NINETEENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C

 

                              NINETEENTH 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.

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

  

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

   

SECOND DAY            READ WISDOM 18:6-9        FIRST READING

         (“Your people awaited the salvation of the just.”)

 

  1. What night was known beforehand to our fathers? Wisdom 18:5-6

 

 

  1. Fill in the following blanks:  “With sure knowledge of the          oaths in which they put their __________ they might have          ____________.  Wisdom 18:6

 

 

  1. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1

 

 

  1. How does faith come to us? Romans 10:17

 

 

  1. They put faith in the knowledge of what in order to have courage?  Wisdom 18:6

 

   

  1. What did the people await? Wisdom 18:7

 

  1. Who was punished and in this, what happened to those who had been summoned?  Wisdom 18:8

 

 

 

  1. What were the holy children offering and what were they

     putting into effect with one accord?  Wisdom 18:9

 

 

  1. What two things would the holy ones share alike and what had they previously been doing?  Wisdom 18:9

 

 

Personal – In what way have you been “singing the praises” of what your forefathers, those who believed, have passed on to you?  In what way have you passed this faith on to your family?

 

 

THIRD DAY          READ HEBREWS 11:1-2, 8-19    SECOND READING

 

(“Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, …”)

 

  1. Fill in the following blanks:  “Faith is the confident          assurance concerning what we __________ for, and conviction   about things we do _______ ________.”  Hebrews 11:1

 

 

  1. Why were the men of old approved by God? Hebrews 11:2

 

 

  1. What did Abraham do when he was called, where did he go, and did he know where he was going?  Hebrews 11:8

 

        

  1. What did Abraham do in the promised land as in a foreign country and with whom did he dwell in tents who were heirs to     the same promise?  Hebrews 11:9

 

 

  1. To what was he looking forward, and who is the designer and maker of this?  Hebrews 11:10

 

 

  1. What did Abraham do by faith, and of what did he think the one who made the promise was worthy?  Hebrews 11:11

 

  1. In whom are we to trust? Hebrews 2:13, Isaiah 8:17

 

 

  1. As a result of this faith, what came forth from the one man?       Hebrews 11:12

 

 

  1. What happened to those who died in faith and for what were they searching?  Hebrews 11:13-16

 

 

  1. What is God not ashamed to be called, what has he prepared   for them, what did Abraham do by faith and what would happen through Isaac?  Hebrews 11:16-18

 

 

  1. What did Abraham reason that God was able to do; in so doing,     as what did he receive Isaac back?  Hebrews 11:19

 

 

Personal – List the things you have given up by faith and trust in the Lord.  This list can include monetary things or people.

 

 

FOURTH DAY            READ LUKE 12:32-48               GOSPEL

             (“Do not live in fear, little flock”)

  

  1. In what must you not live, and what has pleased our heavenly Father?  Luke 12:32

 

       

  1. What must you do, what must you give and what must you get? Luke 12:33

 

 

  1. Fill in the following blank: “Wherever your treasure lies, there your _____________ will be.”  Luke 12:34

 

 

  1. What must you do, with whom will it go well when the master returns, and what will the master do with them? 

     Luke 12:35-37

 

 

  1. If the head of the house knew when the thief was coming, what      would he not do?  Luke 12:39

 

 

  1. What are we to be and when will the Son of Man come?      Luke 12:40

 

 

  1. What was the question Peter asked Jesus when the Lord replied with a question and then gave an example? Luke 12:41-42

 

 

  1. What is the servant doing who is fortunate, and who will the master rank undeserving of trust? Luke 12:43-46

 

 

 

  1. What will happen to the one who knew his master’s wishes and what will happen to the one who did not know them? 

     Luke 12:47-48

 

 

  1. When much has been given a man what will be required of him and what will be asked of a man to whom more has been    entrusted?  Luke 12:48

 

 

Personal – How have you been preparing for the day when you will be face to face with the Lord.  Pray and ask the Lord to show you where to spend your money, where to spend most of your time and what you should be doing with your talents (natural gifts God has given you).  Repent and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week in order to receive the added grace to change.

