us in the Paschal mystery of Christ. It is an invitation because when we revisit our roots we might find many things that we would rather not unearth as they might open hurts and wounds that we would rather commit to the depths of the soul. Considering the many confusing values in this world today, it is a challenge provoking our inherent yearning to be restored to our life with the Father.

Every Sunday of May this year is a Feast day that is central to the tenets of our faith. Those who belong to Christ through faith and baptism must confess their baptismal vow before men…Whoever says, “I believe” says “I pledge myself to what we believe” (CCC pars.14 & 185). What better way to respond than by being a “living” Christ to our brothers and sisters in our mission fields?

The First Sunday of May is the Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension. The drama of Easter, which began with the resurrection of Jesus, is coming to an end. But reality shows that Easter is about life – life bursting forth triumphantly from the tomb. The feast we celebrate this Sunday is the good news that Jesus lives on. And he lives on not just in the heavens where he ascended, “When he had said this… he was lifted up and a cloud took him from their sight” (Acts 1:9), but at the very center of our lives. Many instances in Scriptures show us that he is alive after he rose from the grave. Now it is our turn to show in many convincing ways that he is alive in us. The Gospel, the good news, we are to proclaim is that our lives have been changed because of the One who lives on in us, and we continue to rise from the tombs of our lives. To be alive is not just to be physically present in this world. To be truly alive is to live in him, and move and have our being in the life of Christ. And with this life your own life is transformed because you have come to know Jesus through our different Encounter Weekends, through Scripture, the sacraments, through fellowships and WSC’s with our brothers and sisters in Community, and in the depths of your own heart.

The Second Sunday of May is Pentecost Sunday. The Solemnity of Pentecost commemorates the giving and coming of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel tells us that the Holy Spirit is the gift of the Risen Christ, the main effect of which is peace. It is the fruit of the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God, made possible by the death and resurrection of Christ. This Shalom-peace is the fullness of salvation; it is the peace different from any other, because it is a peace that is breathed upon us by Jesus – the Holy Spirit, the giver of life confirms this interior gift (John 14:27). The Acts of the Apostles, on the other hand, tells us about the dramatic exterior manifestations of the Spirit upon the apostles gathered together in prayer at the upper room. These include tongues of fire, strong driving wind, speaking in tongues. The effect of the Spirit’s coming is unity and understanding among peoples who speak different languages, in contrast to the story of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Here, with the coming of the Spirit, the opposite effect is manifested. People from different nations understand each other. By this, the Spirit proclaims that humanity is once again reconciled with God through Christ’s humility and obedience. In our own Pentecost experience when we encountered the Holy Spirit during our Life in the Spirit Seminar, we became “living” Christ sharing his peace as we received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The Third Sunday of May is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This highlights another tenet of our faith and gives us insight into the relationship between the three Persons in One God. In God there is communion between the three Persons: the Father, the Son, and their common Holy Spirit. We emphasize the oneness of God even as we celebrate the mystery of the Trinity. God is one, but God is also relational, inviting each one of us into the intimacy of Triune love, as we discover the community of God. God is Father. Not only is he Creator he is our Father who gives himself completely and perfectly to us, his children. “Everything that I have is yours” (Luke15:31). As we walk with him we are challenged to ‘live’ him, ready to forgive unconditionally (Matthew 18:22). God is Son. In the Nicene Creed we profess – ‘God of God, Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father.’ He makes himself known to us through Jesus Christ who redeems us - our Emmanuel. We are to ‘live’ Christ in our obedience to the Father and walk with him in a special way in the Eucharist. God is Spirit, the love of the Father and the Son. The Spirit unites all and it is important that we walk with him so we may be united with others. No matter the differences, the Spirit can make us one – in our families, in our communities, we need the Spirit of love to make us one and heal our weaknesses.

