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TERCER DOMINGO DE CUARESMA (March 12th) ‑ CICLO A

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El Pan de Vida – Estudio de Biblia Catolico

By Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

 

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

SEGUNDO DIA                                        EXODO 17:3-7                            PRIMeRA LECTURA

(“Dios satisface la sed de los Israelitas cuyos corazones se habían endurecido y rebelado.”)

  1. ¿Qué hizo a la gente murmurar contra Moisés, y qué le dijeron? Éxodo 17:3
  2. ¿A quién llamó Moisés, y qué dijo? Éxodo 17:4
  3. ¿A dónde le dijo el Señor a Moisés que fuera, a quién tenía que traer, y que debía tener en su mano? Éxodo 17:5
  4. ¿Qué sucedió cuando Moisés extendió su bastón en el río? Éxodo 14:15-16, 21-22
  5. ¿Dónde dijo el Señor que estaría? Éxodo 17:6
  6. ¿Qué le dijo que le hiciera a la piedra y que sucedería? Éxodo 17:6
  7. ¿Cuál fue la respuesta de Moisés? Éxodo 17:6
  8. ¿Cómo se llamaba el lugar donde sucedió esto y porqué se llamaba así? Éxodo 17:7
  9. ¿Antes que Moisés extendiera su bastón sobre el Mar Rojo, cómo estaban actuando los Israelitas? Éxodo 14:11
  10. ¿Que dijeron para probar al Señor? Éxodo 17:7

Personal ‑ Cuando los Israelitas tenían sed se quejaron y fueron a Moisés. Moisés fue al Señor. ¿Tú, te quejas y murmuras acerca de tu situación o humildemente vas al Señor con tu problema? Estás quejándote y murmurando porque tienes sed? Examina tu conciencia cada día ante el Señor. Pídele al Espíritu Santo que te revele cuál es tu sed.

TERCER DIA                                      ROMANOS 5:1-2, 5-8                      SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“Por medio de Su Espíritu Santo, ha sido derramada su gracia en nuestros corazones.”)

  1. ¿Cómo hemos sido justificados? Romanos 5:1, 3:28
  2. ¿En quién está nuestra fe? Gálatas 2:16; Romanos 5:9
  3. ¿Si hemos sido justificados por la fe, qué somos con Dios gracias a nuestro Señor Jesucristo? Romanos 5:1
  4. ¿Por medio de quién tenemos acceso a la gracia en la que ahora permanecemos? Romanos 5:1-2
  5. ¿De qué nos podemos enorgullecer? Romanos 5:2
  6. ¿En qué está nuestra esperanza? Hechos 23:6
  7. ¿En quién podemos encontrar esperanza? Mateo 12:21
  8. ¿Cómo nos dejará esta esperanza? Romanos 5:5
  9. ¿Que ha sido derramado en nuestros corazones, y cómo ha sido hecho esto? Romanos 5:5
  10. Llenen los siguientes espacios: En que _____________________ murió ___________ por ____________ cuando todavía éramos ______________________. Romanos 5:6
  11. ¿Que es una cosa rara? Romanos 5:7
  12. ¿Como probó Dios Su amor por nosotros? Romanos 5:8; 1 Juan 4:10

Personal ‑ ¿De que manera has aceptado el amor de Dios por ti personalmente por medio de la muerte de Su Hijo Jesucristo? Pídele al Espíritu Santo que te revele el gran amor que el Padre te tiene y por el cuál sacrificó a Su Amado Hijo Jesús en el Calvario.

CUARTO DIA                                            JUAN 4:5-42                                            EVANGELIO

(“El agua que daré se convertirá en una fuente de vida eterna.”)

  1. ¿A dónde llevó a Jesús su jornada y cómo eran los Samaritanos según los siguientes versículos? 2 Reyes 17:24-29; Jeremías 23:13; Mateo 10:5; Lucas 9:52-53
  2. ¿Qué era el terreno al que Jesús entró y qué hizo Jesús cuando llegó al pozo de Jacob? ¿Porqué lo hizo y qué hora era? Juan 4:5-6
  3. ¿Cuando la mujer Samaritana vino a sacar agua, ¿que le pidió Jesús? Juan 4:7
  4. ¿Cuáles son los tres puntos que presentó la mujer y qué debemos recordar? Juan 4:9

 

  1. ¿Cuál fue la contestación de la mujer a la respuesta de Jesús? ¿Qué dijo que Jesús que les sucedería a los que tomaran agua del pozo? Juan 4:10-13
  2. ¿Qué dijo que le sucedería a la persona que tome el agua que El tiene para dar y cuál fue la respuesta de la mujer? Juan 4:14-15
  3. ¿Después de que élla le pidió de esta agua, qué le dijo Jesús que hiciera, y qué le exclamó a ella y que dijo éllaque El era? Juan 4:16-19
  4. ¿Dónde dijo élla que sus antepasados adoraban, dónde dijo que estaba el lugar donde ellos decían que debían de adorar y dónde dijo Jesús que adorarían, y porqué? Juan 4:20-22
  5. ¿Cuáles son las dos maneras en que adorarán los auténticos adoradores y qué es Dios? Juan 4:23-24

Personal – ¿Dónde esta tu lugar de adoración? ¿Tomas un tiempo cada día para adorar a Dios como Espíritu y Verdad? ¿Entiendes no lo que adoras sino a quién adoras, y porqué lo adoras? Cierra tus ojos y pídele al Espíritu Santo que te enseñe como adorarlo en Espíritu y Verdad.

  1. ¿Qué dijo la mujer acerca del Mesías y quién dijo Jesús que El era? Juan 4:25-26
  2. ¿Al regresar, cual fue la reacción de los discípulos? La mujer entonces dejó su jarra de agua y se fue al pueblo. ¿Qué le dijo a la gente? Juan 4:27-29
  3. Mientras tanto los discípulos le suplicaban que comiera algo. ¿Qué les dijo, y cuál fue su reacción? ¿Cuál les dijo Jesús que era su comida? Juan 4:31-34
  4. ¿Jesús les dice que le escuchen, abran sus ojos y miren, el segador recibe su sueldo y recoge su cosecha, ¿por qué razón? Juan 4:35-38
  5. Muchos creyeron en El ¿por qué acontecimiento? y cuando El se quedó con los Samaritanos por dos días, ¿qué trajo a muchos a la fe? Juan 4:39-41
  6. ¿Que le dijeron a la mujer? Juan 4:42

Personal – ¿Alguna persona ha creído en el Señor debido a tu Palabra de testimonio? ¿Si no, que necesitas hacer personalmente? Ve Juan 4:34.

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

(“Ustedes pueden, hoy, oír su voz.”)

Lee 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

ÉXODO 17:3-7

Los Israelitas, o como nosotros les llamamos, el Pueblo elegido de Dios estaba sufriendo esclavitud y en peligro de ser totalmente destruidos por sus captores Egipcios. Dios escogió un milagro para ellos, y un hombre los iba a dirigir en este milagro, y su nombre era Moisés. Dios los libró de los Egipcios partiendo el Mar Rojo y Moisés los dirigió a la Tierra Prometida de Canán. La condición humana produjo una serie de murmuraciones rebeldes y pronto olvidaron lo que Dios había hecho por ellos. Ellos empezaron a lamentar que las dificultades de la jornada eran muy difíciles para aguantar. Se quejaron tanto que acusaron a Dios de llevarlos al desierto dejándolos morir. Moisés le pidió de nuevo a Dios otro milagro y Dios en su misericordia y amor estuvo de acuerdo y un manantial de agua salió de una piedra.

Hoy en día mucha gente es como la gente que estuvo en esa jornada. Quieren libertad, pero no quieren pagar el precio por ella. El lugar de donde Moisés sacó el agua es llamada Masá y Meribá, que significa lugar de prueba. La gente de Moisés gritaba ¿“Está el Señor entre rostros ó no”? Necesitamos confiar en el Señor, no ponerlo a prueba, porque El nunca se arrepiente de una promesa que ha hecho. Como la gente en el desierto, mucha gente hoy en día se pregunta si Dios los ha abandonado en su hora de prueba.

Todos los favores pasados, todos los buenos tiempos son olvidados porque probablemente su nivel de sinceridad con Dios no era muy grande al empezar. Necesitamos recordar en cuanto empecemos a murmurar en protesta y sentirnos abandonados o rechazados, que nuestro Dios es un Dios de amor, gozo, misericordia, gentileza y sanación. El nos ha prometido no solamente llevarnos a Cana, sino llevarnos al cielo, y El lo hará.

ROMANOS 5:1-2, 5-8

Necesitamos tener en mente al leer este pasaje que la realidad Cristiana de vida tiene dos lados. Un lado es que somos completos en Cristo (nuestra aceptación con El es segura). Por otro lado, estamos creciendo en Cristo (nos estamos convirtiendo más y más a El). Sentimos ambas, la presencia de Cristo y la presión del pecado. Gozamos de la paz que viene por estar bien con Dios, pero todavía nos tenemos que enfrentar a los problemas de la vida diaria que nos hacen crecer.

Necesitamos recordar estos dos lados de nuestro camino Cristiano y entonces no estaremos desanimados al enfrentarnos con tentaciones y problemas. Pablo nos dice que como creyentes ahora estamos en un lugar que no podría ser alcanzado por nuestros propios méritos. Dios no solamente nos declara no culpables, sino, de hecho, nos ha acercado más hacía él. En vez de ser sus enemigos, en respuesta a nuestra fe, nos hemos convertido en sus propios hijos.

Pablo nos dice en las escrituras que la fe, la esperanza, y la caridad son el corazón de la vida cristiana (1 Corintios 13). Nuestra relación con Dios empieza con fe. Esto nos ayuda a creer que estamos liberados de nuestro pasado. La Esperanza da promesa al futuro y la caridad o el amor de Dios nos llena nuestras vidas y nos da la habilidad de entregarnos a alguien más. Lo más grande de este pasaje es que cuando nosotros éramos todavía pecadores, Dios nos dio a su único Hijo para que muriera por todos nosotros.

Permitamos que eso se nos grave…Cristo murió por nosotros no porque éramos suficientemente buenos, sino porque El nos amaba muchísimo. El sabe lo que está sucediendo dentro de ti. El sabe los problemas que estás teniendo con tu misma personalidad y sí, El murió por ti, especialmente por ti. Necesitamos recordar cuando nos sintamos inseguros del amor de Dios, que El nos amaba antes de que nosotros lo buscáramos. El Padre nos amaba tanto que mandó a su Hijo a la tierra para que muriera por nosotros y su Espíritu Santo nos da el poder para arrepentirnos, creer y regocijarnos.

