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Lectio Divina – 2nd Sunday of Advent (Dec. 4th) – 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.”

Say the opening prayer

Read the passage slowly three times as though Jesus were talking to you.

Converse with Jesus, asking questions and listening to Him.

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

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

READ, REFLECT AND WRITE

Matthew 3:1-12 – John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jeruselem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his had. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

 

A. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

TRIGESIMOCUARTO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO – CRISTO REY (20th de Noviembre)- Ciclo C

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

SEGUNDO DIA                                                        2 SAMUEL 5:1-3                                    PRIMERA LECTURA

(“Tú eres el que guiará a mi pueblo, Israel.”)

  1. ¿Quiénes vinieron a hablarle a David, qué le dijeron? 2 Samuel 5:1
  1. ¿Dónde estaba David? Si puedes busca en un mapa bíblico el lugar, 2 Samuel 5:1.
  1. ¿Quién dirigia a Israel y los trajo de regreso? 2 Samuel 5:2
  1. ¿Según las tribus de Israel quién habló a David y qué le dijo? 2 Samuel 5:2, y Ezequiel 34:23-24

Personal – ¿Entonces, quién creés tú que es el que designa al pastor del pueblo? ¿Sigues tú al Unico, al que Dios ha designado como Rey de Reyes de todos los tiempos?

  1. ¿Con quién estaba hablando David? 2 Samuel 24:17

Personal – ¿Cómo te habla Dios y cómo le hablas tú como lo hizo David?

  1. ¿Qué le pasará al pastor que Dios ha designado cuando éste no escucha y se somete a la palabra de Dios?  Zacarías 11:17, y Jeremías 25:34-36
  1. ¿Quién es nuestro Gran Pastor? Leé y escribe las siguientes escrituras:

Génesis 48:15

Salmo 23:1

Juan 10:6-7, 11

Juan 10:16

  1. ¿Quién fue hecho rey de Israel? ¿Con quién hizo un pacto el rey antes de ser ungido?                2 Samuel 5:3

Personal – ¿Qué diferencias encuentras entre un buen pastor, un buen rey y un rey malo? ¿Y tú qué eres?

TERCER DIA                                                      COLOSENSES 1:12-20                              SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“A través de El tenemos la redención y el perdón de nuestros pecados.”)

  1. ¿Por qué tenemos que darle gracias al Padre? Colosenses 1:12
  1. ¿Quién tendrá luz y vida? ¿Quién es la luz? Juan 8:12
  1. ¿Quién nos rescató y de quién? Colosenses 1:13
  1. ¿Quién tiene el poder de las tinieblas? Hechos 26:18
  1. ¿Cuando nos rescató a dónde nos llevó? Colosenses 1:13
  1. ¿Qué recibimos a través de Jesús? Colosenses 1:14, 1 Pedro 2:9

Personal – ¿Has sido tu redimido? ¿Le has pedido al Señor que te perdone y te haga libre? Vuelve a leer el versículo 14. Esta es una promesa de Dios. Copia este versículo y medita sobre él.

  1. ¿Quién es la imágen de Dios que no se puede ver y quién es el primogénito de toda la creación?                Colosenses 1:15
  1. Lee y copia lo siguiente:

Salmo 89:28

Juan 1:3

Juan 1:18

Personal – ¿Cómo ves a Dios Padre? ¿Cómo te lo ha revelado Jesús a tí de manera personal? ¿Está con la vara en la mano listo para castigarte o es gentil, amable y está listo para perdonarte? Así como ves a Jesús así vé al Padre.

  1. ¿Qué fué creado en él y dónde? Colosenses 1:16, 1 Corintios 8:6
  1. ¿Para quién se hizo todo? Colosenses 1:16
  1. ¿En quién se mantiene todo? Colosenses 1:17
  1. ¿Quién empezó la iglesia y quién es la cabeza? Efesios 1:22, Apocalipsis 1:5, Colosenses 1:18
  1. ¿A quién le pasó Cristo ese lugar de cabecera? Mateo 16:18
  1. ¿Cómo hemos sido reconciliados con el Padre? Colosenses 1:20

Personal – ¿Le has permitido a Jesús lavarte con su sangre y darte la paz con el Padre? ¿Qué cambios puedes ver en tu vida desde que esto fue hecho?

CUARTO DIA                                                            LUCAS 23:35-43                                                     EVANGELIO

(“Este es el rey de los Judíos.”)