The Fourth and last Sunday of May is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Another mystery that is central to our faith is our belief in Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist. We believe it because the Son of God told us so (John 6:55-56). More than a social occasion shared with friends, the celebration of the Eucharist is a meal with obligations attached. It is a symbol of commitment and participation in the mystery of Christ’s life, and more than simply asking us to remember him, Jesus wants us to be recipient and sharers of the life he has laid down for us, and to be our source of life. He is present in the Eucharist to stay with us forever, so that there will be no separation, for he loves us to the very end. To eat his flesh and drink his blood is to assent to all that we receive and believe. It is a conscious action, a decision to enter into union with Jesus and with the community. This is an oft-forgotten aspect of the Eucharist. Christ wants to give us the means to unite ourselves with one another, that we may become companions - in Latin, ‘cumpanis’ - literally ‘bread-sharers.’ We put Jesus’ wishes into practice, with one mind and one heart, and together. Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is a conscious action, a decision to enter into union with Jesus and with the community. Union, however, can only occur when we allow ourselves to be stripped of all that gets in the way of this intimate encounter. When we say “Amen” we are agreeing to open ourselves to the process of transformation. Just as bread and wine are changed into his Body and Blood, so too do we need to be changed into the substance of Christ. What we eat and drink we become. We put ourselves into a process of radical self-emptying through which our identity becomes that of Christ; to become Christ means that we can no longer live out of the narrowness of our own needs and vision, but must embrace the needs of those around us. Realizing all these implications, we can then prepare ourselves adequately for this encounter with Christ and worthily receive God.

In his discourse as the Good Shepherd several Sundays ago, Jesus reveals the purpose of his coming –“I came that they might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). To be a “living” Christ therefore, the authentic Christian disciple must no longer live his own life, but must now ‘live’ Christ (Galatians 2:20). Having cast aside his former way of life, the disciple acquires a fresh, spiritual way of thinking and is able to ‘put on the new man’ created in God’s image. God wants to make us new in the attitudes of our minds through the power of the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, so that we can become Jesus (Ephesians 4:22ff). To be “living” Christ therefore, demands total commitment to the faith we profess.

St. Paul tells us how this renewal takes place: “If we have been united with him through likeness to his death, so shall we be through a like resurrection. This we know: our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed and we might be slaves to sin no longer. A man who is dead has been freed from sin. If we have died with Christ, we believe that we are also to live with him” (Romans 6: 5-8).



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WORD, THEMES & PROMISES
FOR MAY 2008

READINGS
· May 4 Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-9; Eph 1:17-23; Matt 28:16-20
· May 11 Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104:1,24,29-30,31,34; 1Cor 12:3b-7,12,13,
Jn 20:19-23
· May 18 Ex 34:4b-6,8-9; Dn 3:52 - 56; 2Cor 13:11-13; Jn 3:16-18
· May 25 Deu 8:2-3, 14b-16a; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; 1Cor 10:16-17,
Jn 6:51-58

WORD

To form Christian disciples requires total commitment to be a “living” Christ.

ORDER

“Go make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mat 24:19-20)

PROPHECIES

1. “Go, make disciples of all nations.” Take this to heart and do what I command you for there are multitudes of people who still do not know and believe in Me. Bring Me to them.
2. As the Father, the Holy Spirit, and I are one, so should you be in your family, your community, and with the Church.
3. My Spirit will enlighten your hearts that you may know the hope that belongs to My call.

DIRECTIONS

1. Listen, understand and be a visible shepherd to your lambs. Extend to all, the same love and peace that our Lord Jesus has given us.

THEMES AND PROMISES

Week#1 (Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension] [Discipline]

Theme: To be a “living” Christ is to be a witness to His commandments.

Promise: “I am with you always until the end of age.” (Mat 28:20)


Week#2 (Pentecost Sunday] [Fruitfulness]

Theme: To be a “living” Christ is to share His peace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Promise: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Cor 12:7)

Week #3 (Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity) [Interdependence/ Unity]

Theme: To be a “living” Christ is to be in communion with God and with one another.

Promise: “Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Cor 13:11)


Week #4 (Solemnity of Corpus Christi) [Piety]

Theme: To be a “living” Christ is to partake worthily of His Body and Blood.

Promise: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6: 51)

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WSC REFLECTION

Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 6th Sunday of Easter
Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20 April 27, 2008
1 Peter 3:15-18
John 14:15-21
Word: Jesus Christ is God’s Word to us.
Theme: God’s Word sanctifies our heart and leads us to holiness. [Holiness]
Promise: “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.” (John 14:16)

Reflection:

The readings for the sixth Sunday of Easter remind us of God’s genuine love for us all; proofs of which are His promise of the Holy Spirit and of his “coming back” to us. These promises and their fulfillment are what unite us to Him with bonds of endless and transforming love. It is God’s love for us, which makes our union with Him possible and real. But the enjoyment of these possibilities depends on our response to love.

