Author Archive: admin

EPIFANIA DEL SEÑOR – CICLO A

Posted on by

EPIFANIA DEL SEÑOR – CICLO A

ANTES DE COMENZAR:

Ora y pídele a Dios que te hable a través de Su Espíritu Santo. “EL ESPIRITU SANTO INTERPRETE, QUE EL PADRE LES ENVIARA EN MI NOMBRE, LES VA A ENSEÑAR TODAS LAS COSAS Y LES RECORDARA TODAS MIS PALABRAS.”  (JUAN 14:26)

PRIMER DIA  Vuelve a leer las lecturas de la semana pasada.

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue el mensaje qué recibiste de la homilía o de las lecturas que oíste en misa el domingo?

 

  1. ¿De lo que aprendiste, qué escogiste para aplicar a tu vida esta semana?

 

SEGUNDO DIA                                 LEE ISAIAS 60:1-6                         PRIMERA LECTURA

(“Pero sobre ti se levanta El Señor.”)

  1. ¿A que están siendo llamados los Israelitas, la luz de quien ha llegado y brilla sobre los Israelitas? Isaías 60:1
  1. ¿Cómo apareció la gloria del Señor en las siguientes escrituras?

Exodo 16:7, 10

Exodo 24:16, 17

Levítico 9:6, 23, 24

Ezequiel 3:12-13

Lucas 2:9

Personal – En tu vida, ¿en qué formas se te ha aparecido “la gloria del Señor?”

  1. ¿Qué cubre la tierra y a los incrédulos? Isaías 60:2

 

  1. ¿Sobre quién resplandece el Señor, y qué aparece sobre ellos? Isaías 60:2

 

  1. Llena el espacio: Los pueblos se dirigen hacia tu _________ y los reyes, al resplandor de   tu aurora  Isaías 60:3

 

  1. ¿Quién es la luz? Juan 8:12

 

  1. ¿Porqué debemos levantar nuestros ojos, y quién viene a la luz? Isaías 60:4

 

  1. ¿Quién estará radiante, el corazón de quien se desbordará, y que le pasará al mar y las naciones?   Isaías 60:5

 

  1. ¿Qué harán los camellos y de dónde vendrán? Isaías 60:6

 

  1. ¿Qué cargarán y qué estarán proclamando? Isaías 60:6

 

Personal – ¿De qué forma está brillando la luz de Cristo por medio de ti para tu familia, trabajo, y ambiente? ¿Está la gente atraída a ti porque ven la luz que está dentro de ti?

 

TERCER DIA                               LEE EFESIOS 3:2-3, 5-6                     SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“Los gentiles han de compartir en Cristo Jesús la misma herencia.”)

 

  1. ¿Quién escuchó el ministerio que Dios le dio a Pablo, y para el bien de quién? Efesios 3:2,

Efesios 2:11

 

  1. ¿Qué fue revelado? Efesios 3:5

 

  1. ¿Qué era desconocido para el hombre en las edades anteriores? Efesios 3:4-5

 

  1. ¿Quién ha revelado este misterio y a quién fue revelado? Efesios 3:5

 

  1. Lee las siguientes escrituras: Juan 14:26, Hechos 11:12, 1 Corintios 2:13

 

Personal – ¿Escuchas las instrucciones del Espíritu Santo todos los días?  ¿Que te ha enseñado mientras has estado leyendo Su palabra?  Recuerda orar antes de que leas la Palabra de Dios, pidiéndole al Espíritu Santo que te enseñe y te de sabiduría, conocimiento y obediencia para seguir su plan para tu vida.

 

  1. ¿Quiénes eran algunos de los santos profetas y apóstoles, y por quién fueron enviados?      Isaías 1:1, Jeremías 1:1, Juan 1:35-50, Romanos 1:1

 

  1. ¿Cuál es el misterio revelado? Efesios 3:6-8

 

  1. ¿Cómo se convierten en co-herederos los Judíos y los Gentiles? Efesios 3:6

 

  1. ¿A quién ha comisionado Dios para predicar el Evangelio? Efesios 3:6, Mateo 28:18-20

 

Personal – ¿En que forma te has sentido alguna vez llamado(a) a enseñar o compartir la Palabra de Dios con los demás?  Un buen comienzo es compartir con tu esposo(a), hijos o una amistad como el Señor te ha tocado por medio de Su Palabra o de la homilía del Domingo.

 

CUARTO DIA                                  LEE MATEO 2:1-12                                       EVANGELIO

(“Se postraron para adorarlo.”)

 

  1. ¿Dónde nació Jesús, quién era el rey en ese tiempo, y quién llegó del Este? Mateo 2:1

 

  1. ¿Lee las siguientes escrituras: Daniel 2:27 y Daniel 4:4. De acuerdo a estos versículos, los   que leen las estrellas, ¿pueden saber el plan de Dios para sus vidas?

 

  1. ¿Quién es la única señal que seguimos? Isaías 7:14, Lucas 11:30

 

  1. ¿A quién estaban buscando los astrólogos y qué observaron? Mateo 2:2

 

  1. ¿Cómo reaccionó el Rey Herodes y quién reaccionó junto con él? Mateo 2:3

 

  1. ¿A quién llamó el Rey Herodes y que les preguntó? Mateo 2:4

 

  1. ¿Qué le dijeron los sacerdotes y escribas a Herodes y a que profeta se estaban refiriendo?

Mateo 2:5, Miqueas 1:1 5:1

 

  1. ¿Qué debe hacer el gobernador? Mateo 2:6

 

  1. Lee lo siguiente y escribe tu versículo favorito: Juan 10:11, Juan 10:14, Juan 10:16, Hechos 20:28,             1 Pedro 2:25, 1 Pedro 5:3-4, Apocalipsis 7:17

 

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

 

Personal – Comparte la escritura que escogiste y di como ha afectado tu vida.

 

  1. ¿De qué se dio cuenta el Rey Herodes por medio de los astrólogos? Mateo 2:7

 

  1. ¿A dónde los envió, y cuáles fueron sus instrucciones para ellos? Mateo 2:8

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue la reacción de los astrólogos a la estrella cuando la estaban siguiendo?

Mateo 2:10

 

Personal – ¿Has tenido alguna nueva percepción a la luz de Dios por medio de Su Palabra?  ¿Cuál es tu reacción a esto?

 

  1. ¿Cuando los astrólogos encontraron al niño con su madre, María, qué hicieron? ¿Es esto en cumplimiento de la profecía del Antiguo Testamento?  Mateo 2:11, Isaías 60:5-6

 

Personal – ¿Te has postrado frente al Señor?  ¿Te has postrado en homenaje ante tu Santo Dios?  En Su presencia en la Eucaristía, ¿te has arrodillado para hacerle homenaje, o lo haces solamente por el hábito? Reflexiona sobre esto.

 

QUINTO DIA                                  LEE EL SALMO 72:1-13

(“Pues librará al mendigo que reclame.”)

Lee y medita el Salmo 72:1-13.

¿Qué te dice personalmente el Señor por medio de este Salmo?

 

¿Cómo puedes aplicar esto a tu vida diaria?

 

SEXTO DIA                               LEE TODO EL COMENTARIO

ISAIAS 60:1-6

            La lectura de esta semana de Isaías viene de una sección que a veces es llamada Tercera de Isaías (Capítulos 55-66), y se considera generalmente haber sido escrita por un poeta desconocido.  El tiempo de este pasaje es alrededor del año 535 B.C. y profetiza el papel del templo y ofrece abrir sus puertas a todas las demás naciones.  La invitación fue dada a todo el mundo para unirse a los rangos de Israel como pueblo escogido por el Señor.

            Isaías está llamando a la gente a que se levante en el esplendor y brillantez del Señor (versículo 1). El les dice que la gloria del Señor brilla en ellos y por medio de ellos (versículo 3).  Les anima a que tengan confianza en ese amor y ellos se convertirán en líderes de todas las naciones y muchos de todas las naciones estarán atraídos a ellos (versículos 4-5).

            Hoy somos llamados a levantarnos y convertirnos en símbolos de luz y esperanza.  Somos llamados a ser una luz para un mundo que está cubierto con mucha oscuridad.  Podemos ser una luz para el mundo solamente mientras nos mantengamos caminando en la luz de Cristo.  Cada uno de nosotros es llamado por el Salmista (Salmo 119:105) a ser una luz para el camino de otros.  Somos llamados hoy, como en el tiempo de Isaías, a dejar que la gloria de Dios brille por medio de todos nosotros.

                                                               EFESIOS 3:2-3, 5-6

            Pablo escribió esta carta mientras estaba en la cárcel esperando ser juzgado frente a Nerón. El reflexiona en su misión a los Gentiles (los que no creen en la fe Judía), y él habla acerca de su propia conversión como un gran misterio de Cristo.

            Pablo estaba en camino a Damasco persiguiendo a los discípulos del Señor cuando de repente una luz brilló a su alrededor y parecía que venía del cielo.  El fue retado por el Señor a dejar de perseguirlo y venir y seguirlo a El.  Pablo lo hizo y toda su vida cambió.  El usa esta experiencia de su conversión para traer a otros al Señor (Hechos 9:3-9).  El reclamó su puesto como un apóstol porque él fue un testigo del Señor durante su “metanoia” o experiencia de conversión.

