Daily Bible Reflections
for December 1, 2016
;

Dear Friend,

Be blessed by His Creative Word this Thursday!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



1
December
Thursday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

OUR DEEPEST DESIRES
 
It had been set solidly on rock. – Matthew 7:25
 

       When I was getting married, I cried, “Heeeeeeeeelp!” I felt incredibly awkward — because for years, I saw myself as a celibate guy. In fact, I was very open to becoming a priest.

     But after praying for the grace of priesthood for 10 long years, I realized it wasn’t my calling. I prayed for the gift of celibacy; He gave me the gift of marriage instead. As I discerned about my future, I realized two important things about myself. First, I love being a lay preacher. I love it too much to give it up for a Roman collar and velvet stole and church altar. Second, my heart longs for a female companion too much, too often, too strongly.

       A friend of mine told me that searching for the will of God “out there” is a big boo-boo because God’s will for us is in the depths of our hearts. (Still, it will take prayer and time to find out what they are.) When God made us, He implanted within us a burning desire for His will. He’ll never twist our arm and say, “Do My will!” He won’t force. Because we’ll simply desire His will.

       This Christmas, let the coming of Baby Jesus inspire us to search our hearts for the reason for our existence. Bo Sanchez

 

Reflection:Have you fully grasped your life’s purpose?

 

Dearest God, grant me the grace of discernment to know Your most holy will for my life. Amen.

 
Blessed Charles de Foucauld, 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
 

Trust is important in the life of faith and in relationships. A broken trust is fatal to a relationship. It is different with God. No matter how many times we break our covenant with Him, He still takes us back when we repent. God is truly rich in mercy and love. Let us be thankful for His mercy and deal decisively with the sin in our lives.

 
Isaiah 26:1-6

1 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. 2 Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. 3 A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.” 4 Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock. 5 He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; he tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. 6 It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor.

 

P S A L M 55

 

Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

R: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. (R) 19 Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This gate is the Lord’s; the just shall enter it. 21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. (R) 25 O Lord, grant salvation! O Lord, grant prosperity! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus was a man of action. He went out and did what His Father asked Him to do. He taught us that those who do the will of the Father will enter the Kingdom of God. It is easy to cry out, “Lord, Lord!” It is more difficult to act in faith. Our actions will show the depth of our faith in God and how far we are willing to go for our faith.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call him while he is near.

 
Matthew 7:21, 24-27

21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 24 “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted he house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

 

think: Our actions will show the depth of our faith in God and how far we are willing to go for our faith.

 
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  Psalm 136-140

 

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

 

“O GOD, BUILD ME A HOUSE WITH YOU!”

 

Owning and building a house is everyone’s dream in life. The house becomes a symbol of us being able to give value and direction out of our time, resources and talents — and life in general. The words of the Gospel tell us about being a wise builder of a house with good rock foundation. The rock foundation, of course, is our Lord God, the Big Rock, whose words guarantee stability and fruitfulness of life.

       Rethinking things over in the context of our celebration of the Advent season, when we prepare to celebrate the joyous coming of God in Jesus who is “Word-Made-Flesh,” we realize that there is something more about building a house — building our life — with God. There is something better than being wise builders. The real challenge is to turn over everything to God, and to say to Him: “Build me a house!”

       Let us learn from David. Amidst all his human frailty and struggles, his life and reign was truly made “golden” not by his military brilliance and great strategies. Not even by his faith. His greatness resulted from the full grace of God. God made him a house, a kingdom. A memorable life despite it all. God told him through Nathan: “I will give you rest from your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house” (2 Samuel 7:11). David surrendered to this offer of God, when he himself prayed: “For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house,’ therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you” (2 Samuel 7:27).

     This Advent, let us then open our personal lives, our spiritual programs, our careers, our family visions and plans to God who comes and wants to be “Immanuel.” Let us not be wise in our own estimation. Let us rather echo the prayers of the Psalmist: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What great life projects are you presently engaged in? How are you doing? Have you consulted, and even better, turned it over to the Lord?

 

Father in heaven, I offer to You my plans and projects. Be the rock foundation of it all. Amen.

 

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!