The challenge to us then, as disciples in our Community, is to act boldly in building up God’s Kingdom by obeying His commandments. As followers of Christ we should aim at conquering the hearts of non-believers by the way we live lives, which are consistent with the faith we profess. Simply put, our spoken declaration of love for Christ is good, but more important than words is the manifestation of our faith and love for Jesus through our actions and lives.

In the second reading, St. Peter urges the early Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor to always keep the Lord Jesus in their hearts. “Beloved: Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts” (1 Pt 3:15a). Just as he reminds them to be true witnesses of the faith to the pagan unbelievers among whom they lived, St. Peter also exhorts us to live a life of gentleness and holiness in Christ so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we will be witnesses to those who have not yet acknowledged God as their Lord and Savior.

As present-day Christians, we are expected to respond to Christ’s love for us throughout our lives, in constant faithfulness. We are urged to live a life of “good conduct in Christ” to lead unbelievers to His Kingdom, even if it means suffering and dying to ourselves. But we are weak and we always falter and fall. That is why Jesus promises: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come back to you” (Jn14:18). He promised to stay with us to the very end to guide and support us. ”And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always …” (Jn 14:16). Yes, Jesus’ presence is made operative in our lives through the action of the Holy Spirit who is always with us.

In our faith journey with BLD, which may have started during our respective encounter weekends and then through the LSS, we indeed experienced the mighty power of the Holy Spirit. And now, we continue to experience its fruits in a more pronounced way, especially during the dark moments of our life, as the Spirit transforms our trials into glorious blessings when we surrender our lives to Jesus. Yes, the Holy Spirit continues to be with us and in us! Christ repeats His message that He and the Father are with us through the Holy Spirit as we partake of the Holy Eucharist and gather for worship. “On that day, you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you” (Jn 14:20).

However, Jesus’ promise in the Gospel has a condition. For the Holy Spirit to remain with us and in us, Jesus requires us to prove our love for Him and the Father by following His commandments. “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” (Jn 14:21) Jesus is exhorting us as His disciples to live by His two great commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with your whole mind” (Mt 22:37), and “You shall love your neighbors as yourself.” (Mt 22:39)

Brothers and sisters, let us make loving God and loving others in Community and in the larger Church the single commitment and meaning of our lives and existence. And with the grace of God the Father, the love of the Son Christ Jesus, and by the presence of the Holy Spirit, let us boldly accept the challenge of building up God’s Kingdom here on earth.

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, there have been times, when beset with trials and burdens in my personal and Community life, I fail to remember how You touch me with Your love and how Your Holy Spirit “makes a way” for me. Forgive me for the times, I failed and continue to fail to act as a true Christian witness, to speak to others about Your love. Grant me, O Lord, the faith to acknowledge Your unending love for me and the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit within me. Empower me with Your grace to live my life by Your commandments; surrendering myself totally to the Holy Spirit and committing to proclaim You to others in Community and the larger Church. Amen.

Next Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:

April 28, 2008 (Mon): Acts 16:11-15; Ps 149:1-6, 9; Jn 15:26-16:4a
April 29, 2008 (Tue): Acts 16:22-34; Ps 138:1-3, 7-8; Jn 16:5-11
April 30, 2008 (Wed): Acts 17:15, 22-18:1; Ps 148:1-2, 11-14; Jn 16:12-15
May 01, 2008 (Thur): Acts 18:1-8; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 16:16-20
May 02, 2008 (Fri): Acts19:9-18; Ps 47:2-7; Jn 16:20-23
May 03, 2008 (Sat): 1 Cor 15:1-8; Ps 19:2-5; Jn 14:6-14


 

WSC REFLECTION GUIDE

Readings Acts 2:14, 22-23 3rd Sunday of Easter
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 April 6, 2008
1 Peter 1:17-21
Luke 24:13-35

Word: Jesus Christ is God’s Word to us.
Theme: God’s Word keeps our hearts burning [Faithfulness]
Promise: “You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.” (Ps 16:11)

Reflection:

The Gospel of the third week of Easter tells us about two of Christ’s disciples on their way to Emmaus, discussing as they went along, their distress and disappointment at how Jesus was crucified and died. They believed and had hoped that He was the Messiah who would deliver them from Roman oppression and restore Israel to its former glory under the rule of King David.

