Author Archive: admin

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C

Posted on by

                       THE BREAD OF LIFE

                     CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

          EIGHTEENTH 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 ECCLESIASTES 1:2; 2:21-23  FIRST READING

      (“For what profit comes to a man for all the toil and

  anxiety of heart with which he had labored under the sun.”)

  

  1. Who is Qoheleth, and what are his words? Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

 

 

  1. How has a man labored, over what has he labored, who must he leave it to, and besides vanity what is it? Ecclesiastes 2:21

 

 

  1. Why do we do honest (labor) work? Ephesians 6:7-8

 

 

  1. What question is asked over that which a man labors?      Ecclesiastes 2:22

 

 

  1. For the sake of profit, what do many do, and what does the  struggle for wealth do?    Sirach 27:1

 

 

  1. What chokes the word and bears no fruit? Mark 4:19

 

 

  1. What did Jesus tell Martha? Luke 10:41-42

 

 

  1. What is a man’s occupation, what happens to him at night,   and what is this?    Ecclesiastes 2:23

 

 

  1. What has God made the wisdom of the world, and what will he  do with it?  1 Corinthians 1:19-20

 

 

  1. What is there in much worldly wisdom and sorrow?    Ecclesiastes 1:18

 

 

Personal – In what way have you worked so hard that worry has kept you awake at night over your work?  What is your purpose in doing this?

 

THIRD DAY         READ COLOSSIANS 3:1-5, 9-11   SECOND READING

     (“Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off  the old self with its practices.”)

 

  1. What did you do with Christ, what do you seek, and where is  Christ seated?   Colossians 3:1

 

 

  1. Through what have we grown in union with him, and through what shall we also be united with him? Romans 6:5

 

 

  1. About what are we to think, about what are we not to think,  and for what reason are we to think this way? Colossians 3:2-3

 

 

  1. About what things are we to think, with what are we not to occupy our mind, and where is our citizenship?

     Philippians 4:8, Philippians 3:19-20

 

 

  1. What will happen when Christ your life appears, and what are we to put to death?   Colossians 3:4-5

 

 

  1. What should not even be mentioned among us? Ephesians 5:3

 

 

  1. What are we to stop doing, and what have we taken off?    Colossians 3:9

 

 

  1. What is being renewed, and for what is it being renewed?   Colossians 3:10

 

 

  1. What are we to put away, and in what are we to be renewed?   Ephesians 4:22-24

 

 

  1. Between what is there no distinction, and who is everything  and in everything?   Colossians 3:11

 

Personal –  What are the things you seek in life, and about what do you spend most of your time thinking?  What do you need to do to think about the things above and not of these earthly things?

 

FOURTH DAY            READ LUKE 12:13-21               GOSPEL

 

      (“Take care to guard against greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”)

 

  1. What did someone in the crowd say to Jesus, how did Jesus      address him, and what did he say?    Luke 12:13-14

 

 

  1. Against what did Jesus tell the crowd to guard, of and what did he say one’s life does not consist?   Luke 12:15

 

 

  1. What comes from a man’s greed, and it is better to be a poor  man than what? Proverbs 19:22

 

 

  1. What does not satisfy a man’s greed? Ecclesiastes 4:8

 

 

Personal – How can you guard against greed in your home or work?

 

 

  1. What did Jesus go on to tell the crowd? Luke 12:16

 

 

  1. What did the rich man ask himself, and what did he say he

     would do to store his bountiful harvest?   Luke 12:17-18

 

 

  1. Now that he had so many good things stored, what did he

     say he could do?   Luke 12:19

 

 

  1. About what should you not boast, and for what reason?   Proverbs 27:1

 

 

  1. What are you to tell the rich? 1 Timothy 6:17-18

 

 

  1. What did God say to the man? Luke 12:20-21

 

 

Personal – What are the things you are storing that matter to God, and what do you need to give away?

 

 FIFTH DAY           READ PSALM 95:1-2, 6-9

 

             (“Come, let us bow down in worship.”)

 

Read and meditate on Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9.

 

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

                    ECCLESIASTES 1:2, 2:21-23

      Today’s reading is taken from the Book of Qoheleth, which in Greek means Ecclesiastes. The book is presented as coming from David’s son, King in Jerusalem. We see the author as a man of numerous experiences. His interest of human life and experiences is very broad.

      This reading challenges us and raises more questions than it answers. We see man constantly searching for more out of life, and while he achieves a great deal, he seems frustrated and unfulfilled. He talks about vanity in the sense that everything is only temporary and to put all of our energy into things is foolish as well as in vain. He states that the wise man and the fool both die, and whatever they have on earth goes to someone else to enjoy.  He sees in the vanity of life that a man is blessed if he reverently honors his promise to God. The unjust man, on the other hand, will some day face great punishment.

      A strong vanity of life appears to be great wealth, because it also causes a man much worry and loss of sleep due to his fear of losing his wealth. Wisdom seems to help a man from being depressed and fills his life’s emptiness, but death seems to put an end to wisdom. Qoheleth showed through experience that even the just suffer and the unjust seem to go unpunished for a long time. He calls for patience and wisdom. He links obedience with authority to obedience to God. He sees life as something to be enjoyed rather than something to be endured. This reading brings to us the example of life’s experiences.

      Today we see people who are very wise with very little formal education. We see in the wise person the knowledge that God is the only one who is permanent. Today’s passage tells us that to put our complete trust and faith in anything or anyone, other than God, is indeed this vanity of vanities.

                     COLOSSIANS 3:1-5, 9-11

      In today’s passage, true Christian behavior is demonstrated by putting on a new nature and accepting Christ, and then letting the old nature die. In Baptism, the Christian dies and rises again. Baptism means to submerge, drown, and sink. This is the death of the old nature. To rise is when we come up out of the water and, like Christ did in the resurrection, take on a new life. We rise from the waters of Baptism, a different person.

      We change our behavior when we let Christ live within us, so that he can shape us into what we should be, rather than what we may want to be. While the Christian’s real home is in heaven, it does not mean that he is to withdraw himself from the work and activities of the world. God never did tell us to leave this world; he did tell us to win over the world. The Christian sets his eye, his standard, and his ideal, not on the world but on that which is of God. He will go on using the things of the world, but he will use them in a new way.

      As Christians, we are invited to place giving before getting, serving before ruling, and forgiving above avenging. The Christian’s standard of values will be God’s standards, not men’s. The early Christians regarded Baptism as a dying and rising again. The Greeks spoke of a man who was dead and buried as hidden in the earth, but the Christian who has died a spiritual death in Baptism is not hidden in the earth, but hidden in Christ.

     Today, the world tells us that the treasury of wisdom is hidden, acquired knowledge. Christians have the treasury of all wisdom in Jesus Christ. The Christian is in a continuing educational program. The more we know about Christ, the more we are being changed to be like him. Christ breaks down all barriers and accepts all people who come to him. As Christians, we are called to build bridges, not barriers.

                          LUKE 12:13-21

      Today’s Gospel brings us right into the conflict that is threatening to tear the heart out of our communities. The conflict is between the people who have much of the so-called good life and those who are struggling just to make ends meet. Jesus is pointing to a higher issue, a correct attitude toward the accumulation of wealth.  He tells us that life is far more than material goods, and most important is our relationship with God.

     When we bring our problems to God in prayer, he often shows us how we need to change and grow in our attitude toward these problems. Jesus tells us that we do not always have to wish for what we do not have, and he tells us the existing good life has nothing to do with being wealthy. This is the exact opposite of what the world is telling us. Advertisers spend fortunes telling people that if they buy a certain product, their lives will be happier, and more comfortable. In your community, how do you respond to the constant pressure to buy?

      We must learn to concentrate on the good life; that is to live in a relationship with God and do his work. The man in today’s reading died before he was able to use what he had saved. Jesus asks what good is it to put all of our energy into what we need here on earth and not to prepare for our inevitable death. When a rich man or a poor man dies, they both will stand in judgment. It makes no difference how well they did in their earthly life. How powerful, rich, or educated you are will not be the question asked by the Lord. He will say, “What you did to the least of my people, you did to me.” (Mat. 25:31-46). You are to plan and save and be prudent with your life, but it is most important to make your life worthwhile by living it for others through Christ. When Christ one day asks you, “What did you do when you were on earth?” and if you say, “I loved others as you have loved me,” you will be one of the richest saints in heaven.

Application

     The first reading tells us “that you can not take it with you.” The second reading tells us to give before getting, serve before ruling, forgive before avenging. The Gospel shows that we should seek first the kingdom of God and all else will be given to us.

     This week, use what you have to help others and let your example be passed on to others. Let your comments be positive and offer to help whether it is a big project or a small one. Share your wealth generously. Your wealth is far more than your money. To those who love you and know you, your presence is priceless to them. Let people see the Christ in you as you speak. Listen to them with the ears of Christ and see others through the eyes of Christ. You will be the richest person in your community because Christ wants you to give him away, so he can stay with you.

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C

Posted on by

                       THE BREAD OF LIFE

                     CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

          SEVENTEENTH 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 GENESIS 18:20-32       FIRST READING

      (“The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great,  and their sin so grave,”)

 

 

  1. What did the Lord say about Sodom and Gomorrah?      Genesis 18:20-21

 

 

  1. What was one of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah? Genesis 19:4-9

 

 

  1. Why did the Lord go down to Sodom and Gomorrah? Genesis 18:21

 

 

  1. Who were the two men that walked on further while Abraham  remained standing before the Lord?  Genesis 19:1

 

 

  1. What did Abraham say to the Lord in Genesis 18:23?

 

 

  1. What did he say about fifty innocent people? Genesis 18:24

 

  1. What was Abraham’s statement to the Lord, and what was the Lord’s reply?  Genesis 18:25-26

 

 8. How did Abraham see himself, with what did Abraham persist in questioning the Lord, and what was the Lord’s answer? 

     Genesis 18:27-32.

 

 

  1. How many times did he persist with his questions?

     Genesis 18:24-32.

 

 

  1. As soon as the Lord had finished speaking to Abraham, where did he go, and where did Abraham go?  Genesis 18:33.

 

 

Personal – In what specific area have you been persistent in praying to the Lord?  How often do you get into conversations with the Lord as Abraham did?

 

 

THIRD DAY           READ COLOSSIANS 2:12-14     SECOND READING

 

       (“God gave you new life in company with Christ.”)

 

  1. What two things happened to you in Baptism? Colossians 2:12

 

 

  1. In whom did these two things happen and why? Colossians 2:8-9       Colossians 2:12.

 

 

  1. Who raised Jesus from the dead? Colossians 2:12

 

 

  1. What condition were you in when God gave you new life?      Colossians 2:13

 

 

  1. When you were dead in sin, to whom did you give allegiance?      Ephesians 2:1-2.

 

 

  1. With whom was this new life that God gave you? Colossians 2:13

 

  1. How can we partake of this new life? Romans 6:3-4

 

 

  1. What did he do with all of our sins? Colossians 2:13

 

 

  1. What did he cancel, and taking it; what did he do with it?      Colossians 2:14

 

 

  1. What did Jesus do in his own flesh, what did this create in him, and what was the result?  Ephesians 2:14-15

 

Personal – In what way do people see in you a person who has been pardoned of all your sins?  Take time to thank God for freeing you from the bondage of sin which he did by sending Jesus to die on the cross for you.  Spend time in conversation with our Father this week.