JUAN 4:4-42

Jesús había dejado a Jerusalén porque la oposición estaba creciendo contra El por parte de los Fariseos. Ellos resentían su popularidad y su mensaje, que retaba mucho sus enseñanzas legalisticas. Jesús viajó hacia el norte de la región de Galilea y fue aquí donde conoció a la mujer en el pozo de Jacob en Samaria. Los Samaritanos eran objeto de tremendos abusos raciales por los judíos, porque cuando los Asirios conquistaron a Samaria, muchos de ellos se casaron con sus conquistadores.

Al haberse casado con personas de diferentes razas, resultó una mezcla de razas, impuras en la opinión de los Judíos, quienes vivían en Judá, el reino meridional. Los Judíos odiaban a esta gente porque sentían que los Samaritanos habían traicionado a su gente y a su nación. Jesús no estaba obligado a vivir en una cultura tan estricta y por eso no tenía miedo de viajar directamente por Samaria. Jesús encontró a la mujer aproximadamente al medio día. Probablemente ella lo hizo así para evitar encontrar gente, debido a su reputación.

Jesús sabía que en el ardiente sol, esta mujer necesitaba un mensaje acerca de agua fresca y pura que aliviaría su sed para siempre. La mujer era una Samaritana, tenía mala reputación, y estaba en un lugar público. Ningún Judío respetable le hablaría a una mujer como ésta bajo ninguna circunstancia, PERO JESUS SI. El mensaje de Jesús es la Buena Nueva y es un mensaje de esperanza. El mensaje de Jesús es para toda persona, no importa cuál sea su nivel económico, social, su raza, su posición o su edad.

Jesús traspasó todas las barreras económicas, sociales y raciales al morir en la cruz por todos y cada uno de nosotros. Nosotros, que nos llamamos Cristianos, necesitamos estar preparados para hacer igual que El. Jesús sabía quien era la mujer Samaritana y lo que era y El se aseguro de que ella lo supiera. El quería estar seguro que supiera que la miraba como una criatura de Dios y le dijo que El era el único pozo que nunca se quedaría seco. Ella sabía que El era diferente, porque no la avergonzaba y no trató de predicarle las leyes. El ni siquiera trató de decirle que ella era una pecadora. El no tenía que hacerlo; ella sabía que le estaba ofreciendo vida, no muerte. Ella corrió y le dijo a la comunidad, sin preocuparse de lo que fueran a pensar. Les dijo que El le dijo todo acerca de élla misma y la gente del pueblo corrió a ver al “Mesías”.

Necesitamos reflexionar en lo que la mujer Samaritana hizo cuando dejó el pozo. Siguió adelante proclamando la Buena Nueva. La alimentación de la cuál Jesús hablaba no solamente incluía oración, estudio de Biblia, asistir a misa, o recibir los sacramentos. También nos alimentamos al hacer la voluntad de Dios y ayudando a terminar su trabajo de salvación. Somos alimentados, no solamente por lo que recibimos, sino por lo que damos por Dios. La mujer del pozo no dio excusas de que su familia no estaba preparada para creer. Miren a su alrededor, y como la mujer del pozo, encontrarán bastante gente, lista para escuchar La Palabra de Dios. Dícelos.

Aplicación

La primera lectura nos dice que aún hoy día, mucha gente desea la libertad, pero no quiere pagar el precio por ella. La segunda lectura nos muestra que la fe, la esperanza y la caridad son el corazón del amor Cristiano. El Evangelio revela que Jesús saciará nuestra sed espiritual y que debido a El nunca volveremos a tener sed.

Jesús nos enseña que la forma que nos vemos y nuestra reputación no siempre les dice a otros como somos realmente. Esta semana ve a tu familia, amigos, compañeros de trabajo, comunidad, y la iglesia. Escoge una persona que creas que es un problema y por una semana, háblale respetuosamente. No le ignores, visítale si está en un hospital, cárcel ó en casa. Nosotros podemos hacer a todo hombre y mujer del pozo de Jacob sentirse amado si seguimos el ejemplo de Jesús.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (March 19th) ‑ CYCLE A

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THE BREAD OF LIFE CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

by Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

 

 

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 1 SAMUEL 16:1, 6‑7, 10‑13   FIRST READING

(“In the presence of the Lord God they anointed David king of Israel.”)

  1. To whom did the Lord speak and who was Samuel? 1 Samuel 16:1, 1 Sam 1:19-22

 

  1. Whom did the Lord say he has rejected as king of Israel, where was the Lord sending Samuel, and who has been chosen and from whom has he been chosen? 1 Sam 16:1

 

  1. When they came, Samuel looked at whom, and what were his thoughts and who was Eliab?  1 Sam 16:6, 1 Sam 17:13

 

  1. What did the Lord say to Samuel; according to what does man see things and into what does God look?   1 Sam 16:7

 

  1. How many sons did Jesse present to Samuel, and how many did he have?  1 Samuel 16:10, 1 Samuel 17:12

 

  1. What did Samuel tell Jesse about the seven sons; what did Samuel ask Jesse, and what did he reply?   1 Sam 16:10-11

 

  1. What was the youngest son doing when Jesse sent for him? 1 Samuel 16:11

 

  1. When Jesse sent for him and he came, what was his appearance, and what did the Lord say? 1 Samuel 16:12

 

  1. What did Samuel do? 1 Samuel 16:13

 

  1. When he was anointed with the oil, what rushed upon him? 1 Sam 16:13

 

Personal ‑ Have you been anointed by the Lord for a special task? At baptism the Spirit came upon you. How have you released the Spirit within you?

 

 

THIRD DAY             READ EPHESIANS 5:8‑14       SECOND READING

(“Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.”)

  1. What are we in the Lord, and how must we live? Ephesians 5:8

 

  1. What does light produce? Ephesians 5:9

 

  1. Fill in the following blanks: “Be ____________ in your ________________ of what ___________ the Lord.” Eph.   5:10

 

  1. In what must we not take part, and what must we do with them?   Ephesians 5:11

 

  1. What happens when we mention the things people do in secret?   Ephesians 5:12

 

  1. What happens to such deeds that are condemned? Eph 5:13

 

  1. That is why we read what? Ephesians 5:14, Isaiah 60:1

 

Personal ‑ We are commanded not to take part in vain deeds done in secret. Examine your conscience. Are you holding on to anything done in secret that was not right? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal this and to bring it into the light. Remember, we are called to live as children of the light.

 

 

 

FOURTH DAY              READ JOHN 9:1‑41                 GOSPEL

(“The blind man went off and washed himself and came away with his sight restored.”)

  1. As Jesus walked along, what did he see and what did the disciples ask him?   John 9:1-2

 

  1. Jesus replied that it was neither the man’s sin nor the parents sin that caused the man to be born blind; rather for what purpose and what did he refer to himself?   John 9:3-5

 

  1. What did Jesus do, what did he tell the man to do, and what was the result?   John 9:6-7

 

Personal‑ When the Lord speaks to you and tells you to do some­thing, are you always obedient, even if it doesn’t seem practical to you? Think about this.

 

  1. What did the neighbors and the people who had been accustomed to seeing him beg begin to ask, what was the confusion among them, and what did the man say? John 9:8-9

 

  1. As the people questioned the man born blind, what did he answer, what did they do next, and when did this occur? John 12-14

 

  1. What was the confusion between them; when the Pharisees addressed the blind man, what did they ask him and what did he answer? John 9:15-17

 

  1. What did the Jews refuse to believe, and whom did they summon? John 9:18

 

  1. What did the Jews ask the man’s parents, what was their response, and why were they afraid of the Jews? John 9:19-22

 

  1. The second time the Jews summoned the man who had been born blind, what did they say to him; what was his answer, and whose disciples did they say they were?   John 9:24-30

 

  1. To whom did they say God listens? John 9:31

 

  1. What was unheard of and what was their doubt? John 9:32-33

 

  1. Of what did they accuse the man who had been born blind, and what did they do to him; and when Jesus heard of his expulsion, what did he do, and ask? John 9:34-35

 

  1. What was his answer; what did Jesus say to him, what was the man’s answer, and what did he do?   John 9:36-38

 

  1. What did Jesus say; how did the Pharisees react to this and what was Jesus’ reply?   John 9:39-41

 

Personal ‑ In what way have your eyes been opened to your personal knowledge of Jesus as the Son of the living God? In what way have you bowed down and worshiped and praised God for his great gift to you? Take time to thank and worship him right now where you are.

 

 

FIFTH DAY               READ PSALM 23:1‑6

(“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 23:1-6.

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

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

 

SIXTH DAY          READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

1 SAMUEL 16:1, 6‑7, 10‑13

The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature. The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on outward appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7). Saul was a tall and handsome king, and Samuel may have been looking for someone who looked impressive. But God warned Samuel against judging by appearance.

How many times today do we judge others by the way they look? How many people have been refused work or shelter just because they look different? The difference might be in their manner of dress or even the color of their skin. The Lord tells Samuel that God judges by character, not appearance.

God sees others with the heart, not the eyes. He knows what is going on inside, therefore, only he can accurately judge people. We spend a tremendous amount of time maintaining our outward appearance. We should do even more to develop our inner character. We can do this by spending more time alone with the Lord, praying and meditating with him.

We can improve our inner character by reading, studying and living out God’s holy Word. Everyone can see your face, but only you and God know what your heart really looks like. What is the more attractive part of you? It is good for us to reflect that Saul was the first king of Israel, and he was very popular (1030 B.C.); but he offended God and the kingship was taken from him and his descendants. Samuel chose a very simple shepherd boy to become Israel’s next king. He anointed David with olive oil. The anointing signified that they were God’s represen­tatives now invested with a sacred character. They became “God’s Anointed” and were respected by all. The choice of David, the least likely of Jesse’s sons, is a strong lesson of humility for us and helps us see our own limitations.

 

EPHESIANS 5:8‑14

Today’s passage is calling us, not only to be called children of the light, but to live as children of the light. The light of Christ that shines in us will be that light which leads others out of their own darkness into a world of light. The way we live is a direct statement of what it is we believe. The morality of a Christian’s life needs to be reflective of God’s love and mercy. Jesus called on us to be more than he called on us to do in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1‑12).

