 
General Theme: Pilgrims of Hope General Objective: To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year Objective of the week: To deepen the fruits of the Holy Spirit. INTRODUCTION We will take for our introduction this week some numbers from the Catechism of Filipino Catholics which can enlighten our reflection and preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit. CFC 1276. Difficulties in recognizing the Spirit. But it is not always easy to recognize the Holy Spirit. This is due, first, to the Spirit Himself because, as Spirit, He has no shape or form. Consequently, in contrast to our many personal images of the Father and Christ our Lord, we are forced to represent the Spirit through impersonal symbols such as water, fire, cloud, wind and breath, or the image of a dove, white and innocent and airy (cf. CCC 694-701). Moreover, the Spirit always acts in a completely self-less manner, leading us not to Himself but to Christ and the Father (cf. CCC 687). He “does not speak on his own,” but “only what He hears” from Christ, the Word (cf. Jn 16:13). Thus, instead of praying directly to the Spirit we more often pray in the Spirit through the Son to the Father. CFC 1277. A second source of difficulty in recognizing the Spirit comes from our own limitations. First, in thinking about the Spirit. Unlike Christ and the Father, the Spirit is not something objective, “in front of us” as it were, but rather within our subjective experience. We do not so much think about the Spirit with our “head”, making Him the object of our thought. Rather, it is more like becoming conscious of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the deepest level of our hearts, our loob. This is where we feel He is at work, making us aware of the Risen Christ and of God our Father alive and present to us. Christ promised his disciples at the Last Supper the Spirit of truth whom “you can recognize because He remains with you and will be within you” (Jn 14:17). CFC 1278. A second “limitation” which impedes recognizing the Spirit is our self-centered tendency to seek extraordinary spiritual gifts. We Filipinos seem especially attracted to ecstasies, miracles, visions, and prophecies. This fascination can lead to many distorted notions of the Spirit. It also obscures the more important “ordinary gifts” of the Spirit, especially the highest gift, divine Love (cf. Gal 5:22; 1 Cor 13). Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” “Fruit,” here, means "beneficial results," the good things that come from the Spirit’s indwelling. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the result of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of a Christian. The Bible makes it clear that everyone receives the Holy Spirit the moment he or she believes in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14). One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit coming into a Christian’s life is to change that life. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to conform us to the image of Christ, making us more like Him. In the guidelines sheet we will deepen on the fruits of the Holy Spirit for the two following weeks before the Solemnity of Pentecost on June 8. MONDAY “Holy Spirit is the source of faith and hope” 1 Corinthians 12:3 I want you to know that no one can confess "Jesus is Lord," without being guided by the Holy Spirit. Faith means believing strongly in God and believing strongly that everything that He says is true. It means to be firmly persuaded. We must have faith in the grace and mercy of God. The only way we can obtain God’s grace and mercy is by faith – we cannot work for it. If you could earn God’s grace then you would not need faith in God. Our faith is essential – not only to ensure our salvation, but in order that we may receive the fulfillment of every promise of God that has been made to us. Romans 4:16-21 And so the promise was based on faith, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God's free gift to all of Abraham's descendants - not just to those who obey the Law, but also to those who believe as Abraham did. For Abraham is the spiritual father of us all; as the scripture says, "I have made you father of many nations." So, the promise is good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed - the God who brings the dead to life and whose command brings into being what did not exist. Abraham believed and hoped, even when there was no reason for hoping, and so became "the father of many nations." Just as the scripture says, "Your descendants will be as many as the stars." He was then almost one hundred years old; but his faith did not weaken when he thought of his body, which was already practically dead, or of the fact that Sarah could not have children. His faith did not leave him, and he did not doubt God's promise; his faith filled him with power, and he gave praise to God. He was absolutely sure that God would be able to do what he had promised. Romans 15:13 May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. A man whose life is away from God can do nothing and is nothing, for what gives content and meaning to life is the grace of God. The only thing that can make life beautiful amidst this challenging world is to be connected to Christ. If we believe in Christ, then, we believe that He has the Spirit left in us and it is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity, who is reaching and guiding us to the truth about the love of God that remains in us. The Holy Spirit helps us discover the sensitivity of God's heart to His people. His steadfast love brought Him to death and rose again to fulfill His promise of redemption. Let us be open to the Holy Spirit to make our hearts His indwelling. He is the source of our faith to enter into the life and love of God that enables us to hope and endure our afflictions. When the Spirit of God is upon us we possess the Christlike behavior: peaceful and calm, loving and kind, patient and with self-control.
