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IN
THIS ISSUE:
From
the Head Servant
by Bro.
Pete Lapid
Messages
By Fr.
Siegfried Binzler, SJ
By Bro.
BO SANCHEZ
By H.E.
Msgr. Renzo Fratini
By Omy
& Rosanne Romero
By Bro.
Wimpie Santoso
By Vic
and Mila Geronimo
Surabaya
Corner
By
Ramon Martillano
Here's
the Latest
By
Tintin Magbitang
Place
of Refuge
By
Philip Yuson
Sharing
By
Percy & Olive Cabauatan
By Joji
Escuban
The
Children's Ministry
By
Johanna Louise Escuban
God
Answers Prayers
By Beth
Manibog
Catholic
News ~
Sites
and Bytes
By
Jovie and Regi Joaquin
Saint
for the Month
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- "And
they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42)
This verse comes as a conclusion to the first mass conversion during
Pentecost, when the Spirit descended on the apostles.
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- A
Christian community therefore, should be devoted to these four
things: apostles' teaching; fellowship; breaking of the bread, and
prayers. Take away one of these and it will NOT grow or worse, it
will bear the wrong fruits.
Apostles' teaching. What is the apostles' teaching? Which of the
Christian denominations really preaches the apostles' teachings?
Does that mean that when you preach, it has to be Scriptural?
As Catholics, we believe that the Apostles' teachings are not only
based on Scripture, but it is also based on tradition. Both of them
will NEVER have a conflict. Peter's preaching was about Jesus Christ
the person rather than Scripture. True, he quoted some passages from
the Old Testament but if we will note, he was really proclaiming
about Jesus.
A community that preaches only doctrine is bound to be too rigid.
They will be like the Pharisees who did what was commanded yet lost
sight of why things were being done.
A community that preaches from Scripture will develop people with
good knowledge of Scripture but there might be no depth to that
knowledge.
But a community that preaches Jesus Christ - crucified and risen,
that community will be vibrant and on fire with the Spirit because
individuals in the community will be madly in love with Jesus. A
person can memorize the entire Bible, but without personal
experience of Jesus, the knowledge is useless.-
- Fellowship.
Vatican II clearly states that the Church is the people and not the
building. The building exists because of the people. This means that
there has to be a bond between members of the community -
fellowship. Fellowship is more than coming together to eat a meal.
It is loving one another - having true concern for each other -
sharing, not only in food but also in the lives of each other, the
joys, fears, sufferings. That is why Paul says that the Church is
the body of Christ. When one part hurts, the entire body hurts.
A Church that cares only for a specific group within the community
will surely die - because it is not taking care of its own body. And
the leaders of that Church will be held responsible for whatever
damage they have done to the body of our Lord.
Breaking of the Bread. From day one of the Church, they were
breaking the bread or to use a simpler term, celebrating the
Eucharist.
In verse 46, it says, And day by day, attending the temple together
and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad
and generous hearts. The early Christians celebrated the Eucharist
everyday. When I read this, I felt proud to be a Catholic because as
far as I know, Catholics are the only Christians who 'break the
bread' every day.
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- This
is why Catholic communities should always be Eucharist-centered.
Leaders, specially, should have a strong devotion to the Eucharist
because we believe that when we spend time before the bread, we
spend time with Jesus.
- Prayers.
The last 'ingredient' to a Christian community is prayers. A
community can be devoted to talking about Jesus and Scripture,
fellowship, attend Mass - but if it is not a praying community, it
becomes a social organization. Prayer is what makes community a
Christian community. A praying community is not one that prays a
specific manner. It is one where all the members have a personal
relationship with their Lord - Jesus Christ.
A Christian community that does not lead its members to a deeper
prayer life fails its