            Pablo ganó un entendimiento más profundo del plan de salvación de Dios por medio de Cristo.  El nos revela en esta carta que a su vida había llegado el gran secreto de Dios.  Ese secreto era que el amor y piedad y gracia de Dios no era solamente para los Judíos, sino para toda la humanidad.  Cuando Pablo conoció a Cristo en el camino a Damasco hubo una revelación de repente que afectó toda su vida.  Esa “metanoia” está abierta para todos nosotros y estamos llamados a traer al mundo ese mismo mensaje.  Dios envió a Pablo a los Gentiles, para abrir sus ojos para que así puedan regresar de la oscuridad a la luz. Escuchamos a Pablo declarar muy claramente que el amor y la piedad de Dios son dados a todos, Judíos y Gentiles por igual.

                                                                  MATEO 2:1-12

            Celebramos la fiesta de la Epifanía, la cuál significa la visita de los buscadores o como son llamados a menudo, los Magos, y la manifestación de Cristo de Su gloria a ellos.  Fue en Belén, un pueblito seis millas al sur de Jerusalén, donde nació Jesús.

            El nombre Belén significa “casa de pan,” y el pesebre en el cuál durmió Jesús era usado para dar de comer a los animales.  Es significativo que Jesús nació en un lugar llamado “casa de pan,” puesto que El escogió alimentarnos con Su Palabra, y en Su presencia en la Eucaristía.  El se llama a si mismo “Pan Vivo,” en Juan 6:35-66, y compartimos Su pan vivo en nuestras liturgias de acuerdo con la escritura (Lucas 22:14-20), en las iglesias por todo el mundo.

            Belén fue donde Jacob sepultó a Raquel (Génesis 48:7) y fue donde Rut se casó con Booz (Rut 4:13). Esta ciudad fue la casa de David (1 Sam. 16:1, 17:12, 20:6) y era en Belén donde los Judíos esperaban al Ungido de Dios que viniera al mundo (Miqueas 5:1-2).  Cuando nació Jesús, vinieron a Belén buscadores del Este a darle homenaje.  Los Magos eran hombres santos y sabios en filosofía, medicina, ciencias naturales, eran videntes e interpretaban sueños.  Muchos más tarde se hicieron miembros de una tribu de sacerdotes paganos de Persia y funcionaban muy parecido a los sacerdotes Levitas en Israel.

            Alrededor del mismo tiempo en que nació Jesús, el poeta Romano Virgilio, estaba alabando por medio de sus escritos y poemas al “salvador del mundo,” el emperador, César Augusto de Roma.  Así fue que Jesús vino a un mundo que lo esperaba y los astrólogos de tierras lejanas se reunieron alrededor de su cuna.  Fue la primera señal y símbolo de la conquista del mundo por Jesucristo.

            Hoy en día muchos hombres y mujeres estudiados que están viniendo a alabar a Jesús, Rey de Reyes; pero muchos no lo hacen. ¿Qué tal tú?  ¿Es Jesús tu Rey y le estás trayendo tu presencia como regalo? Necesitamos reflexionar en el regalo dado a todos los que creen en el Niño Cristo de Belén.  El regalo es ser co-herederos de Su reino, miembros de un cuerpo y compartidores de la promesa. ¿Hemos hecho sentir a alguien como un extraño indeseable?  ¿Nos hemos atrevido a darle a alguien el título de extranjero, fuereño o pagano?  ¿Le hemos dado la bienvenida a todos a nuestra “escena del nacimiento?”  ¿Está la luz en nuestros corazones atrayendo a otros a El, como la estrella de Belén lo hizo?  La manifestación de la brillantez de la estrella les habló a los Magos de la entrada de un Rey al mundo.  La gloria del amor de Dios por todos está llamada a ser manifestada en nosotros por medio del poder del Espíritu Santo y en el nombre salvador de Jesucristo.

Aplicación

            Isaías nos anima a mirar la gloria de Dios siendo descubierta frente de nosotros y llama a la gente a levantarse de sus ataduras de la cautividad.  En Efesios Pablo describe el plan secreto de Dios, y en Mateo vemos a los hombres sabios rebosantes de alegría como resultado de seguir la estrella.

            Esta semana, como los hombres sabios o Magos, vamos a traer a Jesús nuestro regalo.  El tuyo tal vez será un regalo de alegría o amor, paz o paciencia, etc.  Después necesitas compartir este regalo con alguien en tu familia o en el trabajo.  Los hombres sabios vinieron en humildad y se fueron alentados y llenos de esperanza.  Nosotros esperamos exactamente lo mismo, cuando le traigamos a Jesús nuestro regalo.

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD – CYCLE A

Posted on by

 

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD – CYCLE A

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.

“THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.” (JOHN 14:26)

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

 

  1. What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

 

  1. From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

 

SECOND DAY            READ ISAIAH 60:1-6        FIRST READING

(“But upon you the Lord shines.”)

 

  1. To what are the Israelites being called, whose light has come, and what shines upon the Israelites?   Isaiah 60:1

 

  1. How did the glory of the Lord appear in the following scriptures?

Exodus 16:7, 10

Exodus 24:16, 17

Leviticus 9:6, 23, 24

Ezekiel 3:12-13

Luke 2:9

 

Personal – In your life, in what way has “the glory of the Lord” appeared to you?

 

  1. What covers the earth and the unbelievers? Isaiah 60:2

 

  1. Upon whom does the Lord shine, and what appears over them? Isaiah 60:2

 

  1. Fill in the blank: Nations shall walk by your _____________and kings by your shining radiance.   Isaiah 60:3

 

  1. Who is the light? John 8:12

 

  1. Why must we raise our eyes, and who comes to the light?    Isaiah 60:4

 

  1. Who shall be radiant, whose heart shall overflow, and what will happen to the sea and the nations?   Isaiah 60:5

 

  1. What will the camels do, and from where will they come? Isaiah 60:6

 

  1. What shall they bear, and what will they be proclaiming? Isaiah 60:6

 

Personal – In what way is the light of Christ shining through you in your family, your work, and your environment? Are people drawn to you because they see that light within you?

 

THIRD DAY          READ EPHESIANS 3:2-3, 5-6     SECOND READING

 

(“In Christ Jesus the Gentiles are now co-heirs with the Jews.”)

 

  1. Who heard of the ministry which God gave Paul, and for whose regard?  Ephesians 3:2, Ephesians 2:11

 

  1. What was revealed? Ephesians 3:3

 

  1. What was unknown to men in former ages? Ephesians 3:4-5

 

  1. Who has revealed this mystery, and to whom was this mystery revealed?   Ephesians 3:5

 

  1. Read the following scriptures: John 14:26, Acts 11:12, 1 Corinthians 2:13

 

Personal – Do you listen each day for the Holy Spirit’s instruc­tions for you? What has he taught you as you have been reading his word? Remember to pray before you read God’s word, asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and give you wisdom, knowledge, and obedience to follow his plan for your life.

 

  1. Who were some of the holy apostles and prophets, and by whom were they sent?   Isaiah 1:1, Jeremiah 1:1, John 1:35-50, Romans 1:1

 

  1. What is the mystery revealed? Ephesians 3:6-8

 

  1. How do the Gentiles and the Jews become co-heirs? Ephesians 3:6

 

  1. Whom has God commissioned to preach the Gospel? Ephesians   3:6 Matthew 28:18-20

 

Personal – In what way have you ever felt called to teach or share God’s Word with others? A good beginning is to share with your spouse, children or a close friend how the Lord has touched you in his Word or from the homily on Sunday.

 

FOURTH DAY            READ MATTHEW 2:1-12               GOSPEL

(“They prostrated themselves and did him homage.”)

 

  1. Where was Jesus born, who was king at that time, and who arrived from the east? Matthew 2:1

 

  1. Read the following scriptures: Daniel 2:27 and Daniel 4:4.

According to these verses, are those who read the stars able to know God’s plan for their lives?

 

  1. Who is the only sign we follow? Isaiah 7:14 Luke 11:30

 

  1. For whom were the astrologers searching, and what did they observe?   Matthew 2:2

 

  1. How did King Herod react, and who reacted along with him?   Matthew 2:3

 

  1. Whom did King Herod summon, and what did he inquire of them? Matthew 2:4

 

  1. What did the chief priest and scribes tell Herod, and to what prophet were they referring? Matthew 2:5, Micah 1:1 5:1

 

  1. What is the ruler to do? Matthew 2:6

 

  1. Read the following and write out your favorite verse: John 10:11, John 10:14, John 10:16, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 2:25, 1 Peter 5:3-4, Revelation 7:17

 

_____________________________________________________________

 

_­____________________________________________________________

 

 

Personal – Share the scripture you chose and tell how it has affected your life.

 

  1. What did King Herod find out from the astrologers? Matthew 2:7

 

  1. Where did he send them, and what were his instructions to them?   Matthew 2:8

 

  1. What was the astrologer’s reaction to the star as they followed it?   Matthew 2:10

 

Personal – Have you had any insight to God’s light in his Word? What is your reaction to this?