  1. ¿Quién estaba ahí mirando? ¿Quiénes se burlaban de Jesús y qué decían? Lucas 23:35
  1. ¿Había alguien más, burlandose de Jesús? ¿Qué le ofrecieron y qué le dijeron? Lucas 23:36-37

 

Personal – ¿Por qué crees que Jesús no se bajó de la cruz y se salvó a sŇ mismo de ésta muerte tan agonizante? Lucas 22:42

  1. ¿Era el deseo del Padre que Jesús, Su único Hijo muriera en la cruz? ¿Por qué?  Leé y copia:

1 Timoteo 2:4

Juan 12:47

Juan 3:16

Juan 10:10

  1. ¿Si Jesús fué obediente al Padre y estuvo colgado en la cruz y sufrió el peso de nuestros pecados para salvarnos, qué debemos hacer nosotros?  Juan 1:12, Apocalipsis 3:20
  1. ¿Cómo debemos seguir el ejemplo de Jesús? Mateo 16:24-25, Marcos 8:35, Lucas 9:24
  1. ¿Ha sido a través de algún esfuerzo que nosotros hayamos hecho, que hemos sido salvados? Tito 3:4-5
  1. ¿Cuál era la inscripción en el letrero de la cruz de Jesús? Lucas 28:38

Personal – ¿De qué modo has hecho a Jesús tu Rey de Reyes y Señor de Señores?  1 Timoteo 1:17, Apocalipsis 17:14, Apocalipsis 19:16

  1. ¿Qué le dijo uno de los criminales a Jesús en Lucas 23:39?
  1. ¿Por quién estaba preocupado? Lucas 23:39
  1. ¿Qué dijo e hizo el otro criminal? Lucas 23:40-41

Personal – ¿De qué modo eres como alguno de esos dos criminales? ¿Quién se negaba a sí mismo? ¿Cómo te niegas tú a tí mismo?

11. ¿Qué le dijo a Jesús en el versículo 42 de Lucas 23 y cuál fué la respuesta de Jesús?

12. Leé Mateo 25:33, 34, y 41. ¿Cómo puedes comparar esto con Lucas 23:39-40?

Personal – ¿Eres tú el de la derecha o el de la izquierda? ¿De qué modo te has negado a tí mismo esta semana, poniendo antes que a tí mismo a tu esposa, hijos, amigos, vecinos, compañeros de trabajo o amigos de la escuela?

QUINTO DIA                                                    LEE EL SALMO 122:1-5

                                                                         (“Dá gracias al nombre del Señor.”)

Leé y medita el Salmo 122:1-5.

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

¿Cómo puedes aplicar esto a tu vida diaria?

SEXTO DIA                                                 LEE TODO EL COMENTARIO

                                                                                         2 SAMUEL 5:1-3

David fué finalmente ungido rey de todo Israel y esto fué el cumplimiento de una promesa de Dios. Previamente había sido ungido rey en privado por Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13). David era apenas un adolescente y pasó muchos años al servicio del Rey Saúl. Cuando fue coronado Rey de Judá, a los 30 años que era la mitad sur de la Tierra Prometida (2 Samuel 2:4). Fué Coronado rey de todo el país a los treinta y siete años y reinó por cuarenta años.

Cuando David era jóven y estaba considerado fuera de la ley, su futúro se veía muy triste, pero la promesa de Dios de hacerlo rey se había cumplido. David tuvo que esperar muy pacientemente para que ésta se cumpliera, pasaron muchos años antes de que sucediera. Nosotros debemos reflexionar sobre la paciencia y humildad que David tenía al esperar tanto tiempo. El llegó a ser un gran rey, soldado, poeta, cantante, músico, escritor y líder espiritual de su pueblo. Había sido ungido por Dios y sabía que con el tiempo cuando según Dios fuera el tiempo, el plan se realizaría.

El tiempo que David tuvo que esperar lo preparó para el importante oficio de ser el buen pastor que su país necesitaba. Así nosotros necesitamos esperar en el Señor y confiar en que El nos dirigirá en nuestro camino hacia el reino. David fué un líder porque había sido un seguidor de Dios. En un tiempo él quitó sus ojos de Dios y cayó en grave pecado. Pero se arrepintió y vió que insignificante era su reino comparado con el de Dios y regresó y recibió el don de la gracia de Dios y el perdón. Nosotros podemos ser como David; podemos regresar a la sagrada luz de Dios arrepintiéndonos y dándonos cuenta de que Dios es nuestro único buen pastor y de que El nunca falla en ir a buscar y salvar a la oveja perdida. Sigamos el ejemplo de David y permitamos que nuestra unción bautismal sea el principio de nuestra vida eterna con el “Buen Pastor,” Jesús, quien nos hará libres por siempre (Juan 8:32).

COLOSENSES 1:12-20

Pablo estaba sacando a la luz una herejía de la iglesia Colosense que fue el inicio del Gnosticismo. La palabra “Gnosticismo” quiere decir conocer y la palabra “herejía” quiere decir instruir contrariamente a la verdadera doctrina. La herejía Gnóstica atacó a la Cristinadad en diversas formas. Sostenía que el conocimiento secreto importante no debía ser revelado a todos los creyentes y enseñaba que el cuerpo es maligno. Pablo responde a esta herejía declarando que Jesús eligió el vivir en un cuerpo humano. Esta herejía niega la humanidad de Cristo y Pablo insistió que en Jesús, vemos a alguien que está completamente vivo, es humano y es bueno.

