Daily Bible Reflections
for December 28, 2008;

Dear Friend,

Celebrate God's love through His Word for you this Sunday!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez

28
 December
Sunday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 Feast of the Holy Family

hOARDING
 
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.” – Luke 21:34-35
 
Last year, I joined KerygmaFamily’s sevenday fast and had a wonderful Holy Week. It was the first time that I tried fasting for a week purely on fruits and vegetables and I was not sure how I’d last. There were days when my meal would only consist of one can of unsweetened 100 percent pineapple juice. I just drank water in between as the Fasting Manual had instructed us. At the end of the week, I felt fine and without the bloated feeling that I sometimes felt after a meal. I realized that my body doesn’t really need much food to sustain it. It was just me who sometimes got scared that I’d go hungry.
In life, we too don’t need much to sustain us. As Scripture says, as long as we have food to eat, clothing to wear and house to live in, that’s good enough. But human nature desires to hoard and keep acquiring more. No wonder there is so much poverty around us.
Do we live fasted lives for the sake of Christ? Let’s seriously ask that of ourselves so that when Judgment Day comes, it won’t catch us by surprise.Joy Sosoban
 
REFLECTION:
By fasting as unto the Lord we answer  His call to deny ourselves for the sake of the cross. (Lee Bueno)
 
Help me to see the excesses of my life, Lord, and enable me to let go.
 

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
 
The Lord promises Abram that his descendants will be numerous. This would be difficult for Abram to believe as both he and his wife are old with Sara past the time of bearing children. Yet here we see one of the fundamental aspects of faith in that Abram trusts and believes that the impossible will come true. Have you and I the faith to believe in such a miracle?
 
Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3 (or Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14)
1 The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield; I will make your reward very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” 3 Abram continued, “See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” 6 Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. 21: 1 The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said he would; he did for her as he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time that God had stated. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his whom Sarah bore him.
 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 (or Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5)
R: (7a, 8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
1 Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. 2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. (R) 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! 4 Look to the LORD in his strength; constantly seek his face. (R) 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) 8 He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations 9 which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R)
 
2nd READING
 
Faith has the power to bring about the temporary suspension of the laws of nature. Do you believe that this is the case? I hope so because there are numerous examples of it in the Scriptures. I believe that virtually all Christians who have lived and proclaimed their faith in Jesus have failed to fully draw upon the power of that faith. I am sure that it is in the heart and mind of God that there be many more miracles in the Church today. The problem is there are not enough people who will entrust their situation to the Lord in faith and wait for Him to act.
 
Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 (or Colossians 3:12-21)
8 Brothers and sisters: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. 11 By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age — and Sarah herself was sterile — for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. 12 So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. 17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” 19 He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
 
G O S P E L
 
I love reflecting upon the prayer of Simeon in today’s Gospel (longer version) as it is clearly the prayer of a man who knows his God, and is happy and content with his life. He is not an anxious man, worried about many things but a man who knows that if his life is surrendered to God, then that is good enough for him, as it is in God’s hands now. Let us pray for this peace and contentment in our own lives; in fact, in the lives of all who profess faith in Christ.
 
Luke 2:22-40
22 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” 24 and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, 28 he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: 29 “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted 35 — and you yourself a sword will pierce — so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. 38 And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
 
my reflections
think:Let us pray for this peace and contentment in our own lives; in fact, in the lives of all who profess faith in Christ.
 
_________________________________________________________

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 Zechariah 5-8
 
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
   ________________________________________________________________
 
   ________________________________________________________________
 
                                                 
                                    ________________________________________________________________
 
 
 

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

 

THE FAMILY IN CRISIS
 
I remember the powerful Roman Empire into which Jesus was born. Who would have thought that this once mighty Empire would collapse and disappear? And what was the reason? There were political reasons, attacks from ferocious Germanic tribes. But what weakened the Empire was the decline of family values and the spread of permissiveness.
The Church focuses on the Holy Family as our model every Christmas. The simple manger shows how God renounced everything we think important for life — except the family. The family is the source of life. When a society separates itself from its source, it dries up and leaves a riverbed full of mud and garbage just like a river cut off from the sea.
God created humans in His image and likeness. God is a God in three persons: a community of three. Therefore, He created humans as man and woman with the task that the two become three in their child(ren). That makes the human family a picture of the triune God.
In the Gospel, we do not find speeches on the family but an event that is worth more than any word: God willed His Son to be born and to grow up in a human family.
As today’s gospel passage shows, Jesus’ parents introduced Him as early as possible to the basics of their religion and dedicated Him to God according to the law. The Gospel of Luke reveals the most authentic and profound vocation of the family: that of supporting each of its members on the path to the discovery of God and of His plan for them. The Holy Family is truly the “prototype” of every Christian family, called to carry out the vocation and mission of being a living cell in society and in the Church. If only all Christian families would take the Holy Family as model, our future would be bright.  May all readers pattern their lives and families after that of the Holy Family and so do the greatest apostolate possible in and for the Kingdom of God. Fr. Rudy Horst
 
Reflection Question:
Do I pattern my life after the model of the Holy Family and share Christian values to the next generation?
 
Father, we invoke the protection of Mother Mary and of St. Joseph for every family, especially for those in crisis. May they be supported to be able to resist the impulses of the contemporary culture which undermines the very basis of the family. May the Holy Family help Christian families to be the living image of the love of God.
 
St. Caesarius, penitent and 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!