Theme for the month: Our Missionary intentionality: incarnating the Word in us Objective for the month: To say “Yes” as Mary did to the project of God. A project for us and for generations. To help the family enter in the transcendence of the project of God for us. Objective of the week: To see the Word of God as a Person who came to us with great tender love, so that we may see and touch Him and learn from Him how to live as He lives.
IntroductionJesus’ incarnation is an unimaginable act for human beings yet God is God. He can always do as He hopes to save humanity from slavery to sin. We are indeed Loved and fortunate enough that Jesus was sent to be with us. He came to show us the way and there is no other else except HIM. It is very clear in Gospel of John when Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) So as Christmas approaches, let us as well draw closer to Jesus so that we can see Him, touch Him and learn from Him how He lives in our daily lives. MondayTo live as his companions near him; seeing, touching his life, and learning from HimAnd the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) He appointed twelve whom he also named apostles that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach. (Mark 3:14) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves (Matthew 11:29) Jesus with total freedom in obedience to our Father opted to live with us and became one of us. What a great humility and love that Jesus has for us like no other. In this moment of preparation and commemoration of the birth of Jesus, we are invited to recognize Jesus’ great Love, Humility and compassion for humanity wanting to be near us, touching our life and teaching us how we should live our lives and ultimately Incarnating in us HIS very life. What part of your life is Jesus inviting you to touch? Are we willing to be touched and changed anew? TuesdayThe man who dedicated his life to preach the KingdomHe said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” (Mark 4:26-32) Jesus with all his Mind, Body and Strength dedicated himself to preach and teach to all the people. He came across with them without any discrimination the real kingdom that offers eternal happiness. HE is showing us that HIS words and actions speaks the same, that HE lives his life according to what HE teaches, that HE knew exactly what he needs to do to bring each one of us to the Truth of who we really are in the eyes of God, and who God is for us; with whom we need to build a deeper relationship with. Do we recognize the kingdom that Jesus has been telling us? What kind of kingdom are you looking for? Are you willing to preach the kingdom of God in today’s world by your own little way? WednesdayThe man who keeps calm in the storm and calms it On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”* The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mark 4:35-41) More often we think and feel that we are in great trouble, that no one shares our concerns or no one is helping us in our problems whatever that is; financial, emotional or psychological etc. In times like this, Jesus is reminding us to be cool and calm in moments of distress, stress, trouble, scarcity, difficulties and knowing that HE is with us, knows our capacities and limitation, that HE is more than enough assuring us of our stability, security and that by this familiarity with HIM, we can imitate his calmness in any challenges along our way. What disturbs you nowadays? Do you consider Jesus to be one with you in your agony? Do you desire to be calm all day? Ask Jesus. ThursdayThe man who encourages our faith in the midst of negative voices While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. * He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. [At that] they were utterly astounded. (Mark 5: 35-42) Many of us are affected by the very negative voices we hear about ourselves from our parents, neighbors, co-workers, teachers, schoolmates, relatives and even to closest friends we have that most of the time would bring us to feel inferior compared to others. Are we courageous enough to take steps to resolve our inner issues in Christ Jesus? Are we wise enough to listen and cling to Jesus and build our life according to HIS? To whom are we entrusting our life with? FridayThe man who is moved by compassion to those who hunger for the Word of GodThe apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:30-34) Jesus during HIS time is not only Preaching, but he is grounded to the reality of humanity. Several passages show Jesus’ compassion to those who really recognize and have the desire to make better their lives through Jesus Christ. Mary the sister of Martha, Zaccheus who went up a tree just to see and hear Jesus, the chosen apostles who went along with Jesus till his ascension to heaven, and the crowds to whom Jesus performs the multiplication of the bread and fed thousands. Are you once hungry for the word of God and experience the compassion of Jesus? Are you moved with the same compassion to others who also hunger for the Word of God? SaturdayWho is this man Jesus in your life?Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:27-29) Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; in so far as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20) Whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived. (1 John. 2: 6) We have been reading and following Jesus for a long time, almost scanned the whole reading of the new testaments, read numerous articles of Jesus’ witnesses and even the several doctrines of the church, but do we recognize Jesus in our actions? Do we believe Jesus to be the transformer of our life? Do the life of Jesus create in us an inspiration and motivation to imitate HIM or are we just contented of what we have reached so far and being comfortable with it? Go further. Know Jesus more and apply his Principle in life and help others recognize who is Jesus in their own life through the way you live yours. Sunday4th Sunday of AdventComments are closed.
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