Weekly Prayer Guidelines
Read this week's guidelines and be nourished as you journey with our Community in Cebu.
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INTRODUCTION
This week we are invited to deepen our life’s influence to the whole Body of Christ. The Mystical Body of today still continues suffering, dying, and rising in His members all around the world. We are encouraged to repeat in our lives the Pascal Mystery of Christ, his death and resurrection, for the redemption of humankind. Our sincere and profound gratitude to the Father moves us to apply to him, all our flesh and blood turn into pain and love in his own open wounds by us in his Mystical Body. We can only humbly promise him like the prophet David, “I will teach sinners your commands, and they will turn to you.”
Let our life be Christ; if we live, it is for Christ, if we die, it is for Christ. So whether we live or die, we belong to Christ. ( We feel one with Jesus the Head, who vitally affects and is affected by all the incidents of each one of his members, living reality, often cruel and demanding that Jesus transmits and manifests to us as his friends. In us he shelters and entrusts himself and entrusts in our hands his destiny in multitudes of our brothers and sisters, for whom he asks us to take our cross every day and to continue in us his greatest proof of love (VD Statues 252). “As for me, however, I will boast only about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are an irreplaceable member in his Body. We may have positive and negative influence, but in all things God works for good. He desires for us to be a life-giving member in his body that opts and chooses to do things that will lead others to salvation, healing, and freedom. The Body of Christ is in our hands; let us save it by our love.
A body calls also for a multiplicity of members, which are linked together in such a way as to help one another. As in the body, when one member suffers, all the other members share its pain, and the healthy members come to the assistance of the ailing. So in the Church the individual members do not live for themselves alone, but also help their fellow and all work in mutual collaboration for the common comfort and for the more perfect building up of the whole Body (Encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi Pius XII, No. 15).
Let our life be Christ; if we live, it is for Christ, if we die, it is for Christ. So whether we live or die, we belong to Christ. ( We feel one with Jesus the Head, who vitally affects and is affected by all the incidents of each one of his members, living reality, often cruel and demanding that Jesus transmits and manifests to us as his friends. In us he shelters and entrusts himself and entrusts in our hands his destiny in multitudes of our brothers and sisters, for whom he asks us to take our cross every day and to continue in us his greatest proof of love (VD Statues 252). “As for me, however, I will boast only about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are an irreplaceable member in his Body. We may have positive and negative influence, but in all things God works for good. He desires for us to be a life-giving member in his body that opts and chooses to do things that will lead others to salvation, healing, and freedom. The Body of Christ is in our hands; let us save it by our love.
A body calls also for a multiplicity of members, which are linked together in such a way as to help one another. As in the body, when one member suffers, all the other members share its pain, and the healthy members come to the assistance of the ailing. So in the Church the individual members do not live for themselves alone, but also help their fellow and all work in mutual collaboration for the common comfort and for the more perfect building up of the whole Body (Encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi Pius XII, No. 15).
MONDAY
GOD’S PROMISE IS RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH
(Feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
GOD’S PROMISE IS RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH
(Feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
“When God promised Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him, he did so, not because Abraham obeyed the Law, but because he believed and was accepted as righteous by God. And so the promise was based on faith, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God’s free gift to all of Abraham’s descendants-—not just to those who obey the Law but also to those who believe as Abraham did. For Abraham is the spiritual father of us all; as the scripture says, “I have made you father of many nations.” So the promise is good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed—the God who brings the dead to life and whose command brings into being what did not exist. Abraham believed and hoped, even when there was no reason for hoping, and so became “the father of many nations.” Just as the scripture says’ “Your descendants will be as many as the stars. That is why Abraham, through faith, was accepted as righteous by God.
God is faithful in his covenant with his people who believes in him, just as he did to Abraham and to all of us who believed. The faithfulness of God in his covenant reciprocates the faithfulness we have for him. The faith of our spiritual father Abraham, who has gone before us and is still connected to us in the Mystical Body of Christ, affects us greatly and leads us to trust in God the way he did.
How is my faith in God? Is my faith affecting others?
“When God promised Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him, he did so, not because Abraham obeyed the Law, but because he believed and was accepted as righteous by God. And so the promise was based on faith, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God’s free gift to all of Abraham’s descendants-—not just to those who obey the Law but also to those who believe as Abraham did. For Abraham is the spiritual father of us all; as the scripture says, “I have made you father of many nations.” So the promise is good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed—the God who brings the dead to life and whose command brings into being what did not exist. Abraham believed and hoped, even when there was no reason for hoping, and so became “the father of many nations.” Just as the scripture says’ “Your descendants will be as many as the stars. That is why Abraham, through faith, was accepted as righteous by God.
God is faithful in his covenant with his people who believes in him, just as he did to Abraham and to all of us who believed. The faithfulness of God in his covenant reciprocates the faithfulness we have for him. The faith of our spiritual father Abraham, who has gone before us and is still connected to us in the Mystical Body of Christ, affects us greatly and leads us to trust in God the way he did.
