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TRIGESIMOPRIMERO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO

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TRIGESIMOPRIMERO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO

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                                                    SABIDURIA 11:22-12:1                               PRIMERA LECTURA

                                                                       (“Porque tu amas todo lo que existe.”)

 

  1. ¿Todo el mundo es como cuáles dos cosas? Sabiduría 11:22

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que Dios tiene de todos y qué es lo que puede hacer? Sabiduría 11:23

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que Dios disimula y por qué razón? Sabiduría 11:23

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que Dios ignora y para que le daba lugar al hombre? Sabiduría 12:10

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que Dios manda a todo hombre hacer? Hechos 17:30

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que Dios proclama a todo lo que existe? ¿Qué es lo que no aborrece? ¿Por qué razón?   Sabiduría 11:24

 

  1. ¿Dios es qué para toda la gente y para todos sus trabajos? Salmo 145:9

 

  1. ¿Cómo se puede conservar o preservar algo por medio de Dios? Sabiduría 11:25

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que Dios tiene a todas las cosas, por qué y qué es lo que ama? Sabiduría 11:26

 

  1. ¿Qué está en todas las cosas? Sabiduría 12:1

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que se ha llenado con el Espíritu del Señor? ¿Y qué es lo que sabe? Sabiduría 1:7

 

Personal – ¿Cómo he aceptado el amor de Dios? ¿En qué forma he perdonado los pecados de un miembro de mi familia, amigo, o compañero de trabajo? ¿Y cómo le he dado oportunidad de arrepentirse y en esa forma demostrar mi amor por éllos?

 

TERCER DIA                                                2 TESALONICENSES 1:11-2:2                        SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“Rogamos nosotros a cada momento por ustedes”)

 

  1. ¿Quién habla, con quién habla en 2 Tesalonicenses 1:11-2:2? 2 Tesalonicenses 1:1

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que hacen por la iglesia y por qué razón? 2 Tesalonicenses 1:11

 

  1. ¿Cómo Dios lleva a efecto los buenos propósitos y concede una fe activa? 2 Tesalonicenses 1:11

 

  1. ¿Quién produce en tí el querer o el lograr? Filipenses 2:13

 

  1. ¿Quién será glorificado en ustedes y ustedes en él? ¿Y cómo se hará esto? 2 Tesalonicenses 1:12

 

  1. ¿Sobre la pregunta de quién vendrá y quién se reunirá con él ¿Cómo les habla Pablo a los hermanos?     2 Tesalonicenses 2:1

 

  1. ¿Cuáles son las dos cosas que les ruega que no dejen que pasen tan fácilmente? 2 Tesalonicenses 2:2

 

  1. ¿Cuáles tres cosas dice para que no se dejen convencer que el día de su llegada está aquí?    2 Tesalonicenses 2:2

 

  1. ¿Cómo es que el Señor vendrá otra vez, qué pasará con los que murieron en Cristo?   1 Tesalonicenses 4:13-16

 

  1. ¿Qué pasará con los que viven y con los sobrevivientes? ¿Qué debemos hacer con este mensaje?     1 Tesalonicenses 4:17

 

Personal – ¿En qué forma te has preparado para la segunda venida del Señor?

 

CUARTO DIA                                                              LUCAS 19:1-10                                                       EVANGELIO

(“El Hijo del Hombre vino a buscar y salvar lo que estaba perdido.”)

 

  1. ¿Cuando Jesucristo llegó a Jericó quién estaba ahí? ¿Cómo se llamaba? ¿Qué posición tenía? ¿De qué posición social era?  Lucas 19:1-2

 

  1. ¿Quién fue a ser bautizado por Juan Bautista y qué fue lo que les dijo? Lucas 3:12-14

 

  1. ¿Cuál de los discípulos de Jesús fue cobrador de impuestos? Mateo 9:9

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que Zaqueo estaba haciendo? ¿Por qué quería hacer eso y qué le prevenía de hacerlo?     Lucas 19:3

 

  1. ¿Qué fue lo que hizo primero y cuando no pudo qué fue lo que hizo? Lucas 19:4

 

  1. ¿Qué fue lo que hizo Jesús cuando llegó al lugar donde Zaqueo estaba y qué fue lo que le dijo a él?   Lucas 19:5

 

  1. ¿Cómo se bajó Zaqueo y cómo recibió a Jesús? Lucas 19:6

 

  1. ¿Al observar esto qué fue lo que murmuraron todos? Lucas 19:7

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo Zaqueo y qué dijo al Señor? Lucas 19:8

 

  1. ¿Qué fue lo que Jesús le dijo a él? Lucas 19:9

 

  1. ¿Por qué vino el hijo de Dios? Lucas 19:10

 

Personal – ¿En qué forma has pagado a alquien a quien hayas defraudado? ¿En qué forma Jesús te ha buscado y te ha salvado? Comparte con alguien de tu familia o con un amigo.

 

QUINTO DIA                                           LEE EL SALMO 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14

(“El Señor es bueno con todos.”)

 

Leé and medita el Salmo 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14.

 

¿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

                                                                                   SABIDURIA 11:22-12:1

                 Este pasaje nos forza a reflexionar en qué tanto somos amados y protegidos por Dios. Se nos ha dicho que este maravilloso universo se puede comparar con una pequeña partícula usada para pesar en una báscula muy precisa. En Dios hay mucho más y aún así, nuestro universo es tan querido por El como el rocío de la mañana. Oímos acerca de un Dios que es tán majestuoso que aún cuando El puede hacer todas las cosas, le encanta ser misericordioso. El libro de la Sabiduría es hermoso pues nos ayuda a entender el increíble amor que Dios nos tiene.

                A Dios no se le pasa nada, El vé nuestras fallas y aún así nos anima constantemente para que sigamos adelante. Nos dá muchas oportunidades para que nos arrepintamos y disfrutemos de Su reino (Marcos 1:15). Es muy difícil para el hombre entender el amor de Dios, pues El ama todo lo que ha creado. El no hace basura, nosotros no somos basura y Dios nunca hará basura. Es por eso que El nos ama siempre. El nos ama tanto que dió a Su único Hijo para que todos los que creamos en El no muramos sino que tengamos vida eterna (Juan 3:16). ¿Tu creés que él te amo tanto que murió sabiendo que podrías pecar (Romanos 5:8)? Sí, lo hizo.

                Sabiduría es tener temor al Señor, no temor al castigo, es temor de ofender su amor y benevolencia, pues el verdadero amor echa fuera el temor (1 Juan 4:18). El amor de Dios por nosotros está consumado en Jesús. El nos dá su mandamiento, ámense unos a otros como yo los he amado (Juan 15:12). Sabiduría es entender que el Espíritu del Señor se dá para todos los hombres y que ese Espíritu Santo nos instruirá en todo (Juan 14:26. Así vemos que los brazos de Cristo se extendierón en la cruz del Calvario para que tú y yo podamos tener el increíble privilegio de escoger la vida o la muerte. La persona sabía escogerá la vida, la tonta escogerá la muerte.

                                                                          2 TESALONICENSES 1:11 – 2:2

                Pablo está animando al pueblo pues habían tenido una temporada de alborotos y confusión acerca de “los últimos días.” El pensamiento del fin del mundo y del regreso de Jesús hizo que mucha gente dejara de estimar las responsabilidades de la vida diaria. Algunos no querían regresar a su trabajo, otros no querían continuar con sus obligaciones monetarias. Pablo les dice en este pasaje que su vida y el modo en que viven es un reflejo de Nuestro Señor y Salvador Jesucristo. También les dice que Dios nos llama a vivir honradamente y tener fe en su promesa. Esa promesa es que, todo el que crea en él no morirá sino que tendrá vida eterna con El.

                Pablo continúa y les dice que no se sabe cuando regresará el Señor, pero que su Espíritu estará dentro de nosotros hasta que eso suceda (Juan 14:26). Oímos hoy en día muchas ideas de como andar el camino. Oímos y vemos mucho de la teología de “la nueva era” que nos dice que podemos volvernos dioses nosotros mismos. Debemos reflexionar acerca de la seducción de la que habla Pablo en el versículo tres. Cuando la iglesia se une a la época se vuelve viuda rápidamente.

                Pablo les dice a éllos y a nosotros que solo hay un camino hacía la vida eterna y es através de Jesús; solo Dios sabe cuando será el final de los tiempos. Nuestra fe depende únicamente de la presencia viva del poder de Dios en nuestras vidas. Debemos vivir nuestra vida como si fuera hoy el día en que Jesús viniera a llevarnos con el Padre.

                                                                                         LUCAS 19:1-10

                Una vez más vemos a Jesús como el clásico ministro. Jesús sabía muy bien lo que la gente del lugar pensaba de los recolectores de impuestos y sabía que sus acciones podían provocar una gran controversia. El quería que ellos amaran al pecador y odiaran al pecado, y no quería que odiaran al pecador del mismo modo que odiaban al pecado. El quiso enseñarles llendo a cenar con Zaqueo que estaba abierto para aliviar el corazón de las personas sin importar cual era su situación en la vida.