El Gnosticismo empezaba a ser conocido y podía haber hecho tambalear facilmente las mentes de los creyentes que no sabían sobre la voluntad de Dios a traves de las enseñanzas de la iglesia. Todavía vemos muchas señales de esta herejía rondando en nuestra iglesia. Hoy como en los tiempos de Pablo el mejor modo de que la iglesia permanezca fiel a las enseñanzas del Señor es a través del estudio personal y las enseñanzas de la iglesia. Pablo enlista beneficios que Jesús nos dió a traves de su muerte en la cruz. Nos hizo para ser parte de su reino. Nos rescató de Satanás, nos hizo Sus hijos y nos trajo a su reino eterno (Efesios 2:5-6).

La iglesia Colosense estaba atrapada creyendo que todo lo que es materia es básicamente maligno. Ellos creían que Dios, siendo un espíritu completamente bueno, nunca vendría a la tierra como un verdadero ser humano (ser humano es tener algo de materia). Creían que Cristo no había hecho el mundo pues era increíble que Dios hubiera creado algo que era maligno. Creían que el saber secreto y especial era el único modo de que la gente encontrara a Dios. Pablo les dice que solo Cristo tiene el poder de salvar. Les dice que Jesús no solo es igual a Dios (Filipenses 2:6), El és Dios (Juan 10:30).

Entendamos que Pablo está combatiendo una herejía que trata de poner el conocimiento por encima de los aspectos salvíficos de Dios. Nosotros como los creyentes Colosenses, debemos creer que Jesucristo es Dios y no simplemente un gran profeta. Nuestra fe será hueca, dirigida erroneamente y sin sentido si vemos a Jesús como alguien menos que Dios.

LUCAS 23:35-43

En este pasaje Jesús es puesto en la cruz; y aún con su increíble dolor busca el modo de consolar y perdonar a otros. El lugar donde Jesús fue llevado para ser crucificado se llamaba “Gólgota” que significa “calavera.” Era una pequeña colina en las afueras de las murallas de la ciudad, a un costado de uno de los caminos principales. Los Romanos hacían de las ejecuciones una exposición pública como un ejemplo de lo que sucedía a los que desafiaban la ley Romana. Es irónico que Santiago y Juan le pidieron a Jesús tener lugares de honor cerca de El en su reino (Marcos 10:35-39). Cuando Jesús se estaba preparando a entrar a su reino por la crucifixión, los lugares a su izquierda y derecha eran tomados por criminales convictos que estaban muriendo.

Es un ejemplo increíble para todos nosotros el que Jesús muriera por todos los hombres no solo por unos cuantos seleccionados. Debemos tomar las palabras de Jesús, dirigidas a sus dos discípulos hambrientos de poder, como nuestras y recordar que aquél que quiera estar cerca de Jesús debe prepararse para sufrir y morir como El lo hizo. El único camino al paraíso es a través de la cruz. Aún estando colgado, muriendo y en agonía, Jesús le pide a su Padre que “los perdone por que no saben lo que hacen.” Debemos reflexionar sobre esas palabras, especialmente con todo lo que sucede hoy en día en el mundo.

¿Realmente entendemos que horrible es el pecado para Dios? ¿Realmente entendemos que horrible es cuando dejamos a otros morir de hambre, vivir sin un techo o cuando no damos de vestir al desnudo? ¿Realmente entendemos cuando le damos la espalda al anciano, al que está solo o en prisión o al enfermo mental? ¿Realmente entendemos que horrible es cuando somos la causa de que otros vivan con miedo y que les fallemos sin nuestro amor? Jesús sabía que no entendemos realmente nuestra crueldad y nos muestra la razón real por la cual El murió por todos nosotros. Nos libró de las garras mortales en las que Satanás nos tenía y ahora, con fe, podemos escoger el amar, el hacer a todos los hombres libres y el perdonar. Dios nos dice que si aceptamos a Su hijo, viviremos por siempre (Juan 3:16).

Jesús murió por nosotros y nos perdonó nuestros pecados. Así, nosotros, debemos perdonar a otros como El nos ha perdonado (Mateo 6:15). Seamos como el buen ladrón (Dimas) a la derecha de Jesús y digamos, “Señor, recuérdame cuando estés en tu reino.” El nos dirá como le dijo a Dimas, “En verdad te digo que estarás conmigo en el paraíso.” Jesús es la aurora que se abre en la obscuridad del pecado y dá luz eterna.