 

 

FIFTH DAY         READ PSALM 33:1, 12, 18-22

 

            (“Happy the nation whose God is the Lord.”)

              

Read and meditate on Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-22.

 

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

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

SIXTH DAY         READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

                        WISDOM 18:6-9

      The Exodus was Moses leading his people out of bondage in Egypt and into freedom in the new land.  The angel of death went from house to house and killed the first-born baby.  The only ones spared were in the homes that had the blood of the slain lamb spread around its doorsill.  The Israelite’s, rather than succumb to the darkness of false religions and immoral culture, remain loyal to genuine wisdom of their faith.

      This passage was written for the Jews who found it essential  to keep that night (Exodus) vividly implanted in their minds for maintaining spiritual balance.  On that night, all of Egypt’s first-born died. 

      We see incredible contrasts in this passage, the Hebrews sharing the same things, blessings and dangers, and all the time singing praises to their heavenly Father.  We can also hear the despairing cry of their enemies lamenting for their dead children.  All suffered, slave, master, common man, even Pharaoh’s first-born died that night.  Finally he saw that the faith of the Hebrews was far too strong for him to defeat.  He told them to take their God with them and flee from Egypt. 

      The Jews were delivered from Pharaoh by the power of God’s Holy Word.  In faith they read, believed, and lived his word.  The Lord delivered them and he will deliver us if we keep his Holy Word in our minds, on our lips and in our hearts.  He has given us the gift of faith and in that faith we will find the courage to profess that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. 

     Jesus is the new and permanent passover. Through Moses the people passed over from bondage to freedom and then finally they died.  Through Jesus we have passed over from death to life and with him we will have eternal life.

                       HEBREWS 11:1-2, 8-19

     This passage challenges us to question the very meaning of faith.  What is faith? 

      Faith is the response to the living presence of the power of God in our lives.  It is a response, an acceptance, a belief of a very special gift from God.  A birthday always brings the excitement and anticipation of receiving gifts.  You knew you would receive some things but there would always be something that was a surprise.  Birthdays combine assurance and anticipation and so does faith.  Faith is the conviction based on past experience that God’s new and fresh surprises will surely be ours. 

      We describe faith with words like confidence and certainty.  These two qualities need a secure beginning and ending point.  The beginning point of faith is believing – “He is what he says.”  The end point is believing in God’s promises – “He will do what he says.”

     Abraham believed in who God was and he believed in what God promised.  His faith was anchored by obedience.  It is not enough to believe, we must also, through obedience, RESPOND.  Abraham left his home and went to another land, obeying without question.  Abraham was even willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac.  We should not be surprised if God asks us to give up the security of the familiar to obey him and what he promised.  Many people of faith listed in scripture died without receiving all that God promised, but they never lost their vision of heaven.

     Today many Christians become frustrated and defeated because their needs, wants, expectations, and demands are not immediately met when they believe in Christ.  Many become impatient and want to quit. We need to take courage from those heros of faith who lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth, and yet they continued to believe.  We can in faith trust God with our most prized possessions (our families, etc.).  We may not receive what we want immediately, but by responding in faith he will do what he says, when the time is appropriate.

                          LUKE 12:32-48

      This passage tells us that to worry is not of the Lord. Jesus tells us that it gives his Father great pleasure to give us the kingdom. To understand this verse we must know that when a person was adopted into a Hebrew family, he became legally eligible for all the benefits that were due to him; therefore, he was now a full fledged heir to the estate.  Through the blood of Jesus Christ we all become eligible heirs to the King.  We need only to accept Jesus as Lord to become an heir to the kingdom. 

