General Theme: “Mercy poured out for you.” General Objective: -seeing the situations of the world, we need to form others. In order to do this, we need hands to help. - to help us in the preparations of the Holy Week activities. - to enter in the Spirit of the Easter Triduum celebrations. Objective of the week: To be aware of the mercy that God wants to pass to us in the midst of our sinful condition. To receive his mercy in order to be formed into what we receive.
INTRODUCTION
This week we are given the time to contemplate and be aware of the mercy that our God the Father has poured on us; to put intently our gaze to the gesture of love God has for us. As it is said “God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son”. We need to recognize this mercy of God given to us because we can never give mercy to others unless this mercy of God will form us. Do you see the wonders of this mercy of God in your Life? Do you value its effects on us? God poured this mercy on us in the midst of our sinfulness. How wonderful it is to recognize that we have sinned before God and others, yet it does not stop God pouring his merciful love to us. How good if we desire now in our life that grace of mercy that God offers to us. Now in this time of Lent, it is our opportunity to make a decision to leave sin behind with a contrite heart. Let us not be hesitant, but instead to allow ourselves to be given the benefits that we receive from his mercy as we show our repentance. Do not hesitate to fix your eyes in Christ, as he is lifted up on the cross, because the cross is the triumph of God’s mercy. We are invited to look at him intently and believe that Jesus is our Savior and Lord. Our faith in Christ will save us. “God’s mercy is so great that it can reconstruct broken lives and restore a person to their original beauty.” by Fr. James McTavish FMVD on his book SHARPER THAN A SWORD. MONDAY God’s love does not keep a Record of Wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, 5 it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances. 6 Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth. 7 It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. Isaiah 57:14-16 14 Then it will be said: Level up, level up, clear the way, remove the obstacle from my people's way, 15 for thus says the High and Exalted One who lives eternally and whose name is holy, 'I live in the holy heights but I am with the contrite and humble, to revive the spirit of the humble, to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 'For I do not want to be forever accusing nor always to be angry, or the spirit would fail under my onslaught, the souls that I myself have made. Isaiah 57:18-19 18 'I saw how he behaved, but I shall heal him, I shall lead him, fill him with consolation, him and those who mourn for him, 19 bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to far and near, Yahweh says, and I shall heal him.' Are you aware of the mercy of God in your life? Do you value his invitation to you, not to keep a record of the wrongs of the people around you? TUESDAY God’s heart is longing and searching for those who are lost from His love. Luke 15:8-10 8 'Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? 9 And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, I have found the drachma I lost." 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.' Luke 15:20-24 20 So he left the place and went back to his father. 'While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him. 21 Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son." 22 But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we will celebrate by having a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate. How do you see yourself in front of God? How is your relationship with God and others? Are you aware that you are valuable in the eyes of God? WEDNESDAY God’s love is unconditional, willing to accept you and embrace you in His arms. Luke 15:17-24 17 Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's hired men have all the food they want and more, and here am I dying of hunger! 18 I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired men." 20 So he left the place and went back to his father. 'While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him. 21 Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son." 22 But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we will celebrate by having a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate. Do you recognize the mercy of God in you? How sensitive are you to this merciful love of God? Are you willing to make a room in your heart to receive this unconditional mercy of God? How? THURSDAY Jesus is the expression of God’s merciful love. John 8:1-11 and Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in the middle 4 they said to Jesus, 'Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, 5 and in the Law Moses has ordered us to stone women of this kind. What have you got to say?' 6 They asked him this as a test, looking for an accusation to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 As they persisted with their question, he straightened up and said, 'Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at her.' 8 Then he bent down and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until the last one had gone and Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained in the middle. 10 Jesus again straightened up and said, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 11 'No one, sir,' she replied. 'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus. 'Go away, and from this moment sin no more.' 1 Peter 2:16 16 You are slaves of no one except God, so behave like free people, and never use your freedom as a cover for wickedness. Do you value real freedom? Do you desire for it? What do you look forward in this life? Are you willing to submit yourself to God to ask forgiveness with a contrite heart? How? FRIDAY God’s love is willing to listen to you to ask forgiveness from Him. Psalm 51:1-9 For the choirmaster Of David When the prophet Nathan had come to him because he had gone to Bathsheba Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love, in your great tenderness wipe away my offences; 2 wash me clean from my guilt, purify me from my sin. 3 For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind. 4 Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong, that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence, and your victory may appear when you give judgement, 5 remember, I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception. 6 But you delight in sincerity of heart, and in secret you teach me wisdom. 7 Purify me with hyssop till I am clean, wash me till I am whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness, and the bones you have crushed will dance. 9 Turn away your face from my sins, and wipe away all my guilt. What is your understanding of the sacrament of confession? Do you value its essentiality to your life? Do you believe his compassion and mercy as the benefits we receive from this sacrament? When was your last confession? SATURDAY A contrite heart is the door of God’s mercy, the real paradise. Luke 23:32-43 32 Now they were also leading out two others, criminals, to be executed with him. 33 When they reached the place called The Skull, there they crucified him and the two criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.' Then they cast lots to share out his clothing. 35 The people stayed there watching. As for the leaders, they jeered at him with the words, 'He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.' 36 The soldiers mocked him too, coming up to him, offering him vinegar, 37 and saying, 'If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.' 38 Above him there was an inscription: 'This is the King of the Jews'. 39 One of the criminals hanging there abused him: 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.' 40 But the other spoke up and rebuked him. 'Have you no fear of God at all?' he said. 'You got the same sentence as he did, 41 but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.' 42 Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' 43 He answered him, 'In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.' Do you fully understand what God wants to impart to us of his mercy? Why do we need to fully understand it? Do you want to find and receive the grace that will give our life with meaning and real freedom? How? SUNDAY Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion At the procession with palms: Luke 19:28-40 1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22 2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 Gospel: Luke 22:14-23:56 Comments are closed.
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