 

  1. When the astrologers found the child with his mother, Mary, what did they do? Is this in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesy?  Matthew 2:11, Isaiah 60:5-6

 

Personal – Have you bowed before the Lord? How have you prostrated yourself in homage before our Holy God? In his presence in the Eucharist, have you knelt to do him homage, or do you do it just out of habit? Reflect on this.

 

FIFTH DAY             READ PSALM 72:1-13

(“For he shall rescue the poor man when he cries out.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 72:1-13.

 

What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

How can you apply this to your daily spiritual life?

 

SIXTH DAY           READ ALL THE COMMENTARY

ISAIAH 60:1-6

This week’s reading from Isaiah comes from a section sometimes called Third Isaiah (Chapters 55-66), and is generally considered to be written by an unknown poet. The time of this passage is about 535 B.C. and it prophesies the role of the temple and offers to open its doors to all other nations. The invitation was given to the whole world to join the ranks of Israel as the Lord’s chosen people.

Isaiah is calling on the people to rise up in the splendor and radiance of the Lord (verse 1). He tells them that the glory of the Lord shines in them and through them (verse 3). He urges them to be confident in that love and they will become leaders of all nations and many from all nations will be drawn to them (verses 4-5).

Today we are being called to rise up and become symbols of light and hope. We are called to be a light to a world that is covered with much darkness. We can be a light to the world only as long as we walk in the light of Christ. Each one of us is called by the Psalmist (Psalm 119:105) to be a light unto each other’s path. We are being called today, as in the time of Isaiah, to let the glory of God’s light shine through all of us.

EPHESIANS 3:2-3,5-6

Paul wrote this letter while in prison awaiting trial before Nero. He reflects on his mission to the Gentiles (those who do not believe in the Jewish faith), and he speaks about his own conversion as being a great mystery of Christ.

Paul was on a journey to Damascus to persecute disciples of the Lord when suddenly a light flashed around him that seemed to come from heaven. He was challenged by the Lord to stop persecuting him and to come follow him. Paul did and his whole life changed. He uses that conversion experience to bring others to the Lord (Acts 9:3-9). He claimed his place as an apostle because he was an eyewitness to the Lord during his “metanoia” or conversion experience.

Paul gained a deeper understanding of God’s plan of salvation through Christ. He reveals to us in this letter that into his life had come the great secret of God. That secret was that the love and mercy and grace of God were meant not for the Jews alone, but for all mankind. When Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus there was a sudden flash of revelation that affected his whole life. That “metanoia” is open to all of us, and we are being called to bring to the world that same message. It was to the Gentiles that God sent Paul, to open their eyes that they might turn from darkness to light. We hear Paul stating very boldly that God’s love and mercy are given to all, Jews and Gentiles alike.

MATTHEW 2:1-12

We celebrate the feast of Epiphany, which means the visitation of the seekers or as they are often called, the Magi, and Christ’s manifestation of his glory to them. It was in Bethlehem, a little town six miles south of Jerusalem, that Jesus was born.

The name Bethlehem means “house of bread,” and the manger in which Jesus slept was used to feed the animals. It is significant that Jesus was born in a place called “house of bread,” as he chose to feed us with his Word and in his presence in the Eucharist. He calls himself “Living Bread,” in John 6:35-66, and we share his living bread in our liturgies in accordance with scripture (Luke 22:14-20), in churches throughout the world.

Bethlehem was where Jacob buried Rachel (Genesis 48:7) and it was there that Ruth married Boaz (Ruth 4:13). This city was the home of David (1 Sam. 16:1, 17:12, 20:6) and it was in Bethlehem that the Jews expected God’s Anointed One to come into the world (Micah 5:1-2). When Jesus was born, there came to Beth­lehem seekers from the east to do him homage. The Magi were holy and wise men and were skilled in philosophy, medicine, natural sciences, soothsaying, and interpretation of dreams. Many later became members of a tribe of pagan priests in Persia and functioned much like the Levite priests in Israel.

About the same time that Jesus was born, the Roman poet, Virgil, was praising through his writings and poems the “savior of the world,” the emperor, Augustus Caesar of Rome. So it was to a waiting world that Jesus came and the astrologers from lands far away gathered at his cradle. It was the first sign and symbol of the world’s conquest by Jesus Christ.

Today many of the learned men and women are coming to praise the King of Kings, Jesus; but many are not. What about you? Is Jesus your King and are you bringing him your presence as a gift? We need to reflect on the gift given to all who believe in the Christ Child of Bethlehem. The gift is being co-heirs of his kingdom, members of the one body and sharers of the promise. Have we made someone feel like an unwanted stranger? Have we dared label anyone a foreigner, alien, outsider, or pagan? Have we welcomed all to our “manger scene?” Is the light in our hearts drawing others to him, as the star did in Bethlehem? The manifestation of the star’s brilliance spoke to the Magi of the entry of a King into the world. The glory of God’s love for all is called to be manifested in us through the power of the Holy Spirit and in the saving name of Jesus Christ.

Application

Isaiah urges us to look at the glory of God being unfolded before us, and calls upon the people to rise up from the shackles of captivity. In Ephesians Paul describes God’s secret plan, and in Matthew we see the wise men overjoyed at the results of following the star.

This week, like the wise men or Magi, let us bring Jesus our gift. Yours might be a gift of joy or love, peace or patience, etc. Then you need to share this gift with someone in your family or work place. The wise men came in humility and left encouraged and full of hope. We can expect no less, when we bring Jesus our gift.

 

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Posted on by

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

PURPOSE OF THIS SCRIPTURE READING – Develop a personal relationship with Jesus through the Word of God with the understanding that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all Jesus said and did. Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you.”

  1. Say the opening prayer
  2. Read the passage slowly three times as though Jesus were talking to you.
  3. Converse with Jesus, asking questions and listening to Him.

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

 Father, I can’t understand Your Word without Your grace, I acknowledge my weakness so Your power can reach perfection in me. Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth. May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me. AMEN

 READ, REFLECT AND WRITE ON THE GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Luke 2:16-21 – The Shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

 

  1. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

  1. What does the Lord personally want you to do?

 

 

Share your reflection with someone.

CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER

Posted on by

CHRISTMAS

What greater gift can we ever receive than to have our loving God save us from our sins? Behold the cry of a baby in the cold, dark stable that became brilliant with light at the birth of the Child. Mary took hold of her child and held Him ever so close. She takes hold of you as she did her Son and places you in the arms of the Savior of the world. We all need a mother’s love, open your heart to the Christ child and receive all that God our Father has for you. Let the Holy Spirit teach you all about this loving God who forgives homosexual acts, drunkenness, gluttony, etc. Let this Christmas be the beginning of your life in Christ by repenting of your sins. He condemns no one but as He said to the woman, “Go and sin no more.” Jesus is waiting and has no favorites. He knocks at the door of your heart. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

TESTIMONY

by

SV

To St. Dismas Guild, Hello, I have been getting your newsletters for a while and I enjoy the testimonies and the pro-life stories. I must say that I am not Catholic, however I do believe that anyone who puts his faith in Christ and turns away from sin to follow Him is my brother and sister. So I want to let you know of my new address. I live to share also about my deliverance from a life of homosexuality, drugs and alcohol. The truth is that many people try to understand why some people are attracted to their same sex, but only those with such feelings can explain what a burden it really is. Nobody told me ever to do anything I didn’t want to do and so at an early age (11-12) I was performing sexual acts with boys. To me it seemed normal but everyone would hate me if they knew how I felt. I used to do drugs and drink so I could blame my feelings on the buzz, but the truth is that that was my way of being free.

Years went by. I was married twice and it never worked because of who I was. Some people knew about it and even if they didn’t say anything to me, they did behind my back. Finally at 27 I came to prison and I read the Bible. It was a horrible feeling to learn that my actions were an abomination to God, but it was a great relief to see that in Christ I could find forgiveness. So, by His grace, I repented and turned my life around. I wish I can say that my feelings have changed completely, but the truth is that it is a daily battle. I know now that the more I stay in God’s Word, the better I get. It has been over 8 years since I came to Christ. In two more years I’ll be home as a new man to see my kids. I want to be the man God created me to be and forget the drugs and alcohol and my evil desires I once gave into. I also want everyone who is struggling with this sin to know that there is freedom in Christ, but we must accept that we are wrong and He is right. Thank you and May God bless you all.

 

SV, He was standing at the door of your heart and you let Him in. What a powerful testimony. To recognize your actions were an abomination to God and repent of them transformed your life. You are right, staying in God’s Word and obeying it is the key to healing. Our loving God can heal you any time, but we have to open the door of our heart      to receive it. The Word does convict us of our sins but when we admit them and turn to God He forgives and embraces us. I love your statement, “but we must accept that we are wrong and He is right.” Thank you for sharing. Stay in the Word and you will see even greater miracles in your life in God’s timing.