Your example of what a Christian is will not make someone who is in the darkness even more desolate. Instead, it will be the encouragement that they need to come forth into the healing light of Christ. God is calling for his Christian warriors to do more than to avoid evil pleasures. He is calling them to rebuke and even expose them. Too many times our silence in the middle of a dirty joke, obscene movie, or gutter talk is a sign of approval.

God wants us to take a stand for what is right. You are called to lovingly speak out for what is true and right. Today, many of the evils, such as x‑rated movies, pornography, free sex, drug abuse and the break‑down of morality, have taken place because of the attitude: “Let them do their thing as long as it does not affect me.” This attitude has poisoned many countries, and the result has been anarchy, violence, and the banishment of God. Jesus tells us that he is the light of the world and if we follow him, we will not be stumbling in the darkness (John 8:12).

We need to reflect on today’s passage. Paul wrote this to a group of people living in a very worldly place. He knew that many were being tempted to return to their old lifestyle of sin. His message to them is crystal clear to us, that only by living as children of the Light can we really ever be set totally free (John 8:32).

 

JOHN 9:1‑41

This Gospel story really brings home that “Jesus is the Light of the world.” The Pharisees were opposed to Jesus from the very beginning of his public life. He preached love, mercy and forgiveness; he even ate with the publicans and other sinners considered outcast of society. He was becoming extremely popular because he was not a legalist; rather, he was a compassion­ate lover of people, and the oppressed and broken recognized this and flocked to him. They could see this because they were looking at his heart. They were not blinded like the Pharisees. The Pharisees looked first at the law and then at the power and wealth of the person. They were “legally blind” in the area of love, compassion and justice.

Today’s Gospel reading is a story of faith, love, pride and prejudice. The blind man was born blind, and he didn’t know how or why he was healed, but he knew he could now see. He believed in the man who gave him sight, and he shared his new faith in him.

Jesus’ love was so strong that even though he knew the opposi­tion was waiting to trap him, the desire to make men free was stronger. Jesus not only gave him bodily light (eyesight), but he also gave him the Light of Faith. The Pharisees tried so hard to discredit Jesus and then the man. Their pride and total lack of humility led them to their prejudicial attitude by attributing the miracle to Satan. The Pharisees even went so far as to excommunicate the man from the community.

The question we need to respond to today is: Do we still refuse to see the truths of God’s revelation brought to its fullness in the teachings of Jesus Christ? Are we still blinded by pride and prejudices of culture and habit? Christ is “the Light of the world” to whom the Pharisees and their followers and many people of today shut their eyes. You are being called to be the world’s light, a city glowing in the night for all to see.

Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:14‑16). Remember, it is far better to shine a light than to curse the darkness.

 

 

Application

The readings today really bring out the power of God’s chosen and our response. We see that in the first reading. Paul tells us that we are called to be the Light of the world. We see in the Gospel that many followed a blindness far darker than physical loss of eyesight. Jesus shows us that he heals and makes us lights in a world of darkness.

This week, speak out when you know what is being said is untrue. Don’t go along with the crowd. Be yourself. Don’t let foul talk, sinful actions or lying, dim your light. Respond to the needs of others. Be a beacon of truth, don’t shut your light off from the rest of the world.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (March 12th) ‑ CYCLE A

Posted on by

THE BREAD OF LIFE CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

by Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

 

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

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

 

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

SECOND DAY             READ EXODUS 17:3‑7         FIRST READING

(“God satisfies the thirst of the Israelites whose hearts had become hardened and rebellious.”)

  1. What made the people grumble against Moses, and what did they say to him? Exodus 17:3

 

  1. To whom did Moses cry out, and what did he say? Exodus 17:4

 

  1. Where did the Lord tell Moses to go, whom was he to have with him, and what was he to have in his hand as he went? Exodus 17:5

 

  1. What happened when Moses outstretched the staff at the river?      Exodus 14:15‑16, 21‑22

 

  1. Where did the Lord say he would be? Exodus 17:6

 

  1. What did he tell him to do to the rock, and what would happen?   Exodus 17:6

 

  1. What was Moses’ response? Exodus 17:6

 

  1. What was the place called where this happened, and why was it called this?   Exodus 17:7

 

  1. Before Moses outstretched the staff over the Red Sea, how were the Israelites acting?   Exodus 14:11

 

  1. What did they say to test the Lord? Exodus 17:7

 

Personal ‑ When the Israelites were thirsty they complained and went to Moses. Moses went to the Lord. Do you complain and grumble to others about your own situation, or do you humbly go

to God with your request? Do you see yourself complaining and grumbling because you are thirsty? Examine your conscience each day before the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you your thirst.

 

 

THIRD DAY            READ ROMANS 5:1‑2, 5‑8      SECOND READING

(“Through his Spirit has his grace been poured into our hearts.”)

  1. How have we been justified? Romans 5:l , Romans 3:28

 

  1. In whom is our faith? Galatians 2:16 , Romans 5:9

 

  1. If we have been justified by faith, what are we with God through our Lord Jesus Christ?   Romans 5:l

 

  1. Through whom do we gain access by faith to the grace in which we now stand? Romans 5:1‑2

 

  1. About what can we boast? Romans 5:2

 

  1. In what is our hope? Acts 23:6

 

  1. In whom can we find hope? Matthew 12:21

 

  1. How will this hope leave us? Romans 5:5

 

  1. What has been poured out in our hearts, and how has this been done?   Romans 5:5

 

  1. Fill in the following blanks: At the ___________ when we were still _________ Christ died for us __________. Romans 5:6

 

  1. What is a rare thing? Romans 5:7

 

 

  1. How did God prove his love for us? Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:10

 

 

Personal‑ In what way have you accepted the love of God for you personally through the death of his Son Jesus? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the great love of the Father for you by sacrificing his beloved Son Jesus at Calvary.

 

 

 

FOURTH DAY              READ JOHN 4:5‑42                 GOSPEL

(“The water that I shall give will turn into a spring of eternal life.”)

  1. Where did Jesus’ journey bring him; and what were the Samaritans like, according to the following verses: 2 Kings      17:24‑29, Jeremiah 23:13; Matthew 10:5 and Luke 9:52‑53

 

 

  1. What was the plot of land that Jesus entered and what did Jesus do when he got to Jacob’s well? Why did he do it and      what time was it?   John 4:5-6

 

 

  1. When the Samaritan woman came to draw water, for what did Jesus ask her?   John 4:7

 

 

  1. What three points did the woman bring out and what are we to recall?  John 4:9

 

 

  1. What was the woman’s response to Jesus’ reply? What did Jesus say would happen to those who drink the water from the well? John 4:10-13

 

 

  1. What did he say would happen to the person who drinks the water he has to give and what was the woman’s response? John 4:14-15

 

 

  1. After she asked him for this water, what did Jesus tell her to do and what did he exclaim to her and what did she say he was?   John 4:16-19

 

 

  1. Where did she say her ancestors worshiped, where did she claim was the place where they say they ought to worship and where did Jesus say they would worship, and why? John 4:20-22

 

 

  1. What two ways will authentic worshipers worship, and what is God?   John 4:23-24

 

 

Personal ‑ Where is your place of worship? Do you spend time each day worshiping God as Spirit and Truth? Do you understand not what you worship, but whom you worship, and why you worship him? Close your eyes and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to worship him as Spirit and Truth.

 

 

  1. What did the woman say about the Messiah and who did Jesus say he was?   John 4:25-26

 

 

  1. What was the disciples’ reaction on their return? When the woman then left her water jar and went into the town, what did she say to the people?   John 4:27-29

 

 

  1. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him to eat something. What did he tell them, what was their reaction and what did Jesus tell them was his food?   John 4:31-34

 

 

  1. Jesus tells them to listen to him, open your eyes and see, the reaper already collects his wages and gathers a yield, for what reason?   John 4:35‑38

 

 

  1. Many believe in him because of what occurrence and when he stayed with the Samaritans for two days, what brought many more to come to the faith?   John 4:39-41

 

 

  1. What did they tell the woman? John 4:42

 

 

Personal ‑ Are people coming to believe in the Lord through your word of testimony? If not, what do you personally need to do? See John 4:34.

 

 

 

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

(“O, that today you would hear his voice.”)

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

EXODUS 17:3‑7

The Israelites, or as we have called them, the chosen people of God, were suffering under slavery and were in danger of being completely destroyed by their Egyptian captors. God chose for them a miracle, and a man would lead them in this miracle, and his name was Moses. God set them free from the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea, and Moses led them toward the promised land of Canaan. The human condition produced a series of rebellious murmuring, as they soon forgot what God had done for them. They began to complain that the difficulties of the journey were too hard to bear. They complained so much that they accused God of leading them out to the desert and leaving them to die. Moses asked God again for another miracle, and God in his mercy and love, agreed, and water came gushing forth from a rock.

Many people today are like those who were on that journey. They desire freedom, but they do not want to pay the price for it. The place where Moses drew the water from the rock is called Massah and Meribah, which means testing place. The people with Moses cried out, “Is the Lord amongst us or not?” We need to trust the Lord, not test him, because he never goes back on a promise. Like the people in the desert, many people today wonder whether God has deserted them in their hour of trial.

All the past favors, all the good times are forgotten because at the beginning their level of sincerity with God was not very high. As we begin to murmur in protest and feel abandoned or rejected we need to remember that our God is a God of love, joy, mercy, gentleness, and healing. He has promised to take us, not just to Canaan, but rather to heaven, and he will.

 

ROMANS 5:1‑2, 5‑8

As we read this passage we need to keep in mind that the Christian reality of life has two sides. One side is that we are complete in Christ (our acceptance with him is secure). On the other side, we are growing in Christ (we are becoming more and more like him). We feel both the presence of Christ and the pressure of sin. We enjoy the peace that comes from being made right with God, but we still face the daily problems that make us grow.

We need to remember these two sides in our Christian advancement and then we will not be discouraged as we face temptations and problems. Paul tells us that as believers we now stand in a place that could never be achieved by our own merits. God not only declares us not guilty, but, in fact he has drawn us closer to him. Instead of being his enemies, we have, in the response of our faith, become his own children.

Paul tells us in scripture that faith, hope and charity are at the heart of the Christian life (l Corinthians 13). Our relationship with God begins with faith. This helps us to believe that we are delivered from our past. Hope gives promise of the future, and charity or God’s love fills our lives and gives us the ability to reach out to others. The amazing part of this passage is that while we were still sinners God allowed his only begotten Son to die for all of us.

