General Theme: Missionaries witnessing the mercy of God. General Objectives: - to live out the missionary aspect of mercy especially the missio ad gentes - to enter deeply in the merciful heart of the Father that goes out to every child. - to be one with the Church in her mission of mercy. Objective of the week: To enter in the Father’s love towards His children through the mission.
INTRODUCTION
Last week, we recognized and considered the mission of the Church as a great and immense work of mercy both spiritual and material. This mission month is an opportunity for us Verbum Dei Family to exercise our charism , prayer and preaching. Many people are still in need of the knowledge of the merciful love of the Father. Many of them are hungry of the knowledge of Jesus who became the bridge of the father’s love to His children. Let us try to see and feel the desire and longing of the Father’s heart to gather all His children to encounter His immense love and mercy for them. When mercy encounters a person, it brings deep joy to the Father’s heart; for from the beginning the Father has lovingly turned towards the most vulnerable, because his greatness and power are revealed precisely in his capacity to identify with the young, the marginalized and the oppressed (cf. Deut 4:31; Ps 86:15; 103:8; 111:4). He is a kind, caring and faithful God who is close to those in need, especially the poor; he involves himself tenderly in human reality just as a father and mother do in the lives of their children (cf. Jer 31:20). When speaking of the womb, the Bible uses the word that signifies mercy: therefore it refers to the love of a mother for her children, whom she will always love, in every circumstance and regardless of what happens, because they are the fruit of her womb. This is also an essential aspect of the love that God has for all his children, whom he created and whom he wants to raise and educate; in the face of their weaknesses and infidelity, his heart is overcome with compassion (cf. Hos 11:8). He is merciful towards all; his love is for all people and his compassion extends to all creatures (cf. Ps 144:8-9). Do you want to bring joy to the Father’s heart? Let’s do the mission. MONDAY Jesus: The Symbol of the Father’s Merciful Love Luke 11:29-32 29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here. Mission is introducing Jesus to others. Knowing Jesus is knowing the merciful love of the Father. When we live out the examples of Jesus, we can become the living sign of a true and living God. TUESDAY Be generous to the Poor Luke 11: 37-41 37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. 39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. Mission is sharing. How much guidelines and formations did you received from the community? They are meant to be shared to others who are hungry of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. Let us make ourselves readily available to share the word of God. WEDNESDAY Bring Out Justice and Love of God Luke 11:42-46 42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. 44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” 46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. Mission is to bring out justice and love of God to people who are slaves of their own weaknesses. When we see people who can hardly stand up from being drowned in their wrong choices, we are to extend our mercy to them just as the Father extended his mercy to us. Instead of condemning them, let us show understanding of what they are going through. Comforting them with warm welcome in our friendship can be an encounter of the Father’s mercy for these people. THURSDAY Be The Key To Knowledge Luke 11:47-54 47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say. Mission is to open the Kingdom of God. It is the desire of the Father that all of His children can enter into His Kingdom. We as disciples of Christ are the key to the Kingdom by giving them the knowledge of knowing God through Jesus Christ. This is not meant to be a secret and should be announced to all people young and old. FRIDAY Be On Guard Luke 12:1-7 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. While doing the mission, let also be on guard against any temptations of doubts, fear of rejections and impurities in our intentions. Our faith and trust in God will able others to also trust the Lord, for our father in heaven will provide everything more than we need when He sends us for a task and obey Him. We bring joy to the heart of the Father when we bring His mercy to others. SATURDAY Acknowledge Christ Before Men Luke 12:8-12 8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Mission is to acknowledge Christ before men. Christ who became the bridge of the Father’s merciful love to His children is to be honored and glorified. If we are so proud of the achievements of our friends and family, are we not also proud to say that Jesus has suffered, conquered death and achieved resurrection because of His obedience to the Father who loves His children more than He loves His own Son? It is but proper to bring joy to the heart of the Father by acknowledging His Son Jesus Christ who is the bearer of His mercy to His children. Comments are closed.
|
Weekly Prayer GuidelinesRead this week's guidelines to help you deepen in the Word of God for today. Archives
December 2016
Categories
All
|