Daily Bible Reflections
for March 25, 2008;

Dear Friend,

Get empowered by His message to you this Tuesday!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez

25
 March
Tuesday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

THE gOOD kiND
 
Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her. – John 20:18
 
He ate with them. Bonded with them. They took boat rides and mountain hikes together. He spoke to the crowds in parables but He would take them aside and explain its meanings to them. They were His best buddies. Barkada, as we would say in Filipino.
        So I would think that as soon as Jesus rose from the dead, He would have let the Apostles know first. But no. God, in His divine wisdom, chose a woman to be the first witness of His resurrection.
         There must be a reason. And I joke that He chose a woman to make sure that the news of His resurrection would spread to the ends of the earth.
        Face it, we women are generally more detailed when it comes to telling a story. And boy, can we retell them really fast! But it’s not how detailed or how fast we can spread the news that matters but what kind of stories they are. Are they gossip that can destroy other’s reputation? Or hearsay that will cause strife? Or chitchat that is negative and doesn’t upbuild? Or is it good news that encourages, heals and gives strength to others?
        So go ahead, spread the news. But make sure it’s a good one. Rissa Singson-Kawpeng
 
REFLECTION:
Seek Him and you will find Him.
 
Lord, help me to always remember that You are right within me, even if I don’t feel it.
 

The all-new Feast mobile app is finally here! All the content you love from here may also be found in our new app and so much more! Please make sure to download the new Feast App, as we will eventually stop updating this version soon.

Let's continue to grow together with our all-new Feast app! Download and upgrade today: Feast App for Android | Feast App for iOS.


Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

Get your daily readings and more for free inside the Feast App!
Google PlayStore     iOS AppStore
COMPANION

 

1st READING
 
When we hear or read the Gospel it always requires a response on our part. This is part of its internal dynamic. God’s Word will never leave us in the same state as we were before we started reading it or hearing it. If we remain unchanged it is because we have chosen to refuse the Spirit of God to work in our lives. Now that is a scary thing to think about. I do not want to have to try and explain that attitude to God when I come before Him on Judgment Day.
 
Acts 2:36-41
36 Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” 38 Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” 40 He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.
 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22
R: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
4 Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full. (R) 18 See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. (R) 20 Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield. 22 May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our hope in you. (R)
 
G O S P E L
 
I wonder why Jesus chooses to use the word “woman” in addressing Mary Magdalene in this passage. Is it a reference back to Eve, who is referred to as the “woman” in Genesis? Is it an oblique reference to Mary, His mother, whom He addressed this way earlier in the Gospel at the wedding feast of Cana? Perhaps this title might be worth reflecting on for a few moments. Sometimes if we reflect in this manner with a few questions for the Holy Spirit, He may enlighten us with a deeper understanding.
 
John 20:11-18
11 Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.  15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary of Magdala went and  announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.
 
my reflections
think: God’s Word will never leave us in the same state as we were before we started reading it or hearing it.
 
_______________________________________________________

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Exodus 7-9
 
Exodus 7-9
 

The all-new Feast mobile app is finally here! All the content you love from here may also be found in our new app and so much more! Please make sure to download the new Feast App, as we will eventually stop updating this version soon.

Let's continue to grow together with our all-new Feast app! Download and upgrade today: Feast App for Android | Feast App for iOS.


Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

Get your daily readings and more for free inside the Feast App!
Google PlayStore     iOS AppStore
SABBATH

 

do not ClinG to Me
 
These are interesting words: Do not cling to me. I have not yet ascended to the Father. Jesus tells Mary that He has not yet finished His mission. He is yet to return to His Father in heaven. There are times when we too cling to things that we should not. This is what Jesus is warning us not to do. It is not as if we have the opportunity to cling to the resurrected but yet non-ascended Jesus, however, we are often tempted to cling to ideas of God and Jesus that are not true. We have to overcome childish images of God as the “stern judge waiting to judge the world,” or the “one who is making a list of our good deeds and bad deeds.” When we hear the Good News proclaimed by Jesus, we discover that we have to reform our image and remodel it along the lines of a God of love.
        This can be a very difficult thing to do. It is hard to discard old images and ways of thinking. However, if we want to be true to the revelation of Jesus, this is exactly what we have to do. We have to let go of the idea that we have the right concept of God and His nature and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to the true image and understanding of our God. If we are willing to do this, we will discover that God is ever willing to make Himself known to us. The trouble with people today is that too often, we do not want to admit we are wrong or that we have made a mistake. We need to grow in humility and not cling to wrong ideas just for the sake of our pride.
        Jesus has to return to the Father so that He could send us the Holy Spirit. When we cling to old ideas and false images of God, we do not allow the fullness of His power and grace to come into our lives. We limit His influence in our lives through our misguided notions of who He is and what He wants to do for us. The challenge for every disciple of Jesus is to open our hearts to the grace of His Spirit, and to allow Him to speak the full truth ofHis love into our lives, and so transform and recreate us to be the people He wants us to be. Fr. Steve Tynan
 
Reflection Question:
What are the false images and ideas of God that I struggle to leave behind me?
 
Holy Spirit, open my heart and mind to the truth of who God is and allow me to surrender my life fully to His love.
 
St. Dula, virgin martyr, pray for us.
 

The all-new Feast mobile app is finally here! All the content you love from here may also be found in our new app and so much more! Please make sure to download the new Feast App, as we will eventually stop updating this version soon.

Let's continue to grow together with our all-new Feast app! Download and upgrade today: Feast App for Android | Feast App for iOS.


Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

Get your daily readings and more for free inside the Feast App!
Google PlayStore     iOS AppStore

 

 

We are happy to be sending this to you. Aside from our work of evangelization, the Feast also supports 10 foundations for the poor. Would you like to be part of this humble mission of helping our beneficiaries by donating?  Click here to share in God's work through the Feast Mercy Ministries. 

Do You Want Your Friend To Receive This Email?
Friend's Email:
 

Thank you for being part of the Feast family!

JOIN THE FEAST: Find a spiritual family. Join the Feast!
Find one near you! Check out our Feast locations and schedules here: feast.ph/locations. You may also follow us on Facebook for more Feast community-wide updates.

PRAY-OVER SESSIONS: Need someone to talk to? Want someone to pray with you?
Get in touch with our LOJ Pastoral Care Center at 0923 132 3071 (Sun) and 0917 145 3756 (Globe) from Monday to Saturday 8 AM to 10 PM. You may also set a session via chat here.

DOWNLOAD THE FEAST APP: Feed your faith with the all-new Feast mobile app! Keep receiving God's Message daily on your mobile.

Download today!  Feast App for Android | Feast App for iOS

LOVE OFFERINGS AND DONATIONS: Let’s continue the cycle of generosity. Choose how you want to give to our Feast Mercy Ministries foundations:

After your transfer/ deposit, please send a copy of your deposit slip with your name and contact number to support@kerygmafamily.com so that we can have a record of your donation

1. Register for monthly giving here: www.feastmercyministries.com/give

2. Online thru PayPal:  PayPal.me/KerygmaFamily 

3. Through bank deposits and transfers:

Account name:  Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television Foundation      

4. Give through GCASH: Scan the QR Code below

For any concerns or inquiries regarding your donation, please contact Joya from the Feast Mercy Ministries at (+632) 8725-9999 or +639989684416. Thank you again and God bless you more!