Lordie, God's Message For You Today, February 27, 2010

Daily Bible Reflections for February 27, 2010 Dear Lordie, Be inspired with His message to you this Saturday! Praying for you, Bo Sanchez 27 February Saturday TODAY'S READINGS: DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH DIDACHE   DIFFICULT PEOPLE   “... love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44   A senior manager used to tease me a lot. He would jeeringly call me “father” in front my colleagues because I carried the Bible and wouldn’t laugh at inappropriate jokes. A few months later, that person had a crisis in his career and personal life. I had a chance to work with our president and GM. He was a nice guy but there were times he would verbally abuse people, me included. I later found out that he drank a lot and he died at an early age. An officemate of mine likes to shout at people when things go wrong. It just irritated me. I later found out that his children had rare diseases. A priest would be irritable at Mass or even during confession and had very little patience. This bothered me. I later discovered that he was a cancer patient. The Lord sends people who steal my peace as His way of calling me to pray for them — for their salvation or their special needs. Sometimes, it’s easier to just react with the same irritation or annoyance they cause me. But the Lord calls me to be a channel of blessing to them — to love them. This way, I become more like Jesus. Ariel Driz (adriz77@yahoo.com)   REFLECTION: Do I take the opportunity to pray when a difficult person comes my way?   Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to respond with prayer when difficult people come my way. Remind me that they are a blessing to me as I am called to be a blessing to them. Amen.   Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top COMPANION   1st READING   The Jewish religion had a deep focus on the Law. In many ways, that was the greatest gift they had received from God that they could cling to once they had lost their land to the conquest of foreign nations. We know that the physical Promised Land is but an intermediary promise; the Law, too, is not yet in its fullest state. All this changes with the Messiah, Jesus, who fulfills the promises and Law of God with the gift of salvation and the promise of eternal life.   Deuteronomy 26:16-19 16 Moses spoke to the people, saying: “This day the LORD, your God, commands you to observe these statutes and decrees. Be careful, then, to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 Today you are making this agreement with the LORD: he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees, and to hearken to his voice. 18 And today the LORD is making this agreement with you: you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you; and provided you keep all his commandments, 19 he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory above all other nations he has made, and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God, as he promised.”   P S A L M   Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 R: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! 1 Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. (R) 4 You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. 5 Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes! (R) 7 I will give you thanks with an upright heart, when I have learned your just ordinances. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me. (R)   G O S P E L   Jesus calls us to nothing less than perfection. We are not to settle for a Christianity that is reasonably OK but not yet at the cutting point of conversion and holiness. Perfection is the goal for us to have as it will not allow us to settle for second best. God is perfect. He demands perfection and we should not settle for anything less either. Of course, this is a journey for us, we are not yet at the state of perfection but this should not cause us to doubt. God calls us to perfection and we should believe that following His call is always possible. Otherwise He would not ask that of us.   Matthew 5:43-48 43 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”   my reflections t h i n k : God calls us to perfection and we should believe that following His call is always possible. Otherwise He would not ask that of us.   _________________________________________________________ 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  2 & 3 John and Jude        Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top SABBATH   Whaaaat ? Love my Enemy ? Isn’t Jesus asking too much? Isn’t it inhuman and even perverse to love an enemy? He knows very well that it is “natural” and “human” to get even and severe all ties with persons who have done us evil. But He also knows very well that forgiving and loving make us more human because we are created in the image and likeness of God who forgives and loves us even though we offend and hurt Him so often with our sins. What does Jesus mean with “loving” our enemy? To clarify this point, allow me to mention the Greek words Matthew uses in his Gospel. The Greeks had three words for “love”: eros, philia and agape. Eros, of course, has something to do with sexual attractions. Philia is the kind of love that comes naturally, when we love a friend or our parents. Agape, the word Matthew uses here, is a kind of love that does not come naturally; it