Let that sink in… Christ died for us, not because we were good enough, but because he loved us so much. He knows what is going on inside of you. He knows the problems that you are having with your own personality and yes, he died for you, especially for you. We need to remember that whenever we feel uncertain about God’s love for us, he loved us even before we decided to turn to him. The Father loved us so much that he sent his Son down to die for us and his Holy Spirit gives us the power to repent, believe and rejoice.

 

JOHN 4:4‑42

Jesus had left Jerusalem because opposition was rising against him from the Pharisees. They resented his popularity as well as his message, which challenged much of their legalistic teachings. Jesus traveled north toward the region of Galilee and it was here that he met the woman at Jacob’s well in Samaria. Samaritans were the object of tremendous racial abuse by the Jews, because when the Assyrians conquered Samaria, many of them intermarried with their conquerors.

The intermarriage resulted in a mixed race, impure in the opinion of the Jews, who lived in Judah, the southern kingdom. The Jews hated these people because they felt the Samaritans had betrayed their people and nation. Jesus was not compelled to live by such cultural restrictions and so he was not afraid to travel directly through Samaria. Jesus spotted the woman at about mid‑day. The woman probably came at that time to avoid meeting people because of her reputation.

Jesus knew that in the hot, blazing sun this woman needed a message about fresh and pure water that would quench her spiritual thirst forever. The woman was a Samaritan, had a bad reputation and was in a public place. No respectable Jewish man would talk to a woman like this under any circumstance, but JESUS did. Jesus’s message is the Good News and it is a message of hope. Jesus’ message is for every person, regardless of his or her race, social position, or age.

Jesus crossed all economic, social and racial barriers by dying on the cross for each and every one of us. We, who call ourselves Christians, must be prepared to do no less than he did. Jesus knew who the Samaritan woman was, and what she was, and he made sure that she knew it. He made sure that she knew he saw her as a child of God and told her that he was the only well that would never run dry. She knew he was different, because he did not ridicule her, and he did not try to preach the law to her. He did not even attempt to tell her that she was a sinner. He did not have to; she knew that he was offering her life, not death. She ran and told the community, not a bit worried about what they would think. She told them that he revealed everything about her, and the towns people came running to see this “Messiah.”

We need to reflect on what the Samaritan woman did when she left the well. She went forth to proclaim the Good News. The nourishment about which Jesus was speaking did not just include prayer, bible study, attending church or receiving sacraments. We also are nourished by doing God’s will and helping to bring his work of salvation to completion. We are nourished not only by what we take in, but also by what we give out for God. The woman at the well did not make excuses that her family was not ready to believe. Take a look around and, like the woman at the well, you will find plenty of people ready to hear and listen to God’s Holy Word. Tell them.

 

Application

The first reading tells us that even today, many people desire freedom, but do not want to pay the price for it. The second reading shows us that faith, hope, and charity are at the heart of Christian love. The Gospel reveals that Jesus will quench our spiritual thirst and that because of him we will never need to thirst again.

Jesus showed us that our looks and our reputations do not always tell others who and what we really are. This week look around at your family, friends, co-workers, church, and community. Pick out one person whom you think is a problem, and for a whole week, talk respectful­ly to them. Do not ignore them, but visit them in a hospital, prison or at home. We can make all the men and women of Jacob’s well feel loved if we follow Jesus’ example this entire week.

 

Lectio Divina – 2nd Sunday of Lent (March 5th) – Cycle A

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

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

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

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

READ, REFLECT AND WRITE ON THE GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Matthew 17:1-9 – Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

 

 

What does the Lord personally want you to do?

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (March 5th) ‑ CYCLE A

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BREAD OF LIFE CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

by Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

 

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 12:1‑4         FIRST READING

(“The call of Abraham, the father of God’s people.”)

  1. Who was the Lord God talking to in Genesis 12:1?

 

  1. Where did the Lord tell him to go? Genesis 12:1

 

  1. What four things did the Lord say he would do for Abram? Genesis 12:2‑3

 

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

4.

 

  1. What will God do to those who bless Abram? Genesis 12:3

 

 

Personal ‑ The dictionary defines the word bless as: l. to make holy, hallow, 2. to ask divine favor for, 3. to wish well to, 4. to make happy or prosperous, 5. to guard, preserve. In what way have you felt blest by the Lord? In what way have you made it a practice to bless your spouse, your children, relatives or friends?

 

 

  1. What will God do to those who curse Abram? Genesis 12:3

 

 

  1. Who shall find blessing in Abram? Genesis 12:3

 

  1. What did Abram do, and who went with him? Genesis 12:4

 

  1. Who was Lot? Genesis 11:31

 

  1. How old was Abram when he left Haran, land of his kinsfolk? Genesis 12:4

 

  1. What other name was given to Abram by the Lord and what did the Lord make him?   Genesis 17:5

 

Personal ‑ In what way do you recognize the voice of the Lord when he is speaking to you, and do you obey that voice as Abram did? How do you think you can discern whether God is or is not speaking to you? Share with someone.

 

THIRD DAY             READ 2 TIMOTHY 1:8‑10       SECOND READING

(“God has saved us and called us to be holy.”)

  1. Who is speaking in verse 8 of 2 Timothy 1 and to whom is he speaking?   2 Timothy 1:1‑2

 

  1. Of what are we not to be ashamed?

 

2 Timothy 1:8

Sirach 4:26

Sirach 51:29

Romans 1:16

1 Peter 4:16

 

  1. What will happen if we are ashamed of Jesus and his doctrine?      Luke 9:26

 

  1. From where does our strength come? 2 Timothy 1:8

 

  1. What must we bear? 2 Timothy 1:8

 

  1. Who can we take as models in suffering hardship and patience?      James 5:10

 

  1. What has God done for us, and to what kind of life has he called us?   2 Timothy 1:9

 

  1. Have we been saved by anything we have done? 2 Timothy 1:9

 

  1. How has God saved us? 2 Timothy 1:9‑10, Titus 3:5

 

  1. How did he rob death of its power? 2 Timothy 1:10, Romans 6:9‑10

 

 

Personal ‑ What is the testimony to our Lord you have to share? Do you have a personal testimony of how God has worked in your life? Have you shared this with your spouse, children, family, friends, or work acquaintances? Pray and ask God to reveal to you your own personal testimony this week.

 

FOURTH DAY             READ MATTHEW 17:1‑9               GOSPEL

(“His face became as dazzling as the sun, his clothes as radiant as light.”)

  1. Who did Jesus take up on a high mountain and what happened to Jesus?   Matthew 17:1-2

 

  1. Who suddenly appeared there and what did Peter then say?      Matthew 17:3-4

 

  1. As Peter was speaking, what overshadowed them and what came out of the cloud?   Matthew 17:5

 

  1. What prevents us from listening to the Lord?

Exodus 7:13

Deuteronomy 1:43

Deuteronomy 21:18

Acts 28:27

Hebrews 12:25

 

Personal ‑ In what way have you been able to tune your mind into hearing what God is saying to you through prayer and his Word? Meditate on this.

 

  1. How did God the Father address Jesus in Matthew 17:5? Matthew 3:17

 

  1. What happened to Peter, James, and John when they heard the voice from the cloud and with what were they overcome?      Matthew 17:6

 

  1. What did Jesus do and what did he say? Matthew 17:7

 

  1. In the following scriptures, what happened to those on whom Jesus laid his hand?  Matt 8:3, 14‑15, Matt 9:23‑25

 

  1. What does 1 John 4:16‑18 say is the relationship of God, love, and fear?

 

  1. What did God say to Abram about fear in Genesis 15:1?

 

  1. To whom did Jesus say “Do not be afraid? ” Matthew 28:1, 8‑10 Mark 6:45, 49‑50, Luke 5:10

 

  1. When Peter, James and John looked up, whom did they see and as they were coming down the mountain side, what was Jesus’ command to them?   Matthew 17:8-9

 

Personal ‑ In what way have you felt Jesus’ healing touch upon you? Have you laid your hand on those in your family who may be sick? If a friend or a family member is afraid, lay your hand on them and reassure them of God’s presence.

 

FIFTH DAY         READ PSALM 33:4‑5, 18‑20, 22

(“For upright is the Word of the Lord.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22.

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

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

 

SIXTH DAY          READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

GENESIS 12:1‑4

It is very significant and quite proper that the passage of Abram should lead us into the second Sunday of Lent. Abram was a pagan living in an idol‑worshipping country. He was about 75 years old and enjoyed a reputation as a successful man of the community. Abram had experienced a personal conversion and was convinced that God alone was the true God. First came the call to Abram and then came the “Great Commission” to “go forth and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

God’s mercy and love for us are the first lesson this call of Abram teaches us. Through Abram God began the preparations that would lead to the coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who would reopen heaven’s gates for us. Only a God of love and mercy could have persevered in the face of such a stubborn people. We, too, are to extend God’s love to all nations, not just our own. Through Abram’s family, Jesus was born to save all humanity. Through Jesus all people and all nations can have a personal relationship with God and the blessings will continue even unto today, beyond measure.

God’s promise to make Abram great was tied to a promise of obedience by Abram. This meant leaving the comfort and safety of his home and friends and traveling to a new and strange land. Abram obeyed, walking away from all of his possessions, for God promised him even greater things. We are called, like Abram, to be chosen people.

When we make our conversion, as Abram did, and experience God personally, we will also be called to go forth in his name. God may be trying to lead you to a place of holiness and of greater service to his people. Don’t let the comfort and security of what you have achieved, allow you to miss out on God’s plan. God’s plan for Israel is the same as it is for you and me. Jesus said, “I have come to give you, not just life, but life in its fullness.” (John 10:10).

God planned to develop a nation of people he would call his own. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you and I have the privilege of being called sons and daughters of God. God calls today and we are to listen and respond by accepting him personally, and then to go forth and tell others what we have experienced. This is called evangelizing or witnessing. We are called to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).

 

2 TIMOTHY 1:8‑10

Paul, in prison writes this letter to Timothy in hopes of encouraging him to persevere in his ministry. There was much persecution going on in the Christian communities, Paul was concerned because of Timothy’s youth and the amount of opposition to him as a leader. Paul was urging him to be bold. Oh, how much boldness is needed by our Christian leaders today.

