REFLECTION FOR THE 5th SUNDAY OF LENT (March 18, 2018)

It is not easy to surrender our will to just anyone. If one surrenders his will to someone who will only make a slave of him or take away his freedom, he will definitely resist or refuse to be subjugated. However, the idea of someone who is capable of enhancing our will and our ability to make the right choices and decisions has much more appeal. This is what we find in the obedience we give to God, following the example of Jesus. When seeking to do God’s will, we rely on the truth that God is for our freedom and for our own good as a people. We do not become lesser human beings by freely accepting God’s will and fully trusting Him to receive His grace to gain fullness of life. A major purpose in this life is to grow in the righteous character of God. Through His dwelling in us by the power of His Holy Spirit, we are helped in achieving that purpose in life that will enable us to live forever in His family. Because of His love for us,

it is God’s will that everyone should be saved and that all creation should come to unity and perfection in Him. Thus, we should allow our will to be taken over by God and everything that we are, our heart, mind and soul, so that we may know what God wants for us and for the world we live in. This is the fundamental understanding of Christian obedience. In our search for truth in what we do, we are entirely free once we have learned to see the knowledge of the Spirit and once we are guided by love. Above the law of man and in freedom that comes from the Spirit, we know that we can act in knowledge that if we are guided by love in the Spirit of God we cannot do anything other than good. We are truly a reflection of God’s will and love, and our hearts the temple of the Holy Spirit, when we follow Jesus and serve Him in His people. Our constant and reverent communication with the Lord

COMMUNITY WORD for MARCH

Jesus, our Redeemer, calls us to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

ORDER

“…love me and keep my commandments.” (Ex 20:6b)

PROPHECIES

1. I will manifest My presence when you have a humble and pure heart. 2. Follow My commands and be guided by My Spirit that you may receive My full

blessing

DIRECTION

. Read, meditate, and share the word of God during the Lenten season.

BUKÁS - LOÓB SA DIYÓS Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community

March 14, 2018 • Manila District • Volume XX Issue No. 11

THEME: 4th

SUNDAY OF LENT (Cycle B, Year 2)

As the temple of the Holy Spirit we believe in Jesus and live in His truth

PROMISE:

“Whoever believes in him will not be condemned.” (Jn 3:18a)

molds us, shapes us and equips us to become more like Jesus and to mirror His heart and character, be obedient to God and follow His commands. In Jeremiah 31:33, God is very specific and intentional when he said: “I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Hence, our guiding force is the Holy Spirit, while Jesus Christ is our model of obedience. “Jesus learned obedience, Son though He was, through His sufferings,” Hebrew 5:8 tells us. Un-like the worldly leaders who issue orders from high offices and care little about how it affects their sub-jects, Jesus empathized and sympathized, especial-ly with the broken and suffering. He cared about His flock. In like manner, we should identify with the people whom we have been tasked to minister.We have to see them with the eyes, heart and mind of Jesus. God calls us to go further - to go beyond the letter of the law and put people ahead of legalism, and our relationship with God before any earthly concerns and institutions. We are called to get out of our comfort zones, to die to ourselves and aspire to become fruitful in order to grow and remain faithful to God through Jesus (Jn12:24). It is indeed a challenge for us in these trying times to pray and be of service to the Lord through our breth-ren. In this season of Lent, it is worthwhile reflecting on the Lord’s promise: “…Whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life,” (Jn.12:25b). Christians are in this world, but we are not of this world. We belong to Christ. He is our one pure and holy passion. We have to be living wit-nesses of Christ for the transformation of all in Christ. Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray with contrite heart and humble spirit. Receive us and let our lives be an offering of praise to You and our sacrifice pleasing in Your sight, as we follow You unreservedly. For those who trust in You cannot be put to shame. Deal with us in Your loving kindness and mercy, deliver us by Your wonders and bring glory to Your name. Amen. Reflection Questions:

1. How do you nurture yourself to overcome the challenges that block your response to following Jesus Christ in serving others in your family and community

2. What is your motivation in obeying God’s com-mandments? How much do you value your worldly attachments, priorities and comfort zones in your life?

Therefore He is able to save completely those who came to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hb 7:25)

For Priesthood… Oliver Taray, Arnel Galicia, Manjo Padilla, King Guiyab, Albert Palay, Jerome S. Piedad, John Paulo A. Cirujano, Job Villaviray, Raymart Glen Barcobero, Christoffer Denzel Aquino, Joseph Francia, Miguel Jerico M. Rodriguez, Jerelle Benedict and Mendoza Yap.

