Daily Bible Reflections
for May 12, 2008;

Dear Friend,

Be God's blessing to the world this Monday!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez

12
 May
Monday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

ONLY BY GRACE
Consider it all joy... – James 1:2
 
I looked up the synonyms of “joy.” Happiness, merriment, bliss, elation, delight. The author of the book of James says right at the beginning of his letter, “Yes, consider it all joy!”
How can all things be joy? Is cancer joy? Financial bankruptcy, unwanted pregnancy,  unanswered prayers — all joy? How about being abandoned or getting swindled? Or hunger, broken relationships, death?
How can I consider all those joy?
Perhaps it’s possible because happiness is a choice. It’s a personal decision, an act of the will. It disregards circumstances. Joy does not rely on events. It comes from within. The famous author Leo Tolstoy once said, “If you want to be happy, be.”
As followers of Jesus, we are not free from trials. Bad things do happen even to good people. Ultimately, it’s our decision how we will react to the realities that beset us.
St. James exhorts that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. And perseverance perfects us.
How difficult it is to reach perfection. It is much easier to give up. That’s why we need God’s grace. The decision to be joyful is grace. The will to endure is grace. The longing for perfection can only be grace. Lallaine Gogna
 
REFLECTION:
Think of your greatest burden right now and say: “I  consider this all joy!” How did that make you feel?
 
I open my life to Your grace, Lord! Grant me Your joy, Your perseverance and Your perfection.
 
 

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
 
James is quite cheerful in reporting that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. This is a reality but not necessarily a very nice process to have to endure. However, when we consider the graces involved and the end result, it is worth the trials and sufferings to get there. Our disposition in life will depend much on how we analyze our experiences. It is important we fix our eyes on the goal of eternal life or we will become very depressed.
 
James 1:1-11
1 James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings. 2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. 6 But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. 9 The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his high standing, 10 and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.” 11 For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76
R: Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I hold to your promise. (R) 68 You are good and bountiful; teach me your statutes. (R) 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. (R) 72 The law of your mouth is to memore precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (R) 75 I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just, and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me. (R) 76 Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to your servants. (R)
 
G O S P E L
 
Jesus is not really interested in supposed disciples who are always seeking for signs in their lives. A disciple’s life is one of trust and obedience to God’s will, not doubt and looking for signs to confirm every step of the way. This can be a challenge for us. We will have to learn to overcome the natural reluctance within us to trust others and step out in faith. We must believe that God is indeed who He says He is and will do what He promises to do.
 
Mark 8:11-13
11 The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.
 
my reflections
think:Do I trust God to do what He says He will do?
 
_______________________________________________________

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 Judges 1-4
 
Judges 1-4
 

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

 

WHAT THEY LACKED WAS LOVE, NOT SIGNS
 
At first glance, there seems to be nothing wrong when the Pharisees and the other religious leaders pressed Jesus to give them signs or more indications that could attest to the Divine origin of Jesus’ mission. Our human logic is one that concludes truth from a preponderance of signs and symptoms. Rightly, Bishop Tagle of Imus writes in his book An Easter People: “In our ordinary language, seeing, believing and understanding are intertwined. Often when we see a frown on our students’ faces we ask, “Do you see the point?” We use the metaphor of seeing to indicate understanding.”
But why did Jesus not entertain the Pharisees and the traditional Jewish leaders in their requests? Jesus knew any signs and indications He will work out will only amount to naught. The Pharisees and their companions did not lack understanding, but love. They could not understand Jesus because they refused to understand Him. They refused to understand Him because they hated Him. It is love that makes us see clearly and openly the signs and truths laid before us by others. Hate blinds us, because whatever the other one puts before us, we have first labeled the other as “enemy.” We see nothing good with people whom we call “enemy.” Fr. Domie Guzman
 
Reflection Question:
Focus on these words of Bishop Tagle: “It is not always true that we need to believe first before we can love. Sometimes, it is the other way around – because  we love, our belief deepens.”
 
Jesus, let Your love open my eyes, my heart, my soul and my mind that I may deepen my faith in You.
 
Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs, 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!