18 October 2023 - Only By Grace Reflections

NOTE: Please click the Subscribe key on YouTube and press the black notification bell to receive the daily reflections. Or, open in YouTube for easy access. View and Like. Thank you. TOPIC: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME TO BE CHRISTIAN?  First Reading: Second Timothy 4: 10-17b Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 10-11, 12-13, 17-18 Alleluia: John 15: 16 Gospel: Luke 10: 1-9 The Lord Jesus sends seventy-two disciples on a mission to announce the Good News of God in the villages and in cities of Galilee. He seeks to recover the traditional community values of the people who felt crushed by the twofold slavery of the Roman domination and by the official religion. Jesus wants to renew and organize the communities so that they become an expression of the Covenant.     Sent as pairs, co-responsibility for the mission was apparent among the disciples. It was of paramount importance and the disciples understood that they are being sent like lambs among wolves. It would be difficult and dangerous because the system at the time, like the one in which we have now was and continues to be contrary to reorganizing life-giving communities. Thus, the carrying of haversacks and money is of significance also, but in a different way.  When Pharisees go around, they could not trust the food from the people because it was not always ritually “pure”. So, they took with them haversacks, purses, and money to be able to get their own food. Instead of helping to overcome divisions, the laws of purity weakened the living out of the community values even more. Jesus' disciples are not to take anything with them, except peace. This meant trusting the hospitality of others because those who goes without anything but peace, indicates trust in people.     The disciples participate in the life and work of the people and live from what they receive. They take care of the sick, cure lepers, cast out devils and accept those who were excluded within the community, much like what we do with migrants and marginalized of today.    When these are seen coming together, it marks the coming of the Kingdom. To proclaim it is not just to teach truth and doctrine, but to lead others toward a new way of life.     May we always be reminded of what it truly means to be a Christian and be fully apprised of what Jesus truly intended for communities bearing His name, so that we who follow His footsteps may truly be worthy to say: We are the seventy-two who came after the Twelve.    This is the 1272nd installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings. [NOTE: As we continue to pray for Bro Bong Arjonillo’s healing and recovery, let us listen to our brother Raymond Bucu, Head of Gateway Evangelization, as he brings us today's reflection. All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS] #OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesforChrist