Weekly Guidelines
Read this week's guidelines and be nourished as you journey with our Community in Cebu.
 “The will of the Father… that everyone may have eternal life.”(c.f. John 6:40) April 29- May 5, 2019 General Theme: Your Life is Love General Objective: -To present the person’s identity as the child of God and that they share in the same Life of the Father. Specific Objective: To continue to live this new life, opting for eternal life
INTRODUCTION
Eternal life establishes one of the strongest pillars of truth in our faith as Christians, and as Verbum Dei. It is necessary for us to find that our life,no matter who we are or what we do, even when it passes away, all that we are is for something that is eternal. In our baptism, we are born again in water and in the Spirit of God. Through the renewal of our baptismal vows, we are cleansed from all the things that prevents us from renewing our way of life towards God. This Spirit of God within each one is the same spirit that desires communion, love, understanding, peace,among others. It leads us into the experience of God’s presence in our life and allows us to recognize and believe that truly He is alive in our lives and that of others. So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water (Hebrews 10:22) and learn to listen again and again to His words. There are many things regarding our faith, events that are happening in our life that perhaps we mit not understand and it is where we are invited by Jesus to enter into a new relationship with God, in personally experiencing a deeper trust and love for Him. God is always faithful even when we doubt, fear or lose hope when we face him in prayer, or in our cross and mission. Why?Because He desires that all may have life. What He desires is only what is good and life-giving in our lives. Jesus came to us as a hope that through Him we may truly come to believe in this life meant for eternity. And so “Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together...(Hebrews 10:24-25) in prayer and in mission as a family and community. Let us learn to allow this precious gift to be unwrapped and shared to all, like a spring of water flowing and giving life to many. Above all, let us strive to nourish our faith, the seed of God’s eternal life. MONDAY St. Catherine of Sienna Need to be born from above Jn 3:3-6 3 Jesus answered, “I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again.” 4 “How can a grown man be born again?” Nicodemus asked. “He certainly cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time!” 5 “I am telling you the truth,” replied Jesus, “that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. A person is born physically of human parents, but is born spiritually of the Spirit. Jesus invites us to be born from above, and to allow the Spirit to lead and guide us into a deeper life of faith. Through the renewal of our baptismal vows, we are cleansed and given a life renewed in the Spirit of God. This Spirit within us makes us witnesses of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, graciousness, and compassion in our lives, also in our brothers and sisters. As a witness in faith, do I also proclaim to others this desire of God that all his children may become witnesses of his grace and mercy, taking a deeper step into faith? TUESDAY Being of one heart and mind Acts 4:32 The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. Living life in faith with the Spirit, allows us to see realities with the eyes of God and respond in the same way his heart responds to the needs of his beloved children. This is how eternal life fills our life with the joy of living in communion with someone who is eternal. How am I striving to cultivate and strengthen my communion with God and with others? Have I also urged others towards this communion? WEDNESDAY St. Joseph Tell about this life Jn.3:16-21 16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.18 Those who believe in the Son are not judged; but those who do not believe have already been judged, because they have not believed in God's only Son. 19 This is how the judgment works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. 20 Those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light in order that the light may show that what they did was in obedience to God. Faith comes from believing in God for who he really is for us, not for who we think he is. It is in truly knowing God and seeing him at work in our lives from the very beginning.Through faith, He is able to show us the way to a life in freedom out of our darkness, in truth out of our lie, in fullness out of our incapabilities. Am I a faithful witness of God’s work in my life? In living for what is true, do I succumb to the judgment of others or value God’s will for my life? How am I bearing this faith that I may also share it to others? THURSDAY St. Athanasius Believe in the Son Jn 3:35-36 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything in his power. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not have life, but will remain under God's punishment. Only Jesus can lead us to eternal life.Faith in Him brings forth quality of lives that live to last for eternity. For He, though God, also lives with us as human and in His life we witness a life in truth, freedom and love for the Father. This is how faith in Him, leads us to also persevere in a life lived in truth, obedience, and love not out of fear, doubt and anxiety. Does our faith also move us to allow this eternal life to flow to others as well? How can I affirm others and help them live in a way that can strengthen their faith in Jesus? FRIDAY Feast of Sts. Philip & James Work for the food that endures for Eternal life Jn 6:27 Do not work for food that spoils; instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life. This is the food which the Son of Man will give you, because God, the Father, has put his mark of approval on him.” Living this gift of eternal life means for us to live and invest in the things that does not give us temporary happiness or satisfaction, but rather true fulfilment and security in what God is giving us - life of His Son,so that we may live just as He have lived in the fullness of faith, hope and love in the Father. What do we often do to get approval of others? Do we also seek God’s approval? How can I also encourage others to strive for this kind of food that does not spoil? SATURDAY The bread of life gives life to the world Jn. 6:33 For the bread that God gives is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” We have been a witness of Christ’s resurrection in our lives and the many lives of our brothers and sisters. However, not all are able to allow themselves to receive this kind of bread that brings nourishment from God. At times we are blinded, picky, reluctant and resistant. Yet, God desires for all of his creation to be filled with the life that His son, Jesus, gives again and again until all receive and be nourished by this life-giving bread. How often do I welcome to receive the coming of this Jesus in my life? How am I sharing this life-giving bread to the world, beginning with those who are closest to me? SUNDAY 3rd Sunday of Easter First Reading: Acts 5:27-32,40b-41 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13 2nd Reading: Revelations 5:11-14 Gospel: John 21:1-19 |
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