Aplicación

En la primera lectura vemos a David siendo paciente y humilde, esperando ser coronado rey cuando Dios lo dispusiera. En la segunda lectura Pablo les está diciendo a los Colosenses que la salvación es una persona llamada Jesús, no una doctrina intelectual. El Evangelio muestra que aún al estar muriendo, Jesús estaba perdonando a los que lo habían herido.

Veamos a las personas y situaciones a nuestro derredor y digamos específicamente, “Padre, perdona a ___________ y a ___________ por lo que él o élla me está haciendo. Aplica esto a la familia, los amigos, el jefe y los compañeros de trabajo.

Second Sunday of Advent (Dec. 4th) – Cycle A

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THE BREAD OF LIFE

CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

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

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

 

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

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

 

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

 

SECOND DAY                                  READ ISAIAH 11:1‑10                           FIRST READING

(“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.”)

  1. What shall sprout from the stump of Jesse and of whom is Jesse the father?  Isaiah 11:1, 1 Samuel 16:11‑13

 

  1. Who is the sprout? Luke 3:23‑33

 

  1. What shall rest upon him? Isaiah 11:2

 

  1. Who baptized Jesus and what happened when he was baptized? Mark 1:9‑11

 

  1. What seven things did the Spirit give Jesus? Isaiah 11:2-3

 

  1. How does he not judge? Isaiah 11:3

 

  1. Whom does he judge, whom does he strike and how? Isaiah 11:4

 

  1. What is the band around his waist and the belt upon his hips?         Isaiah 11:5

 

  1. What will then happen? Isaiah 11:6‑9

 

  1. On that day, of what will the earth be full? Isaiah 11:9

 

  1. What is the root of Jesse set up as, who shall seek him out and why?   Isaiah 11:10

 

Personal ‑ In what way did you have the power of God’s Spirit rush on you as Jesus did when John baptized him. How old were you? Jesus was about 30 years old. Luke 3:23

 

 

THIRD DAY                                     READ ROMANS 15:4‑9                     SECOND READING

(“Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.”)

  1. Why was everything written before our time and what do we derive from this instruction?   Romans 15:4

 

  1. What do the words from the scriptures give us? Romans 15:4

 

  1. By whom is Scripture inspired and for what is it useful? 2 Timothy 3:16

 

  1. Of what is God the source and what does he enable us to do?   Romans 15:5

 

  1. What does this enable us to do with one heart and voice? Romans 15:6

 

Personal ‑ In what way are you learning patience from God’s Word?

 

  1. What are we to do with one another; why and for what reason?      Romans 15:7

 

Personal ‑ In what way have you accepted those in your family, at work, etc. right where they are? In what way have you been encouraging them in their walk? How have you recognized God’s patience toward you?

 

  1. Why did Christ become a minister of the circumcised? Romans 15:8

 

  1. Why do the Gentiles glorify God? Romans 15:9

 

  1. What two things does scripture say we shall do? Romans 15:9

 

 

FOURTH DAY                                READ MATTHEW 3:1‑12                                        GOSPEL

(“He it is who will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.”)

  1. Who made his appearance in the desert of Judea, what was he doing and what was his theme?   Matthew 3:1-2

 

  1. Who spoke the same message as John? Matthew 4:17

 

  1. When Jesus sent the 12 apostles out for the lost sheep of Israel, what did he tell them to announce?   Matthew 10:7

 

  1. How was John dressed and who was going out to him? Matthew 3:4‑5

 

  1. What were they doing as they were being baptized by John and to what does repentance lead?  Matthew 3:6, Mark 1:4

 

  1. What did John say to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were stepping forward for the baptism, what did he ask them to do,    and on what did he tell them not to pride themselves? Matthew 3:7-9

Personal ‑ What evidence can you produce that shows you have repented of the sin of unbelief?

 

  1. What would be the reason for cutting down a tree? Matthew 3:10

 

Personal ‑ What kind of fruit are you producing? Ask family, friends or co‑workers to evaluate you and have them tell you what kind of fruit they see coming from you.

 

  1. Why does John baptize in water and how does he see himself next to the one who will follow him?   Matthew 3:11

 

  1. Who is the one to whom John is referring and how will he baptize us?  John 1:14‑17, Matthew 3:11

 

  1. What is in his hand and what will he do with it? What will he gather and what will he burn?   Matthew 3:12

 

  1. Who are the ones he will gather and who are the ones who will go into the unquenchable fire?  Matthew 12:31‑37, Jeremiah 15:7

 

Personal ‑ Evaluate yourself before you began reading God’s Word and now. What changes do you see in yourself?