 

FOURTH DAY             READ LUKE 11:1-13                GOSPEL

                   (“Lord, teach us to pray.”)

 

  1. What did the disciples of Jesus observe him doing in a certain place, and what did they ask him?  Luke 11:1

 

 

  1. To whom did Jesus say you first address your prayer, and what two things do you say to him? Luke 11:2

 

 

  1. Next, what do you ask him to do? Luke 11:3

 

 

  1. What do we ask him to do for us as we do the same to others?      Luke 11:4

 

 

  1. From what do we ask him to forgive us? Luke 11:4.

 

 

Personal – How have you used the five levels of prayer in the Our Father this past week?  (Praise; Acceptance; Petition; Forgiveness; Protection).  Let this include your family life and work.

 

 6. Jesus tells a parable on prayer in Luke 11:5-8. What is a    reason he gives for prayer to be answered?  Luke 11:8.       

 

  1. What does Jesus say will happen when you ask, when you seek, and when you knock?  Luke 11:9.

 

 

  1. What does he repeat in verse 10 of Luke 11?

 

 

  1. What analogy does he use about our earthly fathers?     Luke 11:11-12

 

Personal –  When did you personally ask God to give you the Holy Spirit?  What change took place in your life?

 

FIFTH DAY           READ PSALM 138:1-3, 6-8

                 (“I will give thanks to you.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 138:1-3, 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

                         GENESIS 18:20-32

 

     Abraham introduces to us the idea that prayer is the means through which we can better comprehend the mind of God.  Abraham is well aware of the evil that is going on in Sodom, and he begins his prayer for the Lord’s people, including Lot, his nephew and Lot’s family.  It appears that Abraham was attempting to change God’s mind but in the process Abraham’s mind was changed. 

      Abraham never doubted that God hated sin and that sinners

would be punished.  But he may have been confused on just how merciful God really is.  He is seen probing the mind of God and ending his prayer convinced that God is both kind and fair.  Abraham’s prayer is in many ways like ours, always subject to change.  We might question why God let Abraham intercede for a city of people who were so wicked.  God wanted Abraham to personally experience God’s mercy towards sinners.  God knew that there were not ten righteous people in the city of Sodom, but he was delighted with Abraham’s intent to intercede for them.

 

     God wants us to constantly intercede for others, so that they can repent and come back to the kingdom of righteousness.  It is very important that we see God, not as one who enjoys destroying the wicked, but as one who must punish sin.  God was fair in testing the men of Sodom.  He told Abraham that he was going to see for himself how wicked the people of Sodom were and then he would decide what to do (Genesis 18:20).  God was not ignorant of the perversion that was going on in the city (Gen. 19:4-9), but in his mercy he gave the people one last chance to turn to him. 

      God is still waiting for his people to turn to him (2 Peter 3:9).  We are that people.  We too can suffer the same fate as the people of Sodom.  We need only to look around and see the moral perversion that has become so common and acceptable in our society.  Abraham prayed that God would not destroy the city if only ten people were righteous.  We need to reflect and pray that there are enough good people in our community. 

      God wills that none of us should perish.  God was not unfair to the people of Sodom.  He showed great mercy to Lot, who had only a mild relationship with him.  We are told in scripture, “Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15).  Let us not be like the Sodomites who risked God’s patience wearing out. Rather, let us imitate Abraham and be people of prayer and righteousness.

                        COLOSSIANS 2:12-14

      In Paul’s day, the Church’s common form of Baptism was total immersion.  This was because the majority of new Christians were adult converts.  The Christian family had not yet come into existence which led naturally to infant baptism.

     The new Christians were completely submerged in water. This submersion symbolized the death and burial of their old way of life.  The coming up out of the water symbolized the resurrection of Christ from the dead.  We who have been baptized need only  think of our old sinful life as dead and buried. Then we will have a powerful motive to resist sin.  We do not want to empower that ugly part of our past. 

     Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of his Holy Spirit, we can consciously choose to treat the old nature as dead and enjoy our wonderful new life with Jesus Christ.  Through our baptism, we now have a new nature.  God crucified the old one (Romans 6:6) and replaced it with a new loving nature (Colossians 3:9-10).  It is important for us to realize that God does not take us out of the world and make us into religious robots.  We still have that tendency to sin occasionally and sometimes we do sin. 

     Incredibly, before we were saved we were slaves to a sinful nature, but now, through faith in Jesus Christ, we can choose to live for Christ.  We can enjoy our new life in Christ because we have joined him in his death and resurrection.  Our evil desires, our love of sin, and our bondage to sin have died with him.  Now, joining him in his resurrection, we can have unbroken fellowship with God and freedom from sin. 

      Our debt for sin has been paid in full, our sins are swept away and forgotten. We can be clean and new.  We need not be torn apart by the distractions in our society, families and even within ourselves.  We have been saved from the grasp of Satan by Christ through Baptism.  We have become heirs of the King and children of God.  We need only remember that because of our baptism “the Spirit that is within us is greater than anyone in the world.” (1 John 4:4). 

     Our baptism brings into our temple the awesome power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes us far more than just conquerors.  Spend time with our heavenly Father this week. Giving prayer and praise will strengthen our response in faith.  Those around us will see that we are people of prayer and power.

                           LUKE 11:1-13

     After finishing a regular, much needed, and fulfilling time of prayer, Jesus was asked by his disciples to teach them how to pray.  Jesus was a devout Jew who practiced his faith very diligently by reading his scripture and spending time in prayer.  He knew that his power and success in his mission came from his heavenly Father.  We too can take on this attitude of humility especially when we look around and see the accomplishments that we have made in our families, jobs, etc.  We need to remember that we can’t do anything of lasting value by ourselves. 

      Our only power and success comes from God (2 Cor. 3:5). This is why praying is so powerful and so needed in our lives today.  Jesus taught them what we call today the “perfect prayer.”  First, he identifies God as “Father,” which immediately ties him into a special relationship.  The Hebrew word for father is “Abba” or daddy.  Jesus, by calling him that name, states that he knows him personally. Not only he but all who make this prayer can be included in this intimate relationship.  He lets us know right from the beginning that Our Father can be trusted completely. 

      Jesus praises his Father and then he makes his requests.  Praising God first puts us in the right frame of mind to tell him about our needs.  The most powerful way to break out of a depression is through praise.  We step out of ourselves when we are truly praising someone else. 

      Many times our prayer is a shopping list, and not a conversation, between two people who love each other.  We see his precious name being hallowed or blessed.  This makes sense when we realize that in Hebrew times a person’s name was his entire character, his strength, and his reputation.  God’s name was blessed because all who called on it would also be blessed.  His kingdom was not only coming to earth but was in fact already here, transforming and saving the earth through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

     God’s provision of bread is daily, not once but for all.  We can’t just store it up and then cut off communication with God.  We dare not become fully self-satisfied.  If we are running low on strength, we need only to ask ourselves  how long have we been away from the source.  The cornerstone of this prayer is forgiveness.  Forgiveness, like love, is a decision that must be made in our relationship with God.  We can choose not to forgive and hold someone else in bondage, or we can choose to forgive and loosen someone from the bondage of being imprisoned. 

      Jesus very clearly shows us that his love is a love of forgiveness. We are to love as his Father loves and to love as Jesus loves.  We must forgive those who have wronged us just as he has forgiven us who have wronged him.  To remain unforgiving shows that we have not understood that we ourselves, along with all others, deeply need to forgive. 

     After the Lord’s prayer, Jesus continues to explain the need

for persistence in prayer by an example of a friend waking his neighbor in the middle of the night asking for food. We need to be as persistent in our prayer as the man knocking on his neighbor’s door. 

     God who loves us receives our prayers as a perfect Father would and we should be persistent in praying to him.  His response to us is always for our own good, even if we don’t understand fully the response at the time.  He is our Father, he is blessed, and he forgives us. We as his children honor him by our prayers, our praise, and our forgiveness of others.

Application

      The first reading shows that Abraham prayed constantly and with great persistence.  The second reading tells us that we are dead to the old sinful nature through Christ, and the Gospel introduces us to the perfect prayer.

      Let us pray that all will accept the Holy Spirit from our heavenly Father.  If you have not asked to receive him, I pray that you will take this time now and invite the Holy Spirit to take up residence in your heart.  This is the essence of our “perfect prayer.”  The result of this will be a hunger to know his will for your life by getting to know what he says in his Word.   

DECIMOSEPTIMO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO – c

Posted on by

DECIMOSEPTIMO 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                                                        GENESIS 18:20-32                                  PRIMERA LECTURA

 

(Las quejas contra Sodoma y Gomorra son enormes; que grande es su pecado!”)

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo el Señor acerca de Sodoma y Gomorra? Génesis 18:20-21

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue uno de los pecados de Sodoma y Gomorra? Génesis 19:4-9

 

  1. ¿Por qué iba a ir el Señor a Sodoma y Gomorra? Génesis 18:21

 

  1. ¿Quiénes eran los dos hombres que partieron hacía esos lugares mientras Abraham permanecia de pie delante del Señor?  Génesis 19:1

 

  1. ¿Qué le dijo Abraham al Señor en Génesis 18:23?

 

  1. ¿Qué mencionó acerca de cincuenta personas inocentes? Génesis 18:24

 

  1. ¿Cuáles fueron las palabras de Abraham para el Señor y que respondió éste? Génesis 18:25-26

 

  1. ¿Cómo se veía Abraham a sí mismo, sobre que persistía preguntando al Señor? ¿Qué le contestó Este? Génesis 18:27-32

 

  1. ¿Cuántas veces insistió con sus preguntas? Génesis 18:24-32

 

  1. ¿Tan pronto como el Señor terminó de hablar a Abraham a dónde se dirigió? ¿Y a dónde se fué Abraham? Génesis 18:33

 

Personal – ¿Sobre que asuntos has persistido en tu oración hacía el Señor? ¿Qué tan seguido conversas con el Señor como lo hizo Abraham?

 

TERCER DIA                                                       COLOSENSES 2:12-14                              SEGUNDA LECTURA

                                                                          (“Dios les dio vida junto a Cristo.”)

  1. ¿Cuáles son las dos cosas que te sucedieron al ser bautizado? Colosenses 2:12

 

  1. ¿En quién pasaron estas dos cosas y por qué? Colosenses 2:12
  2. ¿Quién resucitó a Jesús de entre los muertos? Colosenses 2:12

 

  1. ¿En qué condición te encontrabas cuando Dios te dió nueva vida? Colosenses 2:13

 

  1. ¿Cuándo estabas muerto por el pecado a quién seguías? Efesios 2:1-2

 

  1. ¿Junto a quién vivirás esta nueva vida que Dios te dió? Colosenses 2:13

 

  1. ¿Cómo podemos participar de esa nueva vida? Romanos 6:3- 4

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo El con todos nuestros pecados? Colosenses 2:13

 

  1. ¿Qué canceló? ¿Qué tomó y qué hizo con éllo? Colosenses 2:14

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo Jesús con su propia carne? ¿Qué se creó de esta manera y cuál fue el resultado?            Efesios 2:14-15

 

Personal – ¿En qué nota la gente que eres alguien al que se le han perdonado sus pecados? Toma un tiempo para darle gracias a Dios por librarte de las cadenas del pecado habiendo mandado a Jesús a morir en la cruz por tí. Pasa un rato conversando con nuestro Padre esta semana.