God’s Healing Hands be upon you… Rene Cruz, Yolanda Gulapa, Francis Valdemoro, Tess Giron, Tet Dela Cerna, Celia Cunanan, Ma. Cecila Galvin, Lorenzo Rubio, Joey Viñas, Chappy Reyes, Jay Ilagan, Lita Bianes, Mike Alejandrino, Marie James, Bobby San Juan, Bobby Fernandez, Ruben Crisostomo, Juanito Largo, Nato Roque, Marcia Quezada, Pilar Afuang, Thomas Chan, Raul Fernando, Zurayda Fernandez, Liza Gamboa, Paco Beltran, Rey Mallari, Ricky Gomez, Teresa Gemeniano, Rodolfo Gemeniano, Roberto Gemeniano, Celia Setia, Ernie Delos Santos, Bryan Baniquid, Anicia Nanali, Linda Escoto, Candie Santos, Anna Victorcer, Nestor Villacorta, Bernard Rivera, Letecia De Asis Noble, Cynthia Pastor, Carolina Banaag Infante, Jopay Odoño, Beltran Letada, Gemma Ibasco, Cesar Cordovez, Joefel Caban, Richard Arellano, Romeo Gacad, Ildefonso Mirabueno Sr., Fr. Joseph Thoai Le, Efren Ferreras, Espie De Guzman, Jhong Miranda, Dick & Gig Villabona, Fr. Joey Espano, Genoveva Espano, Pete Maat, Pao Maat, Aeisha Amoyan and Nicholas Mararac.

May their soul rest in peace… Loyalda Castañar, Elmer Abuno, Soledad Gatpayat, Emelita Causing, Dennis Almond Arapeles, Gene Kudemus, Teresita Villar, Dominga Delarmente, Remedios Ochoa Ignacio, Rachelle Jean Marcelino and all the poor souls in purgatory.

Pope’s Intention for March 2018 Formation for Spiritual Discernment. That the church may appreciate the urgency of formation in spiritual discernment, both on the personal and communitarian levels.

Corporate Worship

Bong & Fanny Granada

EVANGELIZATION

Above Ground on 24 March 2018 from 2:00PM to 5:00PM at the Holy Family Parish Hall, Faraday cor. Bi-nay Sts., San Isidro, Makati City. Ongoing confession dur-ing the event, ending with an anticipated Mass at 4:00PM.

Commissioning for New EMHC & LECOM on 04 April 2018, Wednesday. For EMHC, please wear white long sleeves barong, black pants & black shoes. Please bring white EMHC hood. For LECOM, pls wear white lector uni-form or white dress & black closed shoes. Please bring your Lector’s Pin.

Renewal Seminar for EMHC & LECOM on 5 May 2018 at the Lay Formation Chapel, San Carlos Seminary, ED-SA, Guadalupe, Makati City. EMHC: 8:00AM-12:00NN;. LECOM: 1:00PM-5:00PM. Fee is P100. Please fill up forms and submit requirements to Jimmie & Maris Carril-lo, Liturgy Coordinators. Deadline of submission is on 11 April 2018, Wednesday.

Family Encounter No. 106 on May 4-6, 2018 at the BLD Covenant house. For PIS forms, please contact Teddy & Edith Leonardo cp# 09188883339 & cp#09088158317.

PASTORAL

Solo Parents Encounter No. 27 on 16-18 March 2018 at the BLD Covenant House. For PIS forms, contact Betchit Sison at 09189119242, Glady Segundo at 09178237550 & Luching Landoy at 09177916254.

Singles Encounter No. 75 on Mar. 23-25, 2018 at the BLD Covenant House. For PIS forms, please contact Jon & Maggie Javier cp#09178431918 & cp#09178664668 or Alissa Gan cp#09178662132.

Youth Life in the Spirit Seminar #37 on May 12-13, 2018 at the Lay Formation Center, EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati City. Please invite your children ages 13-21 years old. Shepherding every Saturday, 2:00pm at Sunshine Place, Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati City. For any inquiries, please contact Justin Chong cp# 09173158830.

Healing Ministry: BLD Members who need counseling and who want to be prayed over (hospital or home), may get in touch with Bobby and Nene Hernandez at 0933 279 0342 or 0916 639 9023 or BLD Manila Secretariat at 478 9782.