     That is why we do not have to worry, we are heirs of the King.  We do not need to worry about how much money we have to make, God will provide for us.  This does not mean that we do not need to be responsible or to plan to provide for our families.  Money used as an end in itself quickly traps us and cuts us off from both God and the needy.  We need to see how much of our money can be used for God’s purposes.  Does God’s love touch your wallet?  Does your money free you to help others?  If so, you are storing up lasting treasures in heaven.  We cannot separate what we do from what we believe.  What we treasure reveals our true priorities.  If your priorities were judged by where you put your time, your money, and your energy, what would be the verdict?

     Not only does Jesus tell us to not worry but also to be prepared for his return.  Our faith is a response to the living presence of God in our lives.  It is through the gift of faith that we can draw on the resources of Jesus Christ.  It is Jesus who will supply all of our needs from his riches in glory (Phil. 4:19).  We must stop worrying about what the world thinks of us and in faith live in preparation for his return.

      Jesus tells us that a kingdom is being prepared for his followers.  Furthermore, we are told in this passage that much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.  You and I have much; we have been blessed in many ways.  We have a loving, compassionate, forgiving God, who calls on us to be the same as he.  Our faith, which is a gift from him, gives us the courage to say “Yes Lord.”

      To prepare for the Lord’s return, we must not be hypercritical, but sincere, fearless,  and ready to witness.  We need not be anxious, but trusting.  We should not be greedy but generous, not lazy but diligent.  In faith, we can be ready for his return.

Application

      “That night,” in the first reading, was a flight of faith out of Egypt.  In the second reading, we saw a journey through darkness by our spiritual heroes that was illuminated by their faith.  The gospel tells us to be prepared and through the gift of faith, be ready for the Lord’s return. 

      Today, through our own gift of faith, by daily prayer, reading scripture and receiving the sacraments, we can keep ourselves ready for when the Lord appears personally to each one of us.                        

 

 

 

 

Dear St. Dismas Guild, Thank you for all you do for us inmates. May Jesus Christ continue to bless you and everyone who helps in encouraging us through these tough times of incarceration. Yes, they are tough but through the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, He makes it easier for me. A few years ago I was in a fatal accident that killed two people and seriously injured two others (me included). I woke up three days later handcuffed to a hospital bed. The chaplain came and told me the circumstances that brought me to the hospital. I cried because I took the lives of two guys and because I knew deep down I would never see the light of day. After spending a week in the hospital I was taken to jail. The world I knew was taken from me. One evening my head was pounding, my tooth was hurting, and my ear started to hurt. With each second the pain intensified. I called upon JESUS CHRIST:  “Lord, I know you are my Lord and Savior, I am a Christian, I was brought up Catholic…please help me as I dedicate my life to you. If you want me to stay Catholic, please teach me my faith and why we practice certain beliefs.” And as I apologized and cried to HIM with all my heart…I said “AMEN.” And BOOM, all the pain went away!  PRAISE GOD!

I knew nothing about reading the Bible and I only had a New Testament Bible. That weekend a deacon came to give a Liturgy of The Word and I told him I knew nothing! Who or what is Lamb of God, who is/was David, Soloman, Jonah, and other characters of the Bible? He told me he would send me a Bible and that week I received a Jerusalem Bible and I was scared because it is huge. So I prayed to JESUS to lead me, where do I begin? When I did open the Bible to read I randomly opened it and it was LUKE 6:46-49. Still, it didn’t make sense to me. I requested to see a Catholic volunteer chaplain so we might speak and we became close as a fellow Christian sisters. She would help me and explain to me and I was fortunate because she was retired and she spent many days at the jail helping the women as well.

