Weekly Guidelines
Read this week's guidelines and be nourished as you journey with our Community in Cebu.
 The Return to Nazareth“Reviving the gift that is in you” February 8-14, 2021 Objective of the Week: To live our identity in the ordinariness of our daily life, learning from Jesus in his hidden life in Nazareth
Nazareth – school of the Gospel
Nazareth is the school in which we begin to understand the life of Jesus. It is the school of the Gospel. Here we learn to observe, to listen, to meditate, and to penetrate the profound and mysterious meaning of that simple, humble, and lovely manifestation of the Son of God. And perhaps we learn almost imperceptibly to imitate Him. Here we learn the method by which we can come to understand Christ. Here we discover the need to observe the milieu of His sojourn among us – places, period of time, customs, language, religious practices, all of which Jesus used to reveal Himself to the world. Here everything speaks to us; everything has meaning. Everything possesses twofold significance…It is here, in this school, that one comes to grasp how necessary it is to be spiritually disciplined, if one wishes to follow the teachings of the Gospel and to become a follower of Christ. Oh, how We would like to repeat, so close to Mary, Our introduction to the genuine knowledge of the meaning of life, and to the higher wisdom of divine truth! (Reflections at Nazareth, Pope Paul VI) MONDAY (St. Jerome Emiliani & St. Josephine Bakhita) When Joseph and Mary had finished doing all that was required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. The child grew and became strong; he was full of wisdom, and God’s blessings were upon him. Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual. When the festival was over, they started back home, but the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this; they thought that he was with the group, so they traveled a whole day and then started looking for him among their relatives and friends. They did not find him, so they went back to Jerusalem looking for him. On the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. Lk.2:39-46 What do you think has made Jesus to grow, became strong, and full of wisdom? TUESDAY 46 “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” answered Philip. John 1:46 What is your notion of Nazareth? What do you consider as your Nazareth? WEDNESDAY (St. Scholastica) 19 Mary remembered all these things and thought deeply about them. Lk.2:19 The lesson of silence: may there return to us an appreciation of this stupendous and indispensable spiritual condition, deafened as we are by so much tumult, so much noise, so many voices of our chaotic and frenzied modern life. O silence of Nazareth, teach us recollection, reflection, and eagerness to heed the good inspirations and words of true teachers; teach us the need and value of preparation, of study, of meditation, of interior life, of secret prayer seen by God alone. (Reflections at Nazareth, Pope Paul VI) What can I also be learning from Mary being in Nazareth? THURSDAY (Our Lady of Lourdes) (World Day of the Sick) 30 “I can do nothing on my own authority; I judge only as God tells me, so my judgment is right, because I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants. John 5:30 51 So Jesus went back with them to Nazareth, where he was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favor with God and people. Luke 2:51-52 What is Jesus teaching us in his life in Nazareth? In what way am I invited to live it out in my daily life? FRIDAY (St. Febronia) 16 Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath he went as usual to the synagogue. He stood up to read the Scriptures 17 and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written,18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed19 and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.”20 Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him, 21 as he said to them, “This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read.” 22 They were all well impressed with him and marveled at the eloquent words that he spoke. They said, “Isn't he the son of Joseph?” Luke 4:16-22 Like Jesus, am I willing to assume with responsibility whatever it may bring the Word that He expresses to me in prayer? SATURDAY (St. Catherine de Ricci) The next day John was standing there again with two of his disciples, 36 when he saw Jesus walking by. “There is the Lamb of God!” he said.37 The two disciples heard him say this and went with Jesus. 38 Jesus turned, saw them following him, and asked, “What are you looking for?” They answered, “Where do you live, Rabbi?” (This word means “Teacher.”)39 “Come and see,” he answered. (It was then about four o'clock in the afternoon.) So they went with him and saw where he lived, and spent the rest of that day with him. John 1:35-39 What attracts me to continue to follow Jesus? Can others be drawn to live in a similar way from what we have witnessed from Jesus? 6th SUNDAY in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: Lev 13:1-2,44-46 Resp. Psalm: Psalm 32 2nd Reading: 1 Cor 10:31-11:1 Gospel: Mark 1:40-45 |
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