FORMATION

Intercessory Ministry Teaching

BASIC & ADVANCED INTERCESSION on 17 March 2018, Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon at BLD Sec-retariat.

MANAGEMENT

Briefing of Nominators about the Process of 2018 Emergence will be on March 16, 2018, Friday 7:00pm at the BLD Secretariat.

We are still accepting your donations for the 10th

Fr. Pas-cual Adorable Golf Cup (Swing for HOPE2). Please look for Val & Fe Liwanag or direct to Secretariat office.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measures?” Mal. 3:10

MISSION

Mission Outreach: All are invited, including non BLD members, to join Manila District missions:

Mar. 21 CW SDSA Corporate Worship

Mar. 24 AG Holy Family Parish Hall

ABOVE GROUND

Mar. 31 EC San Lorenzo Multi-Purpose Hall A & B

Easter Vigil Mass

HOUSE OF WORSHIP FUND

As of February 28, 2018 7,747,332.60

March 1-7, 2018 3,000.00

March 8-14, 2018 10,000.00

As of March 14, 2018 7,750,332.60

TITHES & LOVE OFFERING Date EC/CW Secretariat TOTAL

Mar. 7 55,249.00 12,000.00 67,249.00

TOTAL 55,249.00 12,000.00 67,249.00

Please make all check donations payable to: BLD MANILA

SCHEDULE OUTREACH

Mar. 17 (Saturday) 8:00AM–12:00NN

ELP Moving Up Day @ Parañque Sports & Social Hall

Mar. 18 (Sunday) 1:30PM–4:30PM

GK Euro Maralit

Mar. 18 (Sunday) 2:00PM–5:00PM

Target Range, Parañaque

Mar. 18 (Sunday) 1:00PM–3:00PM

PGH

Mar. 18 (Sunday) 2:00PM–5:00PM

Risen Christ Parish, Smokey Mountain

Mar. 25 (Sunday) 2:00PM–5:00PM

Naujan, Mindoro – San Nicolas de Tolention Parish (Pls. get in touch with eran & Dorlie Carandan)

Mar. 25 (Sunday) 2:00PM–5:00PM

Bagumbayan, Lower Bicutan AN INVITATION

LakbayBiblia:Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Feb 27-March 8, 2017 Organized by Bro. Karlo Lara Diocesan lay bible coordinator of Kalookan

Bukas Loob sa Diyos Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community 1372-A Capt. Apolinario St. cor. Gen. Malvar, St., Bangkal, Makati City

Telefax: 478-9782 * email:bld@bldmanila.org * website: www.bldmanila.org

Community Prayer for General Emergence

Almighty Father, source of all goodness and love, we praise and thank you for bringing us, BLD members, together in a community of love.

During this period of discernment for our next community and district leaders, we place ourselves – the nominators, nominees and all those participating in the BLD General Emergence, under the light and power of the Holy Spirit.

Together with our global community brothers and sisters, we especially pray for our Community Spiritual Director, Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, District Spiritual Directors, Council of Servant Leaders, Cluster Shepherds, District Council of Stewards and Emergence Overseers (CCEO & DCEO), that they may be guided by Your wisdom in all the decisions they make and carry out their functions with humility and dedication.

We commit to be attentive to Your voice by immersing ourselves daily in Your word, praying and offering sacrifices, so that Your Will shall prevail in peace, love, and joy among us during this important process of discernment for the new leaders of the BLD Community.

Our Blessed Mother Mary, intercede for us that the Lord may instill in all of us a deep desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to yield to His word, to give freely of ourselves, and to serve one another with love as we seek His wisdom and truth in this process.

This we pray in the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER FOR BLD MANILA HOUSE OF WORSHIP

Heavenly Father, You planted in our Community, Bukas-Loob sa Diyos, a burning desire to praise, worship and magnify You.

Loving Father, From the beginning You made us yearn to have a Holy Place of praise befitting the God we serve, a BLD House of Worship.

Faithful Father, Look with favor on our hearts’ desire. Hasten the day when our prayers and songs of adoration will rise like fragrant offerings from our own House of Worship!

Generous Father, Open Your storehouse to provide for its fulfillment. Open the hearts of many to contribute their resources. May they gratefully remember how richly you blessed them.

Blessed Father, You responded to David’s dream to build you a house with the promise that his house will last forever! (ref. 2Sam 7:10-11)

Let nothing stand in the way of the realization of our dream.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Your Son, who taught us to call You Father, in the Holy Spirit. Amen

THEMES AND PROMISES FOR MARCH

Week#1 (3

rd Sunday of Lent)

Theme: As the temple of the Holy Spirit we obey God’s commandment.

