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This week, we will pray on the third missionary journey of Paul where he spent most of his time in Ephesus before going to Jerusalem. In this journey, Paul continued to experience threats and plots against his life. Yet, with God's provision and his willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ, the communities continue to grow in number and in faith. MONDAY (MAY 6) Acts 19 After revisiting some communities in Chapter 18, Paul started his 3rd missionary in Ephesus where he baptized the believers with the Holy Spirit and continued preaching the Word of God. There, a certain riot happened initiated by a certain silversmith named Demetrius whose business was crafting hand-made gods. Threatened by the preaching of St. Paul about the true God, he gathered the workers and those in his same business and caused an uproar or a mob in their area. Reflecting on our journey, do we also have 'little' and 'false' gods that replace the true God in our life? Sometimes, without realising it, we could allow power, fame, authority, richness to take control over our life. Our priorities could become be that of defending our worldly possessions than nourishing our relationship with God and loving our brothers and sisters. Today, let us take a moment to examine our priorities in life. What are the priorities I have? Do they help me grow closer to God? Does my priority include growing in integration of prayer in my daily life? TUESDAY (MAY 7) Acts 20 In this chapter, Paul continued to encourage and perform miracle. In the last part (Acts 20:17-38), he gave his farewell message to the elders of Ephesus. In his speech, he described his own journey of preaching the Good News and creating evangelizing communities, emphasizing the need for humility, selflessness, boldness, fidelity, commitment, generosity and hardwork as an apostle of Christ. He reminded them of their responsibility of taking care their own life of faith and that of the others. He commended them to the care of God and blessed them with his prayers. Today, take time to read slowly the farewell message of St. Paul. Imagine yourself at his place, and looking at your own life, how would you describe your own missionary journey of being an apostle of Jesus as a parent, child, sibling, co-worker, Verbum Dei disicple, etc.? What attitudes of St. Paul you could see you are living or trying to live out? Where do you think you need to grow more? WEDNESDAY (MAY 8) Acts 21 In this chapter, Paul went to Jerusalem. But before that, some believers begged him not to go to Jerusalem and warned him of the danger that he might encounter there. Yet with conviction, Paul told them, "What are you doing, crying like this and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13) Not being able to be convinced by anybody, he pushed through going to Jerusalem. In the missionary journey of Paul so far, we have seen how he indeed embraced death, not physically, but death to his own convenience, safety, comfort and preference in order to allow God's Word to be transmitted to all. And through this 'deaths,' many received the gift of faith in Christ. What about us? How do we embrace the 'deaths' that it entails from us to incarnate the life of Christ in the reality where we are? Do we embrace it with conviction and consistency as well like St. Paul? What is it that needs to die in us to allow God to work in us and through us? It could be attitudes or habits that take us away from God and the mission He calls us to live. THURSDAY (MAY 9) Acts 22 Accused of betraying Israel, Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and a mob was trying to kill him. With the permission of the Roman commander, Paul spoke in front of the people to defend himself by sharing his conversion story. His experience of conversion indeed gave him a solid reason and motivated him to transmit God's life and love despite the persecutions. He held on to that fundamental experience of encountering Jesus and receiving the call to preach to the Gentiles. What about you? Do you still remember your own conversion story? What convictions do you have after that encounter with Jesus? What are the fundamental experiences you have that really made you persevere in your following up until now? FRIDAY (MAY 10) Acts 23 In this chapter, Paul was brought before the council for questioning. He was able to delay the investigation by creating an argument between the Pharisees and Saducees. There was also a plot against his life planned by some Jews that was disrupted because his nephew heard about it and alerted the commander regarding the plan. Paul experienced God's protection and provision on that very moment. This had been his experience all throughout His missionary journey being faced by many oppositions as he preached Jesus as the Messiah wherever He went. This, too, is our confidence in our personal and communal following of Jesus. We can always rely on God's provision and protection. Indeed, when He calls, He gives us necessary graces to fulfill whatever mission He entrusted to us in our family, workplace, community, etc. What graces do you want to ask God for in this time? Why? PRAYER FOR THE CONGRESS To be held in Loeches, Spain from August 30 – September 27, 2024 “Communion, Consecration and Participation in the Mission Father, you who create and sustain all things with your love, we ask you to make us artisans of communion, so that as we journey towards the Congress we may know how to welcome the diversity that characterises us as the Verbum Dei Missionary Family.
Jesus, human face of God, consecrate us to your Word so that the Congress may be prepared and carried out in profound fidelity to your voice, listening to each one of us and to the signs of the times. Holy Spirit, you who open rivers in the desert, guide us in this time of discernment and decision, so that we may live, embody and offer our charism ever more fully, so that all the baptised may participate in the mission of Jesus entrusted to the Church. Accompany us, Mary, with your loving motherly presence and intercession, so that this Congress may be a channel of hope in which God transforms us and makes all things new. Amen.
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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
January 2025
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