                Zaqueo sabía que la gente pensaba que él era un estafador ya que la mayoría de los recolectores de impuestos eran así (Lucas 5:27-32).  Zaqueo era rico pero no felíz. Probablemente se sentía muy solo ya que había escogido un trabajo que lo hacía indeseable como amigo. Sin duda había oído de Jesús y de su amor por los indeseables y los pecadores como él y se preguntaba si habría para él algo de esas “buenas nuevas.” Despreciado y odiado por la gente del pueblo, Zaqueo estaba buscando el amor y la aceptación de Dios. Uno tiene que recordar que Zaqueo era de baja estatura y que se arriesgó a ser visto en público estando solo. No podía ver por encima de los demás, así que buscó un árbol se subió a él y vió a Jesús cuando pasaba por ahí.

                Puedes imaginarte lo que sintió Zaqueo cuando oyó la invitación que Jesús le hacia. Literalmente brincó de árbol con alegría y le dijo a todos que era un hombre nuevo, había cambiado. El supo que Jesús estaba arriesgándose a ser rechazado por la multitud al decir que quería ir a la casa de un pecador conocido. Jesús hace esto hoy en día contigo y conmigo. Nos dice que él quiere estar en nuestra casa o sea en nuestro corazón. Zaqueo entonces hizo una decisión; decidió amar, pues había percibido el increíble regalo del amor de Dios. Debido a este amor decidió dar la mitad de sus bienes a los pobres. En el pago de su falta fue más allá de lo que la ley requería. Unicamente si el robo era un acto de destrucción, violentamente premeditado tenía que darse cuatro veces más (Exodo 22:1).

                Zaqueo mostró que era un hombre cambiado con sus acciones no con sus palabras. Se había arrepentido por el amor no por la fuerza. Un hombre o una mujer que se arrepiente, cambia completamente. Arrepentirse no es solamente decir “Perdóname.” El testimonio de Zaqueo hubiera sido completamente inválido si no hubiera estado respaldado por sus acciones. Debemos reflexionar en la historia de hoy y ver de que debemos arrepentirnos nosotros.

                Como Zaqueo, necesitamos tener a Jesús viviendo en nuestro corazón para amar y ser amados (Juan 15:12). Este pasaje termina con Jesús diciéndonos que El vino a buscar y a salvar al que está perdido. Zaqueo era judío, hijo de Abraham y el Señor vino a él y lo trajo a su reino. Nosotros tenemos ese mismo Dios amoroso que siempre está listo para venir a nuestra “casa” y traernos a su casa también.

Aplicación

                 La primera lectura nos dice qué tanto somos amados y protegidos por Dios a pesar de nuestro egoísmo. La segunda lectura muestra que el modo en que vivimos es una reflexión de lo que creemos. El Evangelio demuestra a traves de la historia de Zaqueo que las acciones hablan más fuerte que las palabras. Arrepentirse significa Cambiar.

                Escoge uno de tus malos hábitos y en oración y con fe trabaja sobre el esta semana. Atestiguar con palabras sin actuar no tiene ninqún valor, así que comparte con alguien especial tus progresos. El modo en que le hablas a tus hijos les dice si éllos son para tí algo especial o una carga. Deja que tu familia vea que eres sumiso al Señor y que le das permiso para que te cambie. Funciona. El cambió a Zaqueo y quiere cambiarte a tí.

 

THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C

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                       THE BREAD OF LIFE CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

         THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE 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 WISDOM 11:22-12:1         FIRST READING   

              (“For you love all things that are.”)

 1. What two things is the whole universe like? Wisdom 11:22

  

  1. What does God have on all and what can he do? Wisdom 11:23

  

  1. What does God overlook and for what reason? Wisdom 11:23

  

  1. Of what is God not unaware and for what does he give man space? Wisdom 12:10

  

  1. What does God call men everywhere to do? Acts 17:30

  

  1. What does God do to all things that are, what does he loathe,  and for what reason?  Wisdom 11:24

  

  1. What is the Lord to all people and toward all his works?     Psalm 145:9

  

  1. Unless God does what, how can anything remain or be preserved?      Wisdom 11:25

  

  1. What does God do to all things, for what reason and of what is he a lover?  Wisdom 11:26

  

  1. What is in all things? Wisdom 12:1

  

  1. What does the Spirit of the Lord fill and what does he know?       Wisdom 1:7

  

Personal – How have I accepted God’s love for me?  In what way have I overlooked the sins of a family member, friend, or co-worker and given them an opportunity to repent and thus show my love for them?

  

THIRD DAY        READ 2 THESSALONIANS 1:11-2:2     SECOND READING                                       

                   (“We pray for you always.”)

 

  1. Who is speaking and to whom is he speaking in 2 Thessalonians      1:11-2:2?  2 Thessalonians 1:1

  

  1. What do they do always for the church and for what reason?      2 Thessalonians 1:11

  

  1. How does God fulfill every honest intention and work of  faith?  2 Thessalonians 1:11

  

  1. Who begets (brings forth) in you any measure of desire or      achievement?  Philippians 2:13

  

  1. Who may be glorified in you and you in him and how is this done?  2 Thessalonians 1:12

 

  1. On the question of whose coming, and of who is being gathered with him, how is Paul addressing the brothers?

     2 Thessalonians 2:1

  

  1. What two things is he begging them not to let happen so   easily?  2 Thessalonians 2:2

 

 

  1. What three ways is he saying not to be swayed into believing that the day of the Lord is here?  2 Thessalonians 2:2

  

  1. How is the Lord going to come again and what will happen to those who have died in Christ?  1 Thessalonians 4:13-16

  

  1. What will happen to those who are living, the survivors and what are we to do with this message?  1 Thessalonians 4:17

  

Personal – In what way have you been preparing for the Lord’s second coming?

 

FOURTH DAY              READ LUKE 19:1-10                  GOSPEL

  (“The Son of Man has come to search out and save what is lost”)

 

  1. As Jesus entered Jericho who was there, what was his name, what position did he hold, and what economic status did he

     hold?  Luke 19:1-2

         

  1. Who came to be baptized by John the Baptist and what did he  tell them?  Luke 3:12-14

  

  1. Which one of Jesus’ disciples was a tax collector?       Matthew 9:9

  

  1. What was Zacchaeus doing, why did he want to do this and what      prevented him from doing this?  Luke 19:3

 

  1. What did he first do and when that did not work, what did he      then do?  Luke 19:4

  

  1. What did Jesus do when he came to the spot where Zacchaeus was and what did he say to him?  Luke 19:5

  

  1. How did Zacchaeus descend and how did he welcome Jesus?      Luke 19:6

  

  1. When this was observed what did everyone begin to murmur?     Luke 19:7

  

  1. What did Zacchaeus do and what did he say to the Lord?     Luke 19:8

  

  1. What did Jesus say to him? Luke 19:9

  

  1. Why did the Son of Man come? Luke 19:10

  

Personal – In what way have you repaid anyone you may have defrauded?  In what way has Jesus come to search you out and save you personally?  Share with someone in your family or with a friend.

        

FIFTH DAY        READ PSALM 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14           

                   (“The Lord is good to all.”)

 

Read and meditate on Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14.

 

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                                      

                        WISDOM 11:22-12:1

     This passage forces us to reflect on how much we are loved and protected by God.  We are being told that this awesome universe is like being compared to a small particle used for weighing on sensitive scales.  In God there is so much more and yet our universe is as precious to him as early morning dew.  We hear about a God who is so majestic that  even though he can do all things, he loves being merciful.  Wisdom is so precious because it helps us to understand God’s incredible love for us. 

     God doesn’t miss anything, he sees our failures and yet he constantly encourages us to go forward.  He gives us so much room to repent and to enjoy his kingdom (Mark 1:15).  It is so hard for man to understand God’s love, because God loves everything that he has created.  God does not make junk, we are not junk, and God will never make junk. That is why he loves us always.  God loves us so much he gave us his only Son, so that all who believe in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).  Do you really believe that he loved you so much he died knowing that you would be sinning (Romans 5:8)?  He did. 

      Wisdom is fear of the Lord, not a fear of punishment but fear of offending his love and goodness, because true love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).  God’s love for us is complete in Jesus.  He gives us his command, love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12).  Wisdom is knowing that the Spirit of the Lord is given for all men and that the Spirit will instruct us in everything (John 14:26).  The Holy Spirit is all embracing and this means that the arms of Christ were stretched out wide on the cross of Calvary so that you and I can have the incredible privilege of choosing life or death.  The wise person will choose life; the fool will choose death.

                            2 THESSALONIANS 1:11-2:2

      Paul is now encouraging the people because they had been going through a time of turmoil and confusion about the “last days.” The thought of the world coming to an end and Jesus coming back led many to give up the responsibilities of daily life. Some of the people did not want to go back to work, some did not want to continue to meet their financial obligations. Paul is telling them in this passage that their life and the way that they live is a reflection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul also tells them that God calls us to live in honor and have faith in his promise. His promise is that all who believe in him will not perish but instead have eternal life with him.

      Paul goes on to tell them that the day which the Lord is to come back is not yet known, but his Spirit will be within us until then (John 14:26). We hear today many new ways to “talk the talk” and “walk the walk.” We hear and see quite a bit of the “new age” theology which calls us to become gods unto ourselves. We really need to reflect on the seduction of the age that Paul spoke about in verse three. When the Church marries the age or times, the church quickly becomes a widow.

