Objective of the week: To welcome the Lord in our hearts in order to be one with him in proclaiming the good news to everyone. To introduce others in the presence of the Lord as our main mission.
IntroductionThis week we are invited to deepen more of our learning that as Christian Catholics and as Verbum Dei Disciples, we need to welcome Jesus our Lord into our hearts. This is an important factor in order to be one with him in proclaiming the good news to everyone. Let us always remember that the ultimate meaning of Human life is mission. This is then what the Community Verbum Dei is leading us deeper this week. That we can only do mission if we recognize the person that brings us to mission and he is also the one whom we bring and who is with us, as we do the mission. Of course this person is our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to recognize that our main mission is to introduce others in the presence of our Lord Jesus. But the most beautiful thing is to bring people to become friends with Jesus - the Jesus that we know as our Lord and our very best friend. Have you realized that one of the greatest gifts we received being a Verbum Dei Disciple is the learning and recognizing that Jesus is not only a friend but an intimate friend, a close friend and a best friend. Let us ask Mama Mary to teach us more and more on how to persevere in bringing others to Jesus and make them as His friends. Remember that Mama Mary knows best the “How” because she is the mother of our best friend Jesus as she said “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5) MondayBe one in soul and mind to Christ’s Humility and HospitalitySo if in Christ there is anything that will move you, any incentive in love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any warmth or sympathy -- I appeal to you, 2 make my joy complete by being of a single mind, one in love, one in heart and one in mind. 3 Nothing is to be done out of jealousy or vanity; instead, out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others, 4 everyone pursuing not selfish interests but those of others. (Phil. 2:1-4) 12 Then he said to his host, 'When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich neighbours, in case they invite you back and so repay you. 13 No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 14 then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you and so you will be repaid when the upright rise again.' (Luke 14:12-14) Do you realize that it is in learning the ways of Jesus as the number one secret for success in the mission? Are you willing to be one in Soul and Mind with Jesus in his humility and hospitality in proclaiming the Kingdom of God? TuesdayCome and Be my Guest15 On hearing this, one of those gathered round the table said to him, 'Blessed is anyone who will share the meal in the kingdom of God!' 16 But he said to him, 'There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. 17 When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, "Come along: everything is ready now." 18 But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, "I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies." 19 Another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies." 20 Yet another said, "I have just got married and so am unable to come." 21 'The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, "Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame." 22 "Sir," said the servant, "your orders have been carried out and there is still room." 23 Then the master said to his servant, "Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and press people to come in, to make sure my house is full; 24 because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet." ' (Luke 14:15-24) Are you always aware of the love and concern of God for your life? How are you in your prayers today? Have you heard the voice of God inviting you to be his guest to the great feast he is preparing for all of us? Do you value his faithfulness to your life through the mission? WednesdayShine as stars in the world being God’s Children 12 So, my dear friends, you have always been obedient; your obedience must not be limited to times when I am present. Now that I am absent it must be more in evidence, so work out your salvation in fear and trembling. 13 It is God who, for his own generous purpose, gives you the intention and the powers to act. 14 Let your behaviour be free of murmuring and complaining 15 so that you remain faultless and pure, unspoilt children of God surrounded by a deceitful and underhand brood, shining out among them like bright stars in the world, 16 proffering to it the Word of life. Then I shall have reason to be proud on the Day of Christ, for it will not be for nothing that I have run the race and toiled so hard. 17 Indeed, even if my blood has to be poured as a libation over your sacrifice and the offering of your faith, then I shall be glad and join in your rejoicing- 18 and in the same way, you must be glad and join in my rejoicing. (Philippians 2:12-18) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid? (Psalm 27:1) 25 Great crowds accompanied him on his way and he turned and spoke to them. 26 'Anyone who comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, cannot be my disciple. 27 No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-27) Are you sensitive enough to God’s hands working secretly in your life? Are you willing to let your life shine to other people in order for them to follow Jesus? Do you find the beauty of the fulfillment of Jesus on the cross as you carry your own cross daily in the mission? ThursdayChoose to be Brave: Bring more people to me… 4 When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.' 5 Simon replied, 'Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.' 6 And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, 7 so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point. 8 When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, 'Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.' 9 For he and all his companions were completely awestruck at the catch they had made; 10 so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. But Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; from now on it is people you will be catching.' (Luke 5:1-10) Were you able to read and understand the theme of this year in the Universal Church that said” Choose to be Brave year of the Laity”? Do you see your role in the Universal Church as one of the Laity? Are you brave enough to bring more people follow Jesus? How many of them you have in mind? Were you able to look around and see who these people are? Do you want these people to find their best friend in life? FridayMy Friends... My Dear Friends be firm in your life in the Lord 17 Brothers, be united in imitating me. Keep your eyes fixed on those who act according to the example you have from me. 18 For there are so many people of whom I have often warned you, and now I warn you again with tears in my eyes, who behave like the enemies of Christ's cross. 19 They are destined to be lost; their god is the stomach; they glory in what they should think shameful, since their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our homeland is in heaven and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transfigure the wretched body of ours into the mould of his glorious body, through the working of the power which he has, even to bring all things under his mastery. So then, my brothers and dear friends whom I miss so much, my joy and my crown, hold firm in the Lord, dear friends. (Philippians 3:17 - 4:1) He also said to his disciples, 'There was a rich man and he had a steward who was denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. 2 He called for the man and said, "What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer." 3 Then the steward said to himself, "Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. 4 Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes." 5 'Then he called his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, "How much do you owe my master?" 6 "One hundred measures of oil," he said. The steward said, "Here, take your bond; sit down and quickly write fifty." 7 To another he said, "And you, sir, how much do you owe?" "One hundred measures of wheat," he said. The steward said, "Here, take your bond and write eighty." 8 'The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.' (Luke 16:1-8) Do you see how Jesus values each person as his Friend? Have you discovered the best motor to mission? Are you willing to be like Christ? Do you value the faithfulness of Christ for our life? Do you see Jesus standing very firm for his love to us? Have you realized the eagerness of Jesus to meet the people you are bringing to him and making them his friends? SaturdayA Great Joy to me... My life in union with Christ10 As for me, I am full of joy in the Lord, now that at last your consideration for me has blossomed again; though I recognise that you really did have consideration before, but had no opportunity to show it. 11 I do not say this because I have lacked anything; I have learnt to manage with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live modestly, and I know how to live luxuriously too: in every way now I have mastered the secret of all conditions: full stomach and empty stomach, plenty and poverty. 13 There is nothing I cannot do in the One who strengthens me. 14 All the same, it was good of you to share with me in my hardships… continue reading in your Bibles. (Philippians 4:10-19) 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and jeered at him. 15 He said to them, 'You are the very ones who pass yourselves off as upright in people's sight, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed in human eyes is loathsome in the sight of God. (Luke 16:14-15) Can you still remember the great joy you experience when having a close encounter with Jesus through his words? Have you learned and understood that the greatest charity as followers of Jesus is to bring him to others through the mission? Do you realize the value of the chain reaction you have created as you start bringing people to make friends with Jesus? SundayFeast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
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