Jesus never told His disciples that He was the political leader who would deliver Israel from Roman domination. Rather, He tried to tell him – in words and deeds – that he was not that kind of ‘savior’, but was destined to lay down His life to save mankind from slavery to sin.

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus taught His disciples how to ’hear’ His Word. They were to embrace His Word with a generous heart, that they may bear fruit (Lk 8:15). But they could not fully believe or comprehend what he was trying to say, and so remained in the hardness of their hearts (Mk 3:5; 6:52; 8:17). Coming alongside the two as they walked, Jesus joined them and begins to explain every Scripture passage that referred to Him. Later, at the breaking of the bread, the two disciples finally recognize Jesus and come into faith in him.

In our sinful past, neither could we believe fully in Christ because our hearts were set on the things of this world; not much good was stored our hearts. (Lk 6: 45b). By God’s grace, we have been renewed. Cleansed by our repentance and confession of sins, the Holy Spirit was given to us (Gal 4:6, and the love of God was poured into our hearts (Rom 5:5). Jesus Christ began to in-dwell in our hearts (Eph 3:17). Like the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, didn’t we feel our hearts burning with peace, love, and joy?

The Gospel tells us how to keep our hearts burning, even as we journey with Christ through life. Like the two disciples, we have to invite Him to join us. We need to be with him in the solitude of our hearts. We need to make time and reserve a special place for God in our lives, away from the distractions and attractions of the world. When we encounter God, we encounter our true selves. In that solitude, we focus in prayer, adoration, and thanksgiving, exclusively on Jesus. As we quiet our hearts and spirits, Jesus can minister to us, bringing His healing and transforming love to us. It is in that stillness and solitude that Jesus can touch us and remind us of His Word – how it refreshes the soul, giving wisdom to the simple, rejoicing the heart, enlightening the eye, and how obeying Him brings much reward (Ps 19: 8-12). As His Word is living and effective, able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart, we are encouraged to be ‘doers’ of His Word (James 1:22), allowing His Word to teach, correct, and train us for righteousness, so that we may be competent for every good work ( 2Tim 3: 17). In that inner stillness and solitude, we are also able to empty ourselves of our anxieties, fears, apprehensions, and self-centeredness as we allow His Holy Spirit to minister to us and take over our lives.

After hearing the Word of God and taking it to heart, the two disciples recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread. We too, should take the time to attend Holy Mass as often as we can, reflecting on the message implicit in the readings and the homily, that we may partake worthily of the Holy Eucharist. As we remain in the stillness of our hearts, we would experience deeper peace and joy, hear His gentle whisper of affirmation, His consolation, and His love.

As we remain faithful to Jesus in prayer, meditation and the observance of His Word, and the frequent worthy reception of the Sacraments, our hearts will continue to burn with holy fire as Christ shows us “the path of life, abounding joy in His Presence, the delights at His right hand forever” ( Ps 16:11)

Next Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:

April 07, 2008 (Mon): Acts 6:8-15; Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; Jn 6:22-29
April 08, 2008 (Tue): Acts 7:51, 8:1a; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 7b, 8a, 17, 21ab;
Jn 6:30-35
April 09, 2008 (Wed): Acts 8:1b-8; Ps 66:1-3a, 4-7; Jn 6:35-40
April 10, 2008 (Thur): Acts 8:26-40; Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; Jn 6:44-51
April 11, 2008 (Fri): Acts 9:1-20; Ps 117:1bc, 2; Jn 6:52-59
April 12, 2008 (Sat): Acts 9:31-42; Ps 116:12-17; Jn 6:60-69

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!

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WORD, THEMES & PROMISES
FOR APRIL 2008

READINGS
· April 06 Acts 2:14, 22-23; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; 1 Pt 1:17-21; Lk 24:13-35
· April 13 Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 23:13a, 5-6; 1 Pt 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10
· April 20 Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Pt 2:4-9; Jn 14:1-12
· April 27 Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Ps 66:1-7, 16, 20; 1Pt 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21


WORD


Jesus Christ is God’s Word to us.
ORDER
“… conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning.” (1 Pt 1:14)
PROPHECIES
1. Transform your resentments into gratitude.
2. It is not enough to know Me; you need to believe and follow what I say.
DIRECTIONS

1. Be believers and doers of the Word.
2. Always be guided by the word of God to maintain the right focus in life.
THEMES AND PROMISES
Week#1 (3rd Sunday of Easter] [Faithfulness]
Theme: God’s Word keeps our hearts burning.
Promise: “You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.” (Psalm 16:11)

Word, Theme & Promise – April 2008 Page 2

Week#2 (4th Sunday of Easter] [Wholeness]

Theme: God’s Word is our gate to abundant life.