TUESDAY “Holy Spirit is the source of love” Love is the first fruit of the Spirit. It is based on God's love for us in Christ. It is a virtue produced in us by the Holy Spirit which enables us to love God and others, including even our enemies. Love is one of the greatest realities in life. When Christ redeemed us, he gave us his Spirit and united us to himself, giving us new life. The Spirit now works in us to bear fruit for God’s glory. Thus, love is produced in us by the Spirit. The fruit is one aspect of Christianity that gives our lives meaning, significance, purpose, and direction. The fruit makes life more pleasant. 1 John 4:10-13.19 This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us. We are sure that we live in union with God and that he lives in union with us, because he has given us his Spirit. We love because God first loved us. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8 Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal. The Holy Spirit as the source of love reminds us of the transformative power of God’s love in our lives. The Holy Spirit’s fruit of love enables us to love others. This love is rooted in God’s love for us in Christ and it is a love that never gives up. The Holy Spirit makes a profound difference and can help us to be more patient, kind and compassionate towards others. God's love is made perfect in us when we love others. May this motivate us to continue seeking the Holy Spirit´s guidance and empowerment to love more fully. May the fruit of love be evident in our lives, bringing joy, meaning, and purpose to our relationships and experiences.
WEDNESDAY “The Holy Spirit is the source of peace and patience” In the Bible, "peace" (Hebrew: shalom, Greek: eirene) signifies more than just the absence of conflict; it encompasses wholeness, well-being, and the right relationship with God, others, and oneself. It's a state of completeness and harmony, both physically and spiritually. John 14:27 Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. In John 14, Jesus speaks of the Advocate who will remain with us once he is gone. This Advocate will remind us of Jesus's teachings and guide us into all truth as we continue to follow him. That's why peace is a fruit of the Spirit — our reliance on him leads us to experience and walk in the peace of Christ! The Bible says patience is a result of the Spirit, reminding us to wait on the Lord with hope and keep going. You can develop patience through prayer, putting the word of God into practice, and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance. The Bible teaches that patience is an important aspect of our relationship with God and our relationships with others. One of the most well-known verses about patience is found in James 1: 3-4, which says, "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." The world’s peace is often temporary, conditional, or dependent on circumstances - freedom from conflict, financial stability, or physical safety. The peace that Christ offered goes deeper. It is a calm and security rooted in His presence, His victory over death, and His promise of eternal life. When fear or anxiety creeps in, we are reminded that we can anchor ourselves in a divine peace that surpasses understanding. We are also challenged to view trials not as setbacks, but as tools for growth. In a world that often seeks comfort and quick results, the peace that Christ gives invites us into something deeper: transformation through struggle. It acknowledges that trials will come—but rather than destroying us, they refine us. God allows these tests not to break our faith, but to strengthen it.
THURSDAY “The Holy Spirit is the source of humility” St. Augustine said in one of his letters, “The way to Christ is first through humility, second through humility, third through humility” (Letters 118:22). He also said, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” Thomas Aquinas defines it this way: “Humility means seeing ourselves as God sees us: knowing every good we have come from Him as pure gift” (Summa Q161). It is pride, more than anything, that tempts us to see ourselves through the eyes of the world and through the lens of others' opinions. If you want to see yourself in the light of truth, you must humbly seek to see yourself only as God sees you. His understanding of your soul is all that matters. Romans 12:3 And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 1 Peter 5:5-6 God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever.That is why I run straight for the finish line; that is why I am like a boxer who does not waste his punches.I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to the contest. As Christ followers, we come from different upbringings, affiliations and backgrounds to which the human tendency is to compare. But it is the Holy Spirit that grounds us and points us to the lived example of the humility of our Master, Jesus Christ Phil. 2:6-11. So that if we truly listen to the Holy Spirit, we will remain humble no matter what we have attained in our life. Pondering on the actions of the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are simply pilgrims of this life and everything is temporary: title, fame and fortune. As VDMD, it is humility that unites us into one and makes us remove our crowns for the love of God and neighbors. May we always be open to the insinuation of the Holy Spirit so we can become true witnesses of our humble Master, Jesus Christ.