We see boldness everywhere in secular world leaders and not enough belief in the religious leaders. Paul tells Timothy, what everyone of us should never forget, that suffering will come to those who live out the Gospel message. In fact, Paul was jailed for preaching the Gospel (Hebrews 13:23). Paul promised Timothy that God would give him strength and that he would be ready when it was his turn to suffer.

We too must be ready and we too will be given strength by Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:13). Today, the threat of ridicule, rejection, being politically defeated, and, in some places in the world, being assassinated is the price for standing up for Christ. When we stand up for Christ in spite of the persecution, we are living out the Gospel message of God who loves us, chose us and sent Jesus to die for us. We die for Christ by dying to ourselves and when we call on the power of the Holy Spirit to defend us. We can stand up for Christ and endure peer pressure by walking away from pornography, refusing to go to R‑rated movies, and not buying the videos that portray women as sexual play‑toys.

Persecution is active today in many ways, and we must remember that we do not deserve to be saved, but God offers us salvation anyway. All we have to do is believe and respond with obedience to him. We must never forget that evil will succeed only when righteous people do nothing.

 

MATTHEW 17:1‑9

The Transfiguration was a special revelation of Jesus’ divinity to three of his disciples. God affirmed everything that Jesus had done and was about to do in the near future. The presence of Moses and Elijah with Jesus confirmed his mission of salvation. Moses represented the law. He is the central figure in the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible), and he predicted the coming of a great Prophet (Deut. 18:15‑19).

Elijah represents the prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5‑6). Jesus is the fulfillment of both the law and the prophets. God’s voice at the Transfiguration gave authority to Jesus’ words. Peter wanted them all to stay and offered to build a place for all three. He wanted to act, but it was a time to pray and worship.

We must remember that before anything is acted upon, we must first pray and give worship to God. Peter did not realize that Christ was not to be compared to anyone, especially on any mountain top. Today much of the world looks at Jesus Christ as being a good leader, a good influence or a great prophet. The fact is, he is more than that, he is the Son of God. When you understand this incredible truth, the only appropriate response is worship.

We need to know about Christ in order to obey him completely. We must pray, read scripture, study scripture, share scripture and then live the scripture. Jesus told the disciples not to tell what they had seen until after his resurrection. He said this because he knew that they did not fully understand who he was, or what his mission was all about. They knew he was the Messiah, but they had much more to learn about him through his death and resurrection. The disciples were amazed at the radiance of Jesus’ face and they were transfigured themselves.

The incredible reality of who Jesus really was hit them full force. When a person meets Jesus and accepts him personally, a great transfiguration takes place. The amazement and radiance of Jesus is imprinted on the person’s heart. The change or “metonoia” brings about a radiance that glows from within the person. Jesus wants you to be transfigured and he wants your heart to shine like the sun and be dazzling bright, just like his.

 

Application

The first reading brings the power of God’s love and mercy to those who respond to his promise. The second reading calls on us to bear our burden of hardships and know that Christ will give us the needed strength. The Gospel reading shows that Jesus wants us to be changed and he wants us to give him glory by our response to him.

This week, let us be very sensitive Christians as we relate to our families, jobs, and community. Let us show by example how we can bear up under hardship, for example: being sick and trying to be cheerful, or being tired and trying to respond to another’s needs. Let the change within us be a sign to others that we act out what we say and what we believe. You and your family will be transfigured and others will be drawn to your radiance and they will know that the Holy Spirit dwells within you.

 

SEGUNDO DOMINGO DE CUARESMA (March 5th) ‑ CICLO A

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El Pan de Vida – Estudio de Biblia Catolico

By Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

 

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

SEGUNDO DIA                                       GéNESIS 12:1-4                           PRIMeRA LECTURA

(“El llamado de Abraham, el padre del Pueblo de Dios.”)

  1. ¿A quién le estaba hablando el Señor Dios en Génesis 12:1?
  2. ¿A dónde le dijo el Señor que fuera? Génesis 12:1
  3. ¿Cuáles cuatro cosas dijo el Señor que haría por Abram? Génesis 12:2-3

1.

2.

3.

4.

  1. ¿Qué les hará Dios a los que bendigan a Abram? Génesis 12:3

Personal – El diccionario define la palabra bendecir como: 1. hacer santo, santificado; 2. pedir favor divino por o para; 3. desear bien a; 4. hacer feliz o próspero; 5. guardar, preservar. ¿En qué forma te has sentido bendecido(a) por el Señor? ¿En qué forma has hecho una practica de bendecir a tu esposo o esposa, a tus hijos, parientes o amigos?

  1. ¿Qué les hará Dios a los que maldigan a Abram? Génesis 12:3
  2. ¿Quién encontrará bendición en Abram? Génesis 12:3
  3. ¿Qué hizo Abram y quién fue con él? Génesis 12:4
  4. ¿Quién era Lot? Génesis 11:31
  5. ¿Cuántos años tenía Abram cuando se fue de Jarán, tierra de sus antecesores? Génesis 12:4
  6. ¿Qué otro nombre le fue dado a Abram por el Señor y qué hizo de él, el Señor? Génesis 17:5

Personal ‑ ¿En qué forma reconoces la voz del Señor cuando te está hablando y obedeces la voz como Abram lo hizo? ¿Cómo crees que puedes discernir si el Señor te está hablando o no? Comparte con alguien.

TERCER DIA                                       2 TIMOTEO 1:8-10                        SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“El nos salvó y nos llamó, destinándonos a ser santos.”)

  1. ¿Quién está hablando en 2 Timoteo 1:8, y a quién le está hablando? 2 Timoteo 1:1-2
  2. ¿De qué no te debes avergonzar? 2 Timoteo 1:8; Eclesiástico 4:26, 51:29; Romanos 1:16; 1 Pedro 4:16
  3. ¿Qué pasará si nos avergonzamos de Jesús y su doctrina? Lucas 9:26
  4. ¿De dónde viene nuestra fuerza? 2 Timoteo 1:8
  5. ¿Qué debemos soportar? 2 Timoteo 1:8
  6. ¿A quién podemos tomar como modelos en el sufrimiento y paciencia? Santiago 5:10
  7. ¿Qué ha hecho Dios por nosotros y a qué tipo de vida nos ha llamado? 2 Timoteo 1:9
  8. ¿Hemos sido salvados por algo que hayamos hecho? 2 Timoteo 1:9
  9. ¿Cómo nos ha salvado Dios? 2 Timoteo 1:9-10; Tito 3:5
  10. ¿Cómo le quitó Jesús el poder a la muerte? 2 Timoteo 1:10; Romanos 6:9-10

Personal ‑ ¿Cuál es el testimonio para nuestro Señor que tienes para compartir? ¿Tienes un testimonio personal de como el Señor ha trabajado en tu vida? ¿Has compartido esto con tu esposo(a), hijos, familiares, amistades, compañeros de trabajo? Ora y pídele a Dios que te revele tu propio testimonio esta semana.

CUARTO DIA                                          MATEO 17:1‑9                                          EVANGELIO

(“Su cara brillaba como el sol y su ropa se puso resplandeciente como la luz.”)

  1. ¿A quién se llevó Jesús a la montaña alta, y que le pasó a Jesús? Mateo 17:1-2
  2. ¿Quién se apareció de repente, y qué dijo Pedro entonces? Mateo 17:3-4
  3. ¿Cuando Pedro estaba hablando que los envolvió, y qué salió de la nube? Mateo 17:5
  4. ¿Qué nos detiene de escuchar al Señor? Éxodo 7:13; Deuteronomio 1:43, 21:18; Hechos 28:27; Hebreos 12:25

Personal – ¿En qué forma has sido capaz de afinar tu mente a lo que Dios esta diciéndote por medio de la oración y su palabra? Medita sobre esto.

  1. ¿Cómo se dirigió Dios Padre a Jesús en Mateo 17:5? Mateo 3:17
  2. ¿Qué les pasó a Pedro, Santiago y Juan cuando oyeron la voz de la nube y de que se llenaron? Mateo 17:6
  3. ¿Qué hizo Jesús y qué dijo? Mateo 17:7
  4. ¿Qué les pasó a todos aquellos a los que Jesús les impuso las manos en las siguientes escrituras? Mateo 8:3, 14-15, 9:23-25
  5. ¿Qué dice 1 Juan 4:16-18 que es la relación de Dios, amor y temor?
  6. ¿Qué le dijo Dios a Abram acerca del temor en Génesis 15:1?
  7. ¿A quién le dijo Jesús, “no tengas temor”? Mateo 28:1, 8-10; Marcos 6:45, 49-50; Lucas 5:10
  8. ¿Cuando Pedro, Santiago y Juan miraron hacia arriba a quién vieron? ¿Cuando venían bajando de la montaña cuál fue la orden que les dio Jesús? Mateo 17:8-9

Personal – ¿En qué forma has sentido el toque sanador de Jesús? ¿Has impuesto las manos sobre alguien de tu familia que se encuentre enfermo? Si una amistad o un miembro de la familia tiene miedo, pon tus manos sobre ellos y asegurarles de la presencia de Dios.

QUINTO DIA                                   SALMO 51:3‑6, 12‑14, 17

(“Pues recta es la Palabra del Señor.”)

Lee y medita el Salmo 51:3-6, 12-14, 17.

¿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

GéNESIS 12:1-4

Es muy significante y muy apropiado que el pasaje de Abram nos guié al Segundo Domingo de Cuaresma. Abram vivía una vida pagana en un país donde se adoraban ídolos. El tenía alrededor de 75 años y gozaba de una reputación de hombre próspero en la comunidad. Abram había experimentado una conversión personal y estaba convencido de que solo Dios era el Dios verdadero. Primero vino el llamado a Abram y luego vino la “Gran Comisión”, de “vayan y hagan que todos los pueblos sean mis discípulos”. (Mateo 28:19)

Dios nos demuestra su misericordia y su amor en la primera lección, en el llamado a Abram. Dios empezó por medio de Abram las preparaciones que llevarían a la venida de Jesucristo, nuestro Señor y Salvador, quien reabriría las puertas del cielo para nosotros. Solamente un Dios de amor y piedad pudo haber perseverado frente a esta gente tan rebelde. Nosotros también debemos extender el amor de Dios a todas las naciones no solamente a la de nosotros. Por medio de la familia de Abram, Jesús nació para salvar a toda la humanidad. Por medio de Jesús toda la gente y todas las naciones pueden tener una relación personal con Dios y las bendiciones continúan aún hasta ahora, sin medida.

