18th Sunday: Eccles (Qoh) 1:2, 2:21-23. Col 3:1-5, 9-11. Lk 12:13-21.
- The Gospel this weekend is this: Lk 12:13-21. Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me." 14 He replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?" 15 Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." 16 Then he told them a parable. "There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. 17 He asked himself, 'What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?' 18 And he said, 'This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods 19 and I shall say to myself, "Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!" 20 But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?' 21 Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God." * Picture, PicturePictures, I believe almost all of us love pictures. It is one of the ways for us to remember special occasions especially for us Filipinos. We love celebrations, get-togethers that is why picture taking is always present. I love picture taking, posing in the camera is really an enjoyment for me maybe because I dreamed to be an actor before. Ha! Ha! Ha! While I am happy to pose for pictures I have something to confess, I am afraid of taking pictures. Yes, it’s true. Every time there’s a picture taking, there’s a fear growing in my heart that says” Please don’t ask me to take pictures.” It’s a difficult time for me but not until recently. Not a long time ago, I worked as a personal assistant of the singing group of my friend for one day. I joined them in one of their shows and as a personal assistant, I was asked to take pictures. I know that it will happen that’s why even though nervous, I conditioned myself of what might happen. The day came, I was asked to take pictures and believe it or not I made it! Yes, I conquered my fear and to be honest I enjoyed it. The experience really humbled me to accept my weakness. Aside from not being a techie person I believe my fear comes from pride. I was afraid that the people will look down at me, will laugh at me and will think of me as stupid but it’s not the right thing to do. Now, when I accept the fact that I may commit mistake but I want to do it no matter what I felt happy and free. God gave us different talents and abilities. Others maybe good in arts, others in sports etc. and all of us have weaknesses too. What is important for me is we must use the gifts that were given to us and for the weaknesses, accept it, acknowledge it and work at it. God wants us to focus on the positive and not on the negative. All of us have a mission to do, all of us have a gift to offer to the world Now, to be honest the fear is still there but I can handle it better. I strive not to make my fear beat me. The truth is I and all of us have a big God who will help us to face it. Let us continue to make ourselves better and make this world a better place Francis Jerome G. Santos- a disciple of Verbum Dei Community Luzon.
He met the community last 2009. He graduated BS Psychology and works as an HR practitioner. He enjoys writing inspirational write-ups and hopes to be able to inspire others to live in the right path and be closer to God. You can contact Francis at [email protected] In our life we really need someone who can heal us, someone who will never leave us, someone who will accept us even if we are sinners. And that’s God! My happiness is really incomparable and can never be exchanged to a million dimes. God proved to me that it is only in Him I can find the real BLISS! There’s a formula to follow Him. You have to dialogue with Him through His words every day. Listen to Him through His words. Believe in His words. Share His Mercy to others. Upon following Him you can really feel the FREEDOM you’ve been longing for so long. Be the bridge of his Mercy to others; let others be touched by you through His mercy. So what are you waiting for? Join the next years’ EASTER ENCOUNTER and allow yourself to feel the HAPPINESS I’ve felt. I want to thank to my JB Rock family for the opportunity given to me to attend such event that changed and cleanse my heart and soul. To Verbum Dei Missionary Family who became the backbone of the event. And lastly to God who guide me to the right direction I must take. Thank you so much! LOVE is not 143; Love is 3:16. Dialogue + Listening + Faith + Sharing =FREEDOM This is a testimony of the experience from one of the participants of the recently concluded Verbum Dei Family - Cebu Easter Encounter (March 24-27, 2016) with the theme "Mercy Poured Out for You".
3rd Sunday: Neh 8:2-6, 8-10. 1 Cor 12:12-30. Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21.