FRIDAY “The Holy Spirit is the source of self-control” Self-control is, of course, the ability to control oneself. It involves moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to our baser desires and fleshly lusts. The Greek word found in Galatians 5:23 is enkrateia. It comes from the other Greek word: egkrateia, which means “mastery, self-control.” The Bible defines self-control as the ability to restrain one's emotions and desires, and to act with thoughtfulness and discipline. It is an essential fruit of the Spirit, helping believers resist temptation and make good decisions. One of the proofs of God’s working in our lives is the ability to control our own thoughts, words, and actions. 1 Corinthains 9:24-27 Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. That is why I run straight for the finish line; that is why I am like a boxer who does not waste his punches. I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to the contest. Self-control ultimately leads to love. This is a quality of a believer in Jesus. This is increasing in the life of a Christian. However, if we lack self-control, we are being ineffective and unfruitful. Notice it does not say that we are ineffective; our identity has not changed, but our obedience has wavered, so we miss the fruit. An apple tree that produces one apple is still an apple tree. The tree’s identity has not changed; however, its effectiveness has changed. 2 Peter 1:2-9 May grace and peace be yours in full measure through your knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. God's divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly religious life through our knowledge of the one who called us to share in his own glory and goodness. In this way he has given us the very great and precious gifts he promised, so that by means of these gifts you may escape from the destructive lust that is in the world, and may come to share the divine nature. For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add godliness; to your godliness add Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love. These are the qualities you need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and effective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if you do not have them, you are so shortsighted that you cannot see and have forgotten that you have been purified from your past sins. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it. How do you walk in your Christian life this 6th week after Easter? Today we are taught about self-control as a fruit from the Holy Spirit. There was a saying from an unknown writer that says, " a man who can control himself, is greater than a man who conquers a city". Meaning, how great we are if we possess such virtue. Now we are also reminded that self-control must be practiced and exercised regularly where we need to submit in strict discipline and training (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Imagine a world where all people don't have self-control. What kind of world would that be? Is it a world of more chaos and sins? Self-Control can help us to resist temptation and sin. Like for example: How much effort is exerted to control yourself between prayer time and fb time? The efforts needed to develop self-control between helping others and gossiping about others. It means that in all things that we do we need self-control for it will help us make good decisions being a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. This ability to control our thoughts, words, and actions are proof that God is working in our lives. Because of Jesus' great love to us, he equipped us through his teachings about everything about himself, his connection with the Father in heaven, and the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit, our advocate, that will make all his teachings complete in our lives. (John 14:26) Today we are again invited to be open to the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit. Where these two, "understanding" and " wisdom" are with them. These gifts can make us bear self-control. One of the essential fruits of the Holy Spirit. This ability can lead us to LOVE as the main quality of a follower of Christ. (John 15:1) We are encouraged to develop self-control abundantly in our lives for this will make us active and effective disciples of Christ Jesus. Self-Control can make our knowledge about our Lord Jesus Christ visible to others so that they can say, " he/she is a true Christian". Let us ask the help of the Holy Spirit that we may not be shortsighted in our Christian lives. We must not forget that we have been saved by the precious blood of Jesus through his passion and death. Where we also received eternal life through his resurrection.