Promise: “Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

Week #3 (5th Sunday of Easter) [Commitment]

Theme: God’s Word delivers us out of darkness into His wonderful light.

Promise: “To deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine.” (Psalm 33:19)

Week #4 (6th Sunday of Easter) [Holiness]

Theme: God’s Word sanctifies our heart and leads us to holiness.

Promise: “… I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.” (John 14:16)
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Bukas Loob sa Diyos Covenant Community
Reflection for April 2008

WORD: Jesus Christ is God’s Word to us.

ORDER: “…conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning.” (1 Pt 1:14)

We read in the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word as with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through Him and without Him nothing came to be... And the Word was made flesh and made His dwelling among us and we saw His glory, the glory of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1: 1-3, 14).

In the Letter to the Hebrews, we read: “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, He spoke to us through a Son, whom He made heir of all things and through whom He created the universe, who is the refulgence of His glory, the every imprint of His being, and who sustains all things by His mighty Word.” (Heb 1:1-3)

Jesus Christ is God’s creative Word, His life-giving Word. Jesus is the power of God who created the world and the reason God sustains the world. This month of April, we are encouraged to examine if we, who have tasted the Word of God (Heb 6:5), are still being renewed through this living and abiding Word of God. (1 Pet 1:23)

In the first week, the theme is: God’s Word keeps our hearts burning. When we first encountered Jesus during our Encounters and Life in the Spirit seminar and after repenting of our sins, our hearts were on fire. We felt the love of God. We then resolved to mend our ways and follow Him. The Gospel reading on the encounter of the two disciples with Jesus on the way to Emmaus reminds us that we have to persevere in remaining with Jesus. We need to encounter and be with Him daily in the solitude of our hearts. That is possible when we pray, when we meditate on the Holy Scriptures, when we receive Him worthily in the Holy Eucharist, and when we witness to Jesus through our deeds.

In the second week the theme is: God’s Word is our gate to abundant life. We have the abundant life that Jesus promises when we draw near to Him daily and confess: “Know the Lord is God, our maker to whom we belong, whose people we are, God’s well tended flock.” (Ps 100:3) Pope Benedict XVI says: Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who leads us through the dark valleys; the Shepherd who Himself walked the valley of the shadow of death. The Shepherd who sets off to seek the lost sheep is the Eternal Word Himself, and the sheep that He lovingly carries home is humanity, whose mortal form He Himself took. The Incarnate Logos (Word) is the true “sheep-bearer” – the Shepherd who follows after us through the thorns and deserts of our life. Carried on His shoulders, we come home. He gave His life for us. He Himself is life. (Jesus of Nazareth, pp. 285-286).

The third week’s theme is: God’s Word delivers us out of darkness into His wonderful light. The Word of God within us will allow us to see the light of God shining before us. When we are weak, the Holy Spirit will help us to be strong to withstand any temptation and trial; when we are afflicted, He will give us the joy to bear the momentary pain; when in dire need, we will be inspired to seek provisions from God knowing that He will answer our fervent prayers. He will give us the grace to love the unlovable; to forgive those who have wronged us and to share our resources with the least of our brethren; to do the deeds of Christ.

In the fourth week the theme is: God’s Word sanctifies our hearts and leads us to holiness. As we have turned away from our sinful past, we enthrone God’s Word, Jesus, in our hearts. When Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit, He gives us a double gift: the gift of truth of conscience and the gift of certainty of redemption. As we follow the commands of Jesus, we then have a conscience that is alive; where the Holy Spirit is in our most secret core and sanctuary; where we can hear the voice of God, who will command us to do good and forbid evil; who will convince us about sin. (Dominum Et Vivicantem by Pope John Paul II p. 55; 78) The Holy Spirit will allow us to repent of any wrongdoing and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If we are serious in pursuing our spiritual life and our salvation, we should make every effort to avoid sin so that the Holy Spirit can reside in our hearts. With the Holy Spirit in our hearts, He will make us holy and acceptable to God.