 

CUARTO DIA                                                              LUCAS 11:1-13                                                       EVANGELIO

(“Jesús enseñanos a orar.”)

 

  1. ¿Qué observaban los discípulos que hacía Jesús en un cierto lugar y qué le pidieron? Lucas 11:1

 

  1. ¿A quién dijo Jesús que debemos dirigir nuestra oración primero? ¿Cuáles son las dos cosas que le dice a El?  Lucas 11:2

 

  1. ¿Y después, qué le pides que haga? Lucas 11:3

 

  1. ¿Qué le pides que haga por nosotros así como nosotros hacemos por los demás? Lucas 11:4

 

  1. ¿De qué le pedimos que nos perdone? Lucas 11:4

 

Personal – ¿Cómo has usado los cinco niveles de orar en el Padre Nuestro esta semana? (Alabanza, Aceptación, Petición, Perdón y Protección). Que esto incluya tu vida familiar y de trabajo.

 

  1. Jesús dice una parábola de oración en Lucas 11:5-8. ¿Cuál es la razón que El dá para que una oración sea contestada?  Lucas 11:8

 

  1. ¿Qué dice Jesús que pasará cuando pidas, cuando buscas y cuando tocas a la puerta? Lucas 11:9

 

  1. ¿Qué repite en el versículo 10 de Lucas 11?

 

  1. ¿Cuál es la analogía que usa acerca de nuestros padres terrenales? Lucas 11:11-12

 

Personal – ¿Cuándo le pediste a Dios que te diera al Espíritu Santo? ¿Qué cambios ocurrieron en tu vida?

 

QUINTO DIA                                                  LEE EL SALMO 138:1-3, 6-8

(“Te doy gracias, Señor.”)

 

Leé y medita el Salmo 138:1-3, 6-8.

 

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

 

¿Como puedes aplicar esto a tu vida diaria?

 

SEXTO DIA                                                  LEE TODO EL COMENTARIO

                                                                                       GENESIS 18:20-32

Abraham nos introduce a saber que la oración es la forma por la que podemos comprender mejor la mente de Dios. Abraham esta al tanto de la maldad que está ocurriendo en Sodoma y empieza su oración por la gente del Señor incluyendo a Lot, quien era su sobrino y también por la familia de éste. Parece que Abraham estaba intentando cambiar la mente de Dios pero en el proceso la mente de Abraham es la que se cambia.

Abraham nunca dudó de que Dios odiaba el pecado y de que los pecadores debían ser castigados. Pero quizá estaba un poco confuso en entender que tan misericordioso es Dios. Se le ve probando la mente de Dios, y termina su oración convencido que Dios es las dos cosas, justo y bueno. La oración de Abraham es muy parecida a la nuestra, siempre sujeta a cambios. Quizá nos preguntamos por que Dios le permitió a Abraham interceder por una ciudad donde la gente era tan mala. Dios quería que Abraham tuviera la experiencia personal de la misericordia que El tiene por los pecadores. Dios supo que no había diez personas justas en la ciudad de Sodoma pero El se deleitaba con el intento de Abraham de interceder por ellos.

Dios quiere que nosotros intercedamos constantemente por otros para que estos se arrepientan y vuelvan al reino de la rectitud. Es muy importante que nosotros no veamos a Dios como alguien que se deleita destruyendo a los malvados sino como alguien que debe castigar el pecado. Dios fue justo en probar a los hombres de Sodoma. Le dijo a Abraham que El iba a ver por Sí mismo que tan malos eran en Sodoma y entonces decidiría que sería lo que haría (Génesis 18:20). Dios no ignoraba la perversión de esa ciudad (Génesis 19:4-9), pero en Su misericordia le dió a la gente la última oportunidad de volverse hacía El.

Dios sigue esperando por Su pueblo que regrese a El (2 Pedro 3:9). Nosotros somos ese pueblo. También nosotros podemos tener ese mismo destino como la gente de Sodoma. Solo necesitamos ver al rededor la perversión moral que se ha hecho tan común y aceptable en nuestra sociedad. Abraham le pidió a Dios que no destruyera la ciudad si podía encontrar tan solo diez personas justas. Reflexionemos en eso y oremos para que haya suficiente gente buena en nuestra comunidad.

Dios no desea que muera ninguno de nosotros. El no fue injusto con la gente de Sodoma. Le mostró gran misericordia a Lot, quien unicamente tenía una relación tibia con El. Se nos dice en la escritura “Arrepiéntete, el Reino de Dios está cerca” (Marcos 1:15). No seamos como los Sodomitas que le cansaron la paciencia a Dios. Al contrario imitemos a Abraham y seamos gente de oración y rectitud.

COLOSENSES 2:12-14

En los tiempos de Pablo, la forma común de la Iglesia era bautizarse por inmersión total. Era así, pues la mayoría de los nuevos cristianos eran adultos convertidos. La familia Cristiana no existía todavía como tal y por lo tanto no había los bautizmos infantiles.

Los nuevos cristianos eran sumergidos completamente en agua. Esta inmersión simbolizaba la muerte y el entierro de su viejo estilo de vida. El salir del agua simbolizaba la resurrección de Cristo de la muerte. Nosotros que hemos sido bautizados solo necesitamos pensar en nuestra vida pecaminosa como algo muerto y enterrado. Entonces tendremos un poderoso motivo para resistir al pecado. No queremos darle ningunos poderes a esta parte fea de nuestro pasado.

Por la fe en el Señor Jesucristo y el poder de Su Espíritu Santo podemos conscientemente escoger el tratar nuestra naturaleza vieja como algo muerto y disfrutar nuestra maravillosa nueva vida con Jesucristo. A traves de nuestro bautizmo tenemos una naturaleza nueva. Dios crucificó la vieja (Rom. 6:6) y la reemplazó con una naturaleza amorosa (Col. 3:9). Es importante que nos demos cuenta que Dios no nos saca del mundo y nos hace robots religiosos. Todavía tenemos la tendencia de pecar ocasionalmente y algunas veces lo hacemos.

Increíblemente, antes de ser salvados, eramos esclavos de una naturaleza pecaminosa, pero ahora a traves de la fe en Jesucristo podemos escoger vivir por Cristo.  Podemos disfrutar nuestra nueva vida en Cristo por que nos hemos unido a El en su muerte y resurrección.  Nuestros malos deseos, nuestro amor al pecado y nuestra esclavitud al pecado han muerto con el.

Ahora, uniéndonos con El en su resurrección, podemos tener una relación amistosa sin fin con Dios y libertad del pecado. Nuestra deuda por el pecado ha sido pagada totalmente, nuestros pecados han sido barridos y olvidados. Podemos estar limpios y nuevos. No necesitamos ser hechos pedazos por las perturbaciones de nuestra sociedad, familia o de nuestro yo interior. Hemos sido salvados de las garras de Satanás por el mismo Cristo por el bautizmo. Somos ahora herederos del Rey e hijos del mismo Dios. Solo debemos recordar que debido a nuestro bautizmo “el espíritu que está dentro de nosotros es más grande que cualquier espíritu del mundo” (1 Juan 4:4).

Nuestro bautizmo trae a nuestro templo el sorprendente poder del Espíritu Santo. El Espíritu Santo nos hace más que conquistadores. Pasa un tiempo con nuestro Padre celestial esta semana. Orando y Alabándolo fortaleceremos nuestra respuesta en la fé. Los que nos rodean verán que somos gente de oración y de poder.

LUCAS 11:1-13

Cuando terminó un tiempo normal, muy necesario y satisfactorio de oración, Jesús fue interrogado por los apóstoles para que les enseñara como hacer oración. Jesús era un Judío muy devoto que practicaba Su fe muy diligentemente leyendo Sus escrituras y tomando tiempo para hacer oración. El sabía que Su poder y éxito en Su misión venía de Su Padre celestial. Nosotros también podemos tomar esa actitud de humildad especialmente cuando vemos alrededor y nos damos cuenta de lo que hemos logrado con nuestras familias, trabajos, etc. Necesitamos recordar que no podemos hacer nada que tenga un valor duradero nosotros solos.

Todo nuestro poder y éxito viene de Dios (2 Corintios 3:5). Es por eso que orar es tan poderoso y tan necesario en nuestras vidas hoy en día. Jesús les enseñó lo que ahora conocemos como “la oración perfecta.” Primero identifica a Dios como “Padre” lo cual inmediatmente lo ata a El en una relación especial. La palabra hebrea para padre es “Abba” o sea papi. Al hablarle así Jesús demuestra que lo conoce personalmente. No solo El sino cualquiera que haga esta oración podrá ser incluido en esta relación íntima. El nos lo hace saber desde el principio, podemos confiar absolutamente en Nuestro Padre.

Jesús alaba primero a Su Padre y luego hace Sus peticiones. Alabando a Dios primero, nos pone en el lugar correcto mentalmente para decirle sobre nuestras necesidades. La forma más poderosa de salir de la depresión es la alabanza. Nos salimos de nosotros mismos cuando estamos alabando de verdad a alguien más.

Muchas veces nuestra oración se parece a una lista de compras en vez de una conversación entre dos personas que se aman mutuamente.

Vemos Su precioso nombre santificado o bendecido. Esto lo comprendemos cuando sabemos que en los tiempos de los Hebreos el nombre de una persona mostraba su carácter, su fuerza y su reputación. El nombre de Dios era bendecido pues todos aquellos que lo nombraban eran también bendecidos. Su reinado no era tan solo el venir a la tierra pues de hecho ya estaba aquí, transformando y salvando la tierra por la muerte y resurrección de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

Dios nos proveé del pan no solo una vez al día sino todo el día. No debemos nada más guardarlo y cortar la comunicación con Dios. No nos atrevemos a estar completamente auto satisfechos. Si se nos está acabando la fuerza nada más necesitamos preguntarnos cuanto hace que estamos lejos de la fuente. La piedra angular de esta oración es el perdón. El perdón como el amor es una decisión que debe ser hecha en nuestra relación con Dios. Podemos escoger no perdonar y mantener a alguien encadenado o podemos escoger perdonar y desatar a alguien de la cadenas que lo tienen prisionero.

Jesús nos muestra claramente que Su amor es un amor que perdona. Nosotros debemos amar como Su Padre ama y amar como el mismo Jesús lo hace. Debemos perdonar a aquellos que nos han ofendido como El nos ha perdonado a nosotros por haberlo ofendido. Si permanecemos sin perdonar demostramos que no hemos entendido que nosotros mismos junto con todos los demás necesitamos profundamente perdonar.

Cuando Jesús termina con el Padre Nuestro continúa explicando la necesidad de persistir en la oración dando un ejemplo de aquel amigo que buscaba a su vecino en medio de la noche para que le diera de comer. Necesitamos persistir en nuestra oración como el hombre que tocaba a la puerta de su vecino.