THE JUBILEE PRAYER Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen
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General Theme: Pilgrims of Hope General Objective: To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year Objective of the week: To deepen the activity of the Holy Spirit in us and among us. INTRODUCTION We will continue preparing ourselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit to be celebrated on June 8, 2025. During this week we will basically focus our reflection on the Catechism for Filipino Catholics. The main intention is to rediscover and value the role of the Holy Spirit in our Christian life. CFC 1334 Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father and the Son, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. As “Giver of Life,” the Spirit vivifies the Church, our sacramental and moral life, and our resurrection to life everlasting. “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given us” (Rom 5:5). CFC 1274. What is the Spirit doing? We realize, of course, that it is the Holy Spirit that animates “what we do” in following Christ the Son. He inspires our living according to “who we are” as sons/daughters of our Father. Basically, the Spirit unites us with the Risen Christ and with one another in Christ’s Church. The Spirit is doing this now, and by this action is moving us daily toward the future which God promised us - life everlasting. CFC 1307. The Holy Spirit joins us to Christ. The Spirit joins us intimately with Christ in two basic ways. First, the Risen Christ is present within and among us today in his Spirit. Second, the Spirit is the inner source of our life of faith by which we accept Jesus. “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3; cf. PCP II 64, 68). This means that we can come to know, recognize, and experience Jesus only because the Holy Spirit makes it possible. CFC 1309. But by linking us to Christ, what actually does the Holy Spirit do? To spell out in some detail what the Spirit does within and among us, the following paragraphs set forth six particular activities. The Spirit: 1) adopts us as children of the Father; 2) enables us to love as Christ commanded; 3) empowers us to bear witness to Christ, and 4) to know the truth; 5) draws us into community unity and service; and 6) inspires us to live a truly Christian life. MONDAY “The Spirit Adopts Us” CFC 1310. The Spirit is first of all the “Spirit of adoption” by which we become “children of God” (cf. Jn 1:12; CCC 693). Jesus is the only begotten, God’s own Son, but through him and his Spirit we are adopted by the Father, and are “called children of God - [for] that is what we are” (1 Jn 3:1). We can truly call God “Abba, Father.” “The proof that you are sons is the fact that God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of His Son who cries out ‘Abba, Father!’” (Gal 4:6) It is over two thousand years ago after the death of Jesus, but why are we still connected and are in communion with Him? What factor that possibly unites us with the risen Lord? The Holy Spirit is the unifying force that can make us one with Him. "The love of God that has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."(Rom.5:5) It is the Holy Spirit which enables us to have a personal relationship with God calling Him, "Abba, Father" because he accepted us as we are as children despite our shortcomings and weaknesses. He knows who we are and what we need; He knows how limited we are, but His extravagant love gives us the chance to recognize Him to draw us closer to Him, and to mold and renew us in His love. It is the spirit of God that gives us faith in times of adversities that impels us to be strong and trust in Him. By our faith, we can proclaim joyfully the risen Christ our Savior whose love works amazingly in us. It speaks that we are one in God's family and we belong to Him.
TUESDAY “The Spirit Empowers Us to Know the Truth and to Love” CFC 1313. To know the truth is a further power which the Holy Spirit inspires in us. PCP II points out that “all persons are bound to seek the truth, especially in religious matters” (PCP II 362). Jesus promised his apostles the Spirit of truth who “will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you” and “guide you to all truth” (Jn 14:26; 16:13). John Paul II adds that this means “that the Spirit will help people understand the correct meaning of the content of Christ’s message; He will ensure the continuity and identity of understanding . . . the same truth which the Apostles heard from their Master” (DViv 4). CFC 1311. The Spirit thus enables us to love God, and love everybody else through His Spirit. “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom 5:5). And “if God has loved us so, we must have the same love for one another . . . If we love one another, God dwells in us and His love is brought to perfection in us” (1 Jn 4:11-12). St. Paul stresses this gift of love above all charisms. “If I speak with human and angelic tongues. . .have the gift of prophecy. . . comprehend all mysteries. . . have faith enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Cor 13:1-2,8). The nature of the Holy Spirit is Truth and Love. He helps, leads believers of Jesus and illuminates their hearts with spiritual understanding. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit reveals God's truth to all followers of Jesus making it possible for them to discern the genuine teachings from false doctrines helping believers differentiate between what is true and what is not, guarding them from deception and false teachings. Going against the prompting of the Holy Spirit disturbs us and takes away our peace for we are also created by God who is Love. Our happiness and fulfillment in life comes only in the Truth of the Love of God and the truth that we can also love God and our brothers and sisters the way God loves us all.