The enemy wants us to think that we are by ourselves. I have been transferred to a new facility and this place has a strong Catholic community. During the previous years we never had a Mass because of no priests. At this location we have a great priest who leads us and considers us a parish. When he isn’t able to come, he has other priests come. Recently we had a confirmation Mass with our Bishop. We also had a Kolbe Prison Retreat recently. And, we have an outstanding CCD class and volunteers. There was a time when I would go to a church service and I was the only one attending, or other times the gangs took over the service and tried to use it as a meeting place. I thank Jesus for the grace to be patient and to have perseverance because He brought me to this unit. I pray that I may bloom where HE has planted me. Thank you and God bless you.  JMM

 

It must have been devastating for you to wake up and find out you killed two people. Being seriously injured yourself and going through the pain of body, mind, and soul at that time and how God led you to His word changed your whole perspective of life. Having the world you knew taken from you was at the time devastating to you but it was your saving grace. I know someone who had to leave the state he lived in and get away from his so called friends in order to save his life just as you, too, had to be taken out of the environment you were at in order for you to be saved. Now you are learning through God’s Word how to live by it. Jesus tells us that any man who desires to come to Him will hear His words and put them into practice (Luke 6 47). Continue to persevere and be patient. In time you will learn that to love God with all your heart is to be obedient to His Word and to love your neighbor is to die to your needs and wants for the good of another. That’s what Jesus did on the cross; He gave His life so you and I could live forever with Him in paradise. Praise God! Satan will continue to try to get you to look back at your old life but persevering with your community of believers and keeping your eyes on Jesus will help you through.

 

 

 

Dear St. Dismas Guild, Hi, How are you dong? As always I hope and pray this letter finds everyone at St. Dismas Guild in very good health in Jesus’ name. As for me, I’m doing just fine, thanks to God. I’m just writing to thank you for sending me the newsletter. As always, the testimonies were wonderful to read. In the article Family Ministry it talks about praying as a family. When I was out in the world my family always prayed together. When I came to prison, I didn’t think I would find anything like that. God proved me wrong. God led me to a prayer group. Since joining them we pray for each other and each other’s families. They have become my family now. In the article, Pro-Life, the topic is Abortion and The Year of Mercy. I believe abortion is a sin. I would also like to thank you for sending me The Bread of Life Catholic Bible Study. I have completed the study. Could you please send me another? The other book that was sent has been helpful too. I would like to receive more of the Word of God books. Thank you much for all you have done. May God bless everyone at St. Dismas Guild. Keep up the good work you are doing in Jesus’ name. I hope to receive the next bible study soon. Sincerely.  AG

 

You were truly blessed to have a family that prayed together. I am sure it brings back memories of those times together now that you are in prison. Your hunger for your family and finding a new family that you pray with will be fulfilled no matter what is going on around you. God loves you so much and will continue to not let you be tested beyond your strength but give you a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). Yes, abortion is murder. We need to pray for God’s intervention to stop this insanity and educate people to live God’s way and not the world’s way. Continue to study the word and thank you for sharing.

* * * * * *

Dear St. Dismas Guild,            I want to thank you for your last two newsletters. They encourage me to continue to stay vigilant and faithful despite whatever obstacles are presented on a daily basis. A lot of good comes from hearing those testimonies. They inspire me to continue pursuing my faith despite what others may say about me and the church. I am becoming more dedicated each day. This year I have been learning the true meaning of mercy. “Matthew 5:7, Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” That verse helps me reflect on the mercy I have shown others and the mercy I have received in return these 31 years of my life. Thanks to the closeness to the Virgin Mary and her intercessions I have learned as the book of John says in John 2:5. “His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Through this verse I am learning to follow Jesus’ beautiful life, death and resurrection. Once again thank you for your support because you guys truly make me feel loved. God Bless you, with brotherly love. JS

 

“You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground.” Eph. 6:17 It is good you are resisting Satan who works through the disobedient. Any time someone is putting you or the church down you know it is coming from Satan, the author of lies. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy. I came that they might have life and have it to the full.” Our mother Mary always leads us to her Son and is always telling us to do whatever He says.

 

 

Living the Gospel.  This month Pope Francis asks us to live the gospel and give witness by loving our neighbors.