DOING TIME WITH JESUS

Dear Brother, I pray with all of my heart and soul that our Dear Lord Jesus Christ has his love and wonderful blessings around you and your dear families always and forever. Amen. I hope that you are in good health and enjoying life with a smile. Most of all that Our Lord is in your precious lives.  I am in good health, thanks to our Dear Lord Jesus Christ and the good doctors here. They do a good job and care about us in many ways. When I was sent here to this hospital because I had cancer that only made me draw closer with our Dear Lord Jesus Christ and my walk has only gotten stronger as the days pass.

I read and study my bible every day and go to church every week. It helps me to live in this ugly place with love in my heart for my lost brothers. I stay away from trouble and cause no problems, and believe me, that is hard to do in here. I do my best to share about Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen to me. But I believe that a good walk with Our Lord says more than words could ever say. I can not understand what people are listening to these days. Are they that lost in sin and this world? I was once lost but then God called out to me and saved me from myself.  We must pray every day for the lost and the sinners that our dear Lord Jesus Christ will save them and call them home. That is what I am waiting for: to go home with God, amen. Well, my brother, remember God loves you and so do I and Christ.  Sincerely,  AS

            AS, We will all be home one day or another and turning to God has helped you on the ladder to heaven. People are listening to Satan and are blinded by their sins, as God waits patiently for them to turn to Him. That’s what we call repentance and you obviously have repented. Praise God! You were lost, AS, and now you have been found and you want everyone to come to Him and receive what you have, the abundant life. God wishes none to be lost. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Jesus’ gift to you this Christmas is Himself and His promises, how rich you are. Merry Christmas!

 +++++++++++

 Hello St. Dismas Guild, God be with you always. Thank you for the newsletter. It is always a blessing. It is so good to see incarcerated people giving their lives to our Savior Jesus Christ. We might be locked away, but we are still children of the Most High God, after rebirth of our lives. I surrendered my life to God after my lockup in 2003. But, as all prodigal sons, we left God to try life without him. God accepted me           back into his arms saying, “Welcome back my son.” God has unconditional love for all His children. Man or woman can not give us this. Thank God for His love and Grace. Without Grace, God’s Grace, we are lost and confused. Thank you for reaching out as God wants all of us to do. Peace to you always. In Christ we live, MS

It’s amazing, MS, how many come to the Lord in prison. Fear sometimes can be a good thing when it brings you to the Lord. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18 You are right, without God’s Grace we are lost and confused, but with it we are confident and unafraid. Thank you for sharing.

 ++++++++++

St. Dismas Guild:  I wanted to tell you all “thank you for your newsletters” and ask if you could send me a Catholic Bible Study. I see your newsletter is about Mother Teresa of Calcutta. That’s something, because my family ordered me a book on Mother Teresa and I already received it and I’ve been reading it. I love the way she expresses her words of wisdom and how Jesus loves us all, and he will forgive you of your sins. I’ve been in prison for six years now and Jesus lets me see what is good and what isn’t good. I pray more now than ever and I love doing it. So I tell all those believers to pray more and enjoy the ride to the kingdom. I read the love letter from Jesus everyday and it gives me so much peace. A lot of people ask me why I don’t go outside. It’s because there are too many bad people outside in the yard! I am going to ask if you all can pray for this prison, so they can make changes and send all the young prisoners to another spot. Let them do their time there and also, to pray for the whole world. Jesus is the love of my life and He comes first in life. There is so much I learned while studying Jesus’ love letter.

I want to ask if you could pray for a little Christian man named J. He is up in age and dying of cancer. The state won’t give him his pardon to go home to see some good doctors to help him with his cancer. I’ve been praying that they will set him free from prison. We all made mistakes and Jesus forgives us, but the World would not forgive. So that way it is best for us to pray for our families, friends, priests, and the Whole Church. May God bless you and again, thanks for everything.  Remember, don’t waste your time because Jesus is coming to town! Don’t forget He loves you! And so do I. Love from your Catholic brother. RG

RG, prayer is so powerful and God answers our prayers as to what is best for us. We certainly will pray for your friend who has cancer. It must be terrible being in prison and dealing with an illness like cancer or any other illness. The Prophet Isaiah tells us,
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes we are healed.” Jesus is the healer. You are right Jesus forgives us our sins. It is hard knowing you are forgiven yet still have to pay the consequences of your sins. The punishment that is given is brutal but knowing Jesus will take you through it and never leave you makes it bearable. “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:6

FAMILY MINISTRY

The Holy Family.  This month the Church begins a new year with Advent.  During this time our eyes are fixed on the Holy Family, (Joseph, Mary & Jesus), and the coming of Christ, Jesus’s birth on Christmas day.  I think to myself, how can I make this season more meaningful.  How can I better prepare myself to be truly worthy to celebrate the anniversary of our Lord’s coming?  I reflect on the Holy Family.  Mary had Joseph but they had no one but the Lord and He was always there with them.  With the passing of my dad just a few months ago, this Christmas will be difficult.  How hard this season can be with the loss of a loved one or just being without family.  Loneliness and the longing for a brother or sister, mom or dad, husband or wife, daughter or son is heartbreaking, but Jesus says all who do the will of my Father are mother, brother or sister to me.  I find hope in our faith, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  How amazing to me that one child, Jesus Christ, can make such a difference in this world and a reminder to me that our reward is not here on earth, but our reward is eternal life with Christ!  May God grant us the grace to prepare us not only to celebrate this Christmas but to make our souls fitting for the reward of eternal life with Him.

PRO-LIFE

Come and pray the Rosary for Life with us in front of PayLess on Mission Ave (Center City Pkwy) every Thursday from 10:30-11:30AM. United prayer will stamp out abortion and contraception.

On December 30th “…we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Though Jesus was conceived of a virgin, He nevertheless lived as a son in a human family — a family which points the way for the rest of us. The family is the sanctuary of life. There can be no life without family, and there can be no family without life. The family, above all, is where life is to be welcomed, no matter how fragile or inconvenient it may be. One of the many reasons why the Pope and bishops identify abortion and euthanasia as pre-eminent issues is because these crimes are committed by one family member upon another.

May the Holy Family lead us to a Culture of Life!” ~ PriestsForLife.com

Mary and Joseph embraced Life and said “Yes” to God, even up against so much confusion.  Some of us may not have understood the importance of Life and chose abortion instead.  But abortion is never a good answer…  God gave us Life and we could have chosen Adoption or Parenting as an option to help create a Holy Family. The good news is there is always healing when we have contrition and replace the vice with a virtue….  Let the Holy Family be your guide and mentors to this healing.

So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.  ~ Luke 1:38 

“Father, help us to Live as the Holy Family, united in Respect and Love. Bring us to the Joy and Peace of your Eternal home.”  Amen.

UPDATE

During 2016 we shipped 1200+ packages (Bread of Life Bible Studies, bibles & more) free to prisoners!  Each package cost approx. $30.  Also, we mailed over 54,000 newsletters!  All possible because of your prayers and financial donations.  Please continue to help us spread God’s message of love and mercy.

THANK YOU!

EL PAN DE VIDA – ESTUDIO DE BIBLIA CATOLICO – CICLO A  – NOW AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

St. Dismas Staff

OCTAVA DE NAVIDAD – CICLOS A-B-C

Posted on by

OCTAVA DE NAVIDAD – CICLOS A-B-C

ANTES DE COMENZAR:

             Ora y pídele a Dios que te hable a través de Su Espíritu Santo.  “EL ESPIRITU SANTO INTERPRETE, QUE EL PADRE LES ENVIARA EN MI NOMBRE, LES VA A ENSEÑAR TODAS LAS COSAS Y LES RECORDARA TODAS MIS PALABRAS.”  (JUAN 14:26)

PRIMER DIA  Vuelve a leer las lecturas de la semana pasada.

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue el mensaje qué recibiste de la homilía o de las lecturas que oíste en misa el domingo?

 

  1. ¿De lo que aprendiste, qué escogiste para aplicar a tu vida esta semana?

 

SEGUNDO DIA                              LEE NUMBEROS 6:22-27          PRIMERA LECTURA

(“El Señor te bendiga y te guarde.”)

 

  1. ¿A quién le hablaba el Señor y a quién debía él hablar a su vez? Números 6:22-23

 

  1. ¿Quién era Aarón y qué dijo el Señor a Moisés acerca de él? Éxodo 4:14-16

 

  1. ¿Sobre que debía hablarles Moisés? Números 6:23

 

  1. ¿Cuáles son las seis cosas incluidas en esa bendición? Números 6:24-26

 

  1. ¿Quién será bendito? Proverbios 28:20

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que trae la salud? Proverbios 10:22

 

  1. ¿Quién fue bendita por el Señor, que hizo El por ella y como contestó ella? Lucas 1:46-55

 

  1. ¿Qué nos ha dado el Señor? Salmo 118:27

 

  1. ¿Quién dijo Jesús que El era? Juan 8:12

 

  1. ¿Qué estaría sobre los Israelitas y que hará el Señor? Números 6:27

 

Personal – ¿Cómo bendices a algún miembro de la familia o amigo?  ¿Qué ven los demás resplandecer en tu rostro?

 

TERCER DIA                                    LEE GALATAS 4:4-7             SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“…Dios mandó a nuestros corazones el Espíritu de su propio Hijo que clama al Padre: ¡Abba! o sea ¡Papito!”)

