WSC Reflection Guide 8/25-31/2024

MASTER, YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE!

Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide

August 25, 2024 (Cycle B, Yr. II) – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Community Word: Jesus, the Living Bread, nourishes us and sustains our journey to eternal life.

Theme: We are nourished and sustained for eternal life when we firmly accept Jesus as the Holy One of God.

Promise: “It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” (Jn 6:63b)

Reflection:

In the gospel of John, Jesus knew “from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the ones who would betray him” (Jn 6: 64). Many of His disciples and followers found it difficult to understand His teaching; his teachings were hard to accept. In those days the disciples were able to listen and talk to Jesus questions face to face. They spent plenty of time listening to Him preaching the good news. But still they could not easily accept His teaching. 

Today, we wonder if we are able to converse with Jesus in person, will we do the same to Him as the disciples did? Will we continue to turn our backs on Him and go back to our old way of life? Indeed, it is difficult to follow the teachings and commandment of the Lord because it requires so much from us. It demands changing our life, leaving our own comforts and pursuing the path of holiness and charity. 

As His true followers, Jesus demands total surrender and calls us to give up all to follow Him. To follow Jesus means to recognize and submit to Him as our Lord and Savior and the Holy One of God. Following Christ is difficult because it requires a willingness to die for Him and to live for Him. We are to imitate Jesus in all His ways. This entails self-discipline, disciplining our hearts, minds, and bodies so that we are ready to face the challenges we may encounter in our lives. We are to reply like Peter when he said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,” (Jn 6:68). 

To accept Jesus in our life means that we are at war with the devil, the world, and our old self. Like Jesus, it would entail suffering and persecution (cf 2 Tim 3:12). Jesus went through temptation, rejection, persecution and pain. But in spite of these, Jesus humbled Himself and fully obeyed the will of the Father to fulfill His mission to save us. If we are to be obedient to God, we must humble ourselves by trusting Him so that His plans for our life will be fulfilled. We cannot be self-sufficient and arrogant, especially in our relationship with one another at home, in our work place and in our community. St. Paul told the Ephesians, “be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ,” (Eph 5:21). As Christians, our ultimate goal is to become more like Jesus. We need to walk in humility and obedience towards our heavenly Father. 

We are not alone in our everyday lives in facing the challenges and difficulties. Jesus has not left us alone but He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, guiding, comforting, praying and strengthening us. Our theme this week tells us – We are nourished and sustained for eternal life when we firmly accept Jesus as the Holy One of God. We are here for Jesus because we believe that He is here for us and He gives us His own body and blood for our strength and courage in our daily life. Though there are many weaknesses in our community, this is still the Body of Christ, the anchor of our faith. His presence truly compels us to stand firm in following him faithfully. In receiving His body and blood thru Holy Communion, we are assured of His presence and power. His promise then assures us: “It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” (Jn 6:63b) 

Prayer:

Loving Jesus, You have the words of eternal life. You are our salvation and without You, we are lost and we cannot do anything. Life is meaningless without your presence. Faithful God of the covenant, in the daily choices we have to make, give us the courage to always choose Your Son and His ways and to remain close to Him. Bless the difficult road we have to take sometimes without seeing where it will lead us. Keep us from making half-hearted decisions when our faith is rather weak and make us accept all the consequences of our choice. Keep us always faithful through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Reflection Questions:

1. What do you have to decide and do so that you can freely and unconditionally follow Jesus?  Are you stifled by personal challenges in these situations? 

1. What are the teachings of the Catholic Church that you doubt or teachings that you cannot accept because they do not conform to your personal opinions, or circumstances?  As a Catholic faithful, how do you intend to overcome these doubts or non-acceptance? 

2. 
   

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:

Aug 25, 2024 (Sun) – Jos 24:1-2, 15-18/ Ps 34:2, 3, 16-21/ Eph 5: 21-32/ Jn 6:60-69

Aug 26, 2024 (Mon) – 2 Thes 1:1-5, 11, 12/ Ps 96:1-5/ Mt 23:13-22

Aug 27, 2024 (Tue) – 2 Thes 2:1-3, 14-17/ Ps 96:10-13/ Mt 23:23-26

Aug 28, 2024 (Wed) – 2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18/ Ps 128:1-2, 4-5/ Mt 23:27-32

Aug 29, 2024 (Thu) – Jer 1:17-19/ Ps 128:1, 2, 4, 5/ Mk 6:17-29

Aug 30, 2024 (Fri) – 1 Cor 1:17-25/ Ps 33:1-5, 10, 11/ Mt 25:1-13

Aug 31, 2024 (Sat) – 1Cor 1:26-31/ Ps 33:12, 13, 18-21/ Mt 25:14-30

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

Council of Servant Leaders

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Alfred S. Kudemus

CSL Secretariat

BLD Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16