Last month I attended the ordination to the priesthood of a very dear friend.  My husband and I were so very excited for him.  Not all of us are called to a religious vocation, but we are all called as the Pope asks, to love our neighbors.  How often we forget to love our own family members.  There was a time when I was struggling, struggling to accept the life God had planned for me. I stopped talking to my folks as I felt they couldn’t possibly understand.  I put limits on God.  It was only through prayer that I came to realize that God had a plan for me, a plan that was ‘perfect’, but I needed to be open to His plan.  “I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.  Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

It was also through prayer that I realized my parents didn’t need to understand what I was going through.  They were my parents and chose life for me.  I needed to let go of my feelings and just love them as Jesus loves me.

Jesus’s love was shown to me at my friend’s ordination through the eyes of my three year old.  The ordination was held at an amazing church with a beautiful, enormous crucifix hanging high just behind the altar.  Looking up at the crucifix, Jesus appeared tired with his head tilted down.  I saw His pain and suffering.  My three year old daughter turned to me during the ordination and she said, “Mom, do you see Jesus, do you know what He is doing…He is looking down at us saying, ‘Hi, how are you’.”  What insight, she was right!  All this time all I could see was His pain on the cross, yet this three year old saw His love.  No shame, no suffering, no sin is greater than His mercy and love.  His love is bigger than our biggest sin.  We all have things we need to let go of and let God shower us with His mercy and love.  Then, we will be able to love one another.

 

 

“Gods Plan for our Life”  

This is Julian, born at 26 weeks gestation, and only weighed 1 pound and 7 ounces.  Julian’s parents were married 10 years and did not have children, so they sought an Infertility Specialist.  Mom was given medication to promote ovulation and became pregnant about three months later.  When mom was 26 weeks into the pregnancy, she developed preeclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine.)  The baby was delivered by emergency C-Section at 4:53 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2016. Thanks be to God, he is now 6 months old and weighs 11 pounds and will be baptized in August. Please join us in prayers of thanksgiving for this baby LIFE and for his parents who Chose LIFE and embraced Gods Plan for this LIFE.

This image shows the dads wedding ring placed on Julian’s wrist one month after he was born.

Psalm 139:13-14 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

 

God obviously had a plan for my life as well.  I was the 2nd unwanted child in my mother’s womb, having 3 children before she was 18. Thankfully she chose LIFE and did the very best that she could even though she agreed to my 1st abortion at age 17, probably because of her past. Even though I was very ignorant of God’s ways and naive to His plan for my LIFE, He Never gave up on me.  Through many hours of art history classes in college Mother Mary was calling me to her son Jesus through the most beautiful images I had ever seen. Images of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus and most especially the images of the Angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she would be the Mother of God. She became my mother as well and I thank her and God “because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”  God has a plan for your LIFE! Never give up on it, because He will Never give up on you.

 

In Jesus’ love,

St. Dismas Staff

DECIMOOCTAVO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO-c

DECIMOOCTAVO 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                                                ECLESIASTES 1:2; 2:21-23                          PRIMERA LECTURA

 

(“Pues, ¿qué le queda al hombre de todo su trabajo y de la búsqueda que lo ocupa continuamente bajo el sol?”)

 

  1. ¿Quién es Eclesiastés y cuáles son sus palabras? Eclesiastés 1:1-2

 

  1. ¿Cómo ha trabajado el hombre, a quién le deja sus propiedades? ¿Qué es esto a más de ser vanidad?         Eclesiastés 2:21

 

  1. ¿Por qué realizamos labores (de trabajo) honestas? Efesios 6:7-8

 

  1. ¿Qué se pregunta acerca del trabajo del hombre? Eclesiastés 2:22

 

  1. ¿Por amor a la ganancia, qué hacen muchos? ¿Qué pasa cuando se quiere enriquecer a alguien? Eclesiastés 27:1

 