  1. ¿En qué condiciones nació el Hijo de Dios? Gálatas 4:4

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo el hijo de Dios? Gálatas 4:5

 

  1. ¿Qué pasa con el que creé en Jesús? Juan 3:16

 

  1. ¿A través de quién vino la ley, qué trajo Jesús? Juan 1:17

 

  1. ¿Quiénes son los hijos de Dios y quién lo atestigua? Romanos 8:14-16

 

  1. ¿Qué prueba tenemos de que somos Sus hijos? Gálatas 4:6

 

  1. ¿A quiénes les dio el poder de hacerse hijos de Dios? Juan 1:12-13

 

  1. ¿Por qué los hijos de Dios no son conocidos en el mundo? 1 Juan 3:1

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que ya no somos y qué nos ha hecho? Gálatas 4:7

 

  1. ¿Con quién compartimos la herencia los hijos de Dios? Romanos 8:17

 

Personal – ¿De qué modo has llamado a “Abba” Papito, esta semana?  ¿Qué has heredado de Dios?  ¿Qué te dejan tus padres por herencia o qué les estás dejando tú a tus hijos como herencia?

 

CUARTO DIA                                    LEE LUCAS 2:16-21                            EVANGELIO

(“Y María guardaba todas estas cosas en su corazón y las observaba cuidadosamente.”)

 

  1. Cuando los pastores fueron apresurados ¿a quién encontraron? Lucas 2:16

 

  1. ¿Por qué María dio a luz a su primogénito en un pesebre? Lucas 2:7

 

  1. ¿Qué hicieron los pastores cuando vieron al niño? Lucas 2:17

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue la reacción de aquellos que escucharon el mensaje? Lucas 2:18

 

  1. ¿Qué maravilló o sorprendió a la gente que escuchaba a Jesús? Mateo 7:28-29

 

Personal – ¿Qué has visto y has hecho saber a otros desde que estás estudiando la Palabra de Dios?

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo María? Lucas 2:19

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo María cuando Jesús se perdió y luego le dijo que estaba atendiendo a los asuntos de Su Padre? Lucas 2:49-51

 

Personal – ¿Qué has meditado en tu corazón que te haya sido revelado por Dios?  ¿De qué manera has seguido el ejemplo de María?

 

  1. ¿Cómo regresaron los pastores? Lucas 2:20

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue la reacción del paralítico y de la gente al ver el alivio? Lucas 5:25-26

 

  1. ¿Qué pasó en el octavo día y a quién se le dio nombre? Lucas 2:21, Lucas 1:31

 

  1. ¿Qué ha hecho su nombre por nosotros? Hechos 4:12

 

  1. ¿Por encima de quién está el Nombre de Jesús? Hebreos 1:3-4

 

Personal – ¿Qué nombre se te ha dado a ti y qué es lo que esto refleja?

 

QUINTO DIA                                    LEE SALMO 67:2-6, 8

(“…y haga brillar su faz sobre nosotros.”)

Lee y medita en el Salmo 67:2-6, 8.

¿Qué te dice personalmente el Señor por medio de este Salmo?

 

¿Cómo puedes aplicar esto a tu vida diaria?

 

SEXTO DIA                               LEE TODO EL COMENTARIO

                                                              NUMEROS 6:22-27

            Cuando María dijo, “De generación en generación todos me llamarán bendita de Dios,” ella estaba reconociendo y aceptando el don que Dios le había dado (Lucas 1:48).  Si María hubiera negado su posición tan increíble le hubiera regresado a Dios su bendición a la cara.

            En la lectura de hoy se nos ha enseñado que una bendición era un modo de pedir que el favor de Dios recayera sobre otros.  Todas las bendiciones de Dios tienen su cumplimiento con la venida de Cristo a la tierra.  María recibió totalmente estas promesas y bendiciones cuando dijo, “Hágase en mí según Tu Palabra”.  En ese preciso instante concibió a Jesucristo en su vientre.  Como prueba de esta bendición tenemos las palabras del ángel Gabriel cuando la saluda como “llena de gracia”.  Ella tiene toda la amistad de Dios y ningún hombre o mujer ha recibido una bendición como esta desde entonces.

            En una bendición se conjuga el que Dios (1) bendecirá y protegerá, (2) estará contento debido a nosotros, (3) será bondadoso, misericordioso y compadecido de nosotros, (4) nos dará sus favores y (5) nos dará la paz.  Cuando le pedimos a Dios que nos bendiga a nosotros y a otros, le estamos pidiendo que haga estas cinco cosas.  Tendremos toda la amistad de Dios cuando le pidamos que nos bendiga tanto a nosotros mismos como a los demás.

            Hoy, en esta fiesta tan especial, agradezcamos a Dios todas las bendiciones que le ha dado a María, la Madre de Dios.  Todos hemos ganado con sus bendiciones; y el título de Madre de Dios, que la iglesia le confirma en el Concilio de Efeso en 431 D.C. lo demuestra.

                                                                 GALATAS 4:4-7

            En la lectura de hoy Pablo usa el ejemplo de la esclavitud para enseñarnos que antes de que Cristo viniera y muriera por nuestros pecados, la gente estaba esclavizada a la ley.  De ese modo creían que podrían salvarse.  Justo a tiempo Dios envió a Jesús a la tierra a morir por nuestros pecados y nosotros que una vez fuimos esclavos somos ahora nada menos que los hijos de Dios y tenemos con El una relación íntima.  Por siglos los Judíos se preguntaban cuando vendría su Mesías, pero el momento de Dios fue el exacto.

            A veces nos preguntamos si Dios responderá alguna vez a nuestras oraciones, no debemos nunca sentir desconfianza o perder la esperanza.  El responderá en el momento perfecto.  Jesús nació de mujer y estaba sujeto a la ley de Dios y la cumplió.  Su muerte nos trajo la libertad cuando éramos esclavos del pecado para que pudiéramos ser adoptados en la familia de Dios.  Bajo la ley Romana un hijo adoptivo tenía garantizados todos los derechos legales de las propiedades de su padre.  Como hijos adoptivos de Dios, compartimos con Jesús todos los derechos a los recursos de Dios.

            Como herederos de Dios, podemos reclamar lo que El nos ha dado, o sea nuestra identidad como sus hijos.  El Antiguo Testamento se basaba en la ley, pero era únicamente la sombra de lo que vendría.  El Cristianismo es el cumplimiento del Antiguo Testamento.  El Cristianismo es una realidad y la realidad es que Dios se ha hecho hombre y ahora el hombre es libre y ha sido adoptado en la familia de Dios como heredero legítimo del reino.

                                                                 LUCAS 2:16-21

            Qué enorme señal de consuelo y esperanza cuando leemos que los primeros visitantes que vieron al tan esperado Mesías eran sencillos, trabajadores, sin instrucción, gente común llamados pastores.  Aún en su nacimiento Jesús nos ha mostrado lo máximo en humildad, y aquellos que escogió para tener parte en su experiencia de nacer eran también de origen humilde.

            ¿Puedes imaginarte los pensamientos que tenía María en la mente al ver venir a los pastores a adorar a su Hijo?  Ella ciertamente sabía de la fuerza y la belleza de los ángeles cantando alabanzas de gloria a Dios su rey recién nacido.  Era una costumbre Judía el que cuando nacía un bebé los músicos del lugar fueran a cantar canciones para felicitarlo.  María no tuvo músicos terrenales que le cantaran a su hijo, pero si tuvo un coro de ángeles que llenaron el aire con sonidos celestiales.

            En este día tan especial podemos honrar a María como a la Madre de Dios.  Dios mismo la honró haciéndola madre de su hijo.  Jesús en uno de sus últimos actos en este mundo antes de morir en la cruz hizo a su madre, nuestra madre.  No hubo ningún mérito en ella que le valiera esa dignidad.  Este honor le fue dado como un puro regalo de Dios.  Cuando la honramos, de hecho estamos dando gracias a Dios por habérnosla dado.

Aplicación

            La primera lectura explica que una bendición es Dios dando su protección y dirección.  La segunda lectura dice que el Antiguo Testamento fue un tiempo de preparación y el Nuevo Testamento fue un tiempo de la realidad de Dios entrando en la historia humana como un ser humano llamado Jesús.  El Evangelio revela a Jesús empezando su vida en la tierra humildemente y también humildemente fue a su muerte en la cruz por nosotros.

            Esta semana deja que la humildad de los pastores sea tu modelo de conducta durante los días festivos de la Navidad.  Trae a tu familia, amigos y compañeros de trabajo el regalo de escucharlos, el regalo de tus gentilezas y el regalo de la humildad.  María es un modelo para el mundo entero tanto para las mujeres como para los hombres.

 

 

OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS – CYCLE A-B-C – FEAST OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

Posted on by

OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS – CYCLE A-B-C –  FEAST OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.

“THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.” (JOHN 14:26)

 

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

 

  1. What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

 

  1. From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

 

SECOND DAY           READ NUMBERS 6:22-27       FIRST READING

(“The Lord bless you and keep you!”)

