Weekly Guidelines
Read this week's guidelines and be nourished as you journey with our Community in Cebu.
LoveWeek 3 (January 14 – 20, 2019) General Theme: Life and Love General Objective: - to present a quality and fullness of life that makes those who pray about this question strongly about their life - to show a superior life revealing the genuine identity of God and of humanity Objective of the week: - To present love as the driving force of life. To present the qualities of love
INTRODUCTION All human beings on earth have different definitions of LOVE. What is LOVE for you? This week we are to ponder that love as the true motor of our life. It makes us move, and maybe we can say that LOVE is the song that moves a person to dance with the rhythm of life. The question is, what qualities of love are you seeking for? Is it the truest of all love? Let us try to discover in our prayer this week where to find this authentic love that even the world cannot give. We need to be very observant and careful in seeking love of our life because LOVE nowadays is the most abused word. Let us look at the life of St. Paul, what makes him preach about love? Most probably at that time of his life, LOVE made him smile amidst rejection, it made him feel complete, gave meaning in everything that he was doing, gave a strong reason to survive. This also made his life beautiful to the point that he even was very brave in facing death, because of the love of Christ. We can say that the love of Christ is the driving force of St. Paul, why he was joyful amidst the challenges he met as a preacher of the love of God. So let us listen intently to the words of God, for it is the only way that leads us to discover God’s great love for us. Let us remember this: “That the word of God is a tree of life that offers us the blessed fruit from each branches ready for us to eat. It is also like the rock which was struck open in the wilderness, from which all were offered spiritual drink” (Prayer of Saint Ephraim, deacon). How beautiful if we can taste and see the love of God through Christ Jesus, as we listen to the words of God which is the source of true Love. MONDAY God is Love 1 John 4:8 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. Our God is love. This is all what God has. We are reminded to learn more of Him in order that we can also discover more of the treasure that God has given us. It is in His words that we will learn more of Him. God’s word is an exhaustible spring of life whose love is never ending. In what way can you learn more about our God? How important are the words of God in your life? TUESDAY True love moves our life 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. 2 I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned-- but if I have no love, this does me no good. Our life is short, we need to invest in the real treasure that can give us the real joy. As we listen to the words of God today, as shared by St. Paul with us, how do you see your life? What is love for you? If we look at the life of St. Paul, from Saul to Paul, what do you think is the secret of his life? What moved him to preach about love? Have you been in love? Does love makes you smile amidst rejection? Does love make your life complete and give a strong reason to survive? What makes your life beautiful? Love is the true driving force of our life. One can say that love makes him do things that he cannot do. WEDNESDAY True love provides 1 Corinthians 2:9 9 However, as the scripture says, “What no one ever saw or heard, what no one ever thought could happen, is the very thing God prepared for those who love him.” God is the number one person who loves us. He moves everything just for us, “His masterpiece.” How beautiful if our life will always recognize the love of God each day. Where do you find His love and be able to understand about it? Are you always ready to receive the love of God each day? How? Are you feeling hungry and thirsty for the love of God? THURSDAY Love of God is Christ Romans 8:35 35 Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? We need to discover the treasure in our life - the real treasure that is worthwhile investing. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover it today. Allow yourself to be open in order to find that the love of Christ is the real treasure where we can invest our life that will surely bring joy. Where do you invest your life? What is your life for? Our human love is a reflection of God’s love, but it must be anchored to the love of Christ. It is only Christ that can give us the real meaning of love. FRIDAY Love that conquers death 1 John 3:14 14 We know that we have left death and come over into life; we know it because we love others. Those who do not love are still under the power of death. It is worthwhile recognizing that the love of God is Christ who gives us His life. This is the kind of love that conquers death. We are reminded today to share our knowledge and experiences of the love of Christ as Verbum Dei disciples. How wonderful that others may discover the real treasure in their own lives when they see in their own eyes the way we live with the love of Christ in our life. Let us work hand in hand as Verbum Dei disciples in letting others find the Life-Love of Christ. SATURDAY Love is the greatest John 15: 15-16 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. The greatest love is to give your life for a friend. The authentic love is found in Jesus where love is eternal. How good if all of us can say to the world, “I found the authentic love of my life in the person of Jesus.” How beautiful life can be if we can always say that the love of Jesus carries me to where I am in my life. Have you found the authentic love of your life, where love is forever? Did it give meaning to your life? Are you attracted to the love of Jesus? Does it move you to love then? Does the love of Jesus guide and accompany you in your way of life? SUNDAY (Feast Day of Se͠nor Santo Ni͠no) 1st Reading – Isaiah 62:1-5
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 96 2nd Reading – 1 Cor 12:4-11 Gospel – John 2:1-11 |
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