Dios que nos ama recibe nuestras oraciones como un Padre perfecto lo haría y debemos persistir en pedirle a El. Su respuesta es siempre la mejor para nosotros aún cuando no entendamos muy bien en ese momento. El es nuestro Padre, El es bendito y El nos perdona. Nosotros como Sus hijos lo honramos con nuestras oraciones, nuestra alabanza y nuestro perdón que damos a los demás.

Aplicación

                 La primera lectura muestra que Abraham oraba constantemente y con grán persistencia. La segunda lectura nos dice que a traves de Cristo se muere nuestra vieja naturaleza pecadora y el Evangelio nos introduce a la oración perfecta.

Oremos para que todos aceptemos al Espíritu Santo de nuestro Padre celestial. Si no has pedido el recibirlo, yo rezo para que tomes un momento ahora e invites al Espíritu Santo a residir en tu corazón. Esta es la esencia de nuestra “oración perfecta.” El resultado será un hambre de saber cual es Su voluntad para tu vida y lo lograrás conociendo lo que El te dice por medio de Su palabra.

DECIMOSEXTO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO – c

Posted on by

DECIMOSEXTO 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                                                         GENESIS 18:1-10                                    PRIMERA LECTURA

 

(El se quedó de pie junto a ellos, bajo el árbol, mientras comían.”)

 

  1. ¿A quién se le apareció el Señor cerca del gran árbol de Mambre? ¿Dónde se encontraba sentado y qué pasaba a esa hora del día?  Génesis 18:1

 

  1. ¿Cuando el miró, qué vió y que hizo? Génesis 18:2

 

  1. ¿Cómo se les llama a dos de esos hombres? Génesis 19:1

 

  1. ¿Qué les dijo Abraham? Génesis 18:3

 

  1. ¿Por qué quería traerles agua? Génesis 18:4

 

  1. ¿Cómo se llama Abraham a sí mismo y por qué quería que comieran? Génesis 18:5

 

  1. ¿Cómo entró Abraham a la tienda y qué le dijo a Sara su esposa? Génesis 18:6

 

  1. ¿Quién fue inmediatamente al potrero? ¿Después de escoger a un ternero tierno y bueno a quién se lo dió para que lo preparara?  Génesis 18:7

 

  1. ¿Qué más consiguió para ellos, qué hizo, y qué continuó haciendo mientras ellos comían sentados bajo el árbol? Génesis 18:8

 

  1. ¿Qué le preguntaron a Abraham, qué contestó éste, qué dijo uno de ellos acerca de Sara? ¿Qué estaba          haciendo élla?  Génesis 18:9-10

 

Personal – ¿De qué modo demuestras tu hospitalidad a los que están a tu alrededor? ¿Quiénes son los mensajeros del Señor en tu vida? ¿Cómo los tratas?

 

TERCER DIA                                                       COLOSENSES 1:24-28                              SEGUNDA LECTURA

                                                  (“Al presente me alegro cuando tengo que sufrir por ustedes.”)

  1. ¿Quién está hablando en los versículos 24-28 de Colosenses? ¿De quién es este el servidor?            Colosenses 1:23
  2. ¿En dónde encuentra su alegría? Colosenses 1:24

 

  1. ¿Dónde completa lo que falta a los sufrimientos de Cristo? ¿Por el bien de quién hace esto? Col 1:24

 

  1. ¿Cómo llama a su cuerpo? Colosenses 1:24

 

  1. ¿Qué viene a ser Pablo para esta iglesia? ¿A través de quién fue comisionado? ¿Para qué? Col 1:25

 

  1. ¿A quién le ha sido revelado el misterio que fue secreto por años y generaciones pasadas? Col 1:26

 

  1. ¿Cuál es el misterio que Dios ha querido que se conozca? Colosenses 1:27

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que esperas? Colosenses 1:27

 

  1. ¿Qué debemos proclamar y cómo lo debemos hacer? Colosenses 1:28

 

  1. ¿Qué es útil para enseñar y para corregirnos unos a otros? 2 Timoteo 3:16

 

Personal – ¿De qué modo ha sido revelado a otros el misterio de Cristo que hay en tí? ¿Cuándo te diste cuenta por primera vez de que El vive en tí? ¿Qué cambio tuvo lugar en tí cuando te diste cuenta de ello?

 

CUARTO DIA                                                             LUCAS 10:38-42                                                      EVANGELIO

(“Una sola cosa es necesaria.”)

  1. ¿Quién le dió la bienvenida a Jesús en su casa? ¿Dónde estaba ubicada? Lucas 10:38 y Juan 11:1

 

  1. ¿Cómo se llamaba su hermana? ¿Cuáles son las dos cosas que hizo ésta? Lucas 10:39

 

  1. ¿Qué nos dice Dios Padre que hagamos? Marcos 9:7

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo Moisés acerca de Jesús? Deut. 18:15 y Hechos 3:22

 

  1. ¿En qué estaba ocupada Marta? ¿Qué le dijo a Jesús? Lucas 10:40

 

  1. ¿Qué le pidió Marta a Jesús que hiciera? Lucas 10:40

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue la contestación del Señor? Lucas 10:41

 

  1. ¿Cuál es la única cosa que se requiere? Salmo 27:4

 

  1. ¿Quién había escogido la mejor parte? Lucas 10:42

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo El que no le pasaría a María? Lucas 10:42

 

Personal – ¿Qué hiciste la semana pasada para no distraerte en tus labores y sentarte a los pies de Jesús a escucharlo? ¿Cómo has escuchado Su voz y cómo has respondido? Comparte esto con alguien.

 

QUINTO DIA                                                       LEE EL SALMO 15:2-5

(Aquel que camina sin falta y actúa con justicia.)

Leé y medita el Salmo 15:2-5.

¿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

                                                                                                  

GENESIS 18:1-10

El relato ilustra la hospitalidad del Cercano Oriente de varias maneras. En los días de Abraham la reputación de una persona estaba conectada grandemente con su hospitalidad o sea el compartir su hogar y su comida. Aún los viajeros desconocidos eran tratados del mismo modo que se hacía con los invitados de más alta honra. Atender a las necesidades de casa o alimento era y es aún hoy en día una de las prácticas más inmediatas y maneras de obedecer a Dios y hacer Su voluntad.

Podemos ver a Abraham tratando de encontrar una brisa fresca y mirando hacía afuera desde su tienda en un día muy caliente en el desierto. Probablemente estaba asombrado de ver venir a esos tres hombres hacía él. Inmediatamente les dió toda su atención. Se dirige a uno de sus visitantes como a “mi señor” y habla de sí mismo como un servidor. Actuaba como si ellos le estuvieran haciendo el favor de dejarlo servirles y atender a sus necesidades. Les lavó los pies de acuerdo con la costumbre local. Esto no solo era una cosa placentera sino tambien una señal de genuino respeto. Era una cortesía refrescar al viajero en un clima tan caliente y polvoso como el de Mambré. Luego les prepara de comer con lo mejor de su cosecha y con la carne que viene de animales escogidos. Se inclina ante ellos y se queda un poco atras para atenderlos como un verdadero sirviente.

La tradición reflexiona acerca de los tres ángeles como la Trinidad. Sería bueno que reflexionaramos en la hospitalidad que Abraham extiende a sus invitados e imitar esa conducta. ¿Cómo ve la gente mis acciones, como un servidor o insisto en que mis necesidades sean atendidas primero? Estamos llamados a atender las necesidades de cualquiera que necesite nuestra ayuda. En Filipenses 2:6-11, Jesús nos muestra como es el papel de un servidor. Necesitamos ver a los demas con humildad y alegría y que ellos vean en nuestros servicios la señal del amor de Dios y la paz en nosotros.

COLOSENSES 1:24-28

                 Pablo compara sus sufrimientos a los que completarían los sufrimientos de Cristo. Jesús murió para salvar a la iglesia, pero la iglesia debe continuar en un mundo solitario y deshecho. Pablo sufre un increíble rechazo y con peligros físicos al traer su mensaje de la Buena Nueva a un mundo mucho más hostil. La herencia que nos deja Pablo es el saber que nosotros también estamos llamados a traer a todos los hombres el maravilloso misterio de Cristo y que si ese servicio incluye sufrimientos, sacrificios y aún más la muerte entonces estamos completando y compartiendo los sufrimientos de Cristo. El trabajo de Pablo fue traer al hombre un nuevo descubrimiento, un misterio que no había sido revelado.

El grán regalo de Pablo a nuestra fe Cristiana y al mundo mismo fue, que supieramos que Cristo era el Dios no solo de los Judíos sino también de los gentiles. Pablo destruye totalmente la idea de que la misericordia y el amor de Dios era unicamente para una nación especial o para gente privilegiada. Nuestro Dios es Dios para todos, pobres, ricos, jóvenes, viejos y de cualquier nacionalidad.

De no haber sido por Pablo quizá no hubieramos sido más que una secta del Judaismo. Los Judíos podrían haber rehusado creer que El era el Dios de los Gentiles y eso hubiera sido blasfemia. Los Agnósticos no hubieran creído que cada hombre puede llegar a tener los conocimientos necesarios para la salvación. Los agnósticos creían que la salvación era únicamente para una elite espiritual y unos cuantos escogidos.

La mayoría de los educadores hoy en día están de acuerdo en que es imposible dar conocimientos a todos los hombres, pues no todos son capaces de aprender. Podemos ver a nuestro derredor y darnos cuenta de que cada quien tiene dones distintos. Hay algunos dones que ciertos hombres nunca obtendrán. Hay quien es ciego a los colores y que las maravillas del arte no le dicen nada. Hay quien es sordo y la gloria de la música no existe para ellos. No todos pueden ser cantantes, escritores, estudiantes o predicadores. Siempre habrá ciertos dones que ciertos hombres nunca poseerán. Hay privilegios que ciertos hombres nunca gozarán. Hay ciertas alturas de fama y gloria que algunos hombres nunca escalaran, pero, el misterio que Pablo trajo al mundo a traves de sus predicaciones fue el de que cada hombre puede obtener las Buenas Nuevas del Evangelio o sea el amor de Dios en Jesucristo, quien vive en cada uno de nosotros.

Estas Buenas Nuevas son el poder transformador que trae la santidad a la vida en sí misma. Es por eso que Pablo se alegra en sus sufrimientos por nosotros. El traía las Buenas Nuevas y daba a conocer de un modo completo la Palabra de Dios.

Tú y yo estamos llamados hoy mismo a continuar y a alegrarnos en nuestros sufrimientos al traer las Buenas Nuevas y como Pablo también, hacer del conocimiento de todos la Palabra de Dios.

LUCAS 10:38-42

                 En la primera lectura la ansiedad de Abraham de atender a sus invitados nos deja casi con el aliento corto. Abraham se precipita a la tienda. Corre a ver al ganado. Hace que el sirviente prepare una comida rápidamente. Luego en la lectura del Evangelio vemos a Marta corriendo y quejándose de la falta de preocupación en María. Si juzgamos por la historia del Samaritano, Marta debería ser elogiada por su servicio práctico a Jesús. Y este de hecho pone en entredicho sus prioridades.

El Evangelio en sí no está contenido en que ames a tu prójimo a costa de lo que sea. El ser discípulo de Cristo es primeramente y por encima de todo el rendirse a una relación personal con Jesucristo. Debe haber un tiempo en calma para escuchar Su palabra. La devoción a Jesús es “la única cosa” que se requiere. Mateo 6:33 dice, “Busca primero Su reino y todo lo demás se te dará por añadidura.” Esta clase de relación se refleja en el servicio amoroso, pero sin la oración, el dar nuestros cuidados a otros quizá no es amor de verdad.