is the result of reasoning out that I have no right to hate that person, that he/she is also a child of God and loved by God and so I have to make an effort to love that person also. Agape is more a kind of good will, of concern, of positive action. This distinction makes us aware that we may not always be able to like a person but we can love that person. At least, we can pray for a person who has become our enemy. A second point Jesus makes is that His followers should be distinct from others by doing more than non-followers. The ancient pagans are said to have wondered what kind of people these Christians are. “Look, how they love each other,” they said and so were attracted to Christianity. After having said all this, I realize that it is still not easy to do what Jesus demands from us. We might not be able to reach the ideal immediately but when we accept the challenge and try hard, we will grow and mature as human beings. We also grow and mature spiritually and do a giant step towards our eternal goal.Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD   Reflection Question: Is there someone whom I have not yet forgiven? What could I do for the person I just don’t like?   Lord, thank You for this important reminder. I needed it. But I feel so weak when it comes to forgiving and loving somebody who has hurt me. Your example on the Cross, when You prayed for Your executioners, will surely help me.   St. Anne Line, pray for us.   Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

Watch Bo inspire you in  Preacher in Blue Jeans Do You Want Your Friend To Receive This Email? Friend's Email: 1.  The FEAST is the one of the happiest places on earth. Find one near you!   Pasig Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Valle Verde Country Club (beside The ULTRA) Preacher: Bo Sanchez   4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Valle Verde Country Club Preacher: Obet Cabrillas   Quezon City Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 12 n.n. Convention Hall, Bureau of Soils, Visayas Ave., Q.C. Preacher: Eng Si   South Sunday 11:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m.  3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.      Cinema 10, Festival Mall, Alabang                        Preacher: Arun Gogna          Rizal Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Valley Fair, Taytay, Rizal Preacher: Pio Espanol   Bustos Sunday 2:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. San isidro labrador Parish, Liciada, Bustos Preacher:  Chito Manaois   Ortigas Monday 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Roofdeck, Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Ave., Pasig City            Preacher: Vic Espanol   Makati Thursday, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. AIM Conference Center, Benavidez cor Paseo de Roxas Preachers: Randy Borromeo and George Gabriel   Manila Friday, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Cinema 4, SM Manila (near City Hall), Manila          Preacher: Obet Cabrillas   Angeles 1st & 3rd Friday, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Professional Bldg., Angeles University Foundation, Angeles City                                         Preacher: Marvin Tan   Laguna Saturday, arter the 4:00 pm Mass - 6:30 pm.                        2/F Activity Center, Pavillion Mall, Km. 35 San Antonio, Binan, Laguna Preacher: Hermie Morelos   Marilao Saturday, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Cinema 2, SM Marilao, Bulacan Preacher: Alvin Barcelona      2. Wake up to the new KERYGMA TV! on TV5! On a new time slot - Sundays 6-7 a.m. PLUS... MUSTARD (for kids) Saturdays 6-7 a.m FISHBOWL (for the youth) Saturdays 7-8 a.m. 3. Need Counseling?  Call a friend for counseling at  09228407031, 7266728, 7264709, and 7259999 Mon-Fri 24-hrs, Sat 6am-5pm, Sun 6am-10am.  4. Free Kerygma Magazine (the one on paper) from Bo. If you're a KerygmaFamily member who regularly supports this ministry with at least P300 or US$20 a month - you'll be receiving a one-year subscription of the KerygmaMagazine in the mail-automatically! If you haven't signed up for KerygmaFamily, join now! http://www.kerygmafamily.com 5. Its now easy to DONATE using the new GlobeTelecom GCASH at http://kerygmafamily.com. 6. DONATE using SMART MONEY - type KFAM_amount and send to 270 7. K-FAM INTERCESSORY GATHERING We invite you to join us to worship the Almighty, listen to sharing about the power of prayer and to God?s message through talks, and also to pray for healing. Every 4th Sunday of the month from 7:45 - 10:00 a.m. at the Baras Room,  Valle Verde Country Club (beside The ULTRA),  Pasig City. After this, you may join the 2nd session of the The Feast (10:30-12:30). BE THERE TO GLORIFY GOD! BE BLESSED! BE A BLESSING! Admission is FREE! Let us know you are coming! Contact persons: Luisa   0918-4404330   /   0906-3413557    / 632-533-3874 or Me-Ann   0919-3796559   /   0917-4066592     / 632-714-0429 8. Put Preacher in Blue Jeans in your Blog or Friendster! Just copy the text in under next to the EMBED keyword under the video. Just like YOUTUBE! 9. Did you receive this email from someone else? To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await. 10. To change your KerygmaFamily member/email settings. Please click here 11. To enter the Audio & Video Teachings, Please click here 12. Forward these to your friends - so they too can read God's Word and be invited to join the KerygmaFamily. They'll Thank you for opening this mountain of blessings to them! 13. Contact Person: Tina   (+632) 9312711    or&nb sp;  + 639178424101    or support@kerygmafamily.com

