“I believed, therefore I spoke.”(c.f. 2 Cor. 4:13) October 7 - 13, 2013 Objective of the week: To enter into the preparations for the 3rd National Encounter through the theme, making the important connection between believing in God and in transmitting our faith in Him.
IntroductionAs we go along in this journey of faith, we already knew where we stand. Not alone, but with our model and mother in faith, Mary. We can always count on her counsel and guidance most specially in authentically transmitting our faith in Christ to others. As we prepare ourselves for the 3rd National Encounter with the Theme – I Believe, therefore I spoke. Let us then ponder this week what we truly mean when we profess “I believe in Jesus”. What does my faith in the Son of God implies? How does my faith in the Son affects the way I live as Christian, as a disciple of Christ? Our living faith in the Son is a fruit of our personal encounter with the Word- Jesus. In dialogue with Him in prayer, we entered in the process of transformation from our old self to our new self in faith in the Son “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Gal.2:20. Through the power of the living Word we have been healed from the deepest core of our being. We have been empowered, motivated and given the grace to live a new life with so much meaning and reason. Thus, we have so much to transmit because we have been loved much and restored much by Him. “I believe, therefore I spoke.” Likewise, entering in the mind and heart our founder -Fr. Jaime Bonet, we will discover that same passion to transmit ones faith rooted from his experience of being loved much by the Lord. “I want to collaborate with my entire mind, heart and strength, for the redemption and liberation for all people. I want everyone to be save and come to the knowledge of truth. That all maybe freed from every kind of slavery. Because I want to communicate the Good News to the afflicted, to soothe the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, release to those in prison and proclaim a year of favor of the Lord. (cf. Pregon of Jaime) Jaime was a lover of preaching but it was clear in his life that it was not only a matter of words. It was his entire life itself that preached the word of God. Hence, transmission of faith for Jaime is not only “momentary” rather it is the whole life of the disciple from sun-up to sun-down that transmits faith. It implies transmitting ones’ faith anytime and anywhere not only in the chapel but also in the market place, in the entertainment center and the like. Monday“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me … he has chosen me to bring good news to all”“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people. This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read .They were all impressed with him and marveled at the eloquent words that he spoke.” They said, “Isn’t he the son of Joseph?” He said to them, I am sure that you will quote this proverb to me. ”Doctor heal yourself.” (Luke 4:18-23) He who listens to you, listens to me; he who despises you, despises me; and he who despises me, despises him that sent me. (Luke 10:16) It is the Spirit of the Lord who anoints us and empowers us to bring the Good News to all. It is the Spirit of the Lord who capacitated us in this divine task of transmitting faith. We stand in behalf of the Lord. Let us not be intimidated by the looks and discouraging voices of others who wants to disqualify us in this race of faith. To transmit our faith is not easy; we will face so many challenges along the way. Let us go beyond any forms of rejections and intimidations knowing that the task at hand is greater and more sublime than we could imagine. Tuesday“Transmit the faith freely, welcome or unwelcome, with our life and with our words.”“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. “ (2 Timothy 4:2) “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 labour.” (VDC #32) Christ’s need over our lives and the urgency of the mission is our constant push to transmit our faith - welcome or unwelcome. We cannot just conform to our passivity, indifference and fears and settled with a No response to this sublime task knowing that what is at stake is the eternal life of our brothers and sisters. Wednesday“No means or method… a disciple convinced by and in love with Christ.”Peter and John were still speaking to the people when some priest the officer in-charge of the Temple guards and some Sadducees arrived. They were annoyed because the two apostles were teaching the people that Jesus had risen from death, which proved that the dead will raise to life. So they arrested them and put them in jail until the next day since it was already late. But many who heard the message believed and the number grew to about five thousands. (Acts 4:1-4) “No means or method will ever match the strength, conviction and vitality of the direct, personal and living word of the missionary convinced by and in love with Christ, truly humble, possessed by the Spirit and passionately driven by the glory of the Father and by love for Mary, Mother of the Church…with Christ and like him, we will give our life for the same Church and for the faith of our brothers and sisters throughout the world. (Cf. VDC # 44) Our love for Christ and for the members of his Mystical Body-the Church, is our secret to perseverance and courage even in persecution. Love conquers all and love will even lead us to offer our lives for the sake of witnessing that faith to the end. Thursday“I believed, therefore I spoke.” (2 Cor. 4:13)“You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:28-30) “Our testimony of life will logically begin with those truths that we aim to propagate among all people. In first place, we will be witnesses of God’s Kingdom: witnesses of love among us and of the gratuity of that love, explaining the origin and source of the personal love of God which we perceive and experience through prayer and the relationship we have with him.” (VDC # 51) What does my faith in the Son of God implies? How does my faith in the Son affects the way I live as Christian, as a disciple of Christ? Isn’t it that people will understand profoundly the Good News when they perceived it integrated in our life? Friday“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you…because of Me… your reward in heaven is great.” “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. (Matthew 5:10-13) There is no perfect time to transmit our faith, unless we start it now! We can play deaf, mute for a short period of time. But our witnessing to Christ is what last a life time, the greatest achievement of all times! Saturday“I will be with you to protect you.” Sovereign Lord, I don’t know how to speak, I am too young.” But the Lord said to me.” Do not say that you are too young, but go to the people I sent you to, and tell them everything I have commanded you to say.” Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you, I the Lord had spoken!” (Jeremiah 1:6-10) No more sitting in the corner, the world is jump packed already with spectators, what is most needed is participants. Let us partake in the mission field of Christ. Be not afraid, because you will not be left un-aided. The father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is with you until the end of age. Sunday28th Sunday in Ordinary Time1st Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1-4 2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 2: 8-13 Gospel: Luke 17:11-19 Comments are closed.
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