El Evangelio de hoy nos muestra una tensión entre dos temperamentos. Algunas personas son dinámicas por naturaleza, otras son calmadas. Para algunos es muy díficil nada mas sentarse y meditar a solas con el Señor. Hay quien encontrará muy poco confortable dedicarse a un ministerio activo y Dios necesita de Sus Marías y también de Sus Martas. En Eclesiastés se nos dice “hay un tiempo para todo y hay un tiempo para cada asunto bajo el cielo” (3:1).

En el Evangelio de hoy Lucas nos muestra como el incidente entre María y Marta ilustra la primacia del amor a Dios con todo nuestro corazón, alma, fuerza y mente. Jesús le hace ver a Marta que hay un tiempo apropiado para orar y contemplar, para estudiar las escrituras y escuchar a Dios, así como también hay un tiempo apropiado para la acción.

Solo necesitamos pensar a donde iba Jesús cuando pasó esto. Estaba en camino a Jerusalén, llendo a morir. Todo Su ser estaba embargado con la intensidad de doblegar Su voluntad a la voluntad de Dios. Jesús quería consuelo, paz, y Marta quería darle una grán cena y tener la casa muy limpia. Eso no era lo que Jesús necesitaba o quería, eso era lo que Marta quería. María se dió cuenta de cuales eran Sus necesidades y Marta en su amabilidad creía saber cuales eran esas necesidades. Jesús dijo “una cosa es necesaria;” probablemente una sencilla y pequeña comida hubiera sido suficiente. Esta es una de nuestras mayores dificultades en la vida. Queremos ser amables con la gente, pero ser amables a nuestro modo. Nos sentimos heridos cuando nuestro modo no es el que se necesita. Necesitamos olvidar nuestros planes y escuchar lo que él o élla necesita. María entendió las necesidades de Jesús y Marta no. Seamos como María, escuchemos, escuchemos…

Aplicación

La primera lectura nos dice que la reputación de una persona se conectaba principalmente con su hospitalidad. La segunda lectura nos dice que las Buenas Nuevas del Evangelio están disponibles para todos. El Evangelio nos revela que debemos seguir las órdenes del día de Dios, no las nuestras.

Hagamos lugar como Abraham y pongámonos al servicio de otros, permitiendo que el misterio de la presencia de Cristo que hay dentro de nosotros esté al alcance de todos los que encontremos. María escuchó a Cristo y oyó a Su corazón tanto como a Sus palabras. Hagamos nosotros lo mismo. Unicamente podemos estar realmente presentes ante nuestras familias cuando estamos escuchándolos y entendiendo lo que están diciendo y lo que no están diciendo. La esencia de la vida Cristiana no es tanto hacer como morir. Es morir a nuestras propias necesidades, poniéndonos a la disposición para escuchar y responder a las necesidades de los demas.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C

Posted on by

                       THE BREAD OF LIFE

                     CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

          SIXTEENTH SUNDAY OF 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 GENESIS 18:1-10       FIRST READING

 

    (“…he waited on them under the tree while they ate.”)

 

  1. To whom did the Lord appear by the great tree at Mamre, where  was he sitting, and what was happening to the day? 

     Genesis 18-l

 

 

  1. When he looked up, what did he see and what did he do?      Genesis 18:2

 

 3. What are two of these men called? Genesis 19:1

 

 

  1. What did Abraham say to them? Genesis 18:3

 

 

  1. Why did he want to bring them water? Genesis 18:4

 

 

  1. What did Abraham call himself, and why did he want them to  have food?  Genesis 18:5

 

  1. How did Abraham enter the tent, and what did he say to his wife, Sarah?  Genesis 18:6

 

 

  1. How did he go to the herd, and after picking out a tender choice steer, to whom did he give it for preparation? 

     Genesis 18:7

 

  1. What else did he get for them, and what did he do, and      continue to do as they sat eating under the tree? Genesis 18:8

 

 

  1. What did they ask Abraham, what was his reply, what did one of      them say about Sarah and what was Sarah doing? Genesis 18:9-10

 

Personal – In what way do you show hospitality to those passing your way?  Who are the messengers of the Lord in your life?  How do you treat them?

 

THIRD DAY           READ COLOSSIANS 1:24-28     SECOND READING

 

       (“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,”)

 

  1. Who is speaking in verses 24-28 of Colossians, and to what is     he a minister?  Colossians 1:23

 

 

  1. Where does he find his joy? Colossians 1:24

 

 

  1. Where does he fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ, and for whose sake does he do this?  Colossians 1:24

 

 

  1. What does he call his body? Colossians 1:24

 

 

  1. What did Paul become to this church, through the commission of whom, and to do what?  Colossians 1:25

 

 

  1. To whom has he revealed the mystery that was hidden from ages and generations past?  Colossians 1:26

 

 

  1. What is the mystery that God has willed to make known?      Colossians 1:27

 

 

  1. What is this for which you hope? Colossians 1:27

 

 

  1. What are we to proclaim, and how are we to do it?     Colossians 1:28

 

 

  1. What is useful for teaching and admonishing one another?      2 Timothy 3:16

  

Personal – In what way has the mystery of Christ in you been revealed to others?  When did you first realize that he dwells in you, and what change took place in you when you realized this?

  

FOURTH DAY            READ LUKE 10:38-42               GOSPEL

 

             (“There is need of only one thing.”)

 

  1. Who welcomed Jesus to her home, and where was this located?      Luke 10:38, John 11:l

 

 

  1. What was her sister’s name, and what two things did she do?      Luke 10:39

 

 

  1. What did God the Father tell us to do? Mark 9:7

 

 

  1. What did Moses say about Jesus? Deut. 18:15 and Acts 3:22

 

 

  1. With what was Martha busy, and what did she say to Jesus?         Luke 10:40

 

 

  1. What did Martha tell Jesus to do? Luke 10:40

 

 

  1. What was the Lord’s reply? Luke 10:41

 

  1. What is the one thing only that is required? Psalm 27:4

 

 

  1. Who had chosen the better portion? Luke 10:42

 

 

  1. What did he say would not happen to Mary? Luke 10:42

 

 

Personal –  This past week in what way have you not been distracted by duty in order to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him?  In what way have you heard his voice and responded?  Share this with someone.

 FIFTH DAY              READ PSALM 15:2-5

              (“He who walks blamelessly and does justice,”)

 Read and meditate on Psalm 15:2-5.

 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

                         GENESIS 18:1-10

      The story illustrates near Eastern hospitality in several ways.  In Abraham’s day, a person’s reputation was largely connected to his hospitality, in the sharing of his home and food.  Even traveling strangers were accorded treatment that would be given to highly honored guests.  Meeting another’s need for food or shelter was and still is today one of the most immediate and practical ways to obey God and do his will.

     We can see Abraham trying to get a cool breeze and looking out of the opening of his tent on a very hot day in the desert.  He probably was startled when he saw the three men coming toward him.  He immediately gave them all of his attention.  He addressed one of his guests as “my lord” and yet he addressed himself as a servant.  He acted like they would be doing him a favor by letting him serve them and attend to their needs.  He washed their feet in accordance with the local custom.  This was not only a pleasant comfort but also a sign of genuine respect.  This was a courtesy to refresh a traveler in a hot, dusty climate like Mamre.  He then prepared his food from his best source of crops and the meat came from choice animals.  He bowed down to them and stood back and waited upon them like a true servant.

      Tradition reflects on the three angels as the Trinity.  We may well reflect on the hospitality that Abraham extends to his guests and try to bring it into our manner of conduct.  Do people see in my actions the role of a servant, or do we insist on our needs being met first?  We are called on to meet the needs of anyone who needs help.  Jesus, in Philippians 2:6-11, shows us how to take on the role of a servant.  We need to look with humility and joy towards others, and they need to see in our service the sign of God’s love and peace in us.

                        COLOSSIANS 1:24-28

      Paul compares his suffering as completing the sufferings of Jesus Christ.  Jesus died to save the church; but the church must continue on in a broken lonely world.  Paul experienced incredible rejection and physical danger in bringing his message of Good News to a many times more hostile world.  Paul’s legacy to us is that we too are called today to bring the marvelous mystery of Christ to all people, and if such service involves suffering, sacrifice and even death, then that is the filling up and sharing the suffering of Christ.  Paul’s task was to bring to men a new discovery, a mystery that was now revealed.

      Paul’s great gift to our Christian faith and to the world itself was that Christ was the God of not just the Jews,  but the Gentiles as well.  Paul totally destroyed the idea that God’s love and mercy were for only a special nation or a privileged people.  Our God is a God of all people, poor people, rich people, young people, old people and all nationalities.

      Had it not been for Paul we might have been nothing more than a new sect of Judaism.  The Jews would have refused to believe that he was the God of Gentiles, and that would have been blasphemous.  The gnostic would have never believed that every man could be taught enough knowledge necessary for salvation.  The gnostics believe that salvation was only for the spiritual elite and the chosen few.

      Most educators today have agreed that it is impossible to teach knowledge to every person, because not everyone is capable of learning it.  We can look around today and see that not everyone has the same gifts.  There are gifts which some will never attain.  There are those who are color-blind and to whom the wonders of art mean nothing.  There are those who are tone deaf and the glory of music does not exist.  Not everyone can be a singer, a writer, a student, or a preacher.  These are gifts which some will never possess.  There are privileges a person will never enjoy.  There are some heights of fame and glory that some will never scale but the mystery that Paul brought to the world through his preaching was that to everyone there is available the Good News of the Gospel, and that is the love of God in Christ Jesus who dwells within each one of us.

     This Good News is the transforming power which brings holiness into life itself.  That is why Paul can say he rejoices in his suffering for us.  He was bringing the Good News, and making the Word of God fully known.  Today you and I are called to continue and we too are to rejoice in our sufferings as we bring the Good News, and, like Paul, make the Word of God fully known to all men.

                          LUKE 10:38-42

      In the first reading Abraham’s anxiety to entertain his guests leaves us almost winded.  Abraham hastened into the tent.  He ran to the herd.  He had a servant quickly prepare a meal.  Then in our Gospel reading we see Martha rushing about and even complaining about Mary’s lack of concern.  To judge from the story of the Samaritan, Martha should have been praised for her practical service to Jesus.  Jesus, in fact, challenges her priorities.

      The whole gospel is not contained in loving your neighbor, no matter how important that is.  Christian discipleship is first and foremost surrendering to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  There must be a quiet time to listen to his Word.  Devotion to Jesus is the “one thing” that is required.  Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first his kingship and all else will be added unto you.”  This kind of a relationship shows itself in loving service, but without prayer, care for other’s needs may not be love.

      Today’s Gospel shows us a tension between temperaments.  Some people are naturally dynamos of activity; others are normally quiet.  Some people find it very hard to just sit and meditate alone with the Lord.  There are those who would find it very uncomfortable to go into an active ministry.  God needs his Mary and Marthas too.  Ecclesiastes tells us, “There is an appointed time for everything and a time for every affair under the heavens.” (3:1).

