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 live the Holy Week as people forgiven and convinced of the power of His mercy over sin and death.
INTRODUCTION
This week we are invited by God to pay it forward “Share to others what I have done to you”. How wonderful it is to recognize that God is keeping us alive. He does not want our death. On the contrary, He wants to bring us back to his house with Him and give us back the dignity we once lost from following our own desires. He sent His son not to condemn us but to teach us of his great mercy and let this mercy of Him be formed in each one of us. Sooner we will be amazed of the experience of His mercy for others through our experience. Jesus’ death is mercy in its fullness. He died that we may have life, a death that gives birth to new life, a new beginning, and a new level of our discipleship. Truly the Mercy of God never gets tired and it keeps on going like a wellspring of Joy, serenity and peace for everybody to taste and savor. He called us to be living hosts of love and mercy in our world today, becoming the bridge of Mercy to God and man and always available to share the Mercy at all times. HOLY MONDAY The Mercy of God restores our original dignity 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. He 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 feast24 because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:17-24) God is always waiting for our homecoming with HIM. HE still prepares the best for us in spite of the many things we’ve done wrong. So long as we go back to HIM we’re still the child HE loves best. Do you perceive God’s desire of having you back with HIM in HIS house? HOLY TUESDAY Our Experience of Gods’ Mercy teaches us to be merciful 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.' (John 8:1-11) Then Jesus said to the woman, your sins are forgiven, the other sitting with him at the table begin to wonder, Now this man claims to forgive sins! But Jesus again spoke to the woman, your faith has saved you go in peace. (Luke 7:48) Mercy of God has to be experienced before we can savor what Mercy is all about. It’s a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on it (Misericordiae Vultus 2). We need to ask God for his Gift of Mercy for us to be merciful as HE is. Do we recognize the impact of Gods Mercy to our way of living? HOLY WEDNESDAY Be ready to give the mercy of God to others in need. 19 To which Yahweh replied, 'If you repent, I shall restore you to plead before me. If you distinguish between the precious and the base, you shall be as my own mouth. They will come back to you, but you must not go back to them. (Jeremiah 15:19) God never stops giving us chances. May we never take these chances for granted and may our steps be towards HIM. May we respond to these chances of great Love with hope in our hearts that we be merciful to those whom the Lord called to be in our flock. Do we have what it takes to be merciful? MAUNDY THURSDAY Experience the overflowing Mercy of God by doing acts of Mercy for our brothers and Sisters 12 What return can I make to Yahweh for his generosity to me? 13 I shall take up the cup of salvation and call on the name of Yahweh. 14 I shall fulfil my vows to Yahweh, witnessed by all his people. 15 Costly in Yahweh's sight is the death of his faithful. 16 I beg you, Yahweh! I am your servant, I am your servant and my mother was your servant; you have undone my fetters. 17 I shall offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of Yahweh. 18 I shall fulfil my vows to Yahweh, witnessed by all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of Yahweh, in your very heart, Jerusalem. (Psalms 116:12-19) Then Peter asked him, Lord how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother and sister? Seven times? Jesus answered, ‘No, not seven times, but seventy seven times.' (Matthew 18:21-22) The Lord wants to give us more. The more we become faithful to God’s invitation of great mercy, the more we become happy. The more we give forgiveness to all the offenses of our brothers and sisters, the more we are grateful of the abounding mercy God done for us. Are you willing to do an act of mercy today? GOOD FRIDAY Jesus’ death: God’s mercy that gives birth to new life. This is how we have known what love is, he gave his life for us. We, too, ought to give our life for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16) Mercy is the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness. (Misericordiae Vultus 2) Jesus has given it all. Mercy to his last breathe. Giving till it hurts, giving till the end. Jesus is preparing us to a new beginning, a beginning of a new leap for the new chapter of our following and faith in Him. Did our Lenten encounter with the lord provoke newness in us? BLACK SATURDAY A YES to every call of Gods Mercy for others After they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon Son of John, do you love me more than these? He answered, Yes Lord you know that I Love you. And Jesus said, Feed my lambs. (John 21:15) May the example of Mary’s Yes to the will of God, saying Yes to everything that God is telling her inspire us and invoke an invitation on us to follow Her. After all, our life is for the whole community of God and for his greatness, and for all those who desire to have a taste of God’s great mercy and unfathomable Love. Are your excited to share your experience with Gods mercy to our brothers and sisters? EASTER SUNDAY The Resurrection of our LORD 1st Reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 2nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-4 Gospel: John 20:1-9 Comments are closed.
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