 

 

FIFTH DAY                          READ PSALM 72:1‑2, 7‑8, 12‑13, 17

(“In him all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 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

ISAIAH 11:1‑10

This passage tells us about a new shoot that would grow from the stump of the tree called the royal line of David. The new shoot would be called the Messiah and he would be greater than the original tree (David) and would bear much fruit. This coming Messiah, the perfect king, perfect priest and spiritual king would come from David’s line to reign over Israel. He was given the name of “The Lord of Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).

All of us long for fair treatment from others but sadly all of us do not give that fair treatment to others. We hate those who base their judgments on the way people look, talk or even by the color of their skin. We see or read about people being judged on false evidence or hearsay and we hate it. Yet, many times, we ourselves are quick to judge others using those same standards. Christ is the only one who is clothed in truth. He is the only one who is not prejudiced. Jesus is the only one who can be a perfectly fair judge. We need to give our hearts to him completely. Only then can we learn to be as truthful and fair to others as we would want them to be to us.

Today the need to be truthful is needed more than at any other time in history because we are surrounded by so much distortion and outright lies. Satan is the father of lies and he lies to us in his presentation of pornography, drugs, homosexuality and abortion. Peace in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only answer to deceit and conflict, whether it be in a family or a nation. The passage goes on to show wild animals living at peace with one another. Even more incredible is for hostile people to live at peace with one another.

Only in Jesus Christ can hostilities be laid to rest as true love prevails; this is the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). A golden age was predicted in this passage and it still is to come today and it will when Jesus Christ reigns over the entire earth. We can, until that time, carry out our commission and live to bring others to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior (Matthew 28:19).

 

ROMANS 15:4‑9

The deeper the hunger and thirst is to know God’s Word in scripture, the more our attitude towards the past, present and future will be affected. Scripture has shown over and over that God has continually kept his promise of salvation to those who believe in him. The more we know of scripture, the more we know about what God has done for us. This leads to a greater confidence in what he will do for us in the days ahead.

Our daily study of the holy scripture followed by prayerful reflection and action will increase our trust that God’s will is the best choice for us. We are being called to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and this means being in harmony with his teachings and sharing his values and perspectives. We cannot hope to live in harmony with others until we first learn patience, steadiness, and encouragement from Jesus.

We can be in harmony with others only when we have the attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:2‑11). We need to develop an attitude of love toward other Christians as well. As we become more capable of maintaining this attitude of love for people of all cultures throughout each day, we will learn how to live in harmony with each other. To live in harmony means to love and respect each other regardless of creed, race or color and regardless of being rich or poor, young or old, sickly or well.

We are called to welcome each other warmly into the church. This means we are to love one another as he has loved us (John 15:12). We are called to affirm each other, and forgive one another. We are called to repent of our sinful actions towards God and man (Mark 1:15). Repentance means to change our lives completely. We are called to make our beloved church not only a haven for saints but a hospital for sinners. Jesus said to us on the cross, “I thirst” (John 19:28) and we are called to satisfy that thirst by loving one another and living in harmony with all of God’s creation.

 

 

MATTHEW 3:1‑12

John came onto the scene like the thundering voice of Almighty God. He courageously spoke out against wrongdoing wherever he saw it. He spoke out against the evil doings of King Herod, living with his brother’s wife and against the ritualistic formalism of the self‑righteous Sadducees and Pharisees. John spoke out against evil in the state, in the church and in the crowd on the streets. John not only denounced men for the evil they had done, but challenged them to be what could be in accordance with the moral standards of God. Many thought John the Baptist was in reality Elijah who had returned to herald the coming of the Messiah (King) (Malachi 4:5). John was preparing the way for the King. The preacher, the teacher with the booming prophetic voice, points not at himself, but at God.

John was recognized as a prophet, because he had in him that special authority which clings to the man who comes into the presence of men out of the presence of God. John strongly warns the people that being just the descendants of Abraham does not guarantee their entrance into heaven. To the Israelite, this was an incredible statement because Abraham was unique in his goodness and in his favor with God. John was warning the people that they could not live on the spiritual deeds of the past. He told them that a degenerate age cannot hope to claim salvation for the sake of a heroic past. An evil son cannot hope to plead on the merits of a righteous Father.

We need to reflect on John’s presence and his message of warning to our own society. Do we as a people live in obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ? Do we love one another as he loved us (John 15:12)? Do we practice in our daily living the message that we preach in our churches? Do we expect to be saved because we belong to a certain type of denomination? Do we really believe that Jesus Christ is the only bridge to salvation? The silence of God’s voice in today’s world of violence, pornography, abortion and drugs is deafening.

The message of John, calling out to the people to make way and prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord, is no less urgent today. John’s promise to the people that the baptism of the Holy Spirit would fill them with the fire of love and power was like a measure of cool water given to a man thirsting in the desert (Isaiah 44:3). The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Power. When the Spirit of God enters into a man, his weakness is clothed with the power of God. His tired, lack‑lustre, appearance of defeat of life is gone, and a new surge of life enters him. Do you really believe this?