     In today’s Gospel Luke shows us how the incident between Mary and Martha illustrates the primary love of God with all one’s heart, soul, strength and mind.  Jesus points out to Martha that there is a proper time for prayer and contemplation, for studying scripture and listening to God, just as there is a proper time for action.

     We need only to think where Jesus was going when this happened.  He was on his way to Jerusalem – to die.  His whole being was taken up with the intensity to bend his will to the will of God.  Jesus wanted comfort, peace, solace and Martha wanted to lay on him a fantastic meal and a spotlessly clean house.  That was not what Jesus needed or wanted but it was what Martha wanted.  Mary listened to his needs and Martha in her kindness assumed his needs.  Jesus said “one thing is necessary,” and in probability, a small simple meal would have of been enough.  This is one of our great difficulties in life.  We want to be kind to people, but we want to be kind to them in our way. We get hurt when  our way is not the necessary way.  We need to forget our plans and  listen to what he or she needs.  Mary understood Jesus’ needs but Martha did not.  Let us, as Mary, listen, listen………….

 Application

      The first reading tells us that a person’s reputation was largely connected to his hospitality.  The second reading tells us that the Good News of the Gospel is available to everyone. The Gospel reveals that it is God’s agenda not ours that is to be followed.

      Let us be available as Abraham and a servant to others, and let the mystery of Christ’s presence within us be available to all we meet.  Mary listened to Christ and she heard his heart as well as his words; let us do no less.

      We can be present to our families only when we are listening and understanding what they are saying and not saying. The essence of the Christian life is not doing, but rather it is dying. It is in dying to one’s own needs and being available to listen and respond to other’s needs.

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Posted on by

FIFTEENTH 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 10:38-41 – Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

 

  1. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

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

 

 

Share your reflection with someone.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Posted on by

FIFTEENTH 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 10:25-37 – There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.  A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

  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 July 2016

Posted on by

 

St. Dismas Guild         July 2016
                    “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

HAPPY AND BLESSED INDEPENDENCE DAY – GOD BLESS AMERICA

PO Box 2129 Escondido CA 92033

 

Dear St. Dismas Guild, I am 52-years old. I have never married, have an adult daughter in the USAF, 2 grand kids, and completed K-12 grades amid gangs, drugs and violent crime in the ghetto. I was raised to believe in God and His Word which led me to the faith in Jesus Christ that saved me. He loved and died for me too. As with all Christians, Satan attempted to seduce my young faith and he succeeded, leading to many youthful misjudgments, while ignoring the precepts of my bible. As a gang member, drug user & lawbreaking individual, I was incarcerated many times as a youth and adult. The lessons of these experiences were neglected leading to my current sentence of 36-to-life. While serving my current sentence, I have reestablished my relationship with my Savior, Jesus, earned my GED and acquired numerous bible-related certificates over the last 15 years.  I am a firm believer in the power of prayer, the guidance available through the Holy Spirit and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I thank God for my life. No matter how isolated I am now, things could be much worse, but he is a good God. I composed my testimony to assure you that, while I messed up this life, I will not mess up my prospects for the next one. And there will be a next one! Sincerely in Christ.  RH

 

Thank you RH for showing us the power of God’s Word to transform your life. You’re right; many young people are being seduced by Satan, the author of lies, and following him although they have grown up in a faith based home. They are seduced into thinking what is wrong is right because many leaders and our government are saying things and putting into law lies from Satan. You have come a long way in getting your education and study of the bible while in prison. Putting it into practice is the hard part especially on the outside world. Always remember when tempted 1 John 4:4, “You are of God, you little ones, and thus you have conquered the false prophets, For there is One greater IN YOU than there is in the world.” The little ones are those who have humbled themselves under the mighty hand of Almighty God, and made Him Lord of their life. Thank you again for sharing.

 

 

 

Dear St. Dismas Guild,  I’m writing to say the Lord has kept this promise to me even if I have fallen, he is still there to pick me up. I’ve been in here over 20 years and my wife has never left me. We have a class here that has changed too much for me to stay with it. They need new leadership because they are making rules up for new members which they can do. We are to build on what Christ teaches, not to make others do what they don’t do.  Well, I don’t know what to do but drop out of the class. If you have some words on this, please write back.  Your brother,  RQ

 

Any class that contradicts the teaching of scripture or any leader who does not have the credential given by the church be cautious of. Jesus told the crowds and his disciples in Matthew 23:2-3, “The scribes and the Pharisees have succeeded Moses as teachers; therefore, do everything and observe everything they tell you. But do not follow their example.” Pray for discernment on what to do. The Holy Spirit will guide you to the truth. You are blessed to have a wife who has given her life up for you. “When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.” Proverbs 31:10-11

 

* * * * * * *

Dear St. Dismas Guild, Greetings and God Bless you, your volunteers, and all those whom you serve. May the Peace of Christ be with you all! I have just received your May newsletter and it has inspired me to write to you today. I am in a prison with no Catholic services, but through the grace of God I have found the strength to bring the Catholic faith into this prison. We have been blessed by two visits from a priest, and have started a prayer group praying the rosary every morning. The first time Father was here he asked us a question – – “When did you come to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?” I think, like most people in prison, my relationship with Him started when I found myself in jail with a 10-year sentence, and there is no parole here, so we have to serve at least 85% of our time, and it can be daunting, to say the least.

After meditating on that question, I’ve come to realize that as bad as prison is, I put myself here. This is the revelation that came from that and prison is an opportunity. It is a gift from God to allow those of us who have faith to have the opportunity to have that personal relationship to Christ. It is also a gift from God to save our lives. We were on a self-destructive course and God gave us the opportunity (there is that word again) to be better. So instead of complaining we should give Glory and Praise to God our Father. God Bless! Peace to you!  WW

 

WW, I see you as a person with a grateful heart. You are blessed because you found a personal relationship with Jesus when you came to prison. Not all see it that way. Some blame God for the choices they made that got them in trouble. Time with Jesus develops that relationship where He no longer calls you servant but friend. Obedience is the key to becoming best friends with Jesus. Jesus tells us, “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer speak of you as slaves, for a slave does not know what his master is about. Instead I call you friends, since I have made known to you all that I heard from my Father.” John 15:14-15

 

* * * * * * * *

God’s Blessings be with You!  I thank you for all you do in the name of Jesus Christ. As we know, Our Lord is with us wherever we go and wherever we are. He is with me in my cell and comforts me. His blessings are around me and I see His wonders as I look out of my cell window and give thanks.  Peace be with You.  DL

 

DL, what a beautiful letter of thanksgiving you have written. Thank you. You’re right, we just have to look around to see God. He is all around us. We see Him in what He has created and we see Him in the person next to us who says a kind word. God, the Father is the Creator, God the Son is the Savior, and God the Holy Spirit is the sanctifier. As we turn to Him and confess our sins (if possible to a priest in confession) the blinders come off our eyes and we are able to see what you see, DL, and experience His healing touch and comforting love and mercy. “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) Thank you so much, DL, for the check to support our ministry. Generosity is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)

 

* * * * * * * * *

Dear Sir or Madam, Thank you for all you do for the men and women in prison, the beloved of the most high God. I read your newsletter each time before passing it on to our men and women. Today, though, I had to comment about DC. He has a misconception about salvation. Paragraph 169 of the catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Salvation comes from God alone”. DC may have received his salvation that night, but he “got saved” about 2,000 years ago by the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. We become a child of God in our Baptism or when we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior but out salvation was won for us by Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. We accept it but it was won for us by our Lord. Blessings, TE Chaplain

 

Thank you so much Chaplain for your letter. Salvation does come from God alone as 2 Corinthians 5:15 tells us “He died for all so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who for their sakes died and was raised up.” What a gift it is when we finally believe and accept what Jesus has done for us. Some have dramatic experiences when they accept the message of the cross and some just believe it without the big experience but all that do accept it as you said become children of God and listen and obey the Word of God.

 

 

This Year of Mercy.  Pope Francis, seeing the great need for mercy and healing in the world, called for the Year of Mercy—a special period, also known as a Holy Year or Jubilee Year, for the Catholic Church.  It is a time to focus on forgiveness and healing in a special way.

In the book titled “Beautiful Mercy”, Matthew Kelly writes…“Before I became a father, I thought I knew something about the love of God the Father has for me.  Then my son Walter was born…I found myself constantly yearning to be with him.  He couldn’t walk or talk.  All he did was eat and sleep, and need his diaper changed.  But I loved being with him.  Over the years, that hasn’t changed.  As my wife and I have had more children, I yearn to be with each of them in the same way.  I love my children so much it’s crazy, really. …as I began to think about this great love I have for my children, the love of God took on a whole new meaning.  Because if I can love my children as much as I do, and I am broken and wounded and flawed and limited, imagine how much God loves us.

The same goes for God’s mercy. …Invite the mercy of God to transform your life because in the end it is all about God’s mercy.

Sometimes the best way to think about life is to reflect upon death.  When I think about my life and how I have offended God, all the opportunities I have had to love that I have turned my back on, how little I have done with the gifts He has given me, I hope He is merciful.  When I reflect upon all my faults and failings, my mistakes and sins, my pride and arrogance, I hope He is merciful.  I believe He is.”

“Be you therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

 

 

The Year of Mercy

As I reflect on this “Year of Mercy”, declared by Pope Francis, I too am reminded of my participation in 3 abortions and I thank God for His Mercy.  I am comforted by the pope’s words because it is true that I felt pressured to go through with the procedure because being pregnant was not convenient to my plans.

 

“…I think in particular of all the women who have resorted to abortion. I am well aware of the pressure that has led them to this decision. …The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented, especially when that person approaches the Sacrament of Confession with a sincere heart…” ~ Pope Francis’ Jubilee Letter

 

I believed the lie that it was my choice and that since it was legal it must be okay. I was not Catholic at the time nor was I allowing God in my life, but I was seeking and thanks be to God and Mother Mary, she lead me to her son Jesus as I sought help for my depression and all the dysfunctional traits in my life.

 

And like the woman in the reading below with her long hair, her many tears and her sinful lifestyle, I too turned to Him for forgiveness and a new beginning to my life. I met a Catholic man who brought me to the church and the sacraments and told me I could be forgiven IF I was truly sorry and wanted to grow in my relationship with the Lord. I was baptized and received into the church more than 26 years ago now. All my sins were wiped away and I began a new life in Love with our Lord and His Mother, Mary.

44 “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  … 47 I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Luke 7:44-48

 

Memorize one of the following scriptures and apply it to your life daily.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:16

 

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.” Psalm 51:1-2

 

 

In Jesus’ love,

St. Dismas Staff

DECIMOQUINTO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO

Posted on by

DECIMOQUINTO 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                                               DEUTERONOMIO 30:10-14                         PRIMERA LECTURA

 

(“Si tan solo escuchas la voz del Señor, tu Dios”)

 

  1. ¿Quién está hablando y a quién le habla? Deut. 29:1

 

  1. ¿Si escuchas la voz del Señor y guardas Sus mandamientos y Sus normas que hará El? Deut. 30:9-10

 

  1. ¿Cómo se llama este libro? Deut. 30:10

 

  1. ¿De qué modo debes regresar al Señor? Deut. 30:10

 

  1. ¿A qué no son superiores estos mandamientos según dice Moisés? Deut. 30:11

 

  1. ¿En qué lugares no se encuentran? ¿Qué no podrás decir? Deut. 30:12-13

 

  1. ¿Cuáles son los dos lugares donde encontrarás estos mandamientos? Deut. 30:14

 

  1. ¿Qué debes hacer con la palabra del Señor? Deut. 30:14

 

Personal – ¿De qué modo ha hablado tu boca sobre el amor que tienes en tu corazón hacía el Señor? ¿De qué modo han visto u oido los de tu familia, tus amigos o compañeros de trabajo ese amor que hay en tí? ¿El modo en que te ves a tí mismo se confirma con el modo en que otros te ven y te oyen?