WEDNESDAY “The Spirit Empowers Us to Bear Witness” CFC 1312. In addition, the Holy Spirit empowers us to bear witness to Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper Jesus told the apostles: “When the Paraclete comes, . . . he will bear witness on my behalf. You must bear witnesses as well” (Jn 15:26f). Just before his Ascension, the Risen Christ promised: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, then you are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem . . . even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Therefore, not only are we saved by Christ and the Spirit __ God working in us __ but we share in Their redeeming work as well __ God working through us. In sending the Holy Spirit, the Risen Christ calls us to give witness to him before others by sharing his own triple mission of Prophet, Priest and King. The call to be a witness is a call for every disciple of Christ. The Spirit helps us to see with eyes of faith. We are reminded that the Spirit not only comforts us, but also testifies Christ’s truth, and empowers us to give testimony as well. On our own we sometimes doubt our capabilities. Yet we are not sent out to carry on the mission alone and empty-handed. We are continually guided by the Spirit to encourage us and strengthen our faith in order to move ever onward. We are called not just to preach, but to live in a way that will reflect Christ’s love wherever we may be.
THURSDAY “The Spirit Draws Us into Community, Unity and Service” CFC 1314. Moreover, the Holy Spirit is the principle of unity and service in the community. “The Spirit is for the Church and for each and every believer, the principle of their union and unity in the teaching of the apostles and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and prayer” (LG 13). PCP II explains how the lay faithful are called to “animate the temporal order with Christ’s Spirit” (PCP II 427). This unity in loving service is made possible through the Spirit’s manifold gifts and charisms, the same promised in Isaiah the prophet: “a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord” (Is 11:2). We have witnessed the unifying power of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles who were once scattered after the death of Jesus, due to fear and hopelessness. It is the Holy Spirit who draws them back to being one community once again, as their Master has gathered them always as one. Do you ever wonder why you continue to be part of the community even after years of being part of it? Why do you continue to unite and be one in the service of the Word of God to others in spite of the many imperfections that you have experienced on the structure, of your co-disciples, of the missionaries? It is the work of the Holy Spirit! The Spirit always draws us to continue to take part of the charism Verbum Dei. This is where the Spirit continues to invite us to partake in the service of the body of Christ-the Church, no matter all the challenges and weaknesses of the community. So no matter what, we continue to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit to unite us to a common goal: to spread the kingdom of God to others.
FRIDAY “The Spirit Inspires True Christian Life” CFC 1315. Lastly, the Spirit vivifies us to live a truly Christian life. PCP II describes how “in the depths of the Filipino spirit is a longing for kaayusan, . . . a longing for the life that the creative Spirit of Jesus gives as a gift, a gift which is likewise a challenge” (PCP II 257). The Spirit not only strengthens us in our struggle against the powers of evil, but frees us by his interior transforming presence. “All of us, gazing on the Lord’s glory . . . are being transformed from glory to glory into his very image by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor 3:18). But it is especially in times of temptation and trial that we Filipino Christians learn to pray for the Spirit’s purifying and strengthening power:A clean heart created for me, O God,and a steadfast spirit renewed within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me (Ps 51:12-13). When we are troubled, in doubt, or on slippery ground, we learn to pray: “May your good Spirit guide me on level ground” (Ps 143:10). Very often we do not really know what God is doing or what He is talking to us. It is the Holy Spirit who is truly moving and very active in working within us and among us. He is the one who inspires and motivates us to live a true Christian life. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the gift of understanding when we can comprehend the words of God talking to us. It is the same Holy Spirit who gives us the eyes of faith in order to see what God is doing in our lives. He is the Spirit of the Lord that satisfies our longing to be where Jesus is, in eternal glory, and in communion with the Father while we are still here on earth. Today we are reminded again that He is the Spirit of God inviting us to fix our gaze to the Lord's glory by constantly connected to the words of God. For it is in gazing to His glory that can transform us into the very image of a true Christian. What does it mean to be a Christian? An image of Christ, the Risen Lord. A person that truly lives a life being a follower of Christ, His " disciples". Then how can we be identified as such? Jn.13:35 says “If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples." This is what the Holy Spirit will be accomplishing in our lives. A "Filipino Christian" bears the love and mercy of Christ Jesus for others. With peace, orderliness, and compassion we can comfort our brothers and sisters whose hearts are sad, restless, and hopeless. Let us allow the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us. By opening our hearts and minds without reservation and hesitation. In this way His transforming power can move freely within us and among us so that we can live a true Christian life.