  1. ¿Qué cosas se unen para ahogar la Palabra y al final no dá fruto? Marcos 4:19

 

  1. ¿Qué le dijo Jesús a Marta? Lucas 10:41-42

 

  1. ¿Qué es lo que ocupa al hombre? ¿Qué le pasa en la noche? ¿Y qué sentido tiene esto? Ec. 2:23

 

  1. ¿Qué ha hecho Dios con la sabiduría del mundo? ¿Qué echará bajo?  1 Corintios 1:19-20

 

  1. ¿Qué hay en mucha sabiduría mundana? Eclesiastés 1:18

 

Personal – ¿Has trabajado de laguna manera tan duro que las preocupaciones te mantienen despierto en la noche? ¿Cuál es tu propósito al hacerlo?

 

TERCER DIA                                                     COLOSENSES 3:1-5, 9-11                           SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“No se mientan unos a otros. Ustedes se despojaron

del hombre viejo y su manera de vivir.”)

 

  1. ¿Qué te ha pasado con Cristo, qué buscas? ¿En dónde está sentado Cristo? Colosenses 3:1

 

  1. ¿Cómo hemos sido injertados en El? ¿De qué participaremos? Romanos 6:5

 

  1. ¿Por qué debemos pensar? ¿En qué no debemos pensar y por qué razón debemos pensar de esta manera?  Colosenses 3:2-3

 

  1. ¿En qué debemos pensar? ¿En qué no debemos ocupar la mente? ¿En dónde está ahora nuestra patria?  Filipenses 4:8 y 3:20

 

  1. ¿Qué pasará cuando se manifieste Cristo que es nuestra vida? ¿Qué debemos hacer para morir? Colosenses 3:4-5

 

  1. ¿Qué no debe de ser mencionado entre nosotros? Efesios 5:3

 

  1. ¿Qué debemos dejar de hacer? ¿De qué nos hemos despojado? Colosenses 3:9

 

  1. ¿Qué ha sido renovado y para qué? Colosenses 3:10

 

  1. ¿Qué debes dejar? ¿En qué debes revestirte? Efesios 4:22-24

 

  1. ¿Entre quienes no se hace distinción? ¿Quién está en todo y en todos? Colosenses 3:11

 

Personal – ¿Cuáles son las cosas que buscas en la vida? ¿En qué piensas la mayoría del tiempo? ¿Qué necesitas hacer para pensar en lo de arriba y no en las cosas terrenales?

 

CUARTO DIA                                                             LUCAS 12:13-21                                                      EVANGELIO

 

(“Eviten con gran cuidado toda clase de codicia, porque aunque uno lo tenga todo,

no son sus pertenencias las que le dan vida.”)

 

  1. ¿Qué le dijo alguien que estaba entre la gente a Jesús? ¿Cómo lo llamó Jesús y qué le dijo?            Lucas 12:13-14

 

  1. ¿Qué les dijó Jesús que evitaran? ¿Qué dijo sobre las pertenencias? Lucas 12:15

 

  1. ¿Con qué no atrae el hombre? ¿Es mejor ser hombre pobre que qué? Proverbios 19:22

 

  1. ¿Qué no satisface a la codicia del hombre? Eclesistés 4:8

 

Personal – ¿Cómo puedes evitar la codicia en tu casa o trabajo?

 

  1. ¿Qué ejemplo le puso Jesús a la gente? Lucas 12:16

 

  1. ¿Qué se decía el rico a sí mismo? ¿En dónde guardaría sus grandes cosechas? Lucas 12:17-18

 

  1. ¿Ahora que ya tenía muchas cosas almacenadas qué iba poder hacer? Lucas 12:19

 

  1. ¿De qué no debes estar seguro y por qué razon? Proverbios 27:1

 

  1. ¿Qué debes decir a los ricos? 1 Timoteo 6:17-18

 

  1. ¿Qué le dijo Dios al hombre? Lucas 12:20-21

 

Personal – ¿Qué estás almacenando que pueda ser importante para Dios? ¿De qué necesitas deshacerte?

