Weekly Prayer Guidelines
Read this week's guidelines and be nourished as you journey with our Community in Cebu.
 “Go and evangelize, live out your identity!”Week V (June 29 – July 5, 2020) General Theme: Called to be the Word of God in the world of today General Objective: To live our identity as Verbum Dei in the world of today, relying on the grace of God. Specific Objective: To live with the same conviction of our founder Fr. Jaime Bonet, as Word of God and evangelizer to the world.
INTRODUCTION Our identity as Verbum Dei, by making flesh in us the Word of God, calls us to a very concrete mission where we are now, in the world of today. Even though at times in our journey of faith, we find ourselves divided, distracted or unmotivated by the reality that is happening around us, let us learn that in these moments the more we need to come closer to God and to listen to His Word. United with our brothers and sisters who are suffering in this time of pandemic, may we find strength in the conviction of our founder, Fr. Jaime, on living this identity of being the Word of the Living God, as written in the Herald of the Evangelizer. "It is as impossible for me to leave, as it would be for me to renounce living, and renounce the fact that my brothers and sisters may have life and have it to the full. To not evangelize would be equivalent to burying the talents that God has entrusted to me, for myself and for everyone. It is an even greater urgency, when his/her mission not only affects his/her own life but implies the temporal and eternal destiny of a multitude of brothers and sisters." Being the Word of God sent out to the world, it is necessary that we have in us a clear and firm missionary intention. Why do I want to evangelize, to announce the Good News of the Kingdom? Why do I want to dedicate myself to the propagation of the Faith to the ends of the earth? Why do I want to preach the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth and consecrate the whole of my life to prayer and ministry of the Word? MONDAY (Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul) To Communicate the Good News Because I want to communicate “...the Good News to the afflicted, to soothe the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, release to those in prison and proclaim a year of favor of the Lord…” (Is 61:1-2). So that “the lame walk, those suffering from virulent skin-diseases are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life...” (Mt 11:4-6) - Fr. Jaime Bonet Isaiah 61:1-2 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted; To proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners; To announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God; To comfort all who mourn. Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” In our recent situation now, our identity being Good News cannot but urge us to reach out to many of our brothers and sisters that are afflicted, broken hearted, imprisoned by negativities, unable to find strength to hope. How do we become Good News to the people God has placed in our care? Do we reach out to them in whatever ways so their weakened hope may be strengthened? TUESDAY To see a radiant light Because I yearn to change hatred into love, sadness into joy, anguish and despair into optimism and hope, sickness and death into life and resurrection. Because I am eager to see a radiant light dawn on so many gloomy faces, in so many extinguished lives, in so many desolate hearts, and in so many peoples that live in darkness and in the shadow of death. - Fr. Jaime Bonet Isaiah 42:7 To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Because of the uncertainty this pandemic brings to us, many are experiencing anxiety and depression, not knowing how to manage emotions. This can come up in our conversation with people. How do we listen to what people share to us? Do we lead them to experience light, consolation, certainty in the God who is committed with our lives? WEDNESDAY To show the path to life Because I want to put into movement so many paralyzed lives that are without direction or meaning, without the desire to live; lives that are bored and lethargic, with doubts and suspicions, uncertainty and indecision; lives that are empty and broken by disabling complexes. - Fr. Jaime Bonet Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever. children of light. We have been in our homes for more than three months because of this virulent virus. Many of the people, especially the young ones, are already dead bored staying at home, getting already crazy being in one place for so long a time. How do we allow our identity to make us creative of the time given us? THURSDAY To enjoy the warmth of a loving home Because I long for families to enjoy the warmth of a loving home, instead of the cold atmosphere of a cemetery, without even the embers of love and intimacy, affection and care, and the spontaneity and joy that is fruitful and creative. - Fr. Jaime Bonet 2 Corinthians 6:16 I will make my home with my people and lived among them. I will be their God and they shall be my people. Many of us are spending these more than three months of lockdown with our families. At times we get along well with each other. But there are moments that our patience is tested and at times it doesn’t do well in our relationship. How do we approach conflict? Do we let conflict grow in the cold atmosphere (like that of the cemetery) at our homes? Or do we allow humility, gentle compassion to rebuild our relationship again as a family? FRIDAY (Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle) To inject life I want to run and untie the rope of millions and millions of young people that in a contagious desperation alienate themselves seeking a collective suicide. I want to inject life with my own blood to those who, in their delirium, renounce life and bury themselves alive. And shout to all of them with the powerful voice of the Gospel: “Get up and live!” (cfr. Lk 7:14) . - Fr. Jaime Bonet Luke 7:14 He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” Since we are at home, we have lots of time in everything. One of the things that perhaps we have our time with, is in the social media. How does our own post encourage life, flourishing of the human person, and not bashing or shaming the other? Are we aware that what we post there can uplift others, challenge them to fight for life more than giving up on it? SATURDAY To have the light of life Only the Gospel of Jesus has the necessary strength and power to transform the wretchedness that corrupts today’s environments into a generating energy of abundant life. I know that with the Gospel the light of day will penetrate many homes that are presently in the night of sorrow. - Fr. Jaime Bonet John 8:12 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When we look beyond ourselves and our own needs and sufferings, we can see that others suffer even more because of the injustices of those who hold power and authority. But what is really necessary in this time? What discourages us in proclaiming the gospel? Do we turn to the Word of God when we lose strength and hope? Do we allow God to give light to our realities or do we give in only to our own thoughts? SUNDAY 1st Reading: Zec 9:9-10
Resp. Psalm: Ps.145:1-14 2nd Reading: Rom 8:9-13 Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30 |
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