      Paul is telling them, as he is telling us, that there is only one way to eternal life, and that is through Jesus; and that only God knows when the end days are near.  Our faith depends only on the living presence of the power of God in our lives.  We are to live our lives as if this is the day that Jesus comes to take us home to the Father.

                           LUKE 19:1-10

      Once again we see Jesus being the classic minister. Jesus knew full well what the local townspeople thought about tax collectors and knew that his actions would provoke a tremendous amount of controversy.  He wanted them to love the sinner and hate the sin, but not hate the sinner as well as the sin. He chose to show them that by having dinner with Zacchaeus he was open to healing a person’s heart no matter what his station in life.

      Zacchaeus knew that the people thought that he was a crook as most tax collectors were in those days (Luke 5:27- 32). Zacchaeus was wealthy but not happy. He probably was very lonely because he had chosen a way that made him an outcast. He no doubt had heard of Jesus and his love for outcasts like tax collectors  and sinners like himself, and wondered if he had any “good news” for him. Despised and hated by the local town people, Zacchaeus was reaching out for the love and acceptance of God. One has to remember that Zacchaeus was small in stature and he took a great risk to be seen alone in public. He could not see over the crowd so he finally found a tree that he could climb and see Jesus as he walked by.

      Can you imagine the thrill that went through Zacchaeus when he heard Jesus’ invitation. He literally jumped out of the tree in joy and shock and proclaimed to the community that he was a changed man. He knew that Jesus was risking the rejection of the crowd by saying that he wanted to stay at the home of a known sinner. Jesus does that today with you and me. He tells us that he wants to stay in our house, which means in our hearts. Zacchaeus then made a decision; he decided to love, because he had experienced the incredible gift of God’s love. Because of this love he then decided to give half of his goods to the poor. In his restitution he went far beyond what the law required. Only if robbery was a pre-meditated violent act of destruction was a fourfold giving back necessary (Exodus 22:1).

      Zacchaeus showed that he was a changed man by his actions not just his words. Zacchaeus was a man who had repented because of love not force. A man or woman who repents, changes completely. Repentance is not only saying “I am sorry.” Zacchaeus’ testimony would have been completely worthless if it was not backed up by deeds. We should reflect on today’s story and see where, in our lives, repentance is needed.

      Like Zacchaeus, we need to have Jesus reside in our hearts in order to love and be loved (John 15:12). This passage ends with Jesus telling us that he came to search out and save the lost. Zacchaeus was a Jew, a child of Abraham, and the Lord came to him and brought him back into the kingdom. We have that same loving God who is always ready to come to our “house” and bring us home, too.

Application

      The first reading tells us how much we are loved and protected by God in spite of our selfishness. The second reading shows that the way we live is a reflection of what we believe. The Gospel  demonstrates through the story about Zacchaeus that actions speak louder than words. Repentance means change.

     Pick one specific bad habit and in prayer and faith work on it for this week.  Testimony of words without action is worthless, so share with someone special your progress.  The way that you talk to your children tells that they are either special or a burden. Let your family know that you are submitting yourself to the Lord and are giving him permission to change you. It works. He changed Zacchaeus and he wants to change you.

30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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

Luke 18:9-14 – Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else, “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

  1. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

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

 

 

Share your reflection with someone.

TRIGESIMO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO

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TRIGESIMO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO

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                                           ECLESIASTICO 35:12-14, 16-18                     PRIMERA LECTURA

                                                           (“El que sirve a Dios con todo su corazón es oido.”)

  1. ¿Cómo es el Señor y qué es lo que no toma en cuenta? Eclesiástico 35:12
  1. ¿Qué es lo que no acepta? Deuteronomio 10:17 y 2 Crónicas 19:7
  1. ¿Por qué Dios no tiene favoritos? Job 34:19

Personal – ¿Cómo le haces para tratar a los de tu familia, de tu iglesia o de tu trabajo sin demostrar favoritismo? ¿Por qué crees que debes hacerlo así?

  1. ¿De quién escucha la oración? Eclesiástico 35:13
  1. ¿Y a la súplica de quién no se hace sordo? Eclesiástico 35:14
  1. ¿De quién escucha el Señor el clamor y a quién no debemos dañar? Exodo 22:21-22
  1. ¿Quién es oido y qué llega hasta las nubes? Eclesiástico 35:16
  1. ¿Qué es lo que traspasa la oración del humilde? ¿Qué pasa mientras ésta no llega a su destino?    Eclesiástico 35:17
  1. ¿Qué es lo que no hace la oración del humilde hasta que el Altísimo responde? Eclesiástico 35:18
  1. ¿Qué hace el juez Altísimo y a quién les restablece su derecho?  

 Personal – ¿De qué manera ha contestado Dios tu oración con justicia? ¿De qué modo te ha restablecido?

 

TERCER DIA                                                     2 TIMOTEO 4:6-8, 16-18                            SEGUNDA LECTURA

                                                (“El Señor en cambio estuvo a mi lado, llenándome de fuerza.”)

 

  1. ¿Quién habla, a quién le habla en 2 Timoteo 4:6-8, 16-18? 2 Timoteo 1:1-2

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo que le estaba pasando y de qué le llegaba la hora? 2 Timoteo 4:6

 

  1. ¿Qué había combatido y qué había terminado, siempre fiel a qué? 2 Timoteo 4:7

 

  1. ¿Cuál era el ministerio de Pablo? Hechos 20:24

 

  1. ¿Qué le espera de ahora en adelante? ¿Cómo llama al Señor? ¿Qué le pasará a Pablo y a todos los que anhelaron la venida gloriosa del Señor? 2 Timoteo 4:8

 

  1. ¿Qué le pasó a Pablo la primera vez que presentó su defensa? ¿Qué pidió que no sucediera?       2 Timoteo 4:16

 

  1. ¿Quién estuvo a su lado y qué le dió? 2 Timoteo 4:17

 

  1. ¿De qué no debemos preocuparnos? ¿Y por que razón? Mateo 10:19-20

 

  1. ¿Cómo quedó Pablo libre de la boca del león? 2 Timoteo 4:17

 

  1. ¿Qué continuará haciendo el Señor y a dónde lo llevará? 2 Timoteo 4:18

 

  1. ¿A quién se le dará toda la gloria? 2 Timoteo 4:18 y  Romanos 16:27

 

Personal – ¿Cómo reaccionas cuando tus amigos o familiares te abandonan por qué defiendes tu fe? ¿En dónde buscas la fortaleza durante la crisis?  Hebreos 13:6

 

CUARTO DIA                                                              LUCAS 18:9-14                                                       EVANGELIO

(“Dios mio ten piedad de mí que soy un pecador.”)

 

  1. ¿A quién dirije el Señor esta parábola? Lucas 18:9

 

  1. ¿De qué se las dan algunos hombres? ¿Qué es lo que Dios conoce? Lucas 16:15

 

  1. ¿Quiénes eran los dos hombres que subieron al templo a orar? ¿Cómo estaba el fariseo mientras   oraba? Lucas 18:10-11

 

  1. ¿De qué daba gracias el fariseo? ¿A quién dijo que no se parecía? ¿Qué dijo que hacía? Lc. 18:11-12

 

  1. ¿Cuáles son las tres cosas que son importantes a los ojos del Señor, sin descuidar las otras?    Mateo 23:23

 

  1. ¿Cómo se mantenía en cambio el publicano? ¿Qué no se atrevía a hacer? ¿Qué hizo y dijo?         Lucas 18:13

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo Jesús acerca de los hombres santurrones y de los pecadores? Mateo 9:13

 

  1. ¿Cómo se irían a casa el fariseo y el publicano? Lucas 18:14

 

  1. ¿Cómo llegamos a ser santificados? Romanos 5:8-11

 

  1. ¿Qué le pasará al que se engrandezca y qué al que se humille? Lucas 18:14

 

  1. ¿Quién es el más grande entre ustedes? Mateo 23:11-12

 

Personal – ¿De qué modo te acercas al Señor? Examina tu vida de oración. ¿Qué le dices al Señor? ¿Cómo te comparas con los otros? ¿Cómo te ves realmente a tí mismo? Recuerda que Dios conoce los corazones (Lucas 16:15).

 

QUINTO DIA                                             LEE EL SALMO 34: 2-3, 17-19, 23

                                                               (“Cuando clama el justo, el Señor lo escucha.”)

Leé y medita el Salmo 34.

¿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

                                                                          ECLESIASTICO 35:12-14, 16-18

                Este pasaje señala que nuestro Dios no tiene favoritos. Su amor por el rico es el mismo que para el pobre. Es el mismo para el jóven que para el viejo, para el sano que para el enfermo. Su amor recae iqual en los justos que en los pecadores. Nuestro Dios no se deja sobornar bajo ninguna circunstancia. (Deuteronomio 10:17). Un Dios justo es aquel que nos ama por lo que somos no por lo que hacemos. El ama al débil y escucha el clamor del oprimido. Siempre responde cuando lo llamamos en nuestro apoyo.

