 
General Theme: Pilgrims of Hope General Objective: To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year Objective of the week: To strengthen our faith and commitment to the Gospel through acts of compassion, outreach, and perseverance. MONDAY Genesis 28:10-22; Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it[a] stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[b] I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel,[c] though the city used to be called Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord[d] will be my God 22 and[e] this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Matthew 9:18-26; While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region. "In you my God, I place my trust."(Ps. 91:2) There are times that we are beset by unfavorable circumstances. We feel that life is so unfair and we are overwhelmed with burdens and trials. Let us not be carried away by our downfalls. We know Jesus who is always there for us instead, let us ask Him to help us carry our burdens and heal our pains and transform our sorrows into joy. In this gospel account of Matthew, the two people who are desperately troubled cling to Jesus and are relieved from their anguish because of their great faith. How about us? This is a picture of how we must live as believers of Christ. Even though we have individual difficulties, we should not dwell on them but be hopeful, focus on the Lord and believe His saving power to heal and transform us that though we have burdens to carry but certainly joyful. Suffering is a blessing in disguise to help us grow into better and mature followers of Jesus. It is an opportunity to trust in the Lord, persevere in our prayers and experience His healing power and grace. Blessed are we who experience difficulties because in the Lord we place our trust. It is also a call to reach out to our brothers and sisters to share how great is the Lord, especially those who do not know Jesus. Let us be a blessing to them by helping them recognize the compassionate heart of Jesus.
TUESDAY Genesis 32:23-33; After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[a] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel,[b] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,[c] and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon. Matthew 9:32-38; While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Jesus heals and restores. The mute man’s healing is a sign of the Kingdom breaking into the world. Where there is silence, now there is speech. Where there was bondage, now there is freedom. This is what the Gospel does-it restores what was broken and gives voice to the voiceless. When Jesus looks at the crowds, He doesn’t see inconvenience or weakness. He sees people in need of love, guidance, and truth. His heart is moved, not with pity but with deep compassion that leads to action.
WEDNESDAY Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7,17-24; When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.” When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere. So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also. Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” And he put them all in custody for three days. On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do. They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter. He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes. Matthew 10:1-7; Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ As followers of Christ, we are called and sent to be Christ to others especially to those who are in need. To bring Christ to others is to bring the kingdom of heaven closer to our brothers and sisters. It is our mission to carry out forgiveness, providence, and the slow work of reconciliation, in spite of all the injustices that we may encounter in our life. We are shown how God equips ordinary people to be His messengers of guidance, healing, and to live in His wonders through healing and liberation. As disciples of Christ, we are called in our daily lives to carry His message - not always through preaching, but through compassion, action, and presence. Are we willing to answer that call?
THURSDAY Genesis 44:18-21,23-29,45:1-5; Then Judah went up to him and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, let me speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ And we answered, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’ “Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.’ But you told your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said. “Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy a little more food.’ But we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ “Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since. If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’ Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. Matthew 10:7-15; As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. As VDMD, we are commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the kingdom of God with ardent passion. We received the kingdom first and lived it with conviction. It is then our duty as disciples, to proclaim it to others. We are reminded in the passage 1 Cor. 16 of this obligation before God: For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. We are convinced that the Good News is the antidote that can heal the spiritual dryness of our modern society today. We witness current situations of lack of hope, peace, joy and love thus, the urgency of the Gospel to be proclaimed. We do not need to go on mission trips to proclaim the Good News because the mission is right before our very own home with our loved ones, in our school, in our workplace and in our very own neighborhood. Let us remember that what we received freely should be given freely. Jesus reminds us that our love for Him will lead us to be sensitive for our love of others. And this is enough to embark, to wear the sandal and to proclaim the Gospel each day; and be an instrument of hope, peace, joy and love to others.
FRIDAY Genesis 46;1-7, 28-30; So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” 5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring. 28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father[a] and wept for a long time. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.” Matthew 10:16-23; “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. How are we today as disciples of Christ Jesus? We are again invited to listen to him attentively. So that we can hear his voice clearly as he calls us. For he needs us to be sent out as laborers of the Gospel. Jesus is so clear that as we are sent, we really have to face difficulties. Though he gives a consoling assurance that we are under the care of our loving Father in heaven. As he said, "When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."( Matthew 10:19-20) No matter what happens, we need to strengthen our faith and commitment that God is in charge! Especially when we are in difficulty as his followers, when we reach out for others. We only need to focus on his presence. By being close to him through listening more of his words in prayer. In order to be always aware of his presence in us. Remember we are not the only one hoping and trusting the Lord. He himself is also hoping and trusting us being the laborers of his words. Yes, we may face contradictions. But this will also be the moment where we are tested and sharpened to be more compassionate in the middle of hardships. This can make us more stronger and determined to go further in our journey as his disciples. This can also make us persevere in holding on our faith that God is always with us. He himself is guiding us all the time through the whole journey. What he needs from us, is our sincere "YES" to be sent out. Having a sincere acceptance that the Lord does not call us to be comfortable, successful, or popular. But he does call us to be faithful and committed. He hopes that when we are called by him we will respond with an obedient faith. Let us ask the help of our Mother Mary, that we may have an attitude as in Ps 37:4 that says, " Take delight in the Lord, and he will grant you your heart's request." Let us thank the Lord for trusting and sending us to transform the world. But this will only happen if we are also open and willing to be transformed through God's power of love at work in us. Where we learn to seek our happiness in the Lord our God.
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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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
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