Chapter 33-34.

EXPLORING GENESIS SERIES

THE BIBLE: EXPLORING GENESIS SERIES.

Chapter 33-34.

Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him affectionately and kissed him and both were in tears.  Jacob’s words to Esau in vs 10 as he meets him ” "No, I pray you, if I have found favour in your sight, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God, with such favour have you received me. He enlightens him about the motivation for giving him the gift and expresses his gratitude to God.  He is satisfied with his life. 

Later in the chapter, Esau and Jacob journey together with Esau being prepared to walk at the pace of Jacob’s frail cattle. Jacob finally reaches Cannan.

In chapter 34, all of Jacob’s sons went over and plundered the city because their sister had been dishonoured there.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

·                     Have we had or wish for a reconciliation experience with family members?

·                     What are the elements that makes Jacob’s and Esau’s reconciliation amicable?

·                     Are we able to ‘walk the pace with a person to whom we have just been reconciled?

·                     What is it like to see the’ face of God’ in anther person?

·                     What emotions and desires of the heart come into play when reconciliation is required- are we like Jacob who expressed gratitude to God?

·                     Are we able to walk the pace of another person for some of the journey and continue on our own journey as we let them go?

·                     Are we able to be vulnerable with another person when the relationship is frail and insecure?

·                     What is our attitude to rape towards the victim and the perpetrator/s?

Opening Prayer Series: 21st Sunday of Year C

OPENING PRAYER SERIES.

THE MASS:OPENING PRAYER SERIES. ICON.

OPENING PRAYER

The Opening Prayer of the Mass for the 21st Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

Let us pray 

(that God will make us one in mind and heart)

Father,

help us to seek the values,

that will bring us lasting joy in this changing world.

In our desire for what You promise 

make us one in mind and heart.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for my life during this week, the following reflection questions emerged: 

1. What would it mean to me for God to make me one in heart and mind?

2. What are the values that will bring me lasting joy?

3. What does God promise me?

4. What areas of my mind and heart are not one with God?

5. How will I ask God to help me change these areas?-what is my action plan to change?

6. What steps will I take this week to be one in heart and mind with God within me?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today's Gospel invites all of us from East to West to come and take our place in the Kingdom. However, it is not a given, in the sense of we can do what we like and ignore God. No, in this sense, we must earn our place by the way we live.

God is offering us an invitation- and like all invitations, we choose to attend or not.  If we choose to attend the invitation, we do not attend unprepared. In our spiritual life, we need to accept God's invitation into the kingdom and start our preparation with excited expectation.  Like any great invitation, we look forward to the event. There is no greater event than meeting God face to face.  

We are over half way through the liturgical year. During this week why not review the commitment that we made at the beginning of the liturgical year in Advent  to grow in our faith.  How are you going with that commitment? Are you making progress or have you backslid?

Jesus is patient with our failures.  Let us take up the challenge to start afresh this week and grow in the love of God and in our faith.  Let us take God's invitation to the Kingdom seriously and let's prepare ourselves for that great day of meeting God face to face.

' Go all to all the world and tell the Good News'

Reflection and Prayer Series: The Light of God's Love

Reflection and Prayer Series:

 

CHRIST THE REDEEMER.REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES ICON.

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

 THE LIGHT OF GOD'S LOVE
 

Only the light of God's love 

can break through 
the shadows of doubt and uncertainty

Only the light of God's love 

can lead me through 
life to the gate of eternity.

As we journey through another week, let us carry the light of Scripture in our hearts

" You are my lamp, O Lord, the Lord turns my darkness into light".

(2 Samuel 22:29).

Practical Theology Series: Discipleship and its implication

Practical Theology Series: 

Discipleship and its implication

During the next 10 weeks, this series will cover a variety of different topics that may assist us in fruitful living as a disciple of Christ. Let us commence this series by examining what is meant by 'Discipleship' and its implications for our Catholic lives.

The word disciple originates from the Greek word ‘mathetes’ which means learner as compared to ‘didaskalos’, which means teacher.