                Nuestro llamado de ayuda nunca cae en oidos sordos (Juan 6:37). Debemos ser persistentes, como la viuda, con nuestras oraciones a nuestro amoroso Dios. Todas las peticiones de los que claman a Dios son oidas. El nos conoce a cada uno por nombre y nos conocía desde que fuimos formados en el vientre de nuestra madre (Salmo 139). Debemos responder a su atención con un corazón contrito y un espíritu humilde (Salmo 51). Muchas veces nos sentimos tentados a darnos por vencidos, olvidar nuestras peticiones y a enojarnos. Recordemos que tenemos un Dios cuyos caminos no son nuestros caminos.

                Nuestro Dios es un Dios justo y nos contestará a su debido tiempo y por lo tanto no debemos estar ansiosos (Filipenses 4:6,7), antes al contrario debemos alegrarnos y darle gracias y alabanzas. A un Dios justo le encanta traer la libertad y su justicia trae amor y paz. Reflexionemos en esta escritura y recordemos que el Dios de Justicia es un Dios de Amor y el Dios de Amor es Jesucristo, nuestro Señor y Salvador.

                                                                                2 TIMOTEO 4:6-8, 16-18

                 Pablo exhorta a Timoteo a mantener activa su fe y a estar listo para asumir el papel de líder en vez de ser asistente. Pablo le dice a Timoteo que se le está acabando su tiempo y que pronto se irá al cielo. Pablo estaba enfrentando a la muerte del mismo modo que enfrentó a la vida en este mundo o sea con valor, dado por el Señor. Debemos preguntarnos algunas de las cosas que Pablo probablemente se preguntó. ¿Me está preparando la vida para la muerte? ¿Tengo la esperanza profunda de encontrarme con Cristo cuando muera?

                Podemos respirar con un poco más de tranquilidad ya que las “Buenas Nuevas” son de que la salvación no es nada más para gigantes espirituales como “Pablo,” “Moisés” o hasta Timoteo. Más bien es para los que confiesen con su labios y que crean con su corazón que Jesús es el Señor (Romanos 10:10). Pablo nos dió estas palabras de aliento para seguir adelante y continuar el buen combate. El quiere que nos entrenemos y nos hagamos mejores. No importa cuales sean las dificultades, siempre debemos recordar que el Espíritu que está dentro de nosotros es más grande que el de este mundo (1 Juan 4:4), y debemos seguir luchando y continuar con nuestra carrera.

                Nos daremos cuenta por completo, cuando finalmente estemos en casa en el cielo con nuestro maravilloso Señor Jesús de que el combate y la carrera valieron mucho la pena. Timoteo probablemente no se sentía tán fuerte teniendo a su líder en prisión y a su iglesia tambaleándose entre el agotamiento y la expansión. Debemos confiar en Jesús como lo hizo Pablo y nuestro Señor usará nuestros corazones arrepentidos de un modo extraordinario. Recordemos que Dios siempre nos dá la fuerza para hacer cualquier cosa que El nos pida y lo que nos ha pedido es ir adelante y predicar su palabra. El nos ha llamado y comisionado para evangelizar al mundo (Mateo 28:19).

                                                                                         LUCAS 18:9-14

                Este pasaje trata sobre la calidad de nuestra vida de oración y no de la cantidad. Cuando nos acercamos a orar ante Dios, la pregunta no es, “¿Soy tan bueno como los demás?” La pregunta es, “¿Soy tan bueno como Dios?” La verdadera oración solo puede venir de poner nuestras vidas junto a la vida de Dios. Haríamos bien en recordar que somos uno de la grán legión de una humanidad pecadora, que sufre y pena y que ocasionalmente nos arrodillamos ante el trono de la misericordia de Dios. Antes de poder decir “Estoy feliz de que no soy como el pomposo fariseo,” recordemos que ningún hombre orgulloso puede hacer oración. Se ha dicho que la puerta del cielo es tan baja que ninguno puede entrar a menos que lo haga de rodillas.

                En el evangelio de hoy vemos dos hombres orando en el templo. La gente que era muy devota se encontraba en el templo alrededor de las 9:00 a.m., al mediodía y a las 3:00 p.m. Estas eran las horas cuando la mayoría de la comunidad iba al templo. El relato habla únicamente de dos de ellos, uno altamente respetado como devoto de la iglesia llamado fariseo, el otro era un publicano con una posición social muy pobre. El publicano o recolector de impuestos era el símbolo de la deshonestidad, la mentira y las trampas. El fariseo empieza diciendole a Dios cuantas cosas ha hecho por El. El fariseo realmente no iba a orar; iba a informarle a Dios que el era muy bueno. El recolector de impuestos por el otro lado se quedó en la parte trasera del templo y ni siguiera levantaba sus ojos a Dios porque sabía que era un pecador. Su oración era muy sencilla y muy directa: “Oh, Dios ten misericordia de mí, soy un pecador.”

                No oremos como el fariseo, pues la santurronería es peligrosa. El orgullo lleva al pecado y el sueldo del pecado es la muerte (Romanos 6:23). La oración del publicano es la que debemos imitar pues Jesús escucha nuestro grito de arrepentimiento e inmerecimiento (Salmo 51:10). Llamémosle para que limpie nuestro corazón y nos dé un espíritu arrepentido y El lo hará. La oración es de dos personas – Dios y el hombre – diciéndose uno al otro cuanto se quieren entre sí. Dios te ama y quiere que seas piadoso.

Aplicación

                 La primera lectura nos habla de que Dios no tiene favoritos. La segunda lectura revela que debemos actualizar nuestro inventario espiritual frecuentemente. El evangelio muestra que la calidad de la vida de oración es mucho más importante que la cantidad.

                Pasemos un tiempo a solas con el Señor diariamente esta semana y escuchemos cuidadosamente Su plan para nuestra vida (Juan 10:10). Dios quiere que cada uno de nosotros tengamos una vida abundante en su gracia. Quiere que lo llamemos con sinceridad profunda y El nos sanará. Deja que tu familia vea que tienes una devota comunión con Dios.

 

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C

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                       THE BREAD OF LIFE   CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

           THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE 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 SIRACH 35:12-14, 16-18      FIRST READING

            (“He who serves God willingly is heard.”)

  

  1. Of what is our God a God, and of what does he not know? Sirach 35:12.

  

  1. What does he not accept? Deuteronomy 10:17,   2 Chronicles 19:7

  

  1. Why does God have no favorites? Job 34:19.

  

Personal – How do you treat those in your family, at church, or at work without showing favoritism?  Why do you think you should do this?

  

  1. Whose cry does God hear? Sirach 35:13

  

  1. Toward what two people is God not deaf? Sirach 35:14

 

  1. Whose cry does the Lord hear and who should we not    wrong?  Exodus 22:21-22.

  

  1. Whom does the Lord hear and what reaches the heavens?   Sirach 35:16

  

  1. What does the prayer of the lowly pierce and what does it not do till it reaches its goal?  Sirach 35:17

  

  1. What does the prayer of the lowly not do till the Most High  responds?  Sirach 35:18

 

  1. What does the Most High judge do and who does he affirm?      Sirach 35:18

  

Personal – In what way has God answered your prayer with justice, and in what way were you affirmed by it?

  

THIRD DAY        READ 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8, 16-18      SECOND READING

        (“The Lord stood by my side and gave me strength.”)

  

  1. Who is speaking, and to whom is he speaking in 2 Timothy 4:6- 8, 16-18? 2 Timothy 1:1-2?

  

  1. What did he say was happening to him and was near him?      2 Timothy 4:6

  

  1. What has he fought, what has he finished, and what has he      kept?  2 Timothy 4:7

  

  1. To what is Paul to bear witness? Acts 20:24

  

  1. From now on what awaits Paul, how does he refer to the Lord, and what will happen to him and all who have looked   for the Lord’s appearing with eager longing?  2 Timothy 4:8

  

  1. What happened to Paul at his first hearing of his case in court and what did he not do?  2 Timothy 4:16

  

  1. Who stood by his side and what did he give him?      2 Timothy 4:17

  

  1. What are we not to do and for what reason?      Matthew 10:19-20.

  

  1. How was Paul saved from the lion’s jaws? 2 Timothy 4:17

  

  1. What will the Lord continue to do and where will he bring him?  2 Timothy 4:18

  

  1. Who is to get all the glory? 2 Timothy 4:18, Romans 16:27

    

Personal – What is your reaction when friends or family abandon you when you stand up for your faith?  Where do you look for your strength in a crisis?  Hebrews 13:6.

  

FOURTH DAY            READ LUKE 18:9-14                  GOSPEL

             (“O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”)

  

  1. To whom did the Lord address this parable? Luke 18:9

  

  1. What do the self-righteous do and what does God know?      Luke 16:15

  

  1. What two men went up to the temple to pray and how was the Pharisee’s head when he prayed?  Luke 18:10-11

 

  1. For what did the Pharisee say he was thankful, who did he say he was not like, and what did he say he did? 

     Luke 18:11-12

  

  1. What three things are important in the eyes of the Lord without neglecting the other?  Matthew 23:23

  

  1. What did the tax collector do, and what did he say to the Lord?  Luke 18:13

  

  1. What did Jesus say about the self-righteous and the sinner? Matthew 9:13.

  

  1. How did the tax collector go home and how did the Pharisee go home?  Luke 18:14

  

  1. How do we become justified? Romans 5:8-11

  

  1. What will happen to everyone who exalts himself and what will happen to everyone who humbles himself? Luke 18:14

 

  1. Who is the greatest among you? Matthew 23:11-12

  

Personal – In what way do you approach the Lord?  Examine your prayer life.  What do you say to the Lord?  In what way do you compare yourself with others?  How do you really see yourself?  Remember, God reads the heart.  (Luke 16:15)

  

FIFTH DAY          READ PSALM 34:2-3, 17-19, 23          

         (“When the just cry out, the Lord hears them.”)