La promesa de Dios para Abram de hacerlo grande estaba unida a una promesa de Abram de obediencia. Esto significó dejar la comodidad y seguridad de su casa y amistades y viajar a una tierra nueva y extraña. Abram obedeció dejando todas sus posesiones por la promesa de Dios de darle cosas aún más grandes. Nosotros somos llamados, como Abram, a ser gente escogida.

Cuando hacemos nuestra conversión como Abram lo hizo y conocemos a Dios personalmente, también somos llamados a ir adelante en su nombre. Tal vez Dios está tratando de guiarte a un lugar de santidad y de mayor servicio a su gente. No permitas que las comodidades y seguridad de lo que tienes te hagan perder el plan que Dios tiene para ti. El plan de Dios para Israel es el mismo para ti y para mí. Jesús dijo “Yo he venido no solamente a darles vida, sino también vida en abundancia”.  (Juan 10:10)

Dios planeó desarrollar una nación de gente a la que llamaría suya. Por medio de la muerte y resurrección de Jesucristo, tú y yo tenemos el privilegio de ser llamados hijos e hijas de Dios. Dios nos llama ahora y debemos escuchar y luego responder y aceptarlo personalmente e ir adelante a decirles a otros acerca de lo que hemos experimentado. Esto se llama evangelizar o atestiguar. Hemos sido llamados a hacer discípulos de todas las naciones.  (Mateo 28:19)

2 TIMOTEO 1:8‑10

Pablo le escribe esta carta a Timoteo de la prisión esperando animarlo a perseverar en su ministerio. Había mucha persecución en las comunidades cristianas y Pablo estaba preocupado por la juventud de Timoteo y la cantidad de oposición al mismo como líder. Pablo estaba exhortándolo a que fuera valiente. ¡Oh!, cuánta más valentía es necesaria ahora en nuestros líderes Cristianos.

Vemos valentía en todas partes, con los líderes del mundo seglar y no suficiente en los líderes religiosos. Pablo le dice a Timoteo lo que todos nosotros no debemos olvidar nunca; el sufrimiento vendrá a todos esos que vivan el mensaje del Evangelio. En realidad Pablo estaba encarcelado por predicar el Evangelio (Hebreos 13:23). Pablo le promete a Timoteo que Dios le dará fuerza y que él estará listo cuando sea su turno de sufrir.

Nosotros también debemos estar listos y también a nosotros Jesús nos dará fuerza (Corintios 10:13). En estos días, la amenaza del ridículo, del rechazo, el ser ignorados socialmente, ser derrotados políticamente y en algunos lugares del mundo ser asesinados, es el precio puesto sobre esos que defienden a Cristo. Cuando defendemos a Cristo a pesar de la persecución, estamos viviendo el mensaje del Evangelio de que Dios nos ama, nos escogió y que mandó a Jesús a morir por nosotros. Nosotros morimos por Cristo negándonos a nosotros mismos y pidiendo el poder del Espíritu Santo para que nos defienda. Podemos defender a Cristo y resistir la persecución retirándonos de la pornografía, rechazando ir a las películas para adultos, dejando de comprar las películas que representan a la mujer como juguete-sexual.

La persecución esta activa hoy en día en muchas formas y debemos recordar que no merecemos ser salvados pero que Dios nos ofrece la salvación de todas maneras. Todo lo que tenemos que hacer es creer y responder con obediencia a El. Nunca debemos olvidar que lo malo solamente triunfará cuando la gente justa no haga nada.

MATEO 17:1‑9

La transfiguración fue una revelación especial de la divinidad de Jesús a tres de sus discípulos. Dios afirma todo lo que Jesús ha hecho y que estaba por hacer en un futuro cercano. La presencia de Moisés y Elías con Jesús confirmó su misión de salvación. Moisés representaba la Ley, él es la figura central del Pentateuco (los primeros cinco libros de la Biblia), y él predijo la venida de un gran profeta (Deuteronomio 18:15-19).

Elías representa a los profetas quienes pronosticaron la venida del Mesías (Malaquías 4:5-6). Jesús es el cumplimiento de ambos, la Ley y los profetas. La Voz de Dios en la Transfiguración le dio autoridad a las palabras de Jesús. Pedro quería que todos se quedaran y ofreció construir un lugar para los tres. El quería actuar, pero ésta era la hora para orar y adorar.

Debemos recordar que antes de actuar sobre cualquier cosa, debemos orar primero y adorar a Dios. Pedro no se dio cuenta en la montaña de que Cristo no debía ser comparado con nadie. Ahora en muchas partes del mundo se mira a Jesucristo como un buen líder, una buena influencia o un buen profeta. La realidad es que, El es más que eso, El es el Hijo de Dios. Cuando comprendas esta verdad increíble, la única respuesta apropiada será la adoración.

Necesitamos saber acerca de Cristo para poder obedecerlo totalmente. Debemos orar, leer las escrituras, estudiar las escrituras, compartir las escrituras y después vivir las escrituras. Jesús les dijo a los discípulos que no dijeran lo que habían visto hasta después de su resurrección. El dijo esto porque él sabía que ellos no entendían plenamente quien era ó ni siquiera de que se trataba su misión. Ellos sabían que El era el Mesías, pero todavía tenían mucho que aprender acerca de El por medio de su muerte y resurrección. Los discípulos estaban asombrados por el resplandor de la cara de Jesús y ellos mismos fueron transfigurados.

La realidad increíble de saber quien era Jesús les cayó con toda su fuerza. Cuando una persona conoce y acepta a Jesús personalmente, hay una gran transfiguración que toma lugar. El asombro y resplandor de Jesús queda impreso en el corazón de la persona. El cambio o “arrepentimiento” trae resplandor que brilla desde adentro de la persona. Jesús quiere que seas transfigurado(a) y El quiere que tu corazón brille como el sol y que esté deslumbrante de luz como el de El.

Aplicación

La primera lectura trae el poder del amor y la piedad de Dios a los que responden a su promesa. La segunda lectura nos llama a aguantar nuestra carga de aflicciones y a saber que Cristo nos dará la fuerza necesaria para llevar esta carga. La lectura del Evangelio nos enseña que Jesús nos quiere cambiados y quiere que le demos gloria a El por medio de nuestra respuesta.

Vamos a ser Cristianos muy sensitivos esta semana al relacionarnos con nuestra familia, en el trabajo, y comunidad. Vamos a demostrar por medio de nuestro ejemplo como podemos aguantar bajo aflicciones, por ejemplo: estando enfermo y ser feliz. Estar cansado y aún así responder a las necesidades de alguien más. Dejando que el cambio dentro de nosotros sea un signo para otros de que actuamos en lo que decimos y creemos. Tú y tu familia serán transfigurados y otros estarán atraídos al resplandor en ustedes y se darán cuenta que es el Espíritu Santo que vive en su templo santo.

PRIMER DOMINGO DE CUARESMA (Feb. 26th) ‑ CICLO A

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El Pan de Vida – Estudio de Biblia Catolico

By Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

 

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

SEGUNDO DIA                                   GéNESIS 2:7‑9, 3:1‑7                       PRIMeRA LECTURA

(“Creación de nuestros primeros padres y del pecado.”)

  1. ¿De qué formó el Señor al hombre? Génesis 2:7; Eclesiastés 33:10; Isaías 64:7
  2. ¿Qué fue lo que sopló sobre él? ¿En qué se convirtió el hombre? Génesis 2:7
  3. ¿Qué fue lo que plantó el Señor, dónde lo hizo y a quién colocó allí? Génesis 2:8
  4. ¿Qué hizo el Señor de la tierra? Génesis 2:9
  5. Llena los espacios en blanco: “Yavé hizo brotar del suelo ____________________ __________________ ____________________ agradables a la ____________________ y buenos para  Y puso en medio el __________________ ____________________  ____________________  ____________________ y el ____________________ __________________ __________________ del __________________ y del __________________.   Génesis 2:9

Personal ‑ ¿Cómo te ves a ti mismo siendo “moldeado” por Jesús cada día? ¿Te has ofrecido a El y dejado que te forme en Su imagen, o te has ofrecido a los demás permitiendo que te formen a la imagen del mundo? Medita en esto.

  1. ¿Cuál es el más astuto de los animales creados por Dios y a quién hizo la pregunta la serpiente, y cuál fue la contestación de la mujer? Génesis 3:1-3
  2. ¿Qué les advirtió Dios que les sucedería si comían del árbol que estaba en medio del jardín? Génesis 2:17 y 3:3
  3. ¿Qué le dijo la serpiente a la mujer? Génesis 2:17 y 3:4-5
  4. Compara las tres cosas que vio la mujer en Génesis 3:6, con las tres cosas que ofrece el mundo en 1 Juan 2:16.

                                    GéNESIS 3:6              1 JuaN 2:16

1.

2.

3.

  1. ¿Qué hizo élla y quién estaba con élla? ¿Qué pasó cuando comieron la fruta? Génesis 3:6-7

TERCER DIA                                       ROMANOS 5:12‑19                        SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“La gracia de Dios hizo más que reparar la caída del hombre.”)

  1. ¿Cómo entró el pecado en el mundo y qué vino junto al pecado? Romanos 5:12
  2. ¿A quién le vino la muerte y qué existía en el mundo antes de la Ley? Romanos 5:12-13
  3. ¿Qué reinó desde los tiempos de Adán hasta Moisés y aún hasta para aquellos que no habían pecado? Romanos 5:14
  4. ¿A qué no se parece el regalo y qué se desbordó para muchos? Romanos 5:15
  5. ¿A quién se le da la gracia? Efesios 6:24; Salmo 84:12; Romanos 11:5
  6. ¿Cómo trabaja la gracia de Dios en nosotros? ¿Cuál es el regalo de Dios para nosotros? Efesios 2:8; Hechos 2:38; 1 Pedro 2:19
  7. ¿Qué es totalmente diferente del pecado cometido por el primer hombre? Romanos 5:16
  8. ¿Qué sucedió en el primer y segundo caso? Romanos 5:16
  9. ¿Si la muerte comenzó a reinar a partir de un hombre por su ofensa, ¿qué reciben aquellos por medio de un hombre, Jesucristo? Romanos 5:17
  10. Compara los textos siguientes y llena los espacios: Romanos 5:18-19

una sola ofensa                                       un solo acto justo

_______________________                    ________________________

la desobediencia de un hombre                la obediencia de un hombre

_______________________                    ________________________

Personal ‑ – ¿Cómo estás caminando en obediencia a la Palabra de Dios? ¿La conoces lo suficiente para distinguir si estás o no caminando en obediencia? ¿De qué manera es suficiente Su gracia para ti? Piensa sobre esto.

