FORGIVENESS

This is about the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, where this Sunday's Gospel is dealing with forgiveness. Unless you do not forgive, you are not forgiven, a simple mathematical equation or formula which, everyone of us don't mind. We don't mind about dealing with our spiritual life, on which our level of spirituality depends on how we forgive others. We often spoke of our relationship with God, we often tell others about our faith, our love to the almighty, how very good are we on how we carry on with our christian life, but the main core of our Christianity is in this Sunday's gospel reading. Not only that, in the 24th Sunday in Ordinary time take moment to read and reflect on the first reading on the book of Sirach which profoundly and strongly emphasize the contrast of our relationship to God by staying within anger and hatred with our neighbors and brothers.

FOR WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH

ROMANS 7:23 For wages of Sin is Death, but the Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The gift of God is eternal life. No doubt. As a gift, like anything, is like something being offered without the asking of anyone or by one, just there, given a gift. But we should take note properly the verse. Many of our brothers interpret the gift as something to be innate in a christian being, a thing irrevocably God given. A thing called "once saved always saved". to understand it, let's look at the other inspired word in the bible;

"for in Hope we are saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes what one sees?. But if we hope we do not see, we wait with endurance. Romans 8:24

Eternal Life is our salvation. This is the gift we speak of, we receive this gift once we fulfill the words of Christ. But hope is the keyword here, hoping is similar to waiting if in finality we really can have the "gift".

GIFT: Gift is something given, but offer of the gift do not end in the act of offering. The giver, awaits the result or the reaction of a person about his gift. Like a T-shirt given, the giver wanted to see if you use the shirt, wearing it, liking it. Similar to God, He also is eager to see if you will heed with His gift of eternal life by or through following His words in the scriptures. What if one dislike the gift? or one do not take the gift seriously? setting it aside idly? ignore? Of course, this case will be of another matter compared to those happy with the gift. Surely, God will treat each and everyone of us distinctively.

HOPE: We only hope that we are saved. We know that God saved us. Given His life to redeem us is definitely the mission of Christ for all. Remember crucifixio9n of Christ happened 2,000 years ago, and the words in the scripture that we were saved, remains. But because this is now 2011, we hope that we are saved. In Romans 8:24, we have not seen Christ, we have only today the bible, we have to endure in our lifetime to live in Christ, the hope, and bringing this hope to life everyday in order that the gift we may receive in the end.

For those who love god: " We know that all things work for good for those who love God, Romans 8:28 ....." to be conformed to the image of His son," Rom 8:29
To be in the process of salvation, we should conform to the image of His Son, that is to live spiritually with God. Live this life according to His words and teachings.

CHILDREN OF GOD

Can we call ourselves children of God? Is being a Catholic, a Christian or by faith through Jesus Christ mark us to be a Children of God? A genuine christian practicing and following the teaching of Christ, can be children of God, for the Spirit of God is with him.

"led by the Spirit of God are children of God." Rom 8:14

As God's children, we can enter the kingdom of the Father which is heaven. But the question is how can one be led by the Spirit of God? all throughout? in our lifetime? Symptoms of the Spirit in us should be present. How it would stay in us, not leave us, maintain and endure to live in the teaching of Christ.

"The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Rom 8:17.

Our way of life is the proof on how we live it makes it as a witness if we are led by the Spirit. In that sense spiritual life is important for us in order to be in communion with God. Symptoms of spirituality should be abound in us. Be prayerful, charitable, compassionate, kind, slow to anger, and in speech we should be holy.

"....if only we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him". Rom 8:17.

Suffering is part of the process of retaining the Spirit in us, we jointly come with the suffering of Christ as the key to be called the children of God. As carrying our daily cross is being a Christian.

THE BTB PROGRAM -STREET CHILDREN MINISTRY

Keep the commandments of the Lord, by walking in His ways and fearing Him. Deut 8:6. Breaking the Bread is one of the will of God, fulfilling His commandments through sharing, loving not only extending it to our chosen friends or neighbors but exercising it to those people who are really in need of our love and care. The real meaning of loving our neighbor is found through sharing and catechizing our own street children in our midst. BEAR YOUR SHARE OF HARDSHIP FOR THE GOSPEL WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD. It is a significant to take part in the BTB that the gospel is carried through this ministry. BTB is part of that hardship we share in the gospel, this is prayer in action.

Fearing the Lord is one quality of a true Christian or follower of Christ. So many of us despise the poor and the under privilege before us, specially the street children. We judge, utter and defile them because of their stature, I feel pity for those who do not understand their actions towards the poor. Remember by judging, despising, the little ones which are the kingdom of God, you offend the Lord. If we fear God, street children is no street children anymore, they will turn them to good Christians in the next generation after us, and that's the beauty of BTB today. Breaking the Bread starts to instill walking our ways with God, and showing that by being obedient to God, is loving His will always. Amen.-- Bro. Gilbert

BTB PRO-LIFE

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Breaking the Bread is PRO-LIFE. This small Ministry supports the Church's position on Christ's teaching for life. On line with the vision and mission of our local Parish, we are promoting everything that the pastoral council's programs and actions for the Universal church. We are at the moment thinking of ways to best magnify the position of the Church against the RH BILL, thru information materials, usage of the available media, the internet to impose presence of Catholic stand on Pro-Life.

PRAYERRALLY FOR PRO-LIFE March 25, 2011 Luneta Grandstand

The March 25, 2011 event was the moment of God's force for letting it pour to this country His will. The will of bringing forth life to this world is the mission of Christ. We need to fight evil, which is now destroying life, poisoning the minds of our people, using our government to legalize anti-life. The fight against this evil is the fight of the Church, the fight of Christ, and the Truth, which His body, as a Church, we are His members , should act and pursue to meet the goal of life of Christ. The RH BILL should be stopped, our government is using the population issue to cover it's inefficiency and corruption, what this country needs is the quality of service of our government free of corruption, that will mean quality of our people, quality and productivity of our nation.

The prayer rally in Luneta is the the prayer of people to God. God is on our side, He's guiding the Church as He had promised to be always with it 'till the end of time, guided by the Holy Spirit, and this moment of need, we know that God is taking care of it's people. Amen.

BABARA NAVASCA & FAMILY , BTB SPONSOR

the family of Barbara Navasca was our BTB sponsor last March 26, 2011. The sponsoring of food and giving short messages of inspiration for our little children gives rise to their moral strength and hope for life. Their presence in sharing their blessings to the children is something that God had made it happen so the BTB will go on strongly as according to God's purpose and plans for all of us, big or small in economic stature in life. Even though all of us has each own struggles in life, the sharing and and love-giving which is God's commandment is very much natural in our hearts, a mark of a true Christian. The cost and quantity of how much you share is not the matter, what is important is the spring of love and willingness to do it. To take a step and time to give the effort to fulfill that urge of heart is enough to please God. "Please do not forget to share what you have, because with such sacrifices God is pleased" Hebrews 13:16. Yes we please God, because we've acted according to His will. May the Lord bless us all.