 

Read and meditate on Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23.

 

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

                      SIRACH 35:12-14, 16-18

      This passage stresses that our God does not have favorites.  His love for the rich is the same as it is for the poor.  It is the same for the young and old, the healthy ones or the sickly ones.  His love falls equally on the righteous and the unrighteous.  Our God will not, under any circumstances, take a bribe (Deuteronomy 10:17).  A just God is one who loves us because of who we are, not because of what we do.  He loves the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.  He always responds to our call for support. 

     Our calls of help do not fall on deaf ears (John 6:37).  We are to be persistent, like the widow, in our prayers to our loving God.  The petitions of all who call out to God are heard.  He knows each one of us by name and knew us when we were formed in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139).  We are to respond to his answer with a contrite heart and humble spirit (Psalm 51).  Many times we are tempted to give up and forget our petitions and become angry. We must remember that we have a God whose ways are not our ways.

      Our God is a just God and he will answer us in his time and we must not become anxious (Philippians 4:6,7), rather we must become joyful and give him thanks and praise.  A just God loves to bring freedom, and his justice brings love and peace.  We need to reflect on this Scripture and remember that the God of Justice is the God of Love and the God of Love is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

                      2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8, 16-18

      Paul is exhorting Timothy to keep his faith active and to be ready to take over as a leader rather than as an assistant.  Paul tells Timothy that his time is running out and it won’t be long before he, Paul, is in heaven.  Paul was going to face death just like he was facing living in this world and that was with courage in the Lord.  We need to ask ourselves some of these questions that Paul probably did.  Is your life preparing you for death?  Do you have a deep expectation of meeting Christ when you die? 

     We can all breathe a little easier because the “good news” is that salvation is not just for spiritual giants like “Paul,” “Moses,” or even Timothy.  Rather it is for those who confess with their lips and believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:10).  Paul gave us these words to encourage us to go on, to keep up the good fight.  He wanted us to train and become even better.  No matter what the difficulty, we must always remember that the Spirit within us is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4), and we must keep fighting and continue in the race. 

      We will realize completely, when we are finally at home in heaven with our wonderful Lord Jesus, that the fight and the race were well worth it.  Timothy probably did not feel all that strong, with his leader in prison and his church still reeling from exhaustion and expansion.  We need to trust in Jesus, as Paul did, and our Lord will use our repentant hearts in a powerful way.  We need to remember that God always gives us the strength to do whatever he has commanded, and he has commanded us to go forth and preach his Word.  He has called us and commissioned us to evangelize the world (Matthew 28:19).

                           LUKE 18:9-14

      This passage deals with the quality of our prayer life and not the quantity of it.  When we come to pray before God, the question is not, “Am I as good as my fellow-men?”  The question is, “Am I as good as God?”  True prayer can only come from setting our lives beside the life of God.  We may do well to remember that we are one of a great legion of sinning, suffering, sorrowing humanity, that comes occasionally to kneel before the throne of God’s mercy.  Before we can say, “I am glad I am not like that pompous Pharisee,” let us all remember that no man who is proud can pray.  It is told that the gate of heaven is so low that no one can enter it unless one is on one’s knees.

      In today’s Gospel we see the men in the temple praying.  The devout religious people were always in the temple about 9:00 a.m., noon, and 3:00 p.m.  These were the times when most of the community went up to the temple.  The story deals with only two of them, one a highly respected church-goer called a Pharisee;  the other man was called a tax collector, someone of poor social standing.  The tax collector was a symbol of dishonesty, lying, and cheating.  The Pharisee began telling God how much he was doing for him.  The Pharisee did not really go to pray; he went to inform God how good he was.  The tax collector, on the other hand, stood in back of the temple and wouldn’t even lift his eyes up to God because he knew that he was a sinner.  His prayer was very simple and very direct: “O God be merciful to me, the sinner.” 

     Let us not pray like the Pharisee, because self-righteousness is dangerous .  Pride leads to sin, and the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23).  The tax  collector’s prayer should be our prayer, because Jesus hears our cry of unworthiness and repentance (Psalm 51:10).  Let us call out to him to cleanse our heart and to give us a repentant spirit, and he will do that.  Prayer is two persons – God and man – telling each other how much they love each other.  God loves you and wants you to be a prayerful person.

Application

     The first reading tells us that God does not have any favorites. The second reading reveals that we should update our spiritual inventory on a regular basis. The Gospel shows that the quality of a prayer life is far more important than its quantity.

     Let us spend some quiet time alone with the Lord everyday this week and listen very carefully to his plan for our life (John 10:10).  God wants each one of us to have an abundant grace-filled life. He wants us to call out to him in deep sincerity, and he will heal us. Let your family see you as one in prayerful communion with God. 

29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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

Luke 18:1-8 – Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

 

  1. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

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

 

 

Share your reflection with someone.

VIGESIMONOVENO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO

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VIGESIMONOVENO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO

 

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                                                           EXODO 17:8-13                                     PRIMERA LECTURA

 

(“Mientras Moisés tenía alzadas las manos, prevalecía Israel.”)

 

  1. ¿Qué hicieron los amalecitas en Refidim? Exodo 17:8

 

  1. ¿Quién era Josué y a qué tribu pertenecía? Números 13:8 y 13:16

 

  1. ¿Qué le dijo Moisés a Josué que hiciera al día siguiente? Exodo 17:9

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo Moisés que el estaría haciendo y qué iba a tener en su mano? Exodo 17:9

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo Josué y quién subió a la cima del monte con Moisés? Exodo 17:10

 

  1. ¿Qué pasaba cuando Moisés tenía levantadas las manos y qué pasaba cuando las bajaba para descansar?  Exodo 17:11

 

  1. ¿Cuando las manos de Moisés se cansaron cuáles fueron las dos cosas que Jur y Aaron hicieron?                Exodo 17:12

 

  1. ¿Por cuánto tiempo hicieron esto? Exodo 17:12

 

  1. ¿Qué pasó en otra ocasión cuando Moisés levantó sus manos al Señor? Exodo 9:29

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo Josué a los Amalecitas? Exodo 17:13

 

Personal – ¿De qué manera has estado peleando una batalla espiritual con el apoyo de algún miembro de tu familia o amigo. O, has sido tú quien ha apoyado o ayudado a levantar las manos hacía el Señor en la batalla de otro? ¿Dónde tienes tus manos durante una batalla física, espiritual o emocional?

 

TERCER DIA                                                         2 TIMOTEO 3:14-4:2                           SEGUNDA LECTURA

 

(“Te conjuro a proclamar la Palabra.”)

 

  1. ¿Quién habla y a quién le habla en 2 Timoteo 3:14? 2 Timoteo 1:1-2

 

  1. Cita dos cosas que has hecho y a las cuales vas a permanecer fiel. 2 Timoteo 3:14

 

  1. ¿Quién es nuestro maestro? Mateo 23:10

 

  1. ¿Cómo nos enseña El hoy? Juan 14:26

 

  1. ¿Qué sabía Timoteo desde la infancia y quién se lo enseñó? 2 Timoteo 3:15 y 2 Timoteo 1:5

 

  1. ¿De qué son la fuente las Sagradas Escrituras y a qué guía por medio de la fe en Jesucristo?

2 Timoteo 3:15

 

  1. ¿Qué son todas las Escrituras y para qué sirven? 2 Timoteo 3:16

 

  1. ¿Qué hace al hombre de Dios totalmente competente y preparado para toda obra buena?

2 Timoteo 3:16-17

 

  1. ¿En la presencia de Dios y Jesucristo quién vendrá, que hará y por su manifestación y por su regio poder, qué te exhorta a que hagas tú?  2 Timoteo 4:1-2

 

  1. ¿Con qué has de permanecer siempre, sea conveniente o inconveniente y cuáles son las tres cosas que debes hacer?  ¿Qué es lo que nunca debes perder?  2 Timoteo 4:2

 

  1. ¿Qué debemos enseñar? Mateo 28:20

 

Personal – ¿Qué les has enseñado a tus hijos, nietos, amigos, compañeros de trabajo, etc? ¿Has sido llamado tú personalmente a enseñar? ¿Qué diferencia encuentras entre la enseñanza terrenal y la enseñanza espiritual? Lee Juan 14:18-26.

 

CUARTO DIA                                                               LUCAS 18:1-8                                                        EVANGELIO

 

(“¿Y Dios, no hará justicia a sus elegidos, que están clamando a El, día y noche?”)

 

  1. ¿Sobre la necesidad de qué, les habla Jesús a sus discípulos, cómo se los dijo y qué les dijo que no perdieran?  Lucas 18:1

 

  1. ¿A qué se dedicaron los discípulos, las mujeres que estaban con ellos y María (la madre de Jesús)?              Hechos 1:13-14

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo Jesús acerca de un juez? Lucas 18:2

 

  1. ¿Quién vino a ver al juez y qué le dijo? Lucas 18:3

 

  1. ¿Qué le estaba haciendo élla y por qué el juez dictaminó en su favor? Lucas 18:5, también Lucas 11:8

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo el Señor en Lucas 18:6-7?