CUARTO DIA                                          MATEO 4:1‑11                                          EVANGELIO

(“Como Adán y Eva, Jesús también fue tentado, pero no pecó.”)

  1. ¿Qué pasó antes que fuera llevado Jesús al desierto? Mateo 4:2, 3:13
  2. ¿Quién guió a Jesús al desierto, y por quién fue tentado? Mateo 4:1
  3. ¿Cuánto tiempo ayunó, y cuál era su condición física después de su ayuno? Mateo 4:2
  4. ¿Cómo se llama el demonio, y qué le dijo Jesús? Mateo 4:3
  5. ¿Cuál fue la respuesta de Jesús, y cómo dijo El que no debe vivir este hombre? Mateo 4:4
  6. ¿Aparte del hambre, qué otros tipos de tentaciones puede el demonio presentarnos? Efesios 4:26-27; Santiago 4:6-7; 1 Pedro 5:8
  7. ¿Qué hizo después el demonio, y qué le dijo a Jesús? Mateo 4:5-6
  8. ¿A quién recordó el diablo en Mateo 4:6 y de dónde sacó ese texto? Salmo 91:11
  9. ¿Qué le contestó Jesús, y en qué volvió a confiar Jesús? Mateo 4:7; Deuteronomio 6:6
  10. ¿Qué hizo el diablo entonces y que le prometió a Jesús y qué tenía que hacer Jesús para recibir esta promesa? Mateo 4:8-9
  11. ¿Qué le respondió Jesús, qué hizo el demonio y quién vino a servir a Jesús? Mateo 4:11

Personal – Si cuando fue tentado por el demonio, Jesús respondió diciendo: “Dicen las Escrituras…”, ¿no debíamos responder nosotros cuando nos tienta, “dicen las Escrituras”? ¿Cómo te ha ayudado el estudio de la Palabra de Dios para saber como resistir a Satanás y hacerlo huir? Usando la Palabra de Dios concéntrate esta semana en las áreas en las que te sientes débil y te sientes tentado a ceder. Si no puedes pensar en un pasaje de la Escritura en esa área en particular, acuérdate de pedir a Dios que te la revele.

QUINTO DIA                                   SALMO 51:3‑6, 12‑14, 17

(“En la grandeza de tu compasión, borra mis ofensas.”)

Lee y medita el Salmo 51:3-6, 12-14, 17.

¿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

GéNESIS 2:7‑9; 3:1‑7

En este pasaje vemos el enorme regalo que nos viene de Dios y por supuesto, es la vida. El cuerpo permanece inerte hasta que Dios sopla Su vida en él; nuestros cuerpos regresan al polvo cuando Dios retira Su soplo de vida. Es increíblemente importante entender que la vida y el valor del hombre vienen del soplo de Dios. Este pasaje muestra claramente nuestra necesidad de Dios. Solo necesitamos mirar a nuestro alrededor y ver cuán perecederas son nuestras acciones. Encontramos que Dios es el único valor permanente en nuestras vidas. Por El, tú y yo podemos enfrentarnos mañana con una necesidad y no tener miedo.

Dios nos ha dado un regalo milagroso llamado vida y necesitamos valorarlo tanto como El lo hace. Hacemos esto al valorar las vidas de otros y protegiendo la santidad de la vida humana dondequiera que vayamos. Dios nos mostró que tan especiales somos para El, al colocar a Adán y Eva en un jardín bello y seguro con plantas y árboles.

Necesitamos enfrentar la pregunta antigua, ¿porqué pondría Dios en medio del jardín un árbol, para luego prohibirle a Adán comer de él?  Dios quería, desde luego, que Adán lo obedeciera, pero también le dio la libertad de elegir. Dios nos da la misma oportunidad hoy en día, y muchas veces, tal y como Adán, a veces hacemos una mala selección. Las malas decisiones que tomamos nos causan y causan a los demás penas, dolor e irritación, éstas también nos ayudan a aprender, crecer y tomar mejores decisiones en el futuro. A Adán se le dio la oportunidad porque de otro modo se hubiera convertido en un prisionero forzado a obedecer sin posibilidad de decir “no”. Vemos a Satanás disfrazado de serpiente tratando de tentar a Eva.

Hoy en día Satanás sigue tentando a todos, aún a ti al leer este comentario. Satanás fracasó y fue aplastado por Dios (Gen. 3:14). Adán y Eva aprendieron que, como Dios es Santo y odia al pecado, debe castigar a los pecadores. ¿Por qué nos tienta Satanás? La tentación es la invitación de Satanás para que cedamos a vivir su tipo de vida dejando a un lado el tipo de vida que Dios nos propone. Satanás tentó a Eva con éxito haciéndola que pecara, y desde entonces se mantiene muy ocupado haciendo que peque la gente.

Podemos resistir la tentación orando para recibir fuerza. Podemos correr o salir de esa situación que causa tentación (películas malas, chistes sucios, malas compañías, etc.) Finalmente, podemos decir NO cuando nos enfrentamos con lo que sabemos es malo. Satanás trato de mostrar a Eva que el pecado es precioso, filosofía que se practica hoy en las películas y programas de TV. La gente normalmente escoge acciones equívocas porque están convencidos de que son correctas. Prepárate para las tentaciones atractivas que te lleguen.

ROMANOS 5:12‑19

“No es justo.” Este es el grito de muchos que se rehúsan a considerarse culpables por algo que hizo Adán hace miles de años. Mucha gente siente que Dios no es justo cuando nos culpa a nosotros hoy por lo que hizo Adán hace tanto tiempo. Sin embargo cada uno de nosotros confirma su identificación con la de Adán por nuestros pecados. Estamos hechos de la misma materia, rápidos en rebelarnos, y en juzgar a los demás. Todos somos pecadores y no alcanzamos la Gloria de Dios (Romanos 3:23), lo que realmente necesitamos no es justicia, sino más bien caridad.

Pablo le dice a la gente que guardar la ley no trae la salvación. El continúa diciéndole a la gente que la ley ayuda a que reconozcamos nuestros pecados. La ley señala nuestro pecado y pone la responsabilidad de ésta sobre nuestros hombros. La ley no nos salva del resultado de nuestro pecado; solo el poder salvador de Dios puede salvarnos.

Debemos volvernos a Jesús para poder ser salvados. Adán nos heredó los resultados de su pecado, heredamos su culpa, su tendencia a pecar, el castigo de Dios. Por la muerte de Jesús por nosotros en la Cruz, aún cuando somos pecadores (Romanos 5:8), podemos cambiar juicio por perdón. Jesús nos ha ofrecido la posibilidad de nacer en su familia espiritual, la familia que comienza con el perdón y lleva a la vida eterna.

Tenemos la enorme oportunidad de hacer una decisión. Si no hacemos nada, tendremos la muerte con Adán. Si, por otra parte, decidimos llegar a Dios por la fe, tendremos vida por Jesucristo. Piensa en esto cuidadosamente. ¿A qué familia quieres pertenecer?

MATEO 4:1‑11

Mateo nos muestra en este pasaje la humanidad de Jesús cuando El estaba vulnerable y hambriento por el ayuno en el desierto. Esta experiencia le permitió a Jesús reafirmar el plan de Dios para su propio ministerio. La tentación del Señor es muy importante para nosotros porque nos muestra que hasta Jesús tuvo que enfrentarse con élla y nosotros no debemos esperar menos que eso, también.

Jesús no cayó en la tentación y nosotros estamos llamados a hacer lo mismo por medio de la fe y la obediencia al Señor Jesucristo. Una persona que nunca ha tenido oportunidad de desobedecer no puede llamarse obediente. Necesitamos darnos cuenta de que nosotros también seremos probados y debemos estar alertas y listos para esto. No somos tentados por Cristo porque El no quiere arrastrarnos abajo. Somos tentados por Satanás y solo la fe en Jesucristo nos puede dar fuerza y hacer huir al demonio.

Es importante para nosotros recordar que nuestras convicciones únicamente son buenas cuando aguantan la presión. El probarlas será nuestra acción al rechazar la tentación. Debemos hacer hincapié que por si misma, la tentación no es un pecado. Pecamos cuando cedemos y desobedecemos a Dios. Vemos en este pasaje que las tentaciones de Satanás se enfocaron en tres áreas cruciales de nuestras vidas: deseos físicos, posesiones, poder, y orgullo. Esas tentaciones existen definitivamente hoy en día en contra de la gente, igual como lo estaban para Jesús.

Jesús resistió a Satanás porque conocía la Escritura, la recordó y obedeció. A nosotros se nos dice que la Palabra de Dios es un arma que como marro, despedaza rocas (Jer. 23:29). Conocer las Escrituras es importante para resistir los embates de Satanás, pero debemos obedecer a Dios también. Debemos recordar muy bien que Satanás también conocía las Escrituras, pero escogió desobedecer la Palabra de Dios. Satanás usó la Escritura para tratar de convencer a Jesús a pecar, así como alguien hoy en una amistad tratará de convencerte con un texto que parece darle apoyo a su punto de vista. Reza, lee y estudia la Palabra de Dios diariamente y estarás listo cuando Satanás trate de envolverte para que caigas en la tentación.

Aplicación

La primera lectura nos muestra que la distorsión del mundo es peligrosa. En la segunda lectura vemos claramente que el regalo de Jesús con su muerte en la cruz borra totalmente el resultado del pecado de Adán. El Evangelio nos revela que conocer la Palabra de Dios, aún cuando es importante, no es suficiente para resistir la tentación. Debemos hacer vida la Palabra de Dios para verdaderamente liberarnos de la tentación.

Busca esta semana un pasaje de las Escrituras que se refiera a una tentación que tengamos, por ejem.: que nunca debemos irnos a la cama si tenemos algo contra la esposa, padre, madre, hermano(a), etc. Debemos actuar de acuerdo a Efes. 4:26, “Enójense, pero sin pecar: que el enojo no les dure hasta el termino del día y no den lugar al demonio”. Esto podemos lograrlo mediante la confesión de nuestro pecado y pidiendo a la persona ofendida que nos perdone. Esa es una buena forma de resistir a Satanás y hacerlo huir.