 

QUINTO DIA                                                   LEE EL SALMO 95:1-2, 6-9

                                                                        (“Vengan, inclínense y adorémosle.”)

Leé y medita el Salmo 95:1-2, 6-9.

 

¿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

                                                                              ECLESIASTES 1:2, 2:21-23

                 La lectura de hoy es del Libro de Qoheleth que en griego significa Eclesiastés. El libro es presentado como viniendo de el hijo de David, Rey en Jerusalén. Vemos al autor como un hombre de mucha, mucha experiencia. Su interés en la vida humana y en las experiencias es muy amplio.

La lectura de hoy nos desafía y tiene más preguntas que respuestas. Vemos al hombre buscando constantemente algo más que le pueda sacar a la vida y mientras más logra parece más frustrado e insatisfecho. El autor habla de la vanidad en el sentido de que todo es temporal únicamente y el poner toda nuestra energía en cosas es tonto y vano. Dice que el hombre sabio y el tonto morirán igual y cualquier cosa que tengan en la tierra se queda para que otro lo disfrute. El ve en la vanidad de la vida que el hombre es bendecido si honra reverentemente su promesa a Dios. El hombre injusto, por el otro lado, enfrentará algun día un castigo grande.

Una de las más fuertes vanidades de la vida parece ser la riqueza, ya que también le causa al hombre muchas preocupaciones y pérdida de sueño debido al miedo de perder su fortuna. Parece que la sabiduría ayuda al hombre para no estar deprimido y llena el vacio de su vida, pero parece que la muerte pone fin a esa sabiduría. Qoheleth (Eclesiastés) muestra a traves de la experiencia que parece que el hombre recto sufre y el deshonrado va sin castigo por largo tiempo. El autor pide paciencia y sabiduría, enlaza la obediencia a la autoridad con la obediencia hacía Dios. Ve la vida como algo que debe ser disfrutado en lugar de soportado. Esta lectura nos trae el ejemplo de las experiencias de la vida.

Hoy en día vemos gente que es muy sabía con muy poca instrucción formal. Vemos en el sabio el conocimiento de que solo Dios es el único que es permanente. El pasaje de hoy muestra que el poner tu confianza plena y tu fe en cualquier cosa o persona que no sea Dios es ciertamente la vanidad de vanidades.

COLOSENSES 3:1-5, 9-11

En el pasaje de hoy la conduca Cristiana es demostrada poniéndonos una nueva naturaleza y aceptando a Cristo y dejando que la vieja naturaleza muera. En el bautizmo, el Cristiano muere y resucita otra vez. Bautizo significa sumergirse, ahogarse y hundirse. Esto es, la muerte de la vieja naturaleza. La resurrección viene cuando salimos del agua y como Cristo hizo en la resurrección, tomamos una vida nueva. Nos levantamos de las aguas del bautizmo siendo personas diferentes.

Cambiamos nuestra conducta permitiendo a Cristo vivir dentro de nosotros, para que El pueda darnos la forma de lo que debemos ser, no de lo que nosotros quisieramos ser. Aún cuando el verdadero hogar del Cristiano está en el cielo, eso no significa que éste debe apartarse del trabajo o de las actividades del mundo. Dios nunca dijo que dejaramos este mundo, lo que sí dijo fue que le ganemos al mundo. El Cristiano pone sus ojos, sus normas y sus ideales no en el mundo sino en lo que es de Dios. Continuará usando las cosas del mundo pero las usará de un modo nuevo.

Como Cristianos estamos invitados a dar antes de recibir, a servir antes de mandar y a perdonar por encima de buscar venganza. Las normas de los valores del Cristiano serán las normas de Dios, no las de los hombres. El Cristiano de los principios entendía al Bautizmo como un morir y resucitar. Los griegos hablaban del hombre muerto y enterrado como escondido en la tierra, pero el Cristiano que ha muerto una muerte del espíritu en el bautizmo no está escondido en la tierra, está escondido en Cristo.