How is my faith in God? Is my faith affecting others?
TUESDAY
GOD’S MERCY ABOUNDS
GOD’S MERCY ABOUNDS
Num 21:4-9
“The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road that leads to the Gulf of Aqaba, in order to go around the territory of Edom. But on the way the people lost their patience and spoke against God and Moses. They complained, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this dessert, where there is no food or water? We can’t stand any more of this miserable food! Then the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many Israelites were bitten and died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Now pray to the Lord to take these snakes away.” So Moses prayed for Moses to make a metal snake and put it on a pole so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and be healed. So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten would look at the bronze snake and be healed.
Along in our journey sometimes, our faith gets weak then we get impatient and fail, and most of the time tag others to do the same. But God understands our frailty; he still desires for us to be clean and be part of him. Though there are consequences of all our actions, still if we pray and ask God with faith.God shows mercy and brings us healing and salvation.
When things don’t seem to go our way, how do we react? How does it affect others?
“The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road that leads to the Gulf of Aqaba, in order to go around the territory of Edom. But on the way the people lost their patience and spoke against God and Moses. They complained, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this dessert, where there is no food or water? We can’t stand any more of this miserable food! Then the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many Israelites were bitten and died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Now pray to the Lord to take these snakes away.” So Moses prayed for Moses to make a metal snake and put it on a pole so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and be healed. So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten would look at the bronze snake and be healed.
Along in our journey sometimes, our faith gets weak then we get impatient and fail, and most of the time tag others to do the same. But God understands our frailty; he still desires for us to be clean and be part of him. Though there are consequences of all our actions, still if we pray and ask God with faith.God shows mercy and brings us healing and salvation.
When things don’t seem to go our way, how do we react? How does it affect others?
WEDNESDAY
JESUS SETS US FREE
JESUS SETS US FREE
Jn 8:31-42
“So Jesus said to those who believed in him. “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” We are the descendants of Abraham,” they answered, “and we have never been anybody’s slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying,” You will be free?” Jesus said to them, “I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me, because you will not accept my teaching. I talk about what my Father has shown me, but you do what your father had told you. They answered him. “our father is Abraham. If you really were Abraham’s children,” Jesus replied, “you would do the same things that he did. All I have ever done is to tell you the truth I heard from God, yet you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like this! You are doing what you father did. God himself is the only Father we have they answered, and we are his true sons. Jesus said to them If God really were your Father, you would love me because I came from God and now I am here, I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me.”
Our freedom goes with our faith in Christ—for Christ is the truth and the truth will set us free. There are a lot of slaveries that we are still entangled with and God desires for us to be free, but that entails great trust in Christ, our head. How can the body be free if its members do not obey and believe its Head?
What slavery does Christ want to free us in this moment of our journey? Are we willing to be free?
“So Jesus said to those who believed in him. “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” We are the descendants of Abraham,” they answered, “and we have never been anybody’s slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying,” You will be free?” Jesus said to them, “I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me, because you will not accept my teaching. I talk about what my Father has shown me, but you do what your father had told you. They answered him. “our father is Abraham. If you really were Abraham’s children,” Jesus replied, “you would do the same things that he did. All I have ever done is to tell you the truth I heard from God, yet you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like this! You are doing what you father did. God himself is the only Father we have they answered, and we are his true sons. Jesus said to them If God really were your Father, you would love me because I came from God and now I am here, I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me.”
Our freedom goes with our faith in Christ—for Christ is the truth and the truth will set us free. There are a lot of slaveries that we are still entangled with and God desires for us to be free, but that entails great trust in Christ, our head. How can the body be free if its members do not obey and believe its Head?
What slavery does Christ want to free us in this moment of our journey? Are we willing to be free?
THURSDAY
JESUS SUFFERS FOR ME AS I SUFFER FOR MY BRETHREN
JESUS SUFFERS FOR ME AS I SUFFER FOR MY BRETHREN
Phil 4:12-13
“I know what it is to be in want and what it is to have plenty. I am trained for both: to be hungry or satisfied, to have much or little. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
In Christ all things are possible, in the littleness and plenty that we have all has been given and all we need to do is to be thankful that when we are hungry ,we share with the hunger of others, and when we are in plenty we share in the satisfaction of others. So let us be contented with Christ who gives us strength.
Have I been contented with what Christ wants me to experience in my life? Have I recognized that he is teaching me the way of life so I can be sensitive to the needs of the other parts of his Body?
“I know what it is to be in want and what it is to have plenty. I am trained for both: to be hungry or satisfied, to have much or little. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
In Christ all things are possible, in the littleness and plenty that we have all has been given and all we need to do is to be thankful that when we are hungry ,we share with the hunger of others, and when we are in plenty we share in the satisfaction of others. So let us be contented with Christ who gives us strength.
Have I been contented with what Christ wants me to experience in my life? Have I recognized that he is teaching me the way of life so I can be sensitive to the needs of the other parts of his Body?