God’s Word, Jesus Christ, is the goal of human history, the focal point of the longings and civilization, the center of the human race, the joy of every heart and the answer to all its longings (Gaudium et Spes p.68). If we continue to keep Jesus in our hearts by avoiding sin and obeying His commandments He will keep our hearts burning with love for God and for one another. He will lead us to the abundant life and His wonderful light. Jesus will make us holy as our Father in heaven is holy; truly deserving of the eternal life that He promises us. (Mt 25: 46b; John 12:25)


 

 

 

 

Reflection for the month of February 2008

Word: Blessed are they who trust and bow to the will of the Father
Order:
Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.” (1Cor.1:31)

Reflection:
The month of February brings us to the crux of our faith – Lent. It is a time of introspection,
going into one’s self with the Holy Spirit as guide. We can look at it as a time for spiritual
inventory - going through our own “house” looking for things that may add up to build a treasure
in heaven. That is what Lent is like. There is something priceless right in our midst that we have
managed to ignore, and disregard, maybe even spurn: our relationship with God – the source of
our happiness, the key to life’s meaning. And there is really only one question of absolute
significance in life and that is, are we going to be saved, not unlike the question our Born-Again
brothers/sisters in faith, frequently pose. All other questions, goals, and considerations, even
those of love and justice, are absolutely related to this question. St. Augustine wrote long ago,
“ O rich man, do you have everything but you do not have God, you are nothing. O poor man,
do you have nothing but you have God, you have everything.” Salvation, the destiny of everlasting
life and happiness in that mysterious reality we call “heaven”, is the bottom line. And salvation is at
our own disposal when we trust and bow to the will of the Father, for our blessing will flow from
our transformation into the image of Christ.

The first Sunday of February, which is the 4th Sunday in the Ordinary time, prepares us for Ash
Wednesday, which shows Christ as the perfect image of God, living as he does in total abandon
to the Will of the Father. In the Gospel, Matthew tells us: “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went
up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them…
” (Mat.5:1) In this Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lays down the disposition or “Be Attitudes”
of those who are to inherit the Kingdom. It also demonstrates the way he himself lived his
entire life. In Christ’s trust and subservience to the will of the Father, he becomes our “Moral Norm”,
that is, the norm by which we Christians are judged and evaluated in all our thoughts, words and deeds.
Not some moral law, but the person of Jesus Christ Himself. In the Kingdom of God there is only
one teacher, the Messiah (cf Mt23:10); all must listen to [his] words and put them into practice
(cf.Mt7:24), take up his yoke and learn from him (cf.Mt.11:29). Salvation depends on one’s
attitude to Jesus…” (CFC par.796, CBCP).

The second week brings us to the 1st Sunday of Lent. In Genesis, we witness man becoming a
“living being”, meant for good but sadly, succumbs to the wiles of the evil one. The Responsorial
Psalm acknowledges and begs for mercy and compassion for the evil done in God’s sight. Unlike
the psalmist, whose heart recognizes sin for what it is, a grave mistake made by many today is
denying the evil of sin through nice thoughts about God’s compassion and mercy. No one can
remain faithfully at the foot of the cross and deny the utterly grotesque reality, which killed the
Son of God. Jesus endured the agony because of sin, to take away sin. Many refuse to recognize
that a lot of evil is also done by those who are selfish, ignorant, culpably uninformed, and weak,
which includes many of us. Sin enters too when we “…put the Lord, your God to the test.”
(Mat.4:7) Many times unaware that we are putting God to the test, we demand signs –
proof that God is really ‘there’, or that God desires a particular decision or action.
We need signs because we lack trust, and because of our inability to live with ambiguity.
Knowing God’s will depends on a process of discernment, not signs. When we place
too much importance upon individual “proof”, we can be sadly misled. Far from thinking
that sin is nothing at all, we should have the attitude of the saints who say that evil is so
awful that we can’t bear to look it in the face. Today is the time to make a firm resolve
to cease offending God by concrete expressions of repentance and to be reconciled with
those who have gone far from us because of our poor witnessing.