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo acerca de la justicia y de hacerlos esperar? Lucas 18:7

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo Jesús que Dios haría? Lucas 18:8

 

  1. ¿Qué les preguntó Jesús a sus discípulos acerca de cuando viniera el Hijo del Hombre? Lucas 18:8

 

  1. ¿Cuando el Hijo del Hombre venga qué vendrá con él, quién lo acompañará y cómo pagará a cada hombre?  Mateo 16:27

 

Personal – ¿Cómo combates la maldad que está a tu alrededor? ¿Cómo te habla Dios a tí, personalmente, en este pasaje, al respecto de tu propia vida de oración?

 

QUINTO DIA                                                      LEE EL SALMO 121:1-8

 

(“El está a tu lado, a tu derecha.”)

 

Leé y medita el Salmo 121:1-8.

 

¿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

 

                                                                                        EXODO 17:8-13

 

Este pasaje muestra claramente como la tenacidad y la constancia hicieron ganar a Israel. Los Amalecitas fueron descendientes de Amalec, el nieto de Esaú. Era una nación feroz o tribu nómada que vivía y controlaba las rutas de caravanas entre Egipto y Arabia en la región sureste del Mar Muerto. Ellos conducían frecuentes invasiones a otras poblaciones y muchas veces mataban simplemente por placer. Ningún insulto a un Israelita podía ser mayor que el llamarle “amigo de Amalek.” Los amalecitas vieron a Moisés y a su banda de harapientos y pensaron que ésta podría ser una oportunidad para sacar provecho y divertirse. Ellos no sabían que esta gente era guiada por Dios y que su cólera iba a caer sobre ellos.

Moisés comisionó a Josué para hacer las preparaciones de la batalla y le dijo que él, Aarón y Jur estarían situados en la cima del monte. Josué fue el grán líder que trajo a la gente de Dios a la tierra prometida después de que Moisés murió. El obtuvo una tremenda experiencia para batallas futuras especialmente contra los de Canaán. El aguante increíble y la persistencia manifestada por Moisés al mantener sus manos levantadas con el apoyo de Aaron y Jur dieron por resultado el cambio de la ola a favor en la batalla. Fue el valor y el ejemplo de este hombre, lo que inspiró a un grupo cansado de seguidores en el desierto caliente y árido a tornar una derrota segura en una aplastante e inesperada victoria. Nosotros necesitamos ver a nuestros líderes espirituales de las iglesias y ayudarlos dándoles nuestro apoyo también.

Como Aarón y Jur nosotros también podemos sostenerlos al tiempo que ellos nos guían en la batalla. Podemos ser realmente soldados del Señor tomando algunas de las responsabilidades de la comunidad parroquial. Podemos volvernos soldados de oración fuertemente comprometidos y finalmente podemos ofrecer palabras de aliento que animen cuando la batalla parece encolerizada y frenética. Nuestros líderes espirituales necesitan que seamos como Aarón y Jur y en la fe necesitamos llamar a los gigantes espirituales como Moisés a estar entre nosotros. El Dios de Moisés es también nuestro Dios. Perseveremos en la batalla y como Moisés también nosotros seremos levantados en victoria.

 

2 TIMOTEO 3:14 – 4:2

 

Timoteo se da cuenta que su doctrina de fe se le está “diluyendo.” Falsos maestros estaban tratando de presionarlo y las presiones de un ministerio que estaba creciendo pesaban sobre su espíritu. En Listra, el pueblo de Timoteo, es donde Pablo fue apedreado y lo dejaron por muerto (Hechos 14:19). Timoteo estaba padeciendo presiones no solo por ser jóven e inexperto, sino tambien porque Pablo era su maestro principal.

Pablo lo exhorta a perseverar, mirar a su pasado y a asirse a las enseñanzas básicas acerca de Jesús que son eternamente verdaderas. Hoy en día caemos en las manos de falsos maestros que tratan de “diluir” el Evangelio y muchos de nosotros estamos tan ocupados, que ni protestamos. Necesitamos tomar un tiempo a diario para pensar acerca de las bases de nuestra fe y las grandes verdades que estructuran nuestras vidas.

Timoteo era de la segunda generación de Cristianos y eso no fue por que un evangelista predicó un grán sermón, fue debido a que le enseñaron las Sagradas Escrituras cuando era niño. El trabajo de los padres de enseñar al niño, nunca debe ser reemplazado por un evangelista o maestro religioso. Es un deber sagrado que los padres enseñen a sus hijos y los que somos padres debemos ver a la iglesia para que nos ayude a cumplir este tremendo privilegio.

Debemos entender que la Biblia no es una colección de historietas, fábulas, mitos o simplemente ideas humanas acerca de Dios. No es nada más un libro humano. Dios reveló su plan a hombres píos y devotos por el Poder del Espíritu Santo, quienes entonces escribieron Su mensaje para Su pueblo. (2 Pedro 1:20, 21). Necesitamos creer que aún cuando ellos usaron sus propias mentes, talentos, lenguaje y estilo, escribieron lo que Dios les inspiraba.

Las Escrituras son las Palabras inspiradas por Dios y debemos leerlas y aplicarlas a nuestras vidas. Podemos ver a Dios claramente hablándonos a traves de su Iglesia, quien lo hace de acuerdo a las Sagradas Escrituras. Jesús mismo nos dijo cuando fue tentado en el desierto que empezó su defensa con “Está escrito.” La Palabra de Dios nos hará libres hoy, así como lo hizo ayer y lo hará por siempre.

 

LUCAS 18:1-8

 

Jesús empieza este pasaje diciéndoles a sus discípulos esta parábola para traer a casa el poder de la perseverancia en su vida de oración. Realmente quizo que ellos entendieran que todas las oraciones son contestadas y que no debían desanimarse y dejar de hacerlo. En este relato el juez no era Judío. La mayoría de los problemas ordinarios de los Judíos se presentaban a los ancianos y no a las cortes públicas, a menos de que se tratara de una situación especial. La corte judía estaba compuesta de tres jueces, uno para el acusado, uno para la corte y uno que era neutral. El juez de esta historia probablemente fue nombrado por Herodes o por los Romanos y éllos eran muy bien conocidos como los “Jueces Ladrones.” El no atendía a la mujer de este caso con prontitud y la hacía regresar muchas veces por que esperaba que ella le pagara un soborno. La viuda aquí simboliza a los pobres e indefensos y su única arma era la persistencia. Al final el juez temiendo perder su reputación falla a favor de la viuda que lo había agotado con su persistencia y así élla ganó el caso.

Ser persistente en la oración no significa la interminable repetición de largas sesiones orando. La oración constante significa presentarle nuestras peticiones, así como viviendo para El, día con día, sabiendo que El las contestará. Puede ser que Dios se tarde pero siempre tiene una razón para su demora y no debemos confundirnos pensando en que nos olvida. Si nosotros como la viuda persistimos en la oración, creceremos en la fe y en la esperanza. Nuestro carácter y nuestra fe es una indicación directa de la intensidad de nuestra vida de oración. Reflexionemos en este relato y démonos cuenta que si un juez malvado puede ser agotado por la persistencia de una viuda indefensa, cuanto más podrá una persona que persiste en que sus oraciones sean escuchadas y contestadas por un Dios tan amoroso como el nuestro. Las Escrituras nos dicen que debemos acudir a Jesús y que El nunca nos dará le espalda (Juan 6:37). Las oraciones de un hombre justo tienen gran poder (Santiago 5:16). Orar es hablar a Dios y meditar es escucharlo, así que persiste en la oración y sé persistente en escuchar y crecerás tremendamente en la fe, en la esperanza y en el amor.

 

Aplicación

 

En la primera lectura, vemos el valor de Moisés cambiar la derrota a una victoria sobre los Amalecitas. Después vemos a Timoteo puesto a prueba para usar las enseñanzas de las Escrituras que aprendió en su infancia, cuando estuvo amenazado con una crisis. En el Evangelio vemos a la viuda perseverar y finalmente agotar al juez y ganar.

Leamos en esta semana la palabra de Dios a alguien que no puede leer. Puede ser un niño, una persona incapacitada, o un anciano que este en un asilo. Compartamos con esta persona la manera en que Dios nos ha protegido cuando pensamos que la batalla estaba perdida y que debido a El, nosotros también hemos ganado.

 

TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C

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                       THE BREAD OF LIFE  CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY 

        TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE 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 EXODUS 17:8-13          FIRST READING

       

          (“As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight.”)

 

  1. What did Amalek do at Rephidim? Exodus 17:8

 

 

  1. Who was Joshua and what tribe was he from?      Numbers  13:8,16

 

 

  1. What did Moses tell Joshua to do the following day?     Exodus 17:9

 

 

  1. What did Moses say he would be doing and what would he  have in his hand?  Exodus 17:9

 

 

  1. What did Joshua do and who climbed to the top of the hill with Moses?  Exodus 17:10

 

 

  1. What happened when Moses had his hands raised up and what happened when he let his hands rest?  Exodus 17:11

 

 

  1. When Moses’ hands got tired, what two things did Hur and Aaron  do for him?  Exodus 17:12

 

 

  1. How long did they do this? Exodus 17:12

 

 

  1. What happened on another occasion when Moses extended his    hands to the Lord?  Exodus 9:29

 

 

  1. What did Joshua do with Amalek? Exodus 17:13

 

 

Personal – In what way have you been fighting a spiritual battle and had a family member or a friend support you, or in what way have you supported or held their hands up to the Lord in their battle?  Where have your hands been lifted during physical, spiritual, or emotional battles?