 

Application

The first reading tells us only the truth can set us free and the truth is Jesus (John 8:32). The second reading reveals scripture has shown over and over that God has kept his promise of salvation to those who believe in him. The Gospel tells us to prepare ourselves, for the kingdom of God is at hand.

This week, let us practice what we preach by keeping a list of the things that we have done throughout the day. Then at evening time, reflect on how close your actions match your words. Try this for one week and get ready for a miracle.

 

First Sunday of Advent (Nov. 27th) – Cycle A

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THE BREAD OF LIFE

CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

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

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

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

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

 

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

 

 

SECOND DAY                                    READ ISAIAH 2:1‑5                             FIRST READING

(“Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain.”)

  1. Who saw something concerning Judah and Jerusalem and whose son was he?   Isaiah 2:1

 

  1. What will happen to the mountain of the Lord’s house, who will come towards it, and when will this happen?   Isaiah 2:2

 

  1. What will the people say who come to it? Isaiah 2:3

 

  1. Who is to instruct us in his ways, in whose paths are we to walk, and from where will instruction come?   Isaiah 2:3

 

  1. Where is Zion? 1 Kings 8:1, Joel 4:17, 21

 

  1. In days to come, from where will the Word of the Lord come?      Isaiah 2:3

 

  1. Where does the Word of God come from today? John 1:1,14

 

  1. How do we know he is speaking to us if he is not walking and talking with us as he did with the apostles two thousand years   ago?   John 16:7

 

  1. In days to come, how will there be a judgment? And what will end?   Isaiah 2:4

 

  1. What are we to walk in and who is the light of the world?   Isaiah 2:5, John 8:12

 

Personal – How are you anticipating with joy our Lord’s coming? Do your family and friends know that Jesus will come again? How are you preparing for his coming and how is your family preparing for it?

 

THIRD DAY                                   READ ROMANS 13:11‑14                   SECOND READING

 

(“Let us cast off deeds of darkness  and put on the armor of light.”)

 

  1. What is the summation of all the commandments? Romans 13:9-10

 

  1. When should we wake from sleep? Romans 13:11

 

  1. When will our salvation be completed? Revelations 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:2

 

  1. What does it mean to “accept the faith? ” Write out the following verses John 3:16, John 14:6

 

  1. What does verse 12 of Romans 13 say about the day and night, what must we cast off and what must we put on?   Romans 13:12

 

  1. What is the armor of light? (Light representing Jesus, John 8:12) List all of the armor that we are to put on:

Ephesians 6:10-17

Helmet ‑

Breastplate ‑

Belt ‑

Footgear ‑

Shield ‑

Sword ‑

 

  1. According to Romans how are we to live and how are we not to live?   Romans 13:13

 

Personal ‑ According to verse 13, what is one of the major reasons for divorce today? What is one of the major causes of automobile accidents? What is one of the major causes of abortion today? What is one of the major causes of division in our churches today?

 

  1. To put on the Lord Jesus Christ, how must we conduct ourselves?   1 John 2:6

 

  1. For what are we not to make provision? Romans 13:14

 

  1. How do we not give in to the desires of the flesh? Galatians 5:13

 

Personal ‑ Do you know Jesus well enough through his Word to walk as he did? In what way can you better learn about him?

 

 

FOURTH DAY                              READ MATTHEW 24:37‑44                                      GOSPEL

(“Stay awake, therefore, you cannot know the day your Lord is coming.”)

  1. Who is the Son of Man? Matthew 1:18, 23

 

  1. What will he repeat? Matthew 24:37, Gen 7:11-23

 

  1. What were the people doing in the days before the flood and what did the flood do to them?   Matthew 24:38‑39

 

  1. What will happen when Jesus comes again? Matthew 24:40‑41

 

  1. What must we do, why must we do this, and what must we not allow?   Matthew 24:42-43

 

  1. Who are the thieves? John 10:1, 8

 

  1. What do the thieves come to do? John 10:10

 

  1. What must we be before the Son of Man comes? Matthew 24:44

 

  1. How can we be best prepared? John 8:31

 

Personal ‑ In what way are you living according to his teachings? How do you know his teachings?

 

 

 

FIFTH DAY                                      READ PSALM 122:1‑9

(“We will go up to the house of the Lord.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 122:1‑9.

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

ISAIAH 2:1‑5

The emphasis in this passage is peace through obedience to God. This is the only kind of peace that will be permanent. The temple is mentioned, not so much because of its architecture, but because of the presence of God in the Old Testament scripture. The temple was a symbol of religious authority, and all worship was centralized through the temple. The temple was a symbol of God’s holiness, and it was the setting for many of the great visions of the prophets. The temple was a symbol of God’s covenant with Israel.