 

TERCER DIA                                                       COLOSENSES 1:15-20                              SEGUNDA LECTURA

 

(“Recibimos la paz a traves de la sangre la cruz.”)

 

  1. ¿Quién es el primogénito de toda la creación? Colosenses 1:15

 

  1. ¿Como la imágen de quién es? Colosenses 1:15

 

  1. ¿En quién fueron creados el cielo y la tierra? Colosenses 1:16

 

  1. ¿Cuáles son algunas de las cosas que fueron creadas para Jesús? Colosenses 1:16

 

  1. ¿Aparte de El qué fue creado? Juan 1:3
  2. ¿El existe antes de qué? ¿Cómo se mantiene todo? Colosenses 1:17

 

  1. ¿De quién es el la Cabeza y por qué razón? Colosenses 1:18

 

  1. ¿Qué deseaba Dios? Colosenses 1:19

 

  1. ¿Cómo nos reconciliamos con Dios y cómo se estableció la paz? Colosenses 1:20

 

  1. ¿Por qué razón ha hecho esto? Efesios 1:14

 

Personal – ¿Personalmente como has conseguido estar en paz con Dios a traves de Jesús? Escribe cuándo y dónde pasó esto. ¿De qué modo lo has compartido con alguien más?

 

CUARTO DIA                                                             LUCAS 10:25-37                                                      EVANGELIO

 

(“Vete y haz tú lo mismo.”)

 

  1. ¿Quién se levantó a plantear un problema? ¿Cómo se dirijió al Señor y qué le dijo? Lucas 10:25

 

  1. ¿Cuando Jesús le contestó le hizo dos preguntas, cuáles fueron? Lucas 10:26

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue la contestación del maestro de la ley en el versiculo 27 de Lucas 10?

 

  1. ¿Cuál es el nuevo mandamiento que nos dió Jesús durante la última cena? Juan 13:34 y 15:12

 

  1. ¿Cómo dijo Jesús que era la respuesta del maestro de la ley? ¿De dónde sacó esa respuesta?

Lucas 10:28, Deuteronomio 6:5 y Levítico 19:18

 

  1. ¿Qué dijo Jesús que le pasaría si seguía ese mandamiento? Lucas 10:28, ver Levítico 18:5 para ver             que le sucede a un hombre que obedece Sus mandamientos.

 

  1. ¿Qué le dijo éste a Jesús y cuál fue la respuesta acerca del hombre que iba de Jerusalén a Jericó?                 Lucas 10:29-30

 

  1. ¿Quién iba por el mismo camino y qué hizo y después, quién se le acercó y qué hizo? Lucas 10:31-32

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo el Samaritano cuando vió al hombre? Lucas 10:34

 

  1. ¿Qué hizo el Samaritano al día siguiente? Lucas 10:35

 

  1. ¿Qué preguntó Jesús al maestro de la Ley, cuál fue la respuesta de este y que le dijo Jesús que hiciera?          Lucas 10:36-37

 

Personal – ¿De qué manera te ha dado el Señor la oportunidad de ser compasivo con algún miembro de tu familia, amigo, compañero de trabajo o algún extraño, durante la semana pasada? ¿Cómo respondiste?

 

QUINTO DIA                                  LEE EL SALMO 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37

 

(“Y por tu gran misericordia, vuélvete hacía mí.”)

 

Leé y medita el Salmo 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37.

¿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

 

DEUTERONOMIO 30:10-14

 

Este pasaje establece que el consuelo, el perdón y restauración no solo eran posibles de alcanzar por los Israelitas, sino que Dios mismo deseaba dárselos. La nación de Israel debe cambiar totalmente y volverse al Señor. Unicamente así Dios restaurará Su misericordia y restaurará a Israel dándole su lugar correcto en la tierra. Unicamente a traves del pacto propuesto por Dios a Su pueblo puede éste recobrar la felicidad.

Escuchamos en la lectura de hoy que el guardar los mandamientos (Deut. 30:11-14) no está muy lejos de encontrarse como sugerían las mentes no muy profundas en esos tiempos. El autor ha enfatizado un mensaje espiritual con mucho poder. La Ley de Dios no está en alguna corte lejana o en alguna universidad prestigiada. La Ley de Dios está muy cerca al corazón del hombre. Si ésta actitud hubiera prevalecido en relación con la Ley Mosaíca, Jesús no hubiera tenido tal conflicto con los formalismos del maestro de la Ley. La ley positiva Judeo Cristiana puede equipararse simplemente con el modo que Dios tiene para guiar las aspiraciones del corazón humano hacía Sí mismo.

San Pablo nos muestra que cerca está realmente la ley de Dios, en Romanos 10:6-10. Pablo nos dice que no necesitamos buscar en los cielos a Cristo y traerlo para ayudarnos y ¡no necesitamos ir entre los muertos y traer a Cristo a la vida nuevamente! La Salvación es Confiar en Cristo; está tan cerca como lo están nuestros corazones y nuestras bocas. Pues es creyendo en su corazón que el hombre se justifica con Dios y con su boca les dice a otros sobre su fe, confirmando su salvación.

La gente siempre ha buscado a Dios a traves de experiencias dramáticas, esperando que haya un encuentro que cambie sus vidas. Habrá quien viaje muy lejos para encontrar a un famoso guía espiritual, pero la salvación de Dios esta mero enfrente de nosotros. El vendrá a nosotros donde quiera que nos encontremos. Todo lo que necesitamos hacer es entregarnos y rendirnos a su don de salvación. Necesitamos dejar de buscar y empezar a entregarnos a Su amor y Su misericordia.

Oímos diariamente en nuestra misa Católica la proclamación de la Palabra de Dios trayéndonos la salvación, la curación y la restauración. Dejemos que nuestros oidos oigan, que nuestros corazones crean y que nuestras lenguas hablen y su regalo de salvación se esparcirá a traves de la tierra.

 

COLOSENSES 1:15-20

 

Este pasaje tiene algunas de las más poderosas declaraciones teológicas acerca de Cristo en el Nuevo Testamento. Cristo es alabado como el Icono o imágen del Dios invisible. El pone de manifiesto la presencia de Dios en Su persona. Es llamado el primogénito de toda la creación pues todo lo demás fué creado a traves de su mediación. El existía antes de toda la creación y predomina entre toda élla. Pablo nos muestra cual es el alcance de la creación. Empieza con el cielo y la tierra, lo visible, lo invisible, el poder y la fuerza, los tronos, los dominios, los principados. Todo esto fue creado no solo por El, y a traves de El sino también, en El. Todo está sujeto a Cristo y a traves de Su poder creativo la misma creación continúa.

Pablo habla de Cristo como el principio, el punto de partida de la redención. El es el primero que conoce lo que es la resurrección de la vida y por lo tanto, es el primogénito entre los muertos. Mediante el uso frecuente de la palabra “todo,” la dimensión cósmica del poder y la gloria de Cristo se remarca. La restauración que El trae es la paz que fue obtenida mediante el derramamiento de Su sangre en la cruz.

Se establece que Pablo nunca había visitado Colosas. Evidentemente la iglesia había sido fundada por otros, convertidos por Pablo en sus viajes misioneros. La iglesia, sin embargo, se había visto infiltrada por un relativismo religioso de algunos creyentes que atentaron mezclar partes del paganismo y la filosofía secular con la doctrina Cristiana. Pablo entonces ataca a los herejes, confronta sus enseñanzas falsas y afirma la suficiencia de Cristo.

Podemos ver en el pasaje de hoy lo que sucede cuando el jefe del equipo está ausente y empiezan las confusiones. Pablo defiende sus enseñazas acerca de Cristo durante una fuerte discusión doctrinal acerca de la persona y el trabajo de Cristo. Pablo se encontraba batallando contra un grupo de líderes llamados “Agnósticos.” Los Agnósticos creían que se necesitaban conocimientos especiales para ser aceptados por Dios y se llamaban a sí mismos Cristianos. Ellos creían que no se conseguía la salvación únicamente con Cristo. El principal argumento de Pablo era: no es lo que uno sabe lo que le hace ser cristiano, sino a quien uno conoce. Conocer a Cristo es conocer a Dios. Hoy en día existe el mismo peligro y como Pablo, debemos aceptar a Jesús como nuestro Señor y Salvador personal. Jesús nos pide nuestro corazón, mente y alma y solo necesitamos rendirnos a El y decirle, sí.

LUCAS 10:25-37

 

El maestro de la ley preguntó a Jesús algo que superficialmente parecía simple “¿Qué debo hacer para recibir la vida eterna?” Jesús en su papel de Maestro Hebreo o Rabino, le contestó con dos preguntas “¿Qué estaba escrito en la Ley y cómo interpretaba él la ley?” En esos tiempos para un Judío ortodoxo, la definición de prójimo significaba únicamente otro Judío.

Jesús les relata la historia que los lleva a definir quién es nuestro prójimo. Y empieza contándoles sobre un hombre que había sido despojado de sus pertenencias y golpeado y dejado en el camino medio muerto. La primera persona que pasó por ahí fue un sacerdote quien probablemente iba camino al templo a practicar sus deberes sagrados. Este ni siquiera se acercó a tocar al pobre hombre pues la escritura dice en Números 19:11 que un sacerdote tendrá prohibido entrar al templo sagrado por siete días cuando toque a un muerto. Sus quehaceres del templo y de la comunidad estaban por encima de ayudar a este hombre en particular. La segunda persona que pasó por ahí fue un levita quien era un asistente de los sacerdotes. Los sacerdotes eran los que hacían el sacrificio de la expiación y estaban a cargo de los altares y los servicios sagrados. El levita también estaba envuelto en sus quehaceres del ministerio y sus responsabilidades, las cuales eran asistir al sacerdote en el templo y otros quehaceres religiosos.

Finalmente pasó por ahí un Samaritano quien no solo se detuvo a ver que sucedía, sino que trató de ayudar. A lo mejor el hombre no era un Samaritano en realidad, ese nombre se usaba para designar a la gente que no vivía exactamente conforme a las normas establecidas. Hoy llamaríamos a esa persona “un disidente” alguien que acepta tomar riesgos. A Jesús se le llama Samaritano en Juan 8:48, obviamente ellos pensaron que no era un ortodoxo como ellos. La pregunta que Jesús le pone al maestro de la ley es “¿Quién crees tú, fue un prójimo para ese hombre?” ésta es la misma pregunta que El nos hace a tí y a mí. El amor de Dios es tan grande que cualquiera que tenga una necesidad puede tener Su ayuda.