  1. To whom was the Lord speaking, and to whom did he tell him to speak?   Numbers 6:22-23

 

  1. Who was Aaron, and what did the Lord say to Moses about him? Exodus 4:14-16

 

  1. About what was Moses to speak to them? Numbers 6:23

 

  1. What six things were included in the blessing? Numbers 6:24-26

 

  1. Who will be blessed? Proverbs 28:20

 

  1. What brings wealth? Proverbs 10:22

 

  1. Who was blessed by the Lord, what did he do for her, and what was her response?   Luke 1:46-55

 

  1. What has the Lord given us? Psalm 118:27

 

  1. Who did Jesus say he was? John 8:12

 

  1. What shall be invoked upon the Israelite’s, and what will the Lord do?   Numbers 6:27

 

Personal – In what way have you blessed a family member or a friend? What do others see shining forth from your face?

 

THIRD DAY            READ GALATIANS 4:4-7       SECOND READING

(“…God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,  crying out, `Abba, Father!'”)

 

  1. Under what was God’s Son born? Galatians 4:4

 

  1. What did God’s Son do? Galatians 4:5

 

  1. What happens to everyone who believes in Jesus? John 3:16

 

  1. Who did the law come through, and what did Jesus bring? John 1:17

 

  1. Who are the children of God, and who bears witness that we are?   Romans 8:14-16

 

  1. What proof do we have that we are his children? Galatians 4:6

 

  1. To whom did he give the power to become children of God? John 1:12-13

 

  1. Why are the children of God not known to the world?  1 John 3:1

 

  1. What are we no longer, and what has he made us? Galatians 4:7

 

  1. With whom are the children of God joint heirs? Romans 8:17

 

Personal – In what way have you cried out to “Abba,” Daddy, this week? What have you inherited from God? What are your parents leaving you as an inheritance, or what are you leaving your children as an inheritance?

FOURTH DAY             READ LUKE 2:16-21                GOSPEL

(“And Mary kept all these things,  reflecting on them in her heart.”)

 

  1. When the shepherds went off in haste, who did they find? Luke 2:16

 

  1. Why did Mary lay her firstborn Son in a manger? Luke 2:7

 

  1. What did the shepherds do when they saw the child?  Luke 2:17

 

  1. What was the reaction of those who were told the message? Luke 2:18

 

  1. What amazed or astonished the people listening to Jesus? Matthew 7:28-29

 

Personal – What have you seen and made known to others since you have been studying God’s Word?

 

  1. What did Mary do? Luke 2:19

 

  1. What did Mary do when Jesus became lost and then told her he was about his Father’s business?   Luke 2:49-51

 

Personal – What have you personally pondered in your heart that God revealed to you, and how have you followed Mary’s example?

 

  1. How did the shepherds return? Luke 2:20

 

  1. What was the reaction of the paralytic and the people upon the healing?   Luke 5:25-26

 

  1. What happened on the eighth day, and to whom had the name been given?  Luke 2:21, Luke 1:31

 

  1. What has his name done for us? Acts 4:12

 

  1. To what is the name Jesus inherited far superior? Hebrews 1:3-4

 

Personal – What name has been given to you, and of what is it a reflection?

 

FIFTH DAY            READ PSALM 67:2-6, 8

(“…may he let his face shine upon us.”)

 

Read and meditate on Psalm 67:2-6, 8.

 

What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

SIXTH DAY         READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

NUMBERS 6:22-27

When Mary said, “Generation after generation shall call me blessed of God,” she was recognizing and accepting the gift God had given her (Luke 1:48). If Mary had denied her incredible position, she would have been throwing God’s blessing back at him.

In today’s reading we are being shown that a blessing was one way of asking God’s divine favor to rest upon others. All of God’s blessings had their fulfillment in the coming of Christ on earth. Mary received the fullness of these promises and blessings when she said, “Be it done unto me according to thy Word.” At that very moment she conceived Jesus Christ in her womb. As proof of this blessing we have the angel Gabriel’s words as he salutes her as “full of grace.” She has the full friendship of God, and no man or woman had ever received the fullness of God’s blessing until then.

A blessing conveys that God will (1) bless and protect, (2) be pleased because of us, (3) be gracious, merciful, and compas­sionate to us, (4) show favor to us, and (5) give us peace. When we ask God to bless us and others, we are asking him to do these five things. We will have the full friendship of God as we ask him to bless others as well as ourselves.

Today, on this special feast, let us thank God for all the blessings that he has given Mary, the Mother of God. We have all profited through her blessings; and the title, Mother of God, that the church confirmed in her regard at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, demonstrates all this.

                        GALATIANS 4:4-7

In today’s reading Paul uses the example of slavery to show that before Christ came and died for our sins, people were in bondage to the law. By becoming enslaved to the law, people thought they could be saved. At just the right time, God sent Jesus to earth to die for our sins, and we who were once slaves are now God’s very own children with an intimate relationship with him. For centuries the Jews were wondering when their Messiah would come, but God’s timing was perfect.

We may sometimes wonder if God will ever respond to our prayers, but we must never stop trusting or give up hope. At the right time, he will respond to us. Jesus was born of a woman and was subject to God’s law and fulfilled it. His death brought freedom for us who were enslaved to sin so we could be adopted into God’s family. Under the Roman law, an adopted child was guaranteed all legal rights to his father’s property. As adopted children of God, we share with Jesus all rights to God’s resour­ces.

As God’s heirs, we can claim what he has provided for us; which is our full identity as his children. The Old Testament was based on the law, but was only a shadow of things to come. Chris­tianity is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Chris­tianity is the reality, and the reality is God has become man, and man is now free and has been adopted into God’s family as rightful heirs to the kingdom.

                         LUKE 2:16-21

What a tremendous sign of comfort and hope it is when we read that the first visitors to lay eyes on the long-awaited Messiah were simple, hard-working, uneducated, common folks called shepherds. Even in birth Jesus has shown us the ultimate in humility, and his choice of those who were part of his birth experience were of humble origins themselves.

Can you imagine the thoughts that flowed through Mary’s head as she observed the shepherds coming to pay homage to her Son? She certainly was aware of the power and beauty of the angels singing praises of glory to God to their new born king. The Jewish custom was when a new child was born the local musicians would come by and sing some congratulatory songs. Mary had, not earthly music­ians to sing to her son, but she had a choir of angels to fill the air with heavenly sounds.

On this very special day, we can honor Mary in her blessed role as Mother of God. God himself honored her by making her the mother of his Son. Jesus, in one of his last acts on this earth before dying on the cross, made his mother our mother. It was through no merit of her own that she earned this dignity. This honor was given as a sheer gift of God. When we honor her, we are in fact thanking God for his gift of her to us.

Application

The first reading explains that a blessing is God giving someone his protection and direction. The second reading tells how the Old Testament was a time of preparation, and the New Testament was a time of the reality of God entering into human history as a human being named Jesus. The Gospel reveals Jesus beginning his life on earth humbly, and in humility he went to his death on a cross for us.

This week, let the humility of the shepherds be your model of conduct during the Christmas holidays. Bring to your family, friends, and co-workers, the gift of listening, the gift of gentleness, and the gift of humility. Mary was a role model for the whole world, for both male and female.

Christmas – John 1:1-18

Posted on by

PURPOSE OF THIS SCRIPTURE READING – Develop a personal relationship with Jesus through the Word of God with the understanding that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all Jesus said and did. Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you.”

  1. Say the opening prayer
  2. Read the passage slowly three times as though Jesus were talking to you.
  3. Converse with Jesus, asking questions and listening to Him.

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

Father, I can’t understand Your Word without Your grace, I acknowledge my weakness so Your power can reach perfection in me. Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth. May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me. AMEN

 READ, REFLECT AND WRITE ON THE GOSPEL OF THE DAY

John 1:1-18 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, “The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me,’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

 

  1. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

  1. What does the Lord personally want you to do?

 

 

Share your reflection with someone.

NAVIDAD – CICLO A-B-C

Posted on by

NAVIDAD – CICLO A-B-C

ANTES DE COMENZAR:

             Ora y pídele a Dios que te hable a través de Su Espíritu Santo.  “EL ESPIRITU SANTO INTERPRETE, QUE EL PADRE LES ENVIARA EN MI NOMBRE, LES VA A ENSEÑAR TODAS LAS COSAS Y LES RECORDARA TODAS MIS PALABRAS.”  (JUAN 14:26)

 

PRIMER DIA  Vuelve a leer las lecturas de la semana pasada.

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue el mensaje qué recibiste de la homilía o de las lecturas que oíste en misa el domingo?

 

  1. ¿De lo que aprendiste, qué escogiste para aplicar a tu vida esta semana?