THE JUBILEE PRAYER Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen 
General Theme: Pilgrims of Hope General Objective: To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year Objective of the week: To pray on how Jesus reveals the Holy Spirit in St. John. INTRODUCTION We continue our journey in the resurrection of the Lord, and He is faithful to His promise, to be with us forever until the end of time (Cf. Mt 28:19). The invitation is to be open for this coming of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Jesus prepared us as his disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Why is it necessary to prepare for it? Because we need to learn that this work was not yet finished: that salvation was given, but it is the Spirit who will continue to work till the end, until all men know the gift of God in them. It is only then when the work is actually accomplished. This is the time of the Holy Spirit, the time of the action of God, coming to dwell in us and to make us his place. The place where He lives and completes his work of sanctification, to bring us up to the perfection of Christ: " Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body." (1 Cor.6, 19-20). This week we will start preparing for our journey towards Pentecost. Our prayer will focus on who is the Holy Spirit according to the proclamations of Jesus in the Gospel of St John. MONDAY “Be united in the love of Christ” John 14:15-16 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always. The resurrection of Jesus reminds us to deepen our faith because Jesus is alive and is present among us. The love that he had shown must manifest in our present time. He commanded us to keep his commandment of love. This is a call to love without jurisdiction. A love that is self-giving, willing to sacrifice, and free from doubts and inhibitions. A love that serves and forgets himself for the sake of others and sees Christ in them. This is a serious invitation for us to do good as we offer our lives to them without expecting something in return. To live the covenant of love is to be open to the Holy Spirit, our counsellor and comforter who will guide us to the truth and mold us to become His dwelling place and mere reflection of Jesus' life. Our love becomes the living presence of God which means that we are one with Jesus and Jesus is one with us. Only love unites us with him in others. As Jesus and the Father are one in the bond of love, we too must become one with them.
TUESDAY “Embracing the Holy Spirit within” John 14:23-26 Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that told you. John 14:17 The Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. We are the dwelling place of God. It carries an immense sense of responsibility—knowing that within our very being, there exists something sacred, something divine. But it also brings comfort. It means we are never truly alone, that God is not some distant figure watching from afar but is present within us. The beauty of being God’s dwelling place is not about perfection. Perhaps it’s about embracing the journey, allowing grace to work within us. It’s in the everyday moments—the kindness we show, the patience we practice, the love we extend. It’s in acknowledging our struggles but choosing to keep moving forward, trusting that even in our brokenness, we are still His. The comfort is even greater: God does not abandon us to figure it all out alone. He sends the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to teach and guide us, to remind us of His truth when we forget or when we struggle.
WEDNESDAY “Trusting the Holy Spirit” John 15:26 “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. Matthew 10:19-20 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. We are reminded of Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit—the Advocate or Helper—to be with His followers. The Holy Spirit is not only our source of consolation and guidance but also a witness to the truth of Christ. In times of uncertainty or fear, we are not alone for the Spirit strengthens us, reveals the truth, and helps us bear witness to Jesus through our words and actions. We are invited to deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit. As His disciples, we are called not only to receive the Spirit but to allow the Spirit to work through us in truth and love. We are challenged to surrender our need for control and instead rely on God’s Spirit. The Spirit reminds us that our mission as followers of Christ is not based on our own strength or eloquence, but on God's presence within us. Living out and speaking the truth of the Gospel may bring opposition, but we are never alone in those moments.