El mundo nos dice que el tesoro de la sabiduría son los conocimientos escondidos adquiridos. Los Cristianos tienen el tesoro de toda la sabiduría en Jesucristo. El Cristiano está en un programa de educación contínua. Entre más conocemos a Cristo, vamos cambiando más para ser como El. Cristo rompe las barreras y acepta a toda la gente que viene a El. Como Cristianos somos llamados a construir puentes no barreras.

LUCAS 12:13-21

                 El Evangelio de hoy nos lleva exactamente al conflicto que está amenazando con romper el corazén de nuestras comunidades. El conflicto es entre la gente que tiene mucho de lo que se ha dado en llamar “la buena vida” y aquellos que van haciendo esfuerzos para nada más irla pasando. Jesús apunta a un asunto más alto, a una actitud correcta hacía la acumulación de las riquezas. Nos dice que la vida es mucho más que únicamente los bienes materiales y que lo más importante es nuestra relación con Dios.

Cuando le traemos a Dios nuestros problemas en la oración frecuentemente vemos que El nos muestra cómo y qué debemos cambiar y cultivar en nuestras actitudes hacía esos problemas. Jesús nos dice que no debemos estar siempre deseando lo que no tenemos y nos dice que la verdadera buena vida no tiene nada que ver con ser rico. Esto es exactamente lo contrario de lo que el mundo nos dice. Los anunciantes gastan fortunas diciéndole a la gente que si compran ciertos productos su vida será más féliz y vivirán con muchas más comodidades que las que tienen ahora. ¿En tu comunidad cómo respondes las presiones constantes de comprar?

Necesitamos aprender a concentrarnos en la buena vida y eso es vivir en una constante relación con Dios y haciendo Su trabajo. El hombre de la lectura de hoy muere antes de ser capaz de usar todo lo que había acumulado. Jesús nos está señalando que tan bueno puede ser el poner toda nuestra energía en lo que necesitamos aquí en la tierra en vez de prepararnos para cuando muramos. Tanto el hombre rico como el pobre cuando mueren, tienen que pasar por el juicio. No habrá ninguna diferencia debido a que tan bien les fue en su vida terrenal. Qué tan rico, poderoso o educado eres no te será preguntado por el Señor. El dirá, “Lo que hiciste por el más pequeño de los míos, me lo hiciste a Mí.” (Mateo 25:31-46). Debes planear, ahorrar y ser prudente con tu vida, pero es muy importante hacer de ella una vida que valga la pena, viviéndola para otros a traves de Cristo. Cuando Cristo un día te pregunte “¿Qué hiciste cuando estabas en la tierra?” y tú digas, “Ame a los demás como Tú me has amado,” serás uno de los santos más ricos del cielo.

Aplicación

La primera lectura dice que “no te lo puedes llevar contigo.” La segunda dice que hay que dar antes de recibir, servir antes de mandar y perdonar en vez de buscar venganza. El Evangelio muestra que debemos buscar primero el reino de Dios y lo demás te será dado.

Esta semana usa lo que tengas para ayudar a otros y así tu ejemplo llegue a otros más. Que tus comentarios sean positivos y ofrece ayudar ya sea en algo grande o en algo pequeño. Comparte generosamente tus riquezas. Tus riquezas no son solo tu dinero. Para aquellos que te aman y te conocen tu presencia es de un valor inapreciable. Deja que vean cuando hables que ahí está Cristo. Escúchalos con los oidos de Cristo y vé a los demás a traves de los ojos de Cristo. Serás la persona más rica de tu comunidad debido a que Cristo quiere que lo des a El para que El pueda estar contigo para siempre.

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE C

                       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

                       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

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

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

                       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

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

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.