The Gospel this weekend is this: Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21. Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, 3 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you havev received… 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. 15 He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. 16 He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read 17 and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." 20 Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. 21 He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." - The first reading is this: Neh 8:2-6, 8-10. On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand. 3 Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate, he read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion; at his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the scroll so that all the people might see it (for he was standing higher up than any of the people); and, as he opened it, all the people rose. 6 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, "Amen, amen!" Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD, their faces to the ground… 8 Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. 9 Then (Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and) Ezra the priest-scribe (and the Levites who were instructing the people) said to all the people: "Today is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep"-for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 10 He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!" - The second reading is this: 1 Cor 12:12-30. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. 14 Now the body is not a single part, but many. 15 If a foot should say, "Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. 16 Or if an ear should say, "Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you," nor again the head to the feet, "I do not need you." 22 Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, 23 and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, 24 whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. 26 If (one) part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. 27 * Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it. 28 Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; * second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Verbum Dei Cebu: VD Cherubz Teens Christmas Fun 2015 - Sharing of Experiences (December 20, 2015)1/8/2016
Read some of the experiences by the teens during their Teens Christmas Fun activity last December 20, 2015.
Read a reflection by Brent Bayalas, a Verbum Dei disciple in Cebu, on the recently concluded Verbum Dei National Family Encounter last Oct. 23-25. Having problems viewing the article above? Download the PDF below:
Brent Bayalas is a Verbum Dei lay disciple in the community of Cebu, Philippines and is currently part of the youth reality. He also shares his talent of music with the Music committee. Contact him via Facebook.
Oct 18 will be the 29th Sunday (Mission Sunday):
Is 53:10-11. Heb 4:14-16. Mk 16:15-20. The Gospel this weekend will be this: Mk 16:15-20. He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 20 But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. The first reading will be this: Is 53:10-11. The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. 11 Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. The second reading will be this: Heb 4:14-16. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. Oct 11 will be 28th Sunday: Wis 7:7-11. Heb 4:12-13. Mk 10:17-30.
The Gospel this weekend is this: Mk 10:17-31. As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.'" 20 He replied and said to him, "Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth." 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to (the) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 * Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to pass through (the) eye of (a) needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 26 They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." 28 Peter began to say to him, "We have given up everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel 30 who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. 31 But many that are first will be last, and (the) last will be first." The first reading is this: Wis 7:7-11. Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. 8 I preferred her to scepter and throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, 9 nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. 10 Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. 11 Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands; The second reading is this: Heb 4:12-13. Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. 27th Sunday: Gen 2:18-24. Heb 2:9-11. Mk 10:2-16.
The Gospel this weekend is this: Mk 10:2-16. The Pharisees approached and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. 3 He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" 4 They replied, "Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." 5 But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife), 8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." 10 In the house the disciples again questioned him about this. 11 He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." 13 And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." 16 Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them. The first reading is this: Gen 2:18-24. The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." 19 So the LORD God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man. 21 So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, 23 the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." 24 * That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. The second reading is this: Heb 2:9-11. We see Jesus "crowned with glory and honor" because he suffered death, he who "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels," that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them "brothers," Sept 27 will be 26th Sunday: Num 11:25-29. Jas 5:1-6. Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48.
The Gospel this weekend is this: Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48. There was a man in the crowd who cried out, "Teacher, I beg you, look at my son; he is my only child. 39 For a spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams and it convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it releases him only with difficulty, wearing him out. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out but they could not." 41 Jesus said in reply, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here." 42 As he was coming forward, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion; but Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and returned him to his father. 43 And all were astonished by the majesty of God. While they were all amazed at his every deed, he spoke to his disciples… 45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying… 47 Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side 48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest." The first reading is this: Num 11:25-29. The LORD then came down in the cloud and spoke to him. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, he bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied. 26 Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent; yet the spirit came to rest on them also, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 So, when a young man quickly told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp," 28 Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses' aide, said, "Moses, my lord, stop them." 29 But Moses answered him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!" The second reading is this: Jas 5:1-6. Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. 2 Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, 3 your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. 4 Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of h+osts. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance. * |
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