THURSDAY “Holy Spirit advocates righteousness” John 16:7-11 But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. The world today can water down sin, misleading countless to follow the wrong way. Many are doing things that are not right just because most are doing it anyway. That is why darkness can spread out rapidly to the corners of the world since it is devoid of the light of righteousness. Our sins of omission aggravate it further. We need to pray for the source of light, the Holy Spirit, which Jesus gives us so we can discern righteousness from sin. When we pray to the Holy Spirit for discernment, we will truly stand on what Jesus taught us, and we will opt not to sin.
FRIDAY “The ‘Spirit of Truth’ That Guides Us to All Truth” John 16:13-15
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming .He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Today we need to reflect on Jesus' teaching about the "Spirit of Truth." The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the same Spirit of Jesus. Where this Spirit of God is the presence of God in us. This Holy Spirit is the one who will continue the mission of Jesus here on earth. He is the one who will guide us into all complete truths. The Spirit who reveals the significance of Christ's death and the new order of things. These all happened as the result of Christ's death and resurrection. This is the hidden depths of the mystery of Christ from whom the Holy Spirit makes his glory known. Let us be attentive to the Holy Spirit who is the source of revelation about the Father communicated and taught by Jesus to the whole humanity while he was still on earth. This work of the Holy Spirit glorifies both Son and Father. Where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is "ONE" God, a great mystery of faith in all of us Christian Catholics. We are invited today to listen attentively to the teachings of Jesus about the Spirit of Truth. Jesus wanted us to fully understand about the Holy Spirit in order for us to have a total openness of our mind and heart as He comes after Jesus' ascension.
General Theme: Pilgrims of Hope General Objective: To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year Objective of the week: To rediscover the significance of Jesus’ Resurrection and its implication in our Christian life. INTRODUCTION We are at Easter time up to Pentecost: The Lord is Risen, alleluia! (Mt 28:6; Mk 6:6; Lk 24:34) The risen Lord appeared to the disciples confirming to them that He is alive. “Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here; he has been raised” (Lk 24:5-6) They began a new life when the Risen Lord appeared to them, renewed their discipleship, and started spreading the Good News that He came back from death to life. We also believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, and we live with Him. We are witnesses of His Resurrection in us and in others. We will pray during this week on some passages which disclose the significance of the Resurrection of Jesus for those who believe. MONDAY “The living God is the faithful companion” Matthew 28:20 “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." Luke 24:36-39 “While the two were telling them this, suddenly the Lord himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said to them, "Why are you so agitated? Why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; yes, it is I indeed” The season of Easter is the concrete fulfillment of Jesus' promise that He will be with us until the end of age (Mt. 28:20). He rose from the dead and told us not to be afraid. This is the proof of God's great love that even sin and death cannot defeat. "God loves us with an everlasting love." (Jer. 31:3) which means that His love will never fail no matter what. How blessed are we to have a God who is faithfully loving us. As we are blessed, we must also become blessings to others by being sensitive to their concerns. Let the spirit of doubts and anxiety flee from us instead, let the Risen Christ accompany us who is our hope. The wounds of His hands and feet are strong revelations of the promise of love because the love of the Father manifests in Jesus that even in our sorrows and in happiness He is there for us to bring us new life. Let us be glad and rejoice.
TUESDAY “The love of the living God never fails” 1 Corinthians 13:8 “Love is eternal” Jeremiah 31:3 “People of Israel, I have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love” Jeremiah 33:11 “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, because he is good and his love is eternal” Romans 8:38-39 “For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below - there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord” Isaiah 54:8 “I turned away angry for only a moment, but I will show you my love forever." So says the Lord who saves you. The rising of Jesus from the dead implies God’s unfailing love to all of us, oftentimes the quality of human love is merely based on logic, of what ones get in return, of what was given, or when giving or sharing will not entail discomfort. The disciples of Jesus, because of fear, were scattered when He was captured by the soldiers, Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter also denied him. In spite of all these, when Jesus met them again when He rose, He offered peace and remembered not all those acts of failure made by His disciples. Jesus is showing us an example to follow, to fail not in loving like Him in spite of the discomforts, humiliations and betrayals and remember not the faults of our brethren.