Dios desea que ningún hombre perezca, no importa cual sea su situación en la vida. Estamos llamados a amar a Dios con todo nuestro corazón, alma y fuerzas, amando a nuestro prójimo de la misma manera. Jesús eleva aún más esta norma en Juan 15:12 cuando nos pide que nos amemos unos a otros como El nos ha amado. El Samaritano tenía el amor de Dios en su corazón y lo demostró con sus acciones. Seremos juzgados un día no por nuestra doctrina o credo sino por el amor que hayamos dado a nuestro prójimo, con todo el corazón, fuerza y alma. Este es el modo con que debemos amar a nuestro prójimo y que demuestra al mundo como amamos a Dios en realidad.

 

Aplicación

 

La primera lectura nos dice que primero debe haber arrepentimiento antes de esperar la misericordia. La segunda lectura nos muestra que Cristo es alabado como la imagen del Dios invisible. El Evangelio revela que nosotros seremos juzgados sobre cómo amamos a nuestro prójimo.

Podemos vivir como el Samaritano cuando le damos la preferencia en nuestro corazón al amor de Dios y permitirnos a nosotros mismos amar a todos y cada uno igual que Jesús nos ama a nosotros. Este es un amor que tiene la voluntad de pagar cualquier precio que sea requerido. Permite que sea tu familia la primera que sienta esa clase de amor que viene de ti. Puedes empezar muriendo a tus propias necesidades fijándote más en las necesidades de otros y respondiendo a estas.

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C

Posted on by

          open_bible_over_black_and_blue_clouds_with_reflection             THE BREAD OF LIFE

                     CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

           FIFTEENTH 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 DEUTERONOMY 30:10-14     FIRST READING

 

     (“If only you heed the voice of the Lord, your God,”)

 

 

  1. Who is speaking and to whom is he speaking? Deuteronomy 29:1

 

           

  1. If you heed the voice of the Lord and keep his statutes and      commandments what will God do?  Deuteronomy 30:9-10

 

 

  1. What is this book called? Deuteronomy 30:10

 

 

  1. In what way must you return to the Lord?

     Deuteronomy 30:10, 6:5

 

 

  1. What does Moses say this command is not? Deuteronomy 30:11

 

 

  1. What two places will you not find it, and what shall you say about it not being there?  Deuteronomy 30:12-13

 

  1. What two places will you find this command? Deuteronomy 30:14

 

 

  1. What are you to do with the Lord’s command? Deuteronomy 30:14

 

 

Personal – In what way has your mouth spoken about the love that you have in your heart for the Lord?  In what way have others in your family, friends, or work acquaintances seen and heard this love in you?  Is the way you see yourself confirmed by the way others see and hear you?

 

 

THIRD DAY           READ COLOSSIANS 1:15-20     SECOND READING

 

       (“Making peace through the blood of the cross.”)

 

 

  1. Who is the first born of all creatures? Colossians 1:15

 

 

  1. In the image of whom did he come? Colossians 1:15

 

 

  1. In whom were heaven and earth created? Colossians 1:16

 

 

  1. What are some of the things that were created for Jesus?      Colossians 1:16

 

          

  1. Apart from him, what came into being? John 1:3

 

 

  1. He is before what, and how does everything continue its being?      Colossians 1:17

 

 

  1. Of what is he the head, and for what reason? Colossians 1:18

 

 

  1. What pleased God? Colossians 1:19

 

 

  1. How are we reconciled to God, and how has peace been made?         Colossians 1:20

 

 

  1. For what reason has he done this? Ephesians 1:14

 

 

Personal – In what way have you personally been at peace with God through Jesus?  Write down when and how this happened.  In what way have you shared this with someone else?

 

 

 

 

FOURTH DAY            READ LUKE 10:25-37               GOSPEL

 

                 (“Then go and do the same.”)

 

 

  1. Who stood up to pose a problem, how did he address him, and  what did he say to him?  Luke 10:25

       

 

  1. When Jesus answered him, he answered with two questions. What       were they?  Luke 10:26

 

 

  1. What was the lawyer’s reply in verse 27 of Luke 10?

 

 

  1. What is the new command that Jesus gave us at his last supper?  John 13:34 and 15:12

 

 

  1. How did Jesus say the lawyer had answered him and from where did he get his answer? Luke 10:28, Deuteronomy 6:5 and

     Leviticus 19:18

 

 

  1. What did Jesus say would happen to him if he followed that        command?  See Luke 10:28, and also Leviticus 18:5 to see what       happens to a man who obeys his command.

 

 

  1. What did he say to Jesus and what was Jesus reply about the  man going from Jerusalem to Jericho?  Luke 10:29-30

 

  1. Who was going down the same road and what did he do, and then who came upon him and what did he do? Luke 10:31-32

    

 

  1. What did the Samaritan do when he saw the man? Luke 10:34

 

 

  1. What did the Samaritan do the next day? Luke 10:35

 

 

  1. What did Jesus ask the lawyer, what was the lawyers answer, and what did Jesus tell him to do? Luke 10:36-37

 

 

Personal – In what way has the Lord given you an opportunity to be compassionate to a family member, a friend, a work acquaintance, a stranger this past week?  How did you respond?

 

 

FIFTH DAY  READ PSALM 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37

 

           (“In your great mercy, turn toward me.”)

 

 

Read and meditate on Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37.

 

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

 

                      DEUTERONOMY 30:10-14

 

     This passage states that comfort, forgiveness, and restoration is not only possible for the Israelites but is desired by God. The nation of Israel must turn itself around and come back to the Lord.  Only then will God restore his mercy and restore Israel to her rightful place in the land.  Only through the covenant proposed by God to his people can the people regain happiness.

 

     We hear in today’s reading that the keeping of the command (Deut. 30:11-14) is not as far-fetched as many of the shallow minds of the ages suggested.  The author has stressed a powerfully spiritual message. The Law of God is not in some far-off courtroom or in some prestigious university. The Law of God is something very close to the heart of man. If this attitude prevailed toward the Mosaic Law, Jesus would not have had such conflict with the formalism of the lawyer. The Judeo-Christian positive law can be equated simply with God’s way of guiding the aspirations of the human heart toward him.

 

     St. Paul shows us how close God’s law really is in Romans 10:6-10. Paul tells us that we don’t need to search the heavens for Christ to bring him down to help us, and we don’t need to go among the dead to bring Christ back to life again! Salvation is trusting in Christ; it is as near as our own hearts and mouths.  For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation.

 

     People have always looked for God through dramatic experiences, hoping for some life-changing encounter.  Some people will travel far and wide to meet some famous spiritual leader, but God’s salvation is right in front of us.  He will come into us wherever we are.  All we need to do is yield and surrender to his gift of salvation.  We need to stop searching and start yielding to his love and mercy.

 

     We hear everyday at our Catholic Mass the proclamation of God’s Word bringing us salvation, healing and restoration.  Let us yield our ears to hear, our hearts to believe, and our tongues to speak and his gift of salvation will spread throughout the land.

 

                       COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

 

     This passage has some of the most powerful theological statements about Christ in the New Testament.  Christ is praised as  the Icon or image of the invisible God.  He manifests God’s presence in his person.  He is called the first born of all creation because everything else was created through his mediation.  He existed before all creation and is preeminent among all creation. Paul shows us the scope of creation.  He begins with heaven and earth, visible and invisible, power and might, thrones and dominions, principalities or power.  This was all created not only for him and through him but, also, in him.  Everything is subject to Christ, and through his creative power, creation itself continues on. 

    

     Paul speaks of Christ as the beginning, the starting point of redemption.  He is the first to experience the resurrection of life and, therefore, is the first-born from among the dead.  By the frequently used word “all,” the cosmic dimension of Christ’s power and glory are emphasized.  The restoration which he brings about is the peace that was accomplished by the shedding of his blood on the cross.

 

     It is stated that Paul had never visited Colossae, evidently the church had been founded by other converts from Paul’s missionary travels.  The church, however, had been infiltrated by religious relativism by some believers who attempted to combine elements of paganism and secular philosophy with Christian doctrine.  Paul attacks the heresy, confronts these false teachings and affirms the sufficiency of Christ.

 

     We can see in today’s passage what happens when the head coach is absent and the team begins to flounder.  Paul defends his teachings about Christ in a strong doctrinal discussion of the person and work of Christ.  Paul was battling against a group of leaders called “Gnostics.”  The Gnostics believed it took special knowledge to be accepted by God, even as they claimed to be Christian.  They believed that Christ alone was not the way of salvation.  Paul’s main argument was: it is not what one knows that makes him a Christian, but who he knows.  To know Christ is to know God.  The same danger exists today, and like Paul, we must accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.  Jesus calls for our heart, mind and soul and we need only surrender to him and say yes.

 

                          LUKE 10:25-37

 

     The lawyer asked Jesus a question that on the surface seemed simple: “What must I do to receive eternal life?”  Jesus, in his role as a Hebrew Teacher or Rabbi, answered him with two questions: “What was written in the Law, and how did he interpret the law?”  At that time, to an orthodox Jew, the definition of neighbor would have meant no one else but a Jew.  Jesus relates to them a story that draws from them a definition of who is neighbor.

 

      Jesus begins by telling the story of a man who was robbed and beaten and left in the roadway to die. The first person to come by the  injured man was a priest, who was probably on his way to the temple to practice his sacred duties.  The priest did not even touch the fallen man because, as scripture has it in Numbers 19:11, a priest would be banned from entering into the sacred temple for seven days after touching a dead person.  His duty to the temple and community came before helping this particular man.  The next person to come by was a Levite who was an assistant to the priests.  The priests made the atonement sacrifice and were in charge of the altars and sacred services.  The Levite, too, was caught up in his duties to his ministry, and his responsibility which was being an assistant to the priest in the temple and other religious duties.

 

     Finally, along came a Samaritan who not only stopped to see what was wrong, but became involved in trying to help.  The man may have not been a Samaritan really, the name itself was used for people who didn’t exactly conform to existing standards.  Today we might call that kind of a person a “maverick”, someone who is willing to take a risk.  Jesus was called a Samaritan in John 8:48, obviously they thought he was not orthodox like them.  The question Jesus puts to the lawyer, “Who do you think was neighbor to the man?” is the same question that is being asked of you and me.  God’s love is so great that anyone who is in need is eligible for his help.

 

     God wishes that no man perishes no matter his station in life.   We are called to love God with all our heart, soul and strength by loving our neighbor the same way.  Jesus even elevates this standard higher in John 15:12 when he calls us to love one another as he has loved us.  The Samaritan had the love of God in his heart and he spoke his love into action with his deeds.  We will be judged one day, not by our doctrine or creeds, but rather by how we loved our neighbor with all our heart, strength and soul.  It is how we love our neighbor that signifies to the world how we really love God.

 

Application

 

     The first reading tells us that repentance must come before mercy can be expected.  The second reading shows that Christ is praised as the image of the invisible God.  The Gospel reveals that we will be judged by how we love our neighbor.

 

     We can love, like the Samaritan, when we yield to God’s love and allow ourselves to love everyone and anyone just as Jesus loves us. This is a love that is willing to pay any price that is required. Let your family be the first to experience this kind of love from you. You can begin by dying to your own needs, become more aware of the needs of others, and respond to those needs.