BLD Lucena

COMMUNITY WORD FOR SEPTEMBER 2022
(WORD, THEMES AND PROMISES)
READINGS
Sept 4, 2022 – Wis 9:13-18B/ Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17/ Phil 9-10, 12-17/ Lk 14:25-33
Sept 11, 2022 – Ex 32:7-11, 13-14/ Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19/ 1 Tim 1:12-17/ Lk 15:1-32
Sept 18, 2022 – Am 8:4-7/ Ps 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8/ 1 Tim 2:1-8/ Lk 16:10-13
Sept 25, 2022 – Am 6:1A, 4-7/ Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-100/ 1 Tim 6:11-16/ Lk 16:19-31
COMMUNITY WORD
True disciples of Christ know and follow His teachings.
ORDER
“Carry (your) cross…come after me…be my disciple.” (cf. Lk 14:27)
PROPHECIES
1. As you grow in love with My Word, My grace will be upon you.
2. I ask you, stay focused on your commitment as My disciple.
DIRECTIONS
1. Honor our Blessed Mother by emulating her obedience to God’s will.
2. Commit to actively participate in community activities.
3. Keep doing the good work in caring and helping those in need.
THEMES AND PROMISES
Week #1 (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Theme: We know and follow Christ’s teachings when we rely on God’s wisdom and plan.
Promise: “The Lord our God…prosper the work of our hands.” (Ps 90:17b)
Week #2 (24th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Theme: We know and follow Christ’s teachings when we repent and seek reconciliation with God and others.
Promise: “There will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Lk 15:10)
Week #3 (25th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Theme: We know and follow Christ’s teachings when we are prudent and trustworthy stewards of God’s gifts and provisions.
Promise: “This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim 2:3, 4).
Week #4 (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Theme: We know and follow Christ’s teachings when we are just and compassionate to the poor and the marginalized.
Promise: “Blessed is he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.” (Ps 146:7)

Reflection for June 2022 (Liturgical Year - Cycle C, Year II)
Community Word
The Holy Spirit is the Breath of God and the Power who transforms our life in Christ.
Order
“Live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.” (Gal 5:16)
Reflection
In June, we commemorate three significant feasts which celebrate our Christian faith. We ended the month of May with the Ascension of our Lord to heaven. It is subsequently followed by Pentecost Sunday (Descent of the Holy Spirit), Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). Celebrating these feasts brings our heart and mind to the heavenly realm and allows us a deeper understanding of God. As we reflect on each of these feast days, God’s presence is rekindled in our hearts and we are constantly reminded of the fullness of His love for man. We see the role of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity and how God is mindful of man to bring man to a relationship with Him. Jesus has said: “Everything that the Father has is mine… he will take from what is mine and declare it to you,” (Jn16:15). Thus our community word for June tells us – The Holy Spirit is the Breath of God and the Power who transforms our life in Christ.
For Pentecost Sunday, our theme tells us – Our life is transformed when the gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit are in us. The Father sent us His Spirit as Jesus promised so that the fullness of God’s love with His spiritual gifts and fruit, will dwell in us, to infill us, to transform and empower us. When Christ’s disciples received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day, their doubts and fears were transformed into certainty and boldness in that they were able to continue the ministry of Jesus and preached the Good News to the ends of the earth despite trials and persecution. Thus, this day marks the beginning of the Church. We receive the same Holy Spirit during our sacramental baptism, nurturing us with His spiritual gifts and yielding the spiritual fruit that transforms us into becoming a new creation in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. When we faithfully share the gifts and fruit through witnessing, evangelization and mission works, we will be able to realize this promise – “When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth,” (Ps 104:30).
On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, our theme is – Our life is transformed when we embrace the love of God that is poured into our hearts. The fundamental doctrine of our Christian faith tells us that we believe in the Blessed Trinity who is one God in three Divine Persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They have distinct roles: God the Father is the Creator, God the Son is the Savior and God the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier. Perfect and unconditional love is the common character of each Person. Our limited mind will find it difficult to grasp the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, but if we open our hearts, we will understand that God’s great love is the reason for all of His actions and sending Jesus to save us is God’s expression of such love. As redeemed people, cleansed by Jesus’ death and resurrection and anointed by the Holy Spirit, we are transformed to be His precious possession. We are called into that perfect relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in this promise of the Lord – “Everything that the Father has is mine…he will take from what is mine and declare it to you,” (Jn 16:15).
Our life is transformed when we receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist in remembrance of Him – is the theme for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We recall in the last supper, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist in the breaking of the bread and drinking of the wine, as He told His apostles – “This is my body that is for you…this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often… in remembrance of me,” (1 Cor 11:24-25). The body and blood of Jesus has been offered for our redemption and His sacrificial love is manifested and remembered in the Eucharist, in the transubstantiation of the bread and wine. By our baptism, we become the temples of the Holy Spirit and we need to be nurtured physically and spiritually. Holy Communion gives us the grace to be strong in mind, body and spirit, most especially in times of trials and tribulation. Jesus in His love for us continues to nourish us, giving us real food which is His body and blood in the form of the sacred host, and by receiving Him we remember His love on the cross. It is His promise that, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes,” (1 Cor 11:26).
Finally, for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the theme is – Our life is transformed when we fix our eyes on Jesus and live by the Spirit. As faithful Christians, we have become a new creation in the image and likeness of the Lord, sustained by God’s sanctifying grace and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We are then led to develop the desire to bring our relationship with the Lord to a higher level which leads to discipleship. We are impelled to focus our eyes on Jesus, to live in the Spirit and start a committed journey of deep faith. Living in the presence of God strengthens our faith as we follow the path He has laid for us, believing that everything will go as He plans, and be rewarded with this promise – “You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence the delights at your right hand forever,” (Ps. 16:11).
Transformation in Christ will only happen if we allow the Holy Spirit to empower us. St. Paul tells us – “Live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh,” (Gal 5:16).
Readings
June 5, 2022 – Acts 2:1-11/ Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34/ 1 Cor 12:3B-7, 12-13/ Jn 20:19-23
June 12, 2022 – Prv 6:22-31/ Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9/ Rom 5:1-5/ Jn 16:12-15
June 19, 2022 – Gen 14:18-20/ Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4/ 1 Cor 11:23-26/ Lk 9:11B-17
June 26, 2022 – 1 Kgs 19:16B, 19-21/ Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11/ Gal 5:1, 13-18/ Lk 9:51-62