Lordie, God's Message For You Today, February 26, 2010

Daily Bible Reflections for February 26, 2010 Dear Lordie, Offer your hardships and trials to the Lord this Friday. Praying for you, Bo Sanchez 26 February Friday TODAY'S READINGS: DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH DIDACHE   The Perfect Mold   “If the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil… None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin.” – Ezekiel 18:24   There are some Christians who do good to atone for something bad they have done. Some rich people donate “generously” to somewhat assuage their guilt for whatever iniquities they have committed. Businessmen cheat on their taxes so that they can “help” more people through employment. These Christians believe that entering heaven is like passing the test at the weighing scale of justice. By doing more good deeds than bad, they think they will earn the right to enter. Doing good things is always virtuous; but doing it for the sake of covering up for something sinful is not in God’s book of standards. When we manufacture our paper bags, the machine would sometimes produce some that are substandard. What we do is re-make these bags by hand. Otherwise, they will be rejected and thrown to the recycling pit. If we let God’s hands mold us according to His standards, not ours, then our entry to heaven is assured. Rolly España (rolly@homeliving.com.ph)   REFLECTION: Who is leading you? Is it the Good Shepherd or yourself?   Father, You are the potter and I am the clay. Mold me and fashion me according to Your will.   Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top COMPANION   1st READING   It is what we do in the end, the course we set our lives upon, that indicates whether we are going in the right direction or not. This means that while the little side battles are significant, the more important ones are those that will determine the course of my life. It is these battles I have to give the most attention and seek the help of the Holy Spirit to win.   Ezekiel 18:21-28 21 Thus says the LORD GOD: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. 23 Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? 24 And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. 25 You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? 26 When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. 27 But if a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; 28 since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.   P S A L M   Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8 R: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! 2 Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. (R) 3 If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? 4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. (R) 5 I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. 6 My soul waits for the LORD more than sentinels wait for the dawn. 7 let Israel wait for the LORD. (R) For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; 8 and he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. (R)   G O S P E L Matthew has a way of reporting Jesus’ words that gets to the bottom of the issue. Verse 20 is enough to convey the idea that righteous living is what God is looking for, not religiosity. Let us seek to grow in righteousness, an attitude and state of heart and mind, rather than just multiply devotional and exterior practices. They have their place but only if the righteousness is there already.   Matthew 5:20-26 20 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. 23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”   my reflections think: Let us seek to grow in righteousness, an attitude and state of heart and mind, rather than just multiply devotional and exterior practices.   _________________________________________________________ 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  1 John 1-5     Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top SABBATH   Dangerous Traps   Jewish teachers usually quote other rabbis, famous and authoritative teachers of the past. Or they quote their Hebrew Bible, our Old Testament. And that is what Jesus is doing during His famous Sermon on the Mount. Today Jesus quotes a passage from the Law of Moses. But then He adds to the quotation from Moses’ law, “But I say this to you…” Moses had received the law on a mountain. Now Jesus, as a second Moses but greater than Moses, gives a new law on another mountain. With great authority He goes beyond the old law, beyond a legalistic approach of the law. Pope Benedict writes in his book Jesus of Nazareth (p. 102), “The intention is not to abolish, but to fulfill, and this fulfilment demands a surplus, not a deficit, of righteousness…” What is this surplus Jesus has added to the old law? He makes us aware that it might be relatively easy not to violate a law and so we might think that everything is fine with us. For sure, among the readers of this reflection nobody has killed in his/her life and will never do it, except maybe killing mosquitoes and cockroaches. But what about anger toward others? What about hurting words hurled at