Promise: “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul… giving wisdom to the simple.” (Ps 19:8a)

Week#2 (4

th Sunday of Lent)

Theme: As the temple of the Holy Spirit we believe in Jesus and live in His truth

Promise: “Whoever believes in him will not be condemned.” (Jn 3:18a)

Week#3 (5

th Sunday of Lent)

Theme: As the temple of the Holy Spirit we follow Jesus and serve Him in His people.

Promise: “…Whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” (Jn 12:25b)

Week#4 (Palm Sunday) Theme: As the temple of the Holy Spirit we allow the

Lord to sanctify us through suffering. Promise: “The Lord God is my help therefore I am

not disgraced … I shall not be put to shame.” (Is 50:7)

Schedule of Greeters for Corporate Worship

Assigned Greeters Date

Intercessory Group 2 Mar. 14, 2018

Management & Treasury Mar. 21, 2018

Services Ministry Mar. 28, 2018

Singles Ministry Apr. 4, 2018

Solo Parents Ministry Apr. 11, 2018

Evangelization Core Apr. 18, 2018

Homestead 1 Apr. 25, 2018

Homestead 2 May 2, 2018

BUKÁS–LOÓB SA DIYÓS CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC COVENANT COMMUNITY

MISSION NEWSLETTER

March 14, 2018

A POWERFUL PRAYER We are sharing with the Community, the thanksgiving part of the opening prayer made by couple Fred and

Fanny Simba at our Tunasan (Sto. Nino) Prayer Group last Sunday, March 11.

The couple are relatively new members and it was their first time leading the congregation in praise and

worship, but like the scorching heat of the sun, their prayer seared the souls of everyone that many could

not help but shed tears. One BLD member commented that it was a very powerful prayer where she felt the

very strong presence of the Lord. While we have a standard guide for our Community prayer, this clearly

manifested, that what takes precedence is the supreme importance of sincerity or for the worship leaders to

completely surrender themselves to the enveloping love and compassion of the Lord, so that it will radiate to

each and everyone in the congregation.

Fred and Fanny were among those who joined the recently concluded ME No. 292 as candidates of

Paranaque ME No. 2 with Joe and Carol Magsino, as the ME Coordinators. They have 8 children. While the

junk Shop providing them livelihood is now gradually closing down and Fred is the only one temporarily

retained under its employ, the couple remains steadfast in their unflinching faith that the Lord would continue

to take care of them. Fanny is trying to augment the family income by selling cooked food.

Their thanksgiving prayer:

"Panginoon, salamat sa pag-aalay ng iyong buhay para sa amin. Sa pagtubos mo sa aming mga

kasalanan. Sa walang hanggan mong pagibig. Sa pag-iingat at pag-aadya mo sa amin sa kapahamakan.

Sa pagpapadala mo sa amin ng mga taong di nag-sasawa, di natitinag, di sumusuko, handing magtiis at

mag sakripisyo sa kapakanan ng iba. Ingatan mo po sila at gabayan. Bigyan mo po sila ng mahabang

buhay upang marami pa silang matulungan."

Like the Roman centurion, Fred and Fanny have that unshakable faith in the Lord and this goes with their

supplication for long life for us (BLD members) who minister and care for people like them. Let us join

them in their entreaty, especially for those who have serious illness among our Community members, to fully

recover and be back to the pink of health for a long life.

Incidentally, Aliza Nocom, our HS2 member, who was given the gift of vision of angels, purgatory, the

devils and discernment of spiritual messages during our LSS's, Ecounters and Eucharistic Celebrations, made

a brief testimony during the prayer meeting. By more than coincidence, her main message that ....sa ating

Panginoong Hesus ang bawat isa ay mahalaga at nais nyang tulungan, nais nyang abutin, ilapit sa kanya

at maipadama ang kanyang awa at lubos na pagmamahal...harmonized very well with the Gospel message

for the day and the reflection made by Tony Suiza, also of HS2. Tony professed that the Gospel verse,

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 .is an embodiment of the entire Scripture. Indeed, so immense is God’s love for us that He gave His only

son that every one of us will be with Him in His heavenly Kingdom. To appreciate this is to ponder for a

moment the incomprehensibility of sacrificing our very own child for the sake of other people.

PHOTO GALLERY