WEDNESDAY “His unfailing love and mercy endure forever” Micah 7:18-19 “There is no other god like you, O Lord; you forgive the sins of your people who have survived. You do not stay angry forever, but you take pleasure in showing us your constant love. You will be merciful to us once again. You will trample our sins underfoot and send them to the bottom of the sea” Psalm 136:26 “Praise the God of heaven, for his mercy endures forever” 1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing” Lamentations 3:22-23 “The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise” Our Lord’s resurrection is a call to hope for anyone burdened by failure. For God delights in forgiving. He does not just tolerate repentance - He welcomes it with compassion and mercy. His will is not to punish, but to redeem. When we continue to live under guilt or shame, we are continually called to return to Him for He is the only one who cleanses, forgives, and restores. His love moves us to live our life with honesty and trust in His grace. In life, we can always be busy, burdened and tired but when we look at Christ we are sure to find rest in His unending love. Even in seasons of loss, failure, or uncertainty, we are invited to start again - anchored not in our own strength, but in His consistent and daily mercy.
THURSDAY “We experience the power of His Resurrection” Philippians 3:7-11 “But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ's sake. Not only those things; I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ and be completely united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own, the kind that is gained by obeying the Law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith. All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life” Philippians 4:13 “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me” 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 “But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: "My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak." I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” We rejoice with the resurrection of our Lord! He is risen! As Christians, what is the significance of Christ's resurrection? What power does it give us? It gives us hope, renewal and joy to continue our following. It means that in spite of the challenges and crosses that we have as disciples of Christ, there lies the promise of redemption. That our journey with Jesus does not end on Good Friday, rather it opens the door for our salvation on Easter Sunday. As VDMD, we are to bring this power of resurrection to others, to give hope to others that they too may be empowered by Christ's resurrection.
FRIDAY “The power of His Resurrection through His Word” Psalm 119:89 “Your word, O Lord, will last forever; it is eternal in heaven” Isaiah 40:8 “Yes, grass withers and flowers fade, but the word of our God endures forever." Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Luke 24:31-34 “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, "Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others and saying, "The Lord is risen indeed!” Hebrews 4:12 “The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart” John 6:67-68 “Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” How is the "Risen Lord" within us, as we live these days after Easter Sunday? Does the freshness of the power of His resurrection still remain in our Christian lives till this day? We are reminded that the power of His resurrection is in his WORD. The Word of God that is alive and active in us (Hebrews 4:12). How can others see that it is alive and active in us? It is in the way we "live out" each word that we have listened. Every time we commit each day to pray where the center is to listen to the words of God. This is the very heart and the foundation of our mission as Verbum Dei disciples. People may ask, where is the Risen Lord these days? Our way of life is the answer. For it is the hope of our God that we will be the bearers of the WORD that made flesh, “Jesus the Risen Lord". Our life concretely expresses the real experience of Christ's resurrection through his WORD when the Word of God becomes the transforming power of our lives and when people can say "it is a life that becomes a true follower of the Risen Lord". How wonderful if we make ourselves always aware that nobody can take away from us the Word of God that is already rooted in us. Jesus our Lord and savior hopes in us greatly that being his followers we must also become the "Christ of Today". He needs us to show that through this identity, dignity, and consistency we can bring the Risen Lord to others. This is heaven while we are still on earth. Remember, the Word of God is the concrete presence of the Risen Lord as in Lk 24: 32 says, They said to each other, " Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" How good if we allow the Risen Lord to explain the Scriptures to us each day when he shares to us his Word of Love. Jesus always wants us to enjoy every bit of it. It is in this way where we can always see his "HOPE" in us. That others may experience the Risen Jesus in their lives through us. God also is hoping that like Peter we can value every WORD that comes from the mouth of God. As John 6:38 says, Simon Peter answered Him, " Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life."
THE JUBILEE PRAYER Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen |
About the Guidelines SheetThe Guidelines sheet is a prayer guide with the Word of God to help us journey together and be one in our weekly prayer as one community. This contains daily passages from scriptures together with reflections focused on a common theme and intention for the week. Archives
July 2025
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