Daily Bible Reflections
for May 1, 2015
;

Dear Friend,

May others see Jesus in you this Friday.

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



1
May
Friday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

 
GOD LOVES IT WHEN
YOU BECOME YOU
 

God blessed them, saying “Be fertile and multiply…” – Genesis 1:28

 

       Some years back, I asked my then five-year-old son, Francis, to sing on stage. After his song, my then 10-yearold son, Bene, preached. This was before thousands of people at The Feast, our weekly prayer gathering.

     It was awesome. Francis brought the house down with his cute singing. And Bene blew the audience away with his talk.

        Hey, please understand. I’m the father, so my report is highly biased. Because I’m sure my kids made mistakes onstage.

     But all that didn’t matter. I didn’t pay too much attention to their mistakes. Because the whole time they were on stage, my heart was bursting within me, saying over and over again, “Those are my kids!” In other words, I just love it when they’re themselves.

       Friend, God is a father, too. When you use your talent, God’s heart is bursting with pride. When He sees you using the talent that He has given you to bless the world, God is saying, “That’s My kid!” Why? God loves it when you become you.

       He designed you, formed you, shaped you, rigged you, tooled you, and wired you to be a special gift to the world.

    I repeat — God loves it when you become you. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)
 

Reflection: How are you using the gifts and talents that God has given you?

 

Lord, help me to multiply Your blessings to the world by using the gifts You have given me.

 

St. Joseph the worker, 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

COMPANION

 

1ST READING

 

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Joseph the Worker. Let us remember the plight of workers and laborers throughout the world, particularly those who are not paid a just wage for their labors. Justice in the workplace is a two-way reality: Owners must pay a fair wage and workers must do an honest day’s work. In economic terms, labor and capital must work together to create a fairer workplace and a better world.

 

Genesis 1:26-2:3 (or Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24 or Acts 13:26-33)

26 God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.” 27 God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.” 29 God also said: “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; 30 and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food.” And so it happened. 31 God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed — the sixth day. 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. 2 Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, God rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.

 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 90:2, 3-4, 12-13, 14, 16 (or Psalm 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11)

R: Lord, give success to the work of our hands. 2 Before the mountains were begotten and the earth and the world were brought forth, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (R) 3 You turn men back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. (R) 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. 13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! (R) 14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 16 Let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children. (R)

 
GOSPEL
 

We ignore the plight of those in need because we do not realize the significance of a person’s suffering. We should do all that we can to ensure that the goods we buy are not products that result from the exploitation of workers. Let us also consider whether paying ridiculous prices for designer products is morally acceptable or not, when so many people struggle to put food on their tables. Could the money we spend on fashion be put to a better use?

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed be the Lord day by day, God, our salvation, who bears our burdens.

 
Matthew 13:54-58 (or John 14:1-6)

54 Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? 55 Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A  prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” 58 And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

 

think: Let us remember the plight of workers and laborers throughout the world, particularly those who are not paid a just wage for their labors.

 
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
 
____________________________________
 
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Deuteronomy 15-18

 

 

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

 

FINDING THE EXTRAORDINARY

IN THE ORDINARY

 

The first day of May, traditionally named Labor Day because of the emphasis on work and its intrinsic goodness, has also found its way in the life of the Church. The Church upholds Joseph the Carpenter — the father of Jesus and husband of Mary. Twice in the Church’s year, St. Joseph is celebrated — on March 19 he is honored as the spouse of Mary, and today, May 1, he is celebrated as a model for workers.

       Today’s Gospel is about the visitation of Jesus to His hometown where He says the infamous words: “A prophet is not without honor except in his own native place.” Jesus is too familiar a figure among His townsfolk for them to see Him as a miracle worker, a healer, a teacher. Yet Isaiah, the spokesperson of God, says, “My thoughts are way beyond your thoughts and my ways beyond your ways” (Isaiah 55:8).

       Joseph was a mere carpenter — an ordinary and simple folk. Through this ordinariness, God shines most brilliantly. Most of our lives are ordinary, too. We raise families, go to work, sleep, eat, and we do it all over again the next day. Day in and day out, the same routines demand our energies, abilities and responsibilities. But today is one of those days when we recognize the wonder, beauty and brilliance of the ordinary.

       Let’s turn once more to St. Joseph and beg for the grace to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Let us be reminded that God is made manifest in ways unseen or unheard of before. Joseph reveals God in his dealings —his love and faithfulness to his Son, Jesus.

       Let us rejoice in God — that we ordinary people are the ones whom He chooses to use as instruments of His grace and mercy. As we give our works to the Lord, let us ask Him to help us to be faithful and successful. St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us. Amen. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you see greatness in your ordinary life? In others’ lives?

 

Lord, thank You for giving us St. Joseph as an example of greatness in ordinary life. Help me to live my life extraordinarily well, giving glory to You.

 

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!