The temple was a symbol of God’s forgiveness, and it prepared the people for the coming of their long-awaited Messiah. The temple was a testimony to human effort and creativity, and finally, above all else, the temple was a place of prayer. Isaiah was prophesying what was going to happen to Jerusalem, and that was that Jerusalem would not only be freed of her bondage, but that she would become a leader to all nations.

The new Jerusalem is a city of God where there will be no more tears, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain and no more death. Have you ever wondered what heaven will be like? The Holy City, or New Jerusalem is described in scripture (Rev. 21) as a place where God dwells among his people amid the absence of pain, sorrow and death.

This is a tremendous comfort for us, because no matter what we may be going through, it is not the last word. God has written that last chapter and he has promised us that if we believe in his Son (Jesus), we will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). We are told in this passage that a wonderful day of peace will come when we are taught God’s laws and then obey them. We know that sin causes war, conflict, sickness, and disruption.

We are encouraged to begin to obey God, not in the next world but rather, in today’s world. He has given us his Word for direction and guidance. We will not have to wait until we die to enjoy the benefits of his love, we will begin to enjoy them immediately. We will become changed, and that change will affect our family, friends, and fellow co‑workers. We must never forget God made a covenant with us. He will never break his promise, and his promise is to be with us until the end of time. (Matt. 28:20).

 

 

ROMANS 13:11‑14

In this message, Paul really stresses the urgency of changing our lives before Jesus Christ comes back again. No man knows when God will rise and bid him go. The time grows shorter, for we are every day one day nearer that time. Paul stresses that we too must have all things in our life ready. St Augustine, in his story “Confessions” tells of finding conversion in the last verses of this passage. He wondered how long it was going to take to end his life of sinfulness.

With his Word God had spoken to St. Augustine and he will speak to us if we will let him. We do not search for God; he is already searching for us. God’s Word can always find the human heart, no matter how much darkness surrounds it. Let Jesus come into your heart right now and put on the clothes of light and the armor of right living.

In Roman society, a young man put down the clothes of his childhood and put on the toga, a sign of an adult, with its rights and responsibilities. Paul is saying we have laid aside the clothes of the law and now we are putting on Christ’s clothes of righteousness. We are to do the same, we are to cast off and throw away our rotten garments of sin and put on the clothes of grace. Paul was appealing to the commitment the believers had made in their baptism (2:12). They understood baptism to symbolize the death and burial of the old way of life, followed by resurrection to a new life in Christ. When we think of our old life in sin as being dead, we then have a powerful motive to resist sin in our lives today. Today we must consider ourselves dead and unresponsive to the deadly desires of sins of attitude as well as to sins of the flesh. Attitudes lead to action, just like hatred can lead to murder. Jealousy can lead to fighting, and lust can lead to adultery. We must be ourselves, as clean on the inside as we are on the outside when Christ returns again.

 

 

MATTHEW 24:37‑44

The message in today’s Gospel is to be alert and be prepared for Jesus’ return to earth. We call this special time Advent as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child on Christmas Day. As we prepare for this blessed day in our Christian calendar, we need to especially remember that what we are celebrating is the anticipation of Christ coming again on this earth to bring the “Good News” to all who have believed in him. As we are told in today’s passage, we are fortunate not to know when that special day comes because we might become lazy in our work for Christ. Some would probably keep on sinning right up to the end and then try to turn to God in the nick of time.

Our goal in life is not just to get to heaven; we also have a commission (Matt. 28:19) right here on earth. We must continue on in our life, living out the reality of God’s presence until we see the triumphant return of our Savior. Our Lord’s second coming will be instantaneous and there will be no time for last minute repentance or bargaining. The choice we have already made today will determine our destiny. Have you made a choice today to let Jesus Christ become the Lord of your life? In today’s passage, Jesus is not telling us about his return to put fear or doubt in our heart. He is not trying to get us into making all kinds of predictions. He is warning us to be prepared. He is giving us a warning of love, because he wants no man or woman to perish.

The bottom line in today’s message is: Will you be found faithfully doing his work on the day of his return? We have those who say we can work our way to heaven alone, and others who say we need only faith to be saved. A story was told of a man in a rowboat taking passengers from the dock to the waiting ship. He had painted on one oar “Faith” and on the other oar “Works.” When he used only the oar that said “Faith,” the boat went in a circle to the left. When he used only the oar marked “Works,” the boat still went into a circle, only this time to the right. When he used both oars the boat went ahead to its desired goal. Jesus wants us, in faith, to continue our good works until he comes again in glory.

 

Application

In the first reading, we saw the emphasis being placed on obedience. The second reading stressed the urgency of changing our lives, and the Gospel tells us to be alert and prepared.