somebody? What about a silent treatment that causes a person to suffer? These thoughts and wishes might remain totally unknown to anybody around us. But they are there. And Jesus makes us aware of this fact. He also makes us aware that negative thoughts can easily become words and result in actions. They are like traps that can leave us unaware of their dangerous existence. When we slap sometimes our forehead and say, “How could I say this?” or “How could I do this?” we find the answer in today’s Gospel passage: We have nourished evil thoughts without realizing that the trap will snap and we explode with hurting words or even actions. Jesus does not intend to add more burdens to our already burdensome life. In His love He just makes us aware of this dangerous trap of hidden evil thoughts — before they materialize in words or actions. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD   Reflection Question: Do I think that I am a good person because I do not violate the major commandments?   Do I have my inner thoughts and emotions under control? Lord, cleanse me from my hidden, negative and even evil thoughts that I may never say or do something that hurts You and others.   St. Victor, pray for us.   Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

Watch Bo inspire you in  Preacher in Blue Jeans Do You Want Your Friend To Receive This Email? Friend's Email: 1.  The FEAST is the one of the happiest places on earth. Find one near you!   Pasig Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Valle Verde Country Club (beside The ULTRA) Preacher: Bo Sanchez   4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Valle Verde Country Club Preacher: Obet Cabrillas   Quezon City Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 12 n.n. Convention Hall, Bureau of Soils, Visayas Ave., Q.C. Preacher: Eng Si   South Sunday 11:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m.        3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.      Cinema 10, Festival Mall, Alabang                        Preacher: Arun Gogna  Rizal Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Valley Fair, Taytay, Rizal Preacher: Pio Espanol   Bustos Sunday 2:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. San isidro labrador Parish, Liciada, Bustos Preacher:  Chito Manaois   Ortigas Monday 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Roofdeck, Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Ave., Pasig City             Preacher: Vic Espanol   Makati Thursday, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. AIM Conference Center, Benavidez cor Paseo de Roxas Preachers: Randy Borromeo and George Gabriel   Manila Friday, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Cinema 4, SM Manila (near City Hall), Manila          Preacher: Obet Cabrillas   Angeles 1st & 3rd Friday, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Professional Bldg., Angeles University Foundation, Angeles City                                            Preacher: Marvin Tan   Laguna Saturday, arter the 4:00 pm Mass - 6:30 pm.                         2/F Activity Center, Pavillion Mall, Km. 35 San Antonio, Binan, Laguna Preacher: Hermie Morelos   Marilao Saturday, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Cinema 2, SM Marilao, Bulacan Preacher: Alvin Barcelona      2. Wake up to the new KERYGMA TV! on TV5! On a new time slot - Sundays 6-7 a.m. PLUS... MUSTARD (for kids) Saturdays 6-7 a.m FISHBOWL (for the youth) Saturdays 7-8 a.m. 3. Need Counseling?  Call a friend for counseling at  09228407031, 7266728, 7264709, and 7259999 Mon-Fri 24-hrs, Sat 6am-5pm, Sun 6am-10am.  4. Free Kerygma Magazine (the one on paper) from Bo. If you're a KerygmaFamily member who regularly supports this ministry with at least P300 or US$20 a month - you'll be receiving a one-year subscription of the KerygmaMagazine in the mail-automatically! If you haven't signed up for KerygmaFamily, join now! http://www.kerygmafamily.com 5. Its now easy to DONATE using the new GlobeTelecom GCASH at http://kerygmafamily.com. 6. DONATE using SMART MONEY - type KFAM_amount and send to 270 7. K-FAM INTERCESSORY GATHERING We invite you to join us to worship the Almighty, listen to sharing about the power of prayer and to God?s message through talks, and also to pray for healing. Every 4th Sunday of the month from 7:45 - 10:00 a.m. at the Baras Room,  Valle Verde Country Club (beside The ULTRA),  Pasig City. After this, you may join the 2nd session of the The Feast (10:30-12:30). BE THERE TO GLORIFY GOD! BE BLESSED! BE A BLESSING! Admission is FREE! Let us know you are coming! Contact persons: Luisa   0918-4404330   /   0906-3413557    / 632-533-3874 or Me-Ann   0919-3796559   /   0917-4066592     / 632-714-0429 8. Put Preacher in Blue Jeans in your Blog or Friendster! Just copy the text in under next to the EMBED keyword under the video. Just like YOUTUBE! 9. Did you receive this email from someone else? To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await. 10. To change your KerygmaFamily member/email settings. Please click here 11. To enter the Audio & Video Teachings, Please click here 12. Forward these to your friends - so they too can read God's Word and be invited to join the KerygmaFamily. They'll Thank you for opening this mountain of blessings to them! 13. Contact Person: Tina   (+632) 9312711    or&nb sp;  + 639178424101    or support@kerygmafamily.com