 

 

THIRD DAY           READ 2 TIMOTHY 3:14-4:2       SECOND READING

 

               (“I charge you to preach the Word.”)

 

  1. Who is speaking and to whom is he speaking in 2 Timothy 3:14? Timothy 1:1-2

 

 

  1. What two things have we done that for our part we must remain faithful?  2 Timothy 3:14

 

             

  1. Who is our teacher? Matthew 23:10

 

 

  1. How does he teach us today? John 14:26

 

 

  1. What did Timothy know since infancy and how was it passed    on to him?  2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 1:5

 

 

  1. Of what is the sacred Scripture the source, and what does it lead to through faith in Jesus Christ?  2 Timothy 3:15

 

 

  1. What is all Scripture, and for what is it useful?     2 Timothy 3:16

 

 

  1. What makes the man of God fully competent and equipped for every good work?  2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

 

 

  1. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is coming to do what?  What does he charge us to do?  2 Timothy 4:1-2

 

 

  1. With what are we to stay whether convenient or inconvenient, what three things are we to do, and what are we to never lose?  2 Timothy 4:2

 

 

  1. What are we to teach? Matthew 28:20

 

 

Personal – What have you been teaching your children, grandchildren, friends, co-workers, etc?  Have you personally been called to teach?  What do you see as the difference between worldly teaching and spiritual teaching?  John 14:18-26

 

 

FOURTH DAY              READ LUKE 18:1-8                  GOSPEL

 

              (“Will not God then do justice to his chosen who call out to him day and night?”)

 

  1. Of what did Jesus tell his disciples the necessity, how did he tell them, and what did he tell them not to lose? Luke    18:1

 

 

  1. To what did his disciples, the women in their company, and   Mary (the mother of Jesus) devote themselves?  Acts 1:13-14

 

 

  1. What did Jesus say about a judge? Luke 18:2

 

  1. Who came to the judge, and what did she say? Luke 18:3

 

 

  1. What was she doing to him, and why did he settle in her favor?       Luke 18:5, Luke 11:8

 

 

  1. What did the Lord say in Luke 18:6-7?

 

 

  1. What did he say about justice and about delaying over    them?  Luke 18:7

 

 

  1. What did Jesus say God would do? Luke 18:8

  

 

  1. About what did Jesus ask his disciple when the Son of Man comes?  Luke 18:8

 

 

  1. When the Son of Man comes with what will he come, who will      accompany him, and how will he repay each man?  Matthew   16:27

 

 

Personal – How do you combat the evil that is around you?  How is God speaking to you personally in this passage regarding your own prayer life?

 

 

FIFTH DAY              READ PSALM 121:1-8                  

 

             (“He is beside you at your right hand.”)

 

Read and meditate on Psalm 121:1-8 

 

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        

                          EXODUS 17:8-13

      This passage clearly shows how tenacity and steadfastness win the day for Israel.  The Amalekites were descendants of Amalek, a grandson of Esau.  They were a fierce nomadic nation or tribe who lived and controlled the caravan routes between Egypt and Arabia in the southeast desert region of the Dead Sea.  They conducted frequent raids on other settlements and many times they killed simply for pleasure.  No insult to an Israelite could be greater than calling him “a friend of Amalek.” 

 

     The Amalekites saw Moses and his rag tag band of followers and thought this would be a chance for some fun and profit.  They did not know that these people were being led by God, and the wrath of God was about to be spent upon them.  Moses commissions Joshua to make the battle preparations and tells him that he, Aaron, and Hur will be positioned on top of a nearby hill.  Joshua was the great leader who brought God’s people into the promised land after Moses died.  He gained tremendous experience for future battles especially against the Canaanites. 

 

     The incredible stamina and persistence displayed by Moses in keeping his hands raised, with the support of Aaron and Hur, resulted in turning the tide of the battle.  It is the courage and example of this one man that inspired a tired band of followers in the hot barren desert to turn certain defeat into a stunning upset of a victory.  We need to look at our spiritual leaders in our churches and help them by supporting them too.  We can be like Aaron and Hur and hold them up as they lead us in battle.  We can really be warriors of the Lord by taking on some of the responsibilities of the parish community. 

 

     We can become strong, committed prayer warriors; and finally, we can offer some life-giving words of encouragement when the battle seems to rage in full fury.  Our spiritual leaders need us to be like Aaron and Hur and in faith we need to call forth the spiritual giants like Moses from among our midst.  The God of Moses is also our God, too.  Let us persevere in battle and, like Moses, we too shall be lifted up in victory.

 

                       2 TIMOTHY 3:14-4:2

 

     Timothy was faced with “watering” down his doctrine of faith.  False teachers were trying to put pressure on him and the pressures of a growing ministry were heavy upon his spirit.  Timothy’s hometown of Lystra was where Paul was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19).  Timothy was undergoing pressure, not only for being young and inexperienced, but also because Paul was his principal teacher.

 

     Paul exhorts him to hold on, look to his past and hold to the basic teaching about Jesus that are eternally true.  Today we are caught up with many false teachers who are trying to “waterdown” the Gospel and many of us are so busy, we don’t even protest.  We need to spend time every day thinking about the foundations of our faith and the great truths on which we build our lives.

 

     Timothy was a second generation Christian and it was not because an evangelist preached a great sermon; it was because he was taught the holy scriptures when he was a child.  The parents’ work to teach the child should never be replaced by an evangelist or religious teacher.  The teaching of the child by the parent is a sacred duty and we, as parents, should look to the church to help us fulfill this tremendous privilege. 

 

     We need to realize the Bible is not a collection of stories, fables, or myths or merely human ideas about God.  It is not just a human book.  God revealed his plan to godly men through the power of the Holy Spirit–men who then wrote down his message for his people ( 2 Peter 1:20,21).  We believe that even though they used their own minds, talents, language, and style, they wrote what God inspired them to write. 

 

     Scripture is God’s inspired Word, and we should read it and apply it to our lives.  We can clearly see God speaking to us through his church which speaks in accordance with his holy Scripture.  Jesus told us when he was tempted in the desert that he began his defense with “Scripture.”  God’s Word will set us free today as it did yesterday and will forever and ever.

 

                           LUKE 18:1-8

 

     Jesus began this passage by telling his disciples a story to bring home the power of persevering in their prayer life.  He really wanted them to realize that all prayer is answered and they must not get discouraged and quit.  The judge in this story was not a Jewish judge.  Most ordinary Jewish problems were taken before the elders, not into public courts unless a special situation arose.  A Jewish court had three judges, one for the defendant, one for the court, and one that was neutral.  The judge in this story was probably appointed by Herod or the Romans, and they were well known as the “Robber Judges.”  He kept this woman coming back so many times because he expected her to pay a bribe.  A widow symbolized the poor and defenseless, and the only weapon she had was persistence. In the end, fearing his loss of reputation, the judge was worn down; and the persistent widow won her case. 

 

     To be persistent in prayer does not mean endless repetition of long prayer sessions.  Constant prayer means keeping our requests before him as we live for him day by day, always believing he will answer us.  God may delay, but he always has a reason for his delay; and we must not confuse delay with neglect.  As we, like the widow, persist in our prayer we grow in faith and hope.  Our character and our faith are direct indication of the intensity of our prayer life. 

 

     We need to reflect on today’s story and realize that if an evil judge can be worn down by the persistence of a defenseless widow, how much more will a person who persists in  prayer be heard and rewarded by such a loving God as ours.  We are told in scripture to call out to Jesus and he will never turn us away (John 6:37).  The prayers of a righteous man have great power (James 5:16).  Praying is talking to God, and meditating is listening to God, so be persistent in your praying and be persistent in your listening and you will grow tremendously in faith, hope, and love.

 

Application

 

     In the first reading, we see the courage of Moses change defeat into victory over the Amalekites. Then we hear Timothy being challenged to draw on his childhood family training and Scripture when a crisis threatens. In the Gospel, we see the widow persevere and finally wear the judge down and win.

 

     This week, let us read God’s Word to someone who cannot read. This could be a small child, a handicapped person, or an elderly person in a rest home. Share with that person how God has protected you when you thought the battle was lost; and because of God, you also won.

 

28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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

Luke 17:11-19 – As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

 

  1. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

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

 

Share your reflection with someone.

Newsletter – October 2016

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By SP

“In GOD we Trust” Dear St. Dismas Guild, Hi, y’all.  I’m 23 years young and right now I’m sitting in confinement in prison. I’m facing two years followed with 8 months. At 3 years of age I was taken away from my biological parents and placed into foster care until I was five years old. Then M & K adopted me and signed legal documents to guide and care for me as their own. Likewise, I was supposed to obey, respect and love them as my adopted parents.  At age 15 my adopted Mom took me to a behavioral hospital to see if I was mentally okay. We found out through a CAT scan I had brain tumors which affected me and my growing up behaviors.  Long story short, I ran away at 18 and was placed in two different Alf’s. I ran away from there and was sent to the second one. I was then placed in another Alf. I got messed up with men, trying to love them and trying to find comfort, love, and support because I felt lonely. Instead, these men turned into manipulators and took my love and kindness for granted and later took high advantage of me, sexually. I was hurt badly, emotionally, physically, mentally and financially, yet never spiritually because my Father, God, was always there.