This week, be alert and prepared to do battle against temptation and sin by being obedient to those who are placed in authority over us. Therefore, let us curb our tongue when we are in conversations at work, school or in the privacy of our own home. The example you provide will allow your co-workers, classmates and family to see the gifts and fruits of the Spirit in your life.

 

 

Trigésimo Primero Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (30 de Octubre) – Ciclo C

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El Pan de Vida Estudio de Biblia Católico

Por Deacon Ken y 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 SABIDURIA 11:22-12:1 PRIMERA LECTURA

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

(“Rogamos nosotros a cada momento por ustedes”)

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

CUARTO DIA LUCAS 19:1-10 EVANGELIO

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

(“El Señor es bueno con todos.”)

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

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

 

¿Cómo puedes aplicar esto a tu vida diaria?

 

 

SEXTO DIA LEE TODO EL COMENTARIO

SABIDURIA 11:22-12:1

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

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

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

 

2 TESALONICENSES 1:11 – 2:2

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

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

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

 

LUCAS 19:1-10

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

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

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

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

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

 

Aplicación

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

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

Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time (October 30th) – Cycle C

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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?

 

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

 

 

SECOND DAY READ WISDOM 11:22-12:1 FIRST READING

(“For you love all things that are.”)

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

(“We pray for you always.”)

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

6. On the question of whose coming, and of who is being gathered with him, how is Paul addressing the brothers? 2 Thessalonians 2:1

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

FOURTH DAY READ LUKE 19:1-10 GOSPEL

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

1. As Jesus entered Jericho who was there, what was his name, what position did he hold, and what economic status did he hold? Luke 19:1-2

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Personal – In what way have you repaid anyone you may have defrauded? In what way has Jesus come to search you out and save you personally?

 

 

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

(“The Lord is good to all.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14.
What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

 

SIXTH DAY READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

WISDOM 11:22-12:1

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

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

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

 

2 THESSALONIANS 1:11-2:2

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

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

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

 

LUKE 19:1-10

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

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

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

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

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

 

Application

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

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

Lectio Divina – Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time (October 30th) – Cycle C

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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

Luke 19:1-10 – At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

What does the Lord personally want you to do?

 

 

Trigésimo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (23 de Octubre) – Ciclo C

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El Pan de Vida Estudio de Biblia Católico

Por Deacon Ken y 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 ECLESIASTICO 35:12-14, 16-18 PRIMERA LECTURA

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

1. ¿Cómo es el Señor y qué es lo que no toma en cuenta? Eclesiástico 35:12

 

2. ¿Qué es lo que no acepta? Deuteronomio 10:17 y 2 Crónicas 19:7

 

3. ¿Por qué Dios no tiene favoritos? Job 34:19

 

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

 

4. ¿De quién escucha la oración? Eclesiástico 35:13

 

5. ¿Y a la súplica de quién no se hace sordo? Eclesiástico 35:14

 

6. ¿De quién escucha el Señor el clamor y a quién no debemos dañar? Exodo 22:21-22

 

7. ¿Quién es oido y qué llega hasta las nubes? Eclesiástico 35:16

 

8. ¿Qué es lo que traspasa la oración del humilde? ¿Qué pasa mientras ésta no llega a su destino? Eclesiástico 35:17

 

9. ¿Qué es lo que no hace la oración del humilde hasta que el Altísimo responde? Eclesiástico 35:18

 

10. ¿Qué hace el juez Altísimo y a quién les restablece su derecho?

 

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

 

 

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

CUARTO DIA LUCAS 18:9-14 EVANGELIO

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

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

Leé y medita el Salmo 34.
¿Qué te dice personalmente el Señor por medio de este Salmo?

 

¿Cómo puedes aplicar esto a tu vida diaria?

 

 

SEXTO DIA LEE TODO EL COMENTARIO

ECLESIASTICO 35:12-14, 16-18

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

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

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

 

2 TIMOTEO 4:6-8, 16-18

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

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

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

 

LUCAS 18:9-14

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

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

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

 

Aplicación

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

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

Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (October 23rd) – Cycle C

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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?

 

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

 

 

SECOND DAY READ SIRACH 35:12-14, 16-18 FIRST READING

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

7. Who does the Lord hear and what reaches the heavens? Sirach 35:16

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

FOURTH DAY READ LUKE 18:9-14 GOSPEL

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

4. For what did the Pharisee say he was thankful, who did he say he was not like, and what did he say he did? Luke 18:11-12

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

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

Read and meditate on Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23.
What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

 

SIXTH DAY READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

SIRACH 35:12-14, 16-18

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

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

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

 

2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8, 16-18

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

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

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

 

LUKE 18:9-14

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

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

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

 

Application

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

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

Lectio Divina – Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (October 23rd) – Cycle C

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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

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

What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

What does the Lord personally want you to do?