 

SEGUNDO DIA                                  LEE ISAIAS 52:7-10             PRIMERA LECTURA

(“Tu Dios es Rey”)

 

  1. ¿De quién son los pasos bienvenidos y qué anuncia? Isaías 52:7, Romanos 10:15

 

  1. ¿Qué debemos gritar sin miedo? Isaías 40:9

 

  1. ¿Por qué gritan jubilosos los centinelas? Isaías 52:8

 

  1. ¿Cómo deben estar los centinelas? Isaías 62:6

 

  1. ¿Qué debemos hacer y por qué? Isaías 52:9

 

  1. ¿Por qué Dios nos consuela y nos anima? 2 Corintios 1:3-4

 

  1. ¿A quién redime el Señor? Salmo 34:23

 

  1. ¿Qué hace el Señor con su brazo santo y a la vista de quién? Isaías 52:10

 

  1. ¿Qué ven hasta los extremos del mundo? Isaías 52:10

 

  1. ¿Qué conocerán en toda la tierra y en todas las naciones? Salmo 67:3

 

Personal – ¿A quién le has anunciado la paz y las buenas nuevas?  ¿Cómo ve la gente en ti el júbilo y la salvación del Señor?

 

TERCER DIA                                    LEE HEBREOS 1:1-6             SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“Que todos los ángeles de Dios lo adoren.”)

 

  1. ¿Cómo habló Dios en aquellos tiempos? Hebreos 1:1

 

  1. ¿Cómo nos habla ahora y qué hizo de El y por El? Hebreos 1:2

 

  1. ¿Qué se hizo por El (Jesús)? Juan 1:3-4

 

  1. ¿De quién es Jesús el reflejo y la copia perfecta y cómo se mantiene el universo?   Hebreos 1:3

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo Jesús después que purificó al mundo de sus pecados? Hebreos 1:3

 

  1. ¿Cómo cumplió Jesús con ésta purificación? Colosenses 1:15-20

 

  1. ¿Qué ha heredado Jesús y de quién está muy por encima? Hebreos 1:4

 

  1. ¿Debido a que Jesús se humilló a sí mismo siendo obediente a morir, qué hizo Dios con El?  Filipenses 2:8-9

 

  1. ¿Cuáles son las preguntas que se hacen sobre los ángeles? ¿Qué dice El acerca de su hijo?   Hebreos 1:5

 

  1. ¿Quién es el Rey de los reyes de la tierra y quién nos ama? Apocalipsis 1:5

 

Personal – ¿Cómo te ha sostenido la Santa Palabra de Dios y cómo has adorado a Su Hijo Jesús esta semana?

 

CUARTO DIA                                       LEE JUAN 1:1-18                               EVANGELIO

(“Y el Verbo se hizo carne y habitó entre nosotros”)

 

  1. ¿Quién era en el principio? Juan 1:1, 14

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo Jesús que eran El y su Padre? Juan 10:30

 

  1. ¿Quién estaba en el principio con Dios y cómo fue esta vida que vino a ser por medio de El? Juan 1:2-4

 

  1. ¿Qué no pudieron vencer las tinieblas? Juan 1:5

 

  1. ¿Quién vino a dar testimonio, sobre qué atestiguó y qué dijo acerca de si mismo?    Juan 1:6-8

 

  1. ¿Qué hace la luz verdadera, cómo se hizo el mundo y quiénes no lo recibieron?     Juan 1:9-11

 

  1. ¿Qué les concedió a los que aceptaron a Jesús, en qué creyeron y cómo han nacido?     Juan 1:12-13

 

  1. ¿Quién puede entrar al reino de Dios? Juan 3:5

 

  1. ¿Qué no ha sido revelado y qué nos pasará cuando lo sea? 1 Juan 3:2

 

  1. ¿Cuando el Verbo se hizo carne de qué estaba lleno? Juan 1:14

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo Juan sobre Jesús, qué nos había dado por medio de Moisés y qué vino por medio de Jesús? Juan 1:15-17

 

  1. ¿Quién nos ha revelado al Padre? Juan 1:18

 

Personal – ¿Qué te ha revelado Jesús sobre el Padre?

 

QUINTO DIA                                      LEE SALMO 98:1-6

(“El Señor ha dado a conocer Su salvación.”)

Lee y medita el Salmo 98:1-6.

¿Qué te dice personalmente el Señor por medio de este Salmo?

 

¿Cómo puedes aplicar esto a tu vida diaria?

 

SEXTO DIA                               LEE TODO EL COMENTARIO

                                                                   ISAIAS 52:7-10

            En el pasaje de hoy Dios anima a su pueblo a buscar el consuelo en la historia y a esperar ansiosamente un éxodo más grande.  Les está diciendo que es tiempo de dejar los lamentos a un lado y el letargo que tenían.  Viene el sonido de las Buenas Nuevas de que Dios acompañará a su pueblo a casa, a Jerusalén, la ciudad santa de Dios, la ciudad con el Templo de Dios.  Pero la gente estaba desolada en vez de próspera y destruida en vez de libre.  Sufrían terriblemente debido a sus pecados pero Dios les prometió restaurar a Jerusalén como ciudad santa.

            Dios reina y hoy El sigue permaneciendo en control.  El versículo de hoy nos dice que hermosas son las pisadas de aquel que trae la buena nueva de la paz y la salvación (v. 7).  Qué hermosas son las pisadas de los que van adelante y predican el Evangelio de Jesucristo (Romanos 10:15).  Qué bienvenidos son los que traen el mensaje de esperanza a un pedazo de nuestro mundo destrozado, sin esperanzas.

            El gran mensaje de salvación de Dios debe pasar a otros por medio de nosotros para que tengan la oportunidad de responder a las “Buenas Nuevas.”  ¿Cómo lo van a oír nuestros seres queridos si no se las decimos?  Dios nos está llamando a tomar parte para que ese mensaje sea conocido en nuestra familia y nuestra comunidad.  Piensa en una persona que necesite oír las buenas nuevas y piensa en algo que puedes hacer para ayudarle a escucharlas.  Ve y hazlo en nombre de Jesús lo más pronto posible.

                                                                 HEBREOS 1:1-6

            La carta a los Hebreos fue escrita para un grupo de Judíos Cristianos que parecía que habían repensado acerca de Jesucristo como su tan esperado Mesías.  Debía haber sido una comunidad de Cristianos maduros ya para entonces pero en vez de eso parecían retraídos y viendo a su interior en su camino espiritual. Necesitaban un recordatorio severo de que lo que ya poseían en Cristo era mucho mejor de lo que tenían antes de hacerse Cristianos.

            Este pasaje empieza con una fuerte afirmación de la divinidad de Jesús.  A través de Jesús, Dios ha hecho Su revelación suprema y final de Si mismo al hombre.  Jesús es la encarnación viva del carácter y la majestad de Dios.  Jesús ha hecho frente al problema del pecado humano sacrificándose a sí mismo en la cruz y pagando el rescate por toda la humanidad con su sangre.  El está ahora al lado de Dios en una posición de poder supremo.  Los ángeles, a quienes los Judíos casi adoraban, adoraron a Jesucristo.  Los ángeles son seres espirituales y están para servir y glorificar a Dios mismo.

            La gente conocía bien las escrituras y ya sea por dudas, persecución o falsas enseñanzas, parecía estar en peligro de retirarse de su fe Cristiana.  Este peligro está también muy presente en el mundo de hoy. Hay muchas enseñanzas falsas y muchos que se dan en llamar “Pastores” que no son más que lobos disfrazados de ovejas.  Necesitamos estar en contacto con la comunidad, orar y estudiar la Santa Palabra de Dios y seguir las enseñanzas de nuestra iglesia.  Toma el tiempo en esta época de Navidad para dar gracias al Señor por traer la luz a tu corazón y un mejor entendimiento con El.  ¡Recuerda es el cumpleaños de Jesús y el regalo que El más quiere eres Tú!

                                                                    JUAN 1:1-18

            Este pasaje muestra claramente que lo que Jesús enseñó y lo que hizo está unido inseparablemente a El como lo que es.  En la lectura de hoy Juan muestra a Jesús como absolutamente humano y absolutamente Dios.  Aún cuando Jesús tomó la humanidad total para sí mismo y vivió como un hombre pasando por todas las emociones que nosotros pasamos, nunca dejo de ser Dios, el que ha existido siempre.  Esta es la verdad sobre Jesús y es la base de toda la verdad.  Si no queremos o no podemos creer en esta verdad básica, no tendremos suficiente fe para confiarle nuestro destino eterno.  Esta es la razón por la que Juan escribe este Evangelio, para crear la fe y la confianza en Jesucristo y así creamos que El realmente fue y es Dios hecho carne (Juan 20:30-31).

            La vida de Jesús trae luz a la humanidad, en su luz nos vemos como realmente somos: pecadores con la necesidad de un salvador.  Caemos de rodillas y como los pastores en el portal de Belén damos alabanza y gloria a la luz del mundo, nuestro Señor y Salvador Jesucristo.  Los magos siguieron la luz de la estrella para ver la luz del mundo.  Cuando seguimos a Jesús, luz del mundo podemos evitar el caminar a ciegas y el caer en pecado.  El ilumina nuestro camino yendo delante de nosotros para que veamos como debemos vivir.  El quita la oscuridad del pecado de nuestras vidas y si permitimos que la luz de Cristo brille en nuestras vidas en esta época de Navidad nunca tropezaremos en la oscuridad.

            Ahora que el mundo celebra el nacimiento de Cristo, renace tú espiritualmente.  A través de la fe en Cristo este renacer nos cambia de adentro para afuera, arreglando otra vez nuestras actitudes, deseos y motivos.  ¿Le has pedido a Cristo que te haga una persona nueva en el día de la Navidad?  Este nuevo comienzo está a la mano para todos aquellos que creen en El.  Feliz Navidad.