My adopted family couldn’t help me until I learned to take responsibility for my actions and learn to help myself because there ain’t no body, going to live my life for me, but me.  So yeah, like I was saying, getting mixed up in the midst of “finding love in all the wrong places” put me in a sink hole of being in jail, which led me to prison. Here I sit and patiently wait upon the Lord, facing two years and 8 months. Yes, I’m clearly upset of how I ended up in prison. Will the dear Lord forgive me – of course – because I’ve forgiven those and myself. It is all a misunderstanding of why I’m here in prison, yet, God has a bigger and brighter plan and purpose for me – His beloved child. Well, I do need some spiritual books and help, please. May I request a study guide or a study Bible for young girls like me, Please. Thanks for all y’all do. God bless y’all.  Sincerely, SP.

 

It sounds like, SP, you found the greatest lover that ever walked this earth, Jesus Christ, and it sounds like He is meeting your needs. Whenever you feel alone just go to Him and get up in His lap and let Him hold you. He says, “Come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.” Looking to man to fill the need for love will not work unless they are Spirit filled and then it is still Jesus loving you through them. Thank you for sharing your testimony.

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Hello!, my name is DF and I’m 38 years old. I’ve been in and out of prison since I was 17 years old and that is 21 years of my life gone from the world. When I was a kid I grew up in the church and a Christian home. I stayed with my grandparents and they believed in Christ, so I was in church on Sundays, Wednesdays and anytime there were activities that churches do. I was there and I sang for the church and I was an usher boy. When I got older I did not want to do anything with the church. I wanted to do my own thing. Here is the thing, though, I know that Jesus died on the cross for me and died for my sins.  God never gave up on me and He has been there for me and saved my life twice.  In 1996 I was on my bike going to work and I stopped at a stop sign. I looked both ways. I got halfway across the road and a truck came out of nowhere. I had a broken knee and on the other leg it broke my ankle. The doctors and others said I would not work, walk, run, or do other things that I used to do.  I told myself I would walk, run, work and Jesus was there before me. He will be there for me this time and in about a month or two I was up walking, bending my knee and walking on my ankle.

God has saved my life now and it is time for me to quit playing games with my life and quit playing games with the man Jesus Christ. I’m reborn again (Eccl. 3:3), a time to tear down the old me and rebuild the new me for Jesus. It is time for me to walk with the Lord Our God. I gave up a lifestyle and I don’t want to go back to that life. When I was on the free I did a lot of stuff, sex, drugs, alcohol, and for all these things I should have been in the ground. But now I’m glad that I’m locked up in prison because it saved my life. Yes, right now I’m struggling in some things but I’m not perfect. I think about going into ministry when I get out so I can share my life story and how God has saved my life and what he has done for me.  God bless you all. Pray for me and for our nation. It really needs it.  Thank you.  DF

Thank you so much, DF, for sharing. Your right we all struggle with some things and we will never be perfect but we continue to strive for perfection. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48, “In a word you must be made perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” You become perfect by loving your enemies. You might say that is a tall order but I say with God all things are possible. You can’t do that on your own power. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord, and Savior you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you. Sin is what blocks God from working in your life so as you repent, turn away from the sin and turn to God, you can do all things through God who strengthens you. We will continue to pray for you and our sad mixed up Nation who has made evil good and good evil. Our blessings to you.  

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Dear St. Dismas Guild,

Greetings, May the grace of God shine on St. Dismas Guild and each one of you, through His Son, Jesus Christ. I’m writing to you for I know I am being led by the Holy Spirit. I am a Christian, a follower of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe in the Trinity, but I am not a Catholic. It all started when Mother Mary Angelica went to her Lord in heaven to pray with the saints. I was listening to her, on her shows (EWTN) and everything I thought about Catholics that I thought was wrong was being revealed as Truth. Like Saints praying for us. Well, the Holy Spirit led me to the Holy Scripture in Revelation 8:3, which took me to 5:8 in Revelation.
The Truth is being revealed to me, but there are some things that my carnal mind is still fighting. I am praying to the Father in Jesus’ name to have this revealed to me. The theme of Mother Mary, Mother of Jesus, Our Lord, our God, why do we pray to her? Why is it said that she can show us the grace of God? I was taught that only God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit can teach us and bring grace on us. I will not stop praying on this matter. Everything is coming to light because it was and is a Holy Calling on my life to worship our God, our Lord and Savior the correct way. And I will not let Satan win this battle.

Please, can you send me a Catholic bible and whatever literature you can spare to help me understand why things are done differently from other Christians?  Like, are there different sacraments for each church? “Eucharist,” I never had communion. And I know Christians everywhere are to do this. 1 Corinthians 11:23-30. Here in this prison they have no Catholic bibles to hand out or any literature. So please help me if you can. And how can I become a part of the Catholic Church?  God bless you all, in all of your works to gather in the lost sheep.  Thank you for your time. Your Brother in Christ Jesus.  BP

 

We ask mother Mary to intercede to her Son for us. It’s like a child who goes to his mother to get what he wants. Our Blessed Mother was given her position as our mother when Jesus was dying on the cross. Jesus gave her to John so he could care for her and she could be a mother to him and in so doing she became the Mother of us all (John 19:26-27). She is not dead she is alive with Jesus as is all our family members who have accepted Jesus into their lives and were baptized. She talks to Him all the time for our benefit. We are so blessed in our Church to have all the angels and saints rooting for us, most especially our mother Mary. Every Catholic Church has the same 7 sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation,, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. These all give us grace. Every one of these are based on the Word of God, instituted by Christ to give grace. As Catholics we believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, John 6:53-55, ‘Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats* my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” ‘We sent your letter to one of our mentors. God bless you.

This month we celebrate Respect Life Sunday, 1st Sunday in October…every life is worth living.  A few years ago, just before Thanksgiving we got a call, would we consider adopting a baby girl due to be born in 6 weeks.  Our hearts jumped with joy as we had been praying for that day for many years.  We met with the birth mom. Sarah was a beautiful woman, mid-20s, struggling to keep her life on track.  She had been on drugs, no way to support the baby, the biological dad was in prison and had done some very bad things to Sarah.  Being pressured by her so-called friends to abort the baby, she turned away from them as she felt there was another plan for this child and herself.  Through her courageous and generous love, Sarah chose life and she chose adoption.  Thus, an amazing journey began, for both us and Sarah.  Since that day, Sarah has reunited with her family, gone to college and we have been blessed with a child.  God does work miracles!  St. Dismas Guild believes that every life is a gift from God.  If you are struggling with an unplanned pregnancy ask for St. Teresa of Calcutta’s intercession, “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

Seek out a pro-life clinic.  There are options, one of which is adoption.  If it were not for the love of birth mothers who chose adoption, many would not have the beautiful families that they have, including Deacon Ken & Marie, myself and others on the St. Dismas staff.

“…Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them,

‘Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.’” (Mark 9:36-37)

October is Respect Life Month in our Catholic Church. As Catholics we learn that the Culture of Life ministries are all about informing people to respect life from conception to natural death.  One such parish ministry states that our “Culture of Life Ministry actively promotes respect for human Life by helping parishioners understand the issues and importance of meeting the needs of those who are most vulnerable. Through education, support of Pro-life campaigns and ministries, parishioners are given opportunities to pray for and support Life from conception to natural death.”
Growing up in a lukewarm Christian home I was never taught this concept. I had a conscience but this certainly wasn’t important to me when my choice to use abortion as birth control seemed to be my only option. “It is legal, Right,” was my thought process. There wasn’t anyone there to tell me otherwise so what was bugging me while lying on that table questioning, “Why does this seem so wrong?” It’s called natural law, it’s God’s law written on our hearts. That’s what was bugging me. It was God calling me to choose Life for myself and my baby that day.

To this day I wish I would’ve listened to that nagging voice that told me to get up and run away. I even asked the nurse “how she could be there participating in this” and she just told me to “look up at the ceiling and focus on something to take my mind off of it.” And what did I see? I focused on the cross beams that intersected the ceiling tiles and stared right at the cross. I believe God started working on my heart that very day even though I chose to continue on with the abortion.

It took many (25-30) years before I finally sought help and went on a Rachel’s Hope retreat to heal the years of self-inflicted wounds on my heart and soul.

I have had true contrition and had taken all of this to the foot of the cross for Jesus to wash me in His precious blood. My prayer is that if you have participated in abortion that you too will know that God loves you and wants to forgive you… Run to Him for healing.

“I came so All might have life and have it to the full.” (cf. John 10:10)

Prayer for the Culture of Life…

“Father and maker of all, you adorn all creation with splendor and beauty, and fashion human lives in your image and likeness. Awaken in every heart reverence for the work of your hands, and renew among your people a readiness to nurture and sustain your precious gift of life from conception through natural death. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

 

 

In Jesus’ love,

St. Dismas Staff