In the Second Reading of the 2nd Sunday of Lent, St. Paul exhorts us to bear the hardship
that comes when we are Christ’s disciples. We are called to holiness and this journey begins
anew everyday when we begin to see some fault of our own, some egotism, some self-pity,
something we haven’t given up or admitted to ourselves. Some of us unfortunately never mature
sufficiently to take responsibility for our failings, because we have not trusted and bowed to
the will of the Father. Our barrier to holiness might look huge for now until slowly the grace
of God shows us the only clear path over it. And then we begin the arduous climb – picking up
one foot and putting it in front of the other, one labored step at a time. The road to holiness
doesn’t look easy, and it’s not. Only by the grace of God can we successfully complete the
journey. Again the blessings will come.

The last Sunday of February is the 3rd Sunday of Lent. The readings of this Sunday give us
the symbol of water, a universal need that is known to every person. And our theme for this
week goes beyond our need for water and reminds us to demonstrate our discipleship in Christ
when we serve as vessels for the salvation of others. As he did the Samaritan woman, Jesus
invites us to drink of the Spirit, the only source that will never run dry; the deeper we drink
from this well, the more abundantly it flows and the greater our capacity to drink from it.
Like Moses, we are constantly being asked to be the vessels for this living water, to “…
strike the rock so the water will flow from it for the people to drink.” (Ex.17:5).

Many of us are heavily burdened, weary not only from back-breaking labor, with blistered
hands from caring, but also burned-out from striving to secure divine favor with works.
We try to redeem ourselves or keep in God’s good books by what we “do for God”.
This commercial way of thinking is widespread, and extends right into our modern spiritual
communities. Certain of good will, with utmost generosity, and growing zeal, people offer
God more and more hours of work, or commit themselves to spending more time in pious
service for him. Let us look at Lent from another perspective, as a time when God speaks
to the overzealous because he knows that when we do too much of his work, it destroys
our inner peace: “Stop! Break off! Relax and find rest with me. Smile, let go for a while
and know that I love you. Don’t you feel it? I love you. Can’t you accept it?” He now
comes peacefully by the well to rest from the journey and asks for a drink from the
Samaritan woman, who, in a reversal of roles, ends up saying: “Give me this water,
Sir, so that I won’t grow thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” (John 4:15).

In our sometimes misguided zeal, we grit our teeth and charge on, working, instead of letting
go and surrendering to God, which is also an attitude of faith and an evidence of our trust.
The true Christian attitude does not consist solely in loving God, as in knowing and accepting
the love of God. “Love, then consists in this: not that we have loved God but that he has
loved us and has sent his Son as an offering for our sins.” (1John 4:10) Then we can truly
live St Paul’s message: “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.” (1 Cor 1:31).

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WSC REFLECTION GUIDE
Readings: Gen 12:1-4a 2nd Sunday of Lent
Ps 33:4-5, 18-20,22 February 17, 2008
2 Tim 1:8b-10
Mt 17:1-9

Word: Blessed are they who trust and bow to the will of the Father.
Theme: We trust and bow to the will of the Father when we endure hardships to heed His call.
[Perseverance]
Promise: “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you;. All the communities of the earth
shall find blessing in you.” (Gen 12:2,3b))

Reflection:
“Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” (2 Timothy 1:8)
This Sunday’s central theme is the perseverance that we must show as disciples of Christ Jesus as we
encounter hardships in our walk with Him. In the second reading, Paul urges Timothy, who as bishop
of the church of Ephesus was burdened by the problems in the community, to bear with such hardships
with the strength from God. Paul reminds Timothy that it is God who “saved us and called us to a holy life”
of service to Him and it is who will help him triumph over his problems “according to his own design and
grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus.” (2Tim 1:9) This same message of Paul to Timothy is an exhortation
to us as present-day disciples to persevere in bowing to God’s will and living according to the Gospel
despite enormous difficulties.

