“We ourselves then, will DEDICATE to prayer and the work of preaching”November 11-17, 2013 Objective of the week: To see the same urgency of Jaime to consecrate ourselves to such a mission, not merely as an external activity, but as a way of life to love the God of our faith.
IntroductionLast week, we were challenged on the truth of our faith as co- builders of the kingdom of God, to create it here and now, in our day to day activities. This week God’s calling is to concretize His kingdom through our specific dedication to the Word, “We ourselves will devote ourselves full time to prayer and to the service of the Word.”(Cf. VD Constitution 28) In as much as we ourselves just want to be comforted, to be settled in our little worlds, to attend to our myopic concerns, this time Jesus is inviting us to go out from our comfort zones , to imitate him in the way he sees and responded to the miseries, desolations and depressions of our brothers and sisters. “Jesus went around visiting all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues, preached the Good News about the Kingdom, and healed people with every kind of disease and sickness. As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-38) After the tragedies of the 7.2. earthquake, the resent super typhoon Yolanda, the heated senate trial on the pork barrel scam, how is our eyes on these many “crowds” in front of us? Is there something significant that we can do as a Family dedicated to the ministry of the Word? As Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.”(cf.Mt.9:37) “In view of the situation of the world, and hearing the cry of the members of Christ’s body, our brothers and sisters, we will feel completely moved by the urgency of the mission. Then neither day nor night will suffice in order to respond. We will apply ourselves wholly to the Total Christ -Head and members- and we will feel obliged to request and seek workers for so much labor. (VD Statute 32) As one VD Family, we are convinced that through our total dedication to the Word through Prayer, Testimony of Life and Preaching, we are transmitting to our brothers and sisters the very life of God. (C.f. VD Constitution 15) However, we are aware of the sublimity of this dedication which goes beyond mere external activities, convenient based responses, and even an on-off collaboration to the mission… “The Life that we are called to give to many, which as the true aim of our dedication to the ministry of the Word, does not come from ourselves. It is Jesus himself who calls us, chooses us and sends us to give this fruit of Life and who insists, as a matter of life or death, upon our vital union with Him . He sums up and completes these invitations, entreaties and supplications with this imperative: “Remain in my love”. (VD Constitution 22), thus our sincerity and delicacy to this dedication will first and foremost starts in our union with Jesus, the fountain, motor, and goal of our specific dedication. Monday“And for their sake I dedicated myself!”“It is not right for us to neglect the preaching of God's word in order to handle finances. 3 So then, friends, choose seven men among you who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and we will put them in charge of this matter. 4 We ourselves, then, will give our full time to prayer and the work of preaching.” (Acts 6:3-4) And for their sake I dedicated myself to you, in order that they too, maybe truly dedicated to you. (John 17:19) The Verbum Dei Community, with the motto of the first disciples of Jesus: Orationi et ministerio verbi instantes, decides and makes concrete the specific mission and their own contribution to the Church in their total and exclusive dedication to prayer and teaching to pray experientially with the ministry of the Word and the testimony of life. (VD Statues 59) Jesus has been truly dedicating himself to us. In the same way He wanted us to do the same. With a grateful heart, we want to give freely what we have received freely. The immeasurable love of God that made us free from our slaveries enabling us to liberate others and announce his love to the whole world. Tuesday“My people are like sheep without a shepherd”As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36) The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.3 He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised. 4 Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me. (Psalm 23:1-4) Jesus, we know how it has been to follow your teachings, your footsteps. It was never easy; it entails denials of our own caprice. To bend our being human standard ways and means and change it as you taught us to be. Lord in as much as we love ourselves, we love you even more. We come to do your will to be shepherds of the flock. We heard the loud cries of your voice, greater than our own. Wednesday“Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples” |
Weekly Prayer GuidelinesRead this week's guidelines to help you deepen in the Word of God for today. Archives
December 2016
Categories
All
|