Lectio Divina – 1st Sunday of Lent (Feb. 26th) – Cycle A

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

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

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

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

READ, REFLECT AND WRITE ON THE GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Matthew 4:1-11 – At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

 

What does the Lord personally want you to do?

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (Feb. 26th) ‑ CYCLE A

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THE BREAD OF LIFE CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

by Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

 

 

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 2:7‑9, 3:1‑7      FIRST READING

(“Creation of our first parents, and sin.”)

  1. Out of what did the Lord God form man? Genesis 2:7; Sirach 33:10; Isaiah 64:7

 

  1. What did he blow into his nostrils and what did man become? Genesis 2:7

 

  1. What did the Lord God plant, where did he plant it, and whom did he place there? Genesis 2:8

 

  1. What did the Lord make out of the ground? Genesis 2:9

 

  1. Fill in the following blanks: Out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.   Genesis 2:9

 

Personal ‑ How do you see yourself being molded by Jesus each day? Have you offered yourself to God and allowed him to shape you in his own image, or have you offered yourself to those around you and allowed them to shape you into the world’s image? Meditate on this.

 

  1. Who is the most cunning of all the animals that the Lord God has made and to whom did the serpent ask the question, and what was the woman’s answer to the question?   Genesis 3:1-3

 

  1. What did God say would happen to them if they ate from the tree in the middle of the garden? Genesis 2:17, 3:3

 

  1. What did the serpent say to the woman? Genesis 2:17, 3:4-5

 

  1. Compare the three things the woman saw in Genesis 3:6 with the three things the world has to offer in 1 John 2:16.

GENESIS 3:6                     1 JOHN 2:16

    1. good for food             sensual lust

 

  1. pleasing to the eyes              enticement for the eyes

 

  1. desirable for gaining wisdom               pretentious life

 

  1. What did she do, who was with her, and what happened when they ate the fruit? Genesis 3:6-7

 

 

THIRD DAY              READ ROMANS 5:12‑19        SECOND READING

(“The results of the gift, Jesus Christ, outweigh one man’s sin.”)

  1. How did sin enter the world and what went with sin? Romans 5:12

 

  1. To whom did death come and what was in the world before the law?   Romans 5:12-13

 

  1. What reigned from Adam to Moses and even over those who had not sinned yet?   Romans 5:14

 

  1. What is the gift not like and what overflowed for the many?      Romans 5:15

 

  1. To whom is grace given? Ephesians 6:24, Psalm 84:12, Romans 11:5

 

  1. How does God’s grace work in us and what is God’s gift to us?      Ephesians 2:8, Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 2:19

 

  1. What is entirely different from the sin committed by the one man? Romans 5:16

 

  1. What happened in the first case and what happened in the second case?   Romans 5:16

 

  1. If death began to reign through one man because of his offense, what will those receive through the one man, Jesus      Christ?   Romans 5:17

 

 

  1. Compare the following and fill in the blanks: Romans 5:18‑19

 

a single offense                 a single righteous act

 

_______________________          ________________________

 

one man’s disobedience           one man’s obedience

 

_______________________          ________________________

 

 

Personal ‑ How are you walking in obedience to God’s Word? Do you know it enough to distinguish whether you are or are not walking in obedience? In what way is his grace sufficient for you? Think about this.

 

 

 

FOURTH DAY             READ MATTHEW 4:1‑11               GOSPEL

(“Like Adam and Eve, Jesus was tempted, but did not sin.”)

  1. What happened just before Jesus was led into the desert? Matthew 4:2, Matthew 3:13

 

  1. Who led Jesus into the desert and by whom was he tested? Matthew 4:1

 

  1. How long did he fast and what was his physical condition after he fasted?   Matthew 4:2

 

  1. What is the devil called and what did he say to him?     Matthew 4:3

 

  1. What was Jesus’ reply and how did he say this man was not to live?   Matthew 4:4

 

  1. What are some other ways besides hunger by which the devil can tempt us?  Ephesians 4:26, 27 James 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:8

 

  1. What did the devil do next and what did the devil say to Jesus?   Matthew 4:5-6

 

  1. What did the devil quote in Matthew 4:6, and where did the quote come from?   Psalm 91:11

 

  1. What did Jesus answer him and on what did Jesus again rely?      Matthew 4:7, Deuteronomy 6:6

 

  1. What did the devil then do, what did the devil promise Jesus, and what would he have to do in order to receive this promise? Matthew 4:8‑9

 

  1. What did Jesus say to him, what did the devil do, and who came and waited on Jesus? Matthew 4:11

 

Personal – If, when being tempted by the devil, Jesus responded with “Scripture has it,” should we not also respond to temptation with “Scripture has it?” How has the study of God’s Word helped you resist temptation and make Satan flee? Use God’s Word and concentrate on areas in which you are weak and are tempted. If you cannot think of a scrip­ture in that particular area, remember to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one to you.

 

 

FIFTH DAY         READ PSALM 51:3‑6, 12‑14, 17

(“In the greatness of your compassion, wipe out my offense.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17.

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 2:7‑9; 3:1‑7

We see in this passage the tremendous gift that comes from God, and that, of course, is life. The body is lifeless until God breathes life into it. Our bodies return to dust when God removes his life‑giving breath from us. It is incredibly important that we see that man’s life and worth come from the breath of God. This passage clearly shows us our need for God. We need only to look around and see how temporary our achievements are. We find that God is the only permanent value in our lives. Be­cause of him, you and I can face tomorrow without any need to fear.

God has given us a miraculous gift called life and we need to value it as much as he does. We do this by valuing the lives of others and protecting the sanctity of human life wherever we may go. God showed us how special we were by placing Adam and Eve in a beautiful and safe garden of plants and trees.

We need to confront the age‑old question, why would God place a tree in the garden and then forbid Adam to eat from it? God, of course, wanted Adam to obey him, but he also gave him the freedom to choose. Today, God gives us that choice, and many times, like Adam, we make a wrong choice. These wrong choices that we make today can cause us and others great pain and irritation. They also can help us to learn and grow and make better choices in the future. Adam was given a choice, because he would have been a prisoner forced to obey if he couldn’t say “no”. We see Satan disguised as a serpent trying to tempt Eve.

Satan is still trying to tempt everyone away from God even as you read this commentary. Satan failed and he was crushed by God (Gen. 3:14). Adam and Eve learned that since God is holy and hates sin, he must punish sinners. Why does Satan tempt us? Temptation is Satan’s invita­tion to give in to his kind of life and give up on God’s kind of life. Satan tempted Eve and was success­ful in getting her to sin, and ever since that time he’s been busy getting people to sin.

We can resist temptation by praying for the strength to resist. We can run away or remove ourselves from situations that cause the temptation (bad movies, dirty jokes, bad companions, etc.). Finally, we can say no when con­fronted with what we know is wrong. Satan tries to show Eve that sin is lovely, and today, we see that same philosophy in our movies and TV shows at home. People usually choose wrong things because they have been convinced that these things are good. Be prepared to resist the attractive temptations that may come your way.

 

 

ROMANS 5:12‑19

“It isn’t fair.” That is the cry of many who refuse to be declared guilty of something Adam did thousands of years ago. Many people feel it is not right or fair for God to lay his judgment on us today for what Adam did so long ago. Yet each one of us confirms our identification with Adam by our sins. We are made of the same stuff, quick to rebel, quick to make judgments on others. We are all sinners who fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and what we really need is not fairness, rather it is mercy.

Paul tells the people that keeping the law does not bring salvation. He goes on to tell them that the law helps people to see their sinfulness. The law points out our sin and places the responsibility for it squarely on our shoulders. The law does not save us from the results of sin; only the healing power of Jesus Christ can save us.

We must turn to Jesus in order to be saved. Adam has brought to all of us the results of his sin, inherited guilt, the tendency to sin, and God’s punishment. Because of Jesus’ dying for us on the cross even while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8), we can still trade judgment for forgiveness. Jesus has offered us the chance to be born into his spiritual family, the family that begins with forgiveness and leads to eternal life.

We have an incredible opportunity to make a choice. If we do nothing we have death through Adam. If, on the other hand, we decide to come to God through faith, we will have life through Christ. Think about this question very seriously. To which family line do you now belong?

 

MATTHEW 4:1‑11

Matthew shows us, in this passage, the humanness of Jesus and his being tempted while being very vulnerable and hungry in the desert. This experience allowed Jesus to reaffirm God’s plan for his own ministry. This temptation of Jesus is very important for us because it showed that even Jesus had to face temptation, and we should expect no less than this, too.

Jesus did not give in to his temptation, and we can do the same through faith and obedience to Our Lord Jesus Christ. A person has not shown true obedience if he has never had the opportunity to be disobedient. We need to realize that we too will be tested and we should be alert and ready for it. We are not being tempted by Christ because he does not try to drag us down. We are being tempted by Satan, and only through faith in Jesus can we resist and make the devil flee.

It is important for us to remember our convictions are only as good as they are under pressure. Testing is a time that we experience as we react to the temptation. We need to remember that temptation itself is not a sin. We sin when we give in and disobey God. We see in this passage that Satan’s temptations focused on four crucial areas in our lives: physical desires, possessions, power, and pride. These temptations are very much in activities against the people of today as well as they were for Jesus.

Jesus resisted Satan because he knew scripture and he called on it and obeyed it. We are told that God’s Word is a weapon, like a hammer that smashes rocks (Jeremiah 23:29). Knowing scriptures is important in resisting Satan’s attacks, but we must obey God’s Word as well. We might well remember that Satan knew scripture too, but he chose to disobey God’s Holy Word. Satan used scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin, and today, sometimes a friend will try to convince you with a scripture that seems to support his viewpoint. Pray, read, and study God’s Word daily and you will be ready when Satan tries to trap you into giving in to temptation.

 

Application

The first reading shows us that distortion of the Word is dangerous. In the second reading we clearly see that the gift of Jesus’ death on the cross totally wipes out the results of Adam’s sin. The Gospel reveals that knowing God’s Word, while important, is not enough to resist temptation. We must act on God’s Word to really be free of the temptation. This week, let us look for a scripture that fits a particular temptation that we come up against. An example is that we should never go to bed while angry at someone, such as a spouse, father, mother, brother, sister, etc. We should act upon the scripture, Ephesians 4:26, which says, “Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry, get over it quickly.” We do that by confessing our sin and asking that person to forgive us. That is a great way to resist Satan and make him flee.