As Paul reminded Timothy of God’s calling, the first reading reminds us that we have been called by our
Lord to be with Him in Heaven, “a land that I will show you”. (Gen 12:1b) As our Lord directed Abram
to, “Go forth from the land of your kinfolks and from your father’s house …” (Gen 12:1a), we are being
asked to leave behind our old selves – our selfishness, our pride, our unforgiveness, our material attachments.
And by starting the journey with our Lord, we shall receive His blessings and be blessings to others.
“All communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” (Gen 12:3b)

But as we answer this call, we are beset with burdens and obstacles. These burdens tend to tempt us to
slide back to our old selves and to hinder us from living a life in Christ. These obstacles prevent us from
receiving God’s blessings and from being a blessing to others. Indeed, when faced with trials and struggles
in life and in Community, we sometimes forget God’s call to holiness and righteousness. When faced with
such hardships, the Gospel on Jesus’ Transfiguration is meant to prod us back to the path toward God’s
kingdom. It gives us a glimpse of the glory and the grandeur of what is to be with God and to behold His
face as bright as the sun and His clothes as white as light. It serves to remind us of the Father’s words,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Mt 17:5b)

Prayer:
Father God, whenever I experience hardships and burdens in life and in Community, I pray for the grace
of perseverance. May I always be reminded that because You have called me to serve You, I am in Your
Hand. You, Father God, are greater than any and all of my difficulties. May I be inspired by Your glorious
transfiguration and be focused only on my hope of someday being with You in Your kingdom in heaven.
Like Abram, may I follow Your will all the days of my life. All these I pray through Your Son and the
Holy Spirit. Amen.

Suggested Personal Reflection Guide
1. In this season of Lent, let us introspect. Ask yourself, what are the burdens in my life that tempt me to
slide back to my former selfish, proud, unforgiving, and material self? How are these hindering me from
living a renewed life in Christ?
2. What are the obstacles in my life that prevent me from being a blessing to my family and to my brothers
and sisters in Community? Pray for the grace to persevere in your walk with the Lord?

Next Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:

February 18, 2008 (Mon): Dn 9:4-10; Ps 79:8-13; Lk 6:36-38
February 19, 2008 (Tue): Is 1:10-20; Ps 50:8-23; Mt. 23:1-12
February 20, 2008 (Wed): Jr 18:18-20; Ps 31: 5-16; Mt. 20:17-28
February 21, 2008 (Thur): Jr 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-6; Lk 16:19-31
February 22, 2008 (Fri): 1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 16:13-19
February 23, 2008 (Sat): Mi 7:14-20; Ps 103:1-12; Lk 15: 1-32

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”

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WORD, THEMES & PROMISES
FOR MARCH 2008

READINGS
· March 02 1 Sam 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23:1-6; Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41
· March 09 Ez 37:12-14; Ps 130:1-8; Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45
· March 16 Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 13-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mt 26:14-27:66
· March 23 Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3:1-4 or
1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9
· March 30 Acts 2:42-47; Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 Pt 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31

WORD

Jesus looks into the heart of those who imitate His life and receive His Spirit.
ORDER
“ Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.” (Eph 5:9)
PROPHECIES
1. I will always be with you till the end of time; trust Me with all of your heart, mind and strength.
2. Do not be disheartened by your trials and difficulties because I am working on them; remain focused on me.
3. Be children of light and live My gospel of truth and love.
DIRECTIONS
1. Continue to persevere in faith; reconcile with God through the sacrament’ and forgive and reconcile with those who have hurt and wronged you.
2. As children of God in Community, treat each other with God’s goodness and righteousness.
3. Be a good witness in word and deed!
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THEMES AND PROMISES

Week#1 (4th Sunday of Lent) [Witnessing]
Theme: We imitate the life of Jesus and receive His Spirit when we bring His light to others.
Promise: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph 5:14)
Week#2 (5th Sunday of Lent) [Righteousness]
Theme: We imitate the life of Jesus and receive His Spirit when we do not live according to the flesh.
Promise: “I will put my spirit in you that you may live.” (Eph 37:14)
Week #3 (Palm Sunday) [Humility]
Theme:
We imitate the life of Jesus and receive His Spirit when we die unto ourselves.
Promise: “The Lord is my help, therefore I am not disgraced.” (Is 50:7)
Week #4 (Easter Sunday) [Detachment]
Theme:
We imitate the life of Jesus and receive His Spirit when we seek what is above.

Promise: “When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with Him in glory.” (Col 3:4)
Week #5 (2nd Sunday of Easter) [Faith]
Theme:
We imitate the life of Jesus and receive His Spirit when we profess that He is our Lord and our God.
Promise: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (Jn 20:28)
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