Aplicación

            La primera lectura nos dice que hermosos son los pasos de aquellos que van adelante y proclaman la Palabra de Dios.  La segunda lectura nos muestra que el tener ánimo y disciplina lleva a un compromiso más fuerte con Dios.  El Evangelio revela que la Navidad es tiempo de renacer y tiempo de darle tu vida a Dios.

            Esta semana dale a los que amas el mejor presente que puedes darles de Navidad.  Qué hermosos son tus pasos cuando vas adelante y haces el obsequio de tu presencia, de tu amor, de la salvación acercándolos a Cristo.  ¡Recuerda es el cumpleaños de Cristo y los regalos deben ser todos para El y El lo único que quiere es a Ti!

CHRISTMAS – CYCLE A-B-C

Posted on by

CHRISTMAS – CYCLE A-B-C

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.

“THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.” (JOHN 14:26)

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

 

  1. What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

 

  1. From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

 

SECOND DAY            READ ISAIAH 52:7-10        FIRST READING

(“Your God is King”)

  1. Whose feet are beautiful and what does he announce? Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:15

 

  1. What are we not to be afraid to cry out? Isaiah 40:9

 

  1. Why do the watchmen shout for joy? Isaiah 52:8

 

  1. What are the watchmen never to do? Isaiah 62:6

 

  1. What are we to do together and for what reason? Isaiah 52:9

 

  1. Why does God comfort and encourage us? 2 Cor 1:3-4

 

  1. Whom does the Lord redeem? Psalm 34:23

 

  1. What has the Lord done with his holy arm and in the sight of whom? Isaiah 52:10

 

  1. What will all the ends of the earth see? Isaiah 52:10

 

  1. What is to be known upon the earth, among all nations? Psalm 67:3

 

Personal – To whom have you been announcing peace and good news? How do people see the joy and salvation of the Lord upon you?

 

THIRD DAY             READ HEBREWS 1:1-16       SECOND READING

(“Let all the angels of God worship him.”)

  1. How did God speak in times past? Hebrews 1:1

 

  1. How does God speak to us now, what did he make him, and what did he do through him? Hebrews 1:2

 

  1. What came to be through him (Jesus)? John 1:3-4

 

  1. Of whom is Jesus the reflection and perfect copy, and by what are all things sustained? Hebrews 1:3

 

  1. When Jesus accomplished purification’s from sins what did he do?   Hebrews 1:3

 

  1. How did Jesus accomplish this purification? Col 1:15-20

 

  1. What has Jesus inherited, and to what is he far superior? Hebrews 1:4

 

  1. Because Jesus humbled himself becoming obedient to death, what did God do to him?   Philippians 2:8-9

 

  1. What are the questions asked about angels, and what does he say about his first born?   Hebrews 1:5

 

  1. Who is ruler of the kings of the earth and who loves us? Revelations 1:5

 

Personal – How have you been sustained by God’s Mighty Word and how have you worshipped his Son Jesus this past week?

 

FOURTH DAY             READ JOHN 1:1-18                GOSPEL

( “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,”)

  1. Who was in the beginning? John 1:1,14

 

  1. Who did Jesus say he was to the Father? John 10:30

 

  1. Who was in the beginning with God and what was this life that came to be through him? John 1:2-4

 

  1. What has the darkness not overcome? John 1:5

 

  1. Who came for testimony, to what did he testify, and what did he say about himself? John 1:6-8

 

  1. What does the true light do, how did the world come to be, and who did not accept him?   John 1:9-11

 

  1. To those who did accept Jesus what did he give them power to become, in what did they believe, and how were they born?      John 1:12-13

 

  1. Who can enter the kingdom of God? John 3:5

 

  1. What has not been revealed and what will happen to us when it is revealed? 1 John 3:2

 

  1. When the Word became flesh what was he full of? John 1:14

 

  1. What did John say about Jesus, what came through Moses, and what came through Jesus?   John 1:15-17

 

  1. Who has revealed the Father to us? John 1:18

 

Personal – What has Jesus revealed to you about the Father?

 

FIFTH DAY             READ PSALM 98:1-6

(” The Lord has made his salvation known.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 98:1-6

 

What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

SIXTH DAY         READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

ISAIAH 52:7-10

In today’s passage God urges his people to draw comfort from past history and to look forward to a greater exodus. He is telling them that it is time to shake off the grief and lethargy that has overtaken them. There is the sound of Good News that God is about to escort his people home, to Jerusalem, God’s holy city, the city with God’s temple. But the people experienced desolation instead of prosperity, and destruction instead of liberty. The people suffered terribly because of their sins, but God promised to restore Jerusalem as a holy city.

God reigns, and today he still is very much in control. Today’s verse states how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation (v.7). How beautiful are the feet of those who go forth and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10­:15). How welcome are those who bring the message of hope to a broken, hopeless, segment of our world.

God’s great message of salvation must be through us to others so they can have the chance to respond to the “Good News”. How will our loved ones hear it unless we take it to them. How will the nations hear it unless someone takes it to them? God is calling us to take a part in making his message known in our family and our community. Think of one person who needs to hear the good news, and think of something you can do to help him or her hear it. Then you go out and do that act, in Jesus’ name, as soon as possible.

                         HEBREWS 1:1-6

The letter to the Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christians who appeared to be having second thoughts about Jesus Christ being their long-awaited Messiah. They should have been a community of mature Christians by this time; instead, they seemed to be sort of withdrawn and inward-looking in their spiritual walk. They needed a strong reminder that what they now possess in Christ is far better than what they had before they became Christians.

This passage begins with a tremendous affirmation of Jesus’ divinity. Through Jesus, God has made his supreme and final revelation of himself to man. Jesus is the living embodiment of the character and majesty of God. Jesus has dealt with the problem of human sin by sacrificing himself on the cross and paying the ransom for all mankind with his blood. He is now at God’s side in the position of supreme power. The angels, whom the Jews came very close to worshiping themselves, worship Jesus Christ. They are spiritual beings and they are to serve and glorify God himself.

The people were well versed in scripture and whether through doubt, persecution, or false teaching, they seemed to be in danger of falling away from their Christian faith. This danger is very much present in today’s world. There is much false teaching today and many so-called “Shepherds” are just wolves in sheep’s clothing. We need to stay in fellowship, pray, and to study God’s Holy Word, and follow the teachings of our church. Take the time this Christmas season to thank the Lord for bringing his light into your heart and bringing about a better relationship with him. Remember, it is Jesus birthday, and the present he wants most is YOU!

                          JOHN 1:1-18

This passage clearly shows that what Jesus taught and what he did are tied inseparably to who he is. In today’s reading John shows Jesus as fully human and fully God. Although Jesus took upon himself full humanity and lived as a man experiencing all the emotions that all of us have, he never ceased to be God who has always existed. This is the truth about Jesus, and the foundation of all truth. If we cannot or do not believe this basic truth, we will not have enough faith to trust our eternal destiny to him. This is the reason John writes this Gospel, to build faith and confidence in Jesus Christ, so that we may believe he truly was and is God in the flesh (John 20:30-31).

Jesus’ life brings light to mankind, in his light we see ourselves as we really are: sinners in need of a savior. We fall on our knees, and like the shepherds at the little cave in Bethlehem, we too give praise and glory to the light of the world, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The wise men followed the light of a star to see the light of the world. When we follow Jesus, the light of the world, we can avoid walking blindly and falling into sin. He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. He removes the darkness of sin from our lives, and if we have allowed the light of Christ to shine in our lives this Christmas season, then we will never stumble in the darkness.

As the world celebrates the birth of Christ, let yourself be reborn spiritually. Through faith in Christ this new birth changes us from the inside out – rearranging our attitudes, desires and motives. Have you asked Christ to make you a new person on Christmas day? This fresh start is available to all who believe in him. Merry Christmas.

Application

The first reading tells us how beautiful are the feet of those who go forth and proclaim God’s Word. The second reading shows that encouragement and discipline lead to a stronger commitment to God. The Gospel reveals Christmas as a time of new birth, a time of giving your life over to God.

This week, give those you love the greatest present you could give them for Christmas. How beautiful are your feet as you go forth and gift them with the gift of your presence, of your love, of salvation by bringing them to Christ. Remember, it is Christ’s birthday, and the presents should all be for him, and he only wants you!

4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT – CYCLE A

Posted on by

4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT – CYCLE A

PURPOSE OF THIS SCRIPTURE READING – Develop a personal relationship with Jesus through the Word of God with the understanding that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all Jesus said and did. Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you.”

  1. Say the opening prayer
  2. Read the passage slowly three times as though Jesus were talking to you.
  3. Converse with Jesus, asking questions and listening to Him.

 

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

 Father, I can’t understand Your Word without Your grace, I acknowledge my weakness so your power can reach perfection in me. Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth. May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me. AMEN

 

READ, REFLECT AND WRITE

Matthew 1:18-24 – This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

 

  1. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

  1. What does the Lord personally want you to do?

 

Share your reflection with someone.