FRIDAY
JESUS WORKS FOR MY GOODNESS; I DO THE SAME
JESUS WORKS FOR MY GOODNESS; I DO THE SAME
Jn 10:31-42
Then the people again picked up stones to throw at him. Jesus said to them. I have done many good deeds in your presence which the Father gave me to do for which one of these do you want to stone me? They answered, we do not want to stone you because of any good deeds but because of your blasphemy! You are only a man, but you are trying to make yourself God. Jesus answered, it is written in your own Law that God said, you are gods. We know that what the scripture says is true forever, and God called those people gods, the people to whom his message was given. As for me, the Father chose me and sent me into the world. How then, can you say that I blaspheme because I said that I am the Son of God? Do not believe me, then, if I am not doing the thins my Father wants me to do. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, you should at least believe my deeds, in order that you may know once and for all that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father. Once more they tried to seize Jesus, but he slipped out of their hands. Jesus then went back again across the Jordan River to the place where John had been baptizing, and he stayed there. Many people came to him, John performed no miracles they said but everything he said about this man was true. And many people there believed in him.
All the works of Jesus in our lives make us a believer of Him. And all the good works that we do lead our brothers and sisters to believe in Christ.
As a part of the Body of Christ, what does Christ invite me to do for him that I may be a giver life to my brother and sisters?
Then the people again picked up stones to throw at him. Jesus said to them. I have done many good deeds in your presence which the Father gave me to do for which one of these do you want to stone me? They answered, we do not want to stone you because of any good deeds but because of your blasphemy! You are only a man, but you are trying to make yourself God. Jesus answered, it is written in your own Law that God said, you are gods. We know that what the scripture says is true forever, and God called those people gods, the people to whom his message was given. As for me, the Father chose me and sent me into the world. How then, can you say that I blaspheme because I said that I am the Son of God? Do not believe me, then, if I am not doing the thins my Father wants me to do. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, you should at least believe my deeds, in order that you may know once and for all that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father. Once more they tried to seize Jesus, but he slipped out of their hands. Jesus then went back again across the Jordan River to the place where John had been baptizing, and he stayed there. Many people came to him, John performed no miracles they said but everything he said about this man was true. And many people there believed in him.
All the works of Jesus in our lives make us a believer of Him. And all the good works that we do lead our brothers and sisters to believe in Christ.
As a part of the Body of Christ, what does Christ invite me to do for him that I may be a giver life to my brother and sisters?
SATURDAY
JESUS WORKS OUT OF LOVE; LET US HELP SAVE HIS BODY OUT OF LOVE
JESUS WORKS OUT OF LOVE; LET US HELP SAVE HIS BODY OUT OF LOVE
Jn 11:45-56
Many of the people who had come to visit Mary saw what Jesus did, and they believed in him. But some of them returned to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the Pharisees and the chief priests met with the Council and said, what shall we do? Look at all the miracles this man is performing. If we let him go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Roman authorities will take action and destroy our Temple and our nation! One of them named Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, said What fools you are! Don’t you realize that it is better for you to have one man die for the people, instead of having the whole nation destroyed? Actually, he did not say this of his own accord, rather as he was High Priest that year he was prophesying that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish people and not only for them, but also to bring together into one body all the scattered people of God. From that day on the Jewish authorities made plans to kill Jesus So Jesus did not travel openly in Judea, but left and went to a place near the desert, to a town named Ephraim, where he stayed with the disciples. The time for the Passover Festival was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to perform the ritual of purification before the festival. They were looking for Jesus and as they gathered in the temple, they asked one another What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival will he?
Fears hinder salvation. Love conquers fear and leads to salvation. Jesus sacrificed himself because of love. Let us help in saving the Crucified Body of Christ by forgiving and loving our brethren.
Who are the concrete people with whom Christ wants to give my forgiveness and love?
Many of the people who had come to visit Mary saw what Jesus did, and they believed in him. But some of them returned to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the Pharisees and the chief priests met with the Council and said, what shall we do? Look at all the miracles this man is performing. If we let him go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Roman authorities will take action and destroy our Temple and our nation! One of them named Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, said What fools you are! Don’t you realize that it is better for you to have one man die for the people, instead of having the whole nation destroyed? Actually, he did not say this of his own accord, rather as he was High Priest that year he was prophesying that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish people and not only for them, but also to bring together into one body all the scattered people of God. From that day on the Jewish authorities made plans to kill Jesus So Jesus did not travel openly in Judea, but left and went to a place near the desert, to a town named Ephraim, where he stayed with the disciples. The time for the Passover Festival was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to perform the ritual of purification before the festival. They were looking for Jesus and as they gathered in the temple, they asked one another What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival will he?
Fears hinder salvation. Love conquers fear and leads to salvation. Jesus sacrificed himself because of love. Let us help in saving the Crucified Body of Christ by forgiving and loving our brethren.
Who are the concrete people with whom Christ wants to give my forgiveness and love?
SUNDAY
Passion (Palm Sunday)
Passion (Palm Sunday)
 | Reading: Mark 11:1-10 First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm: Psalm 22 Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47 |
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