KEY CHARACTERISTCIS OF A DISCIPLE:

The disciple is a person who is:

(A)    Attached and following a teacher so as to learn from that teacher, in this context- Jesus Christ.

(B)   Involved in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which demands that he/she

Grows in character towards a Christ-like likeness.
Commits himself/herself to serve Christ.
Shows a readiness and willingness to live under His authority.
Surrenders his/her life to His Lordship- this involves self-denial.

(C)  One who shows obedience to the Lord’s Word.

(D)  In friendship or relationship with Christ as distinct from being a servant.

John 15:15 says:

‘ No Longer do I call you Servants, for the servant does not know what His master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to You.’

(E)   In love with Christ and demonstrates this by being in right relationship with Him, with  himself/herself and with others (family, work colleagues, neighbours and even enemies). This will be shown through a character, which conforms, to Christ.

(F)   One who commits himself/herself to growing as a disciple i.e. learning what it is to be disciple- and showing perseverance, tenacity and staying power when difficulties are encountered in his/her life.

(G)  One who understands his/her calling and ministry.

(H)  One who shows a commitment to service, i.e. imitating Christ’s model of Service.

   

A True disciple carrying out the characteristics notes above is one who is trying to live out Christ’s commandment to love God and neigbour as Mathew outlines:

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, 
with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second resembles it:  

You must love your neighbour as yourself.  

On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too'.

Each of these characteristics has a two-fold purpose – it helps the disciple to grow inwardly but it requires the disciple to make an outward looking response to other people (family, work colleagues, neighbour and enemies). 

During the week, let us take to prayer these three reflection questions:

• 
  
  How would Christ rate you as His disciple?  
• 
  
  How do you rate yourself as Christ’s disciple?
• 
  
  What do I need to change in the light of these ratings?
  
  Next week, let us examine what it means to be 'filled with the Spirit'

no 11 Why and in what way is divine revelation transmitted

Compendium Series: 

JESUS THE TEACHER.

Divine Revelation

Now that we have examined the phases of divine revelation (last week's post), we now need to explore the next aspect of this topic.

  
11. Why and in what way is divine revelation transmitted? (CCC: 74)

Compendium states:
 God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” 
(I Timothy 2-4), that is, of Jesus Christ.  For this reason, Christ must be proclaimed to all according to his own command, “Go forth and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19).  And this is brought about by Apostolic Tradition.

NB: The word 'men' is all inclusive because it refers to species not gender. 

 What does this mean for me?

1.             I am able to express my gratitude each day to God for saving me and ask His grace to come to know the knowledge of the truth.

2.             Since I am saved by Christ dying on the cross, by prayer to the Holy Spirit and by study, I want to have the desire to come to the knowledge of the truth.

3.             I am able to proclaim Christ by who I am and my attitude to all each day.

Questions to consider:

1.             Do I believe that I am saved and what value does it hold in my life?

2.             Am I willing to learn my faith in order to be well equipped to proclaim Christ authentically?  

3.             How will I choose to learn my faith?

4.             Proclaiming Christ to the nations may sound daunting but what am I able to do to proclaim Christ and teach all nations- in my family and friends, in my workplace, in my parish and in all of my relationships?

As we delight in the fact that God desires to save 'all men (including me) and to come to know the full knowledge of the truth', let us us co-operate with God by our lives and mutual desire for Him.

About the Mass: Liturgy of the Word-Overview

About the Mass Vol 1.
 

THE MASS About the Mass series icon.

Liturgy of the Word-Overview

The journey of the Mass continues in this series 'About the Mass' as we enter into Section 5- 
Liturgy of the Word.

The Liturgy of the Word is made up of four Sections.  These are:

1. PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD:

The First Reading is from the Old Testament writings, Responsorial Psalm (from one of the 150 Psalms), Second Reading, Gospel Acclamation, and Gospel from the New Testament.  The Proclamation of God’s Word is always centred on Christ present through His Word.  Old Testament writings prepare for Him: New Testament books speak of Him directly.  All of Scripture calls us to believe once more and to follow Him.

How well do YOU listen to God’s Word?

