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 practice the attitude of spiritual attentiveness to the presence and workings of God, especially through His word, so as to realize Jesus’ coming each day to become real in our lives.
IntroductionThis week we are given the opportunity to deepen the importance of the WORD of God in our life - to enjoy more and more of His presence in us, through his words. Remember, the Word and the owner of the Word is one. As in (John 1:1) said, “In the beginning, the WORD already existed; the WORD was with God and the WORD was God.” How beautiful to see the heart of God when he said “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will never pass away.” (Mark 13:31) This is a very strong foundation for every Verbum Dei Disciple. From here we can see how gifted we are when we learn to pray where the center is the Word of God. This week is also a great time to thank God for the life of Fr. Jaime Bonet our founder, sharing to us the Charism through the Verbum Dei Community that came to our country, Philippines. The only thing we need to have now is the openness in mind and heart of the surprises that God has for us, as we deal in to His words. In this way, we can be enthusiastic in practicing the attitude of spiritual attentiveness; to be sensitive of the presence of God in our life and to be a keen observer of how God’s hands work quietly behind our life. How wonderful if each one of us will always be sensitive of our personal encounter with Jesus through His words. To listen to him well and to fix our gaze on him, for us to be able to put into action whatever we understand from Him. In this way, the Jesus that will come into our life each day will become real and tangible. We need to be obedient in what we have listened from His words for it is a concrete way of expressing that the WORD of God is alive and active – sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) – therefore, it will never pass away. We, as Verbum Dei disciples need to be reminded of what was said in Evangelii Gaudium #174, “All evangelization is based on that WORD, listened to, meditated upon, lived, celebrated and witnessed to. The Sacred Scriptures are the very source of evangelization.” MondayBe Vigilant of my Coming to You Each Day31Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 'But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father. 33 'Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from his home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own work to do; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow or dawn; 36 if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. 37 And what I am saying to you I say to all: Stay awake!' (Mark 13:31-37) Are you eager to wait for the coming of Christ in your life? How sensitive are you of the presence of God in your life? What concrete material makes you aware of His presence? How much time do you spend in listening to the WORD of God each day? Do you believe that the Word of God is eternal? Is it visible to you the invitation of Jesus to hold on to what is eternal? To whom are you holding on in moments of worries, struggle, fears and difficulties? TuesdayTake and Receive My Word as God's Children11 He came to his own and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believed in his name 13 who were born not from human stock or human desire or human will but from God himself. 14 The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:11-14) 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: 23 Look! the virgin is with child and will give birth to a son whom they will call Immanuel, a name which means 'God-is-with-us'. (Matthew 1:22-23) Do you believe that in taking and receiving the word of God will make us his children? Are you aware that when we listen intently to the word of God, it will be made flesh in our life? Have you heard God’s invitation as his partner in sharing his living word as you put it into action? Do you realize that the word of God is the true source of life? WednesdayHave Fellowship with Me Through My Words2 That life was made visible; we saw it and are giving our testimony, declaring to you the eternal life, which was present to the Father and has been revealed to us. 3 We are declaring to you what we have seen and heard, so that you too may share our life. Our life is shared with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:2-3) Does it come to your mind to be one with God as he wants you to be with Him? Have you realized the generosity of God sharing his life to us? Do you believe that in fellowship with God brings real joy in life? Do you value “JOY” as a concrete identity of being a Christian? ThursdayBe Delighted! The Living Word is at Hand as a New Way of Life11 You will teach me the path of life, unbounded joy in your presence, at your right hand delight for ever. (Psalm 16:11) 16 When your words came, I devoured them: your word was my delight and the joy of my heart; for I was called by your Name, Yahweh, God Sabaoth. (Jeremiah 15:16) 2 Like new-born babies all your longing should be for milk -- the unadulterated spiritual milk -- which will help you to grow up to salvation, (1 Peter 2:2) Do you realize that the Word of God is the only source of life giving water? Are you determined to live a new way of life by making the Word of God as the center? What is the source of joy and happiness in your life? Where do you find a true and authentic security? Do you believe that God is our rock of salvation as we cling to his words? Are you happy and trusting in putting your life in the hands of God? FridayMy Word Gives Real Freedom105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105) 7 I bless Yahweh who is my counsellor, even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep Yahweh before me always, for with him at my right hand, nothing can shake me. (Psalm 16:7-8) 31 To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said: If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples; 32 you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32) To whom do you seek guidance as you journey this life each day? Where do you connect in order to get the source of light as you face life everyday? What is your source of strength to overcome fears in the middle of the threats of calamities and devastation? How obedient are you as you listen to the Word of God? Do you truly believe that TRUTH can set you free? SaturdayMy Word is Life; It has to be Shared12 The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts more incisively than any two-edged sword: it can seek out the place where soul is divided from spirit, or joints from marrow; it can pass judgement on secret emotions and thoughts. (Hebrews 4:12) 63 'It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. (John 6:63) “Conscious that the preaching of the living Word of God puts people in contact with Christ…” (Verbum Dei Constitutions 17) “The Word of God, listened to, assimilated and lived, transmits to us the very life of God. It is in this intimate dialogue with the Word, or prayer, that our vocation and mission to preach the Gospel is rooted. The Word of God, believed and spoken, and having been believed in cannot but be spoken, constitutes the genuine identity of Verbum Dei. (Verbum Dei Constitutions 22) Are you conscious on how big the opportunity is to be the instrument to put people in contact with Christ through his words? How determined are you to preach what you have prayed and lived? Are you willing to give your life as the bearer of God’s life-giving Spirit? Sunday3rd Sunday of Advent1st Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2A; 10-11
Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1:46… 2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Gospel: John 1:6-8; 19-28 Comments are closed.
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