General Theme: Verbum Dei – a sign of God’s presence in the world of today. General Objective: To value our charism of prayer and preaching as the effective way to heal the people – going to the core of man’s conscience, heart, etc. To know that the essence of our Verbum Dei charism is to go to the root of the problem in society – healing the broken hearts of the people. Objective of the week: To experience and exercise the effectiveness of our charism.
INTRODUCTION
Last week’s guidelines made us to remember the core of our charism in bringing healing to all people to whom we are in contact with. Our charism of prayer and preaching is surely one of the gifts we have for the church which resembles Jesus’ life and His teachings. This week’s guidelines will help us rekindle our conviction to the very foundation and essence of what we profess (i.e. We dedicate ourselves to Prayer and Ministry of the word – Acts 6:4) and believing that as we continue to do so without ceasing, in God’s time, His Word will bring Healing to the very core of each human heart as what is written in Hebrews 4:12 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. Healing is initiated by a personal encounter with Jesus, a continuous process of healing accompanied by Christ and a complete healing that brings healing to others in union with Christ. MONDAY Jesus Hears the groaning of our Hearts While he was saying these things to them, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”19 Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. 21She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” 22Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. 23When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. 25When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. 26 And news of this spread throughout all that land. (Matthew 9:18-26) When you feel like you’re in troubled with all the tasks or responsibilities that you are taking now, or burdened with the not so good relationship with your colleagues, parents, children or spouse then be it heard, Jesus is waiting to talk to you. He is willing to heal your wounds and give you back the life you deserve. What are you waiting for? TUESDAY Jesus is compassionate to all of our concerns Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest (Matthew 9:35-38) Jesus is not just good in seeing the needs of the people following him and around Him, but he is also good in responding to it appropriately and He desires to reach out not only to few, but to all. Were you once a recipient of Jesus’ Compassion through others, or once a giver of Jesus’ compassion to others? How do you feel about it? WEDNESDAY Be still and continue the work of healing amongst family of Believers Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 2The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; 4Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. The Commissioning of the Twelve. 5Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 10:1-7) Once you were healed by the Word through a personal encounter in prayer, that was just a start of the healing process and there is still work to do. As Jesus needs the collaboration of the apostles to reach the multitude, we are also to benefit from the healing experience of other faithful. We just need to continue what we are doing now in the apostolates that we are in. THURSDAY You are healed more than you feel you are “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. 27What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. 30Even all the hairs of your head are counted.31So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:26-31) In our life, as we continue to practice and exercise our charism, we come to a point where we recognize that we need to prioritize eternal life. Yet sometimes, we do slow down and even stop. After all we can’t go back to the old days. The grace of healing is just working within us. Courage my friend, we are on the right track. FRIDAY Your experience of Healing motivates you to let others experience the same “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. 17 But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, 18and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. 19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. 20For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matthew 10:16-20) There are a lot of challenges in our missionary work of prayer and preaching but these will not stop us from doing it well because we are aware of how the mercy of God works among people through our collaboration. The grace of God is so much more than our fears, disappointments and weaknesses. SATURDAY Your confidence and conviction is built in union with Christ and the Church Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; Rejoice with her in her joy, all you who mourn over her 11So that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; That you may drink with delight at her abundant breasts! 12For thus says the LORD: I will spread prosperity over her like a river, like an overflowing torrent, the wealth of nations. You shall nurse, carried in her arms, cradled upon her knees; 13As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort. (Isaiah 66:10-13) No matter what, whatever will happen, our heart shall glorify and full of gratitude shall sing praise to the Lord for what He has done to us. His words and his presence in the manner of practicing our charism in our daily life had brought inward and outward transformation of our heart. This marks our identity as Verbum Dei SUNDAY 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8-11 2nd Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 Gospel: Luke 10:27-35 Comments are closed.
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