COMMUNITY WORD FOR MAY 2022
(WORD, THEMES AND PROMISES)
READINGS
May 1, 2022 – Acts 5:27-32, 40B-41/ Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-13/ Rev 5:11-14/ Jn 21:1-19
May 8, 2022 – Acts 13:14, 43-52/ Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5/ Rev 7:9, 14B-17/ Jn 10:27-30
May 15, 2022 – Acts 14:21-27/ Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13/ Rev 21:1-5A/ Jn 13:31-33A, 34-35
May 22, 2022 – Acts 15:1-2, 22-29/ Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8/ Rev 21:10-14, 22-23/ Jn 14:23-29
May 29, 2022 – Acts 1:1-11/ Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9/ Eph 1:17-23/ Lk 24:46-53
COMMUNITY WORD
Missionaries of the Risen Christ serve God in love.
ORDER
“Feed my lamb...tend my sheep...feed my sheep.” (Jn 21:15-17)
PROPHECIES
1. Listen to My voice & cling to Me, that you may grow to be like Me.
2. Believe in the power of My love and great things will be upon you.
DIRECTIONS
1. Read and meditate on God’s word daily and live His instructions.
2. Receive the Sacraments to refresh your heart
3. Share the love of God by helping others in their need.
4. Pray for the healing of our sick members & their love ones.
THEMES AND PROMISES
Week #1 (3rd Sunday of Easter)
Theme: We serve God in love when we obey His commands.
Promise: “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” (Jn 2:6).
Week #2 (4th Sunday of Easter)
Theme: We serve God in love when we follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
Promise: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” (Jn 10:28)
Week #3 (5th Sunday of Easter)
Theme: We serve God wholeheartedly when we love one another.
Promise: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes…for the old order has passed…I make all things new.” (Rv 21:4b, 5b)
Week #4 (6th Sunday of Easter)
Theme: We serve God in love when we receive and share the peace of Christ.
Promise: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him.” (Jn 14:23)
Week #5 (The Ascension of the Lord)
Theme: We serve God in love when we preach repentance for the forgiveness of sin.
Promise: “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” (Acts 1:8a)

As we celebrate our Anniversary let's take a look at our history. {from 20th Anniversary post}.