2. HOMILY (Sermon):

Here God’s Word is spoken again in the Homily.  The Holy Spirit speaking through the lips of the priest explains and applies the Biblical Readings of the day to the needs of the particular congregation.  The Holy Spirit then calls us to respond to Christ through the life we lead.  

3. PROFESSION OF FAITH: (Nicene Creed)

As we recite the Profession of Faith, we express our acceptance of God’s message in the Scriptures and homily in a creed handed down from the early Church stemming from the first two ecumenical Councils in 325 and 381. It remains common to all the Great Churches of East and West to this day.

4. GENERAL INTERCESSIONS (Prayers of the Faithful)

As a priestly people, we unite with one another by praying for today’s needs in the Church and in the world.  Why do YOU think these 4 sections are grouped together in the Liturgy of the Word?  

WYD- Body,Mind and Soul experience Part 2

WORLD YOUTH DAY SERIES.

WYD- Body,Mind and Soul experience Part 2

Getting Your Soul ready for WYD

Have you decided to attend WYD?  Perhaps you are just considering it. It is not too early to start to prepare, since preparation of your soul and spiritual life is vital if you are wanting a soul experience during WYD.

Perhaps your motivation for going to WYD is to see the pope.  This is a great starting motivation.  However, you might like to consider that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ- he is Christ's representative on earth. So in a sense, to see the Pope is to see Christ. So naturally it is important to be as ready physically, emotionally and most importantly spiritually for this encounter.

Having been to two WYD- in Rome where there were over 2 million people,and in Sydney where there were over half a million  people,  you might think I am not going to see the pope, so what is the point. Despite the crowd,  it was a personal spiritual experience.  

Going to Rome was a dream come true, so just sitting on the ground in St Peter’s square in front of the basilica was indeed a memorial moment hearing the pope speak from the balcony.  I was in the eternal city at last.  In Sydney, when the Pope came to the pilgrims on the boat, it was as though he was walking on the water.  There was also the great delight of Our Holy Father being in our home country. I am sure Madrid pilgrims will feel that same pride and delight.

I want to encourage you to go to WYD, but  I ask you to consider how you might feel if you cannot see him for the crowd, cannot see him on the big screens for the flags waving  and cannot see him because you are behind  the kiosk building at the opening Mass or some other major event.

I say this only to make you aware and to save you first time WYD disappointment, especially if your motivation is soley to see the pope. I have seen the disappointment of some pilgrims, especially those who have saved their money and worked hard to get there.  Some feel initially cheated, and it can ruin their week for them.

My first challenge for this week is to ponder how you might feel. Is going to WYD to see the pope enough motivation for you?  You might like to make some notes in your WYD challenge journal.

However, the real challenge is to be spiritually prepared and this starts now.  Do not wait until you are packing your bags or getting on the plane.

So, what might you do to be spiritually prepared?  

·         First, take a stock take of your spiritual life- your prayer life, your attitude and regularity in attending Mass and Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation and your overall relationship with God.

·         Write a plan over the 12 months and decide on what area/s of your spiritual life need attention.

·         Decide on how you will give those areas attention  over the 12 months.  Seek out a spiritual director if necessary, to assist you.

I chose to give the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation a 'mighty shake up' - a total make over in fact in my life as my preparation.  I imagined I had never ever received the sacrament before, seeking out the catechism and other resources to help me re-learn the sacrament, as if I had never received it.   After all, I had been receiving this sacrament for over 40 years in much the same manner.  I chipped away each week at learning something more about the sacrament, and gradually with practice developed a different style which was far closer to being a spiritual experience with the merciful Christ.

I do not regret for one moment all the effort I put in during the preparation towards WYD because it helped me grow spiritually- at the time of preparation, during WYD and most importantly after WYD.  There is life after WYD.  More about that in another post.

So to all aspiring WYD pilgrims, please take seriously this wonderful opportunity and start preparing your soul for WYD this week.  

For all those like myself, who are interested but not attending WYD in Madrid, we can also assist you by our prayers and encouragement and support. We too can walk the journey with you and be prepared spiritually so that we can be with you in spirit at WYD.  Then it will be your turn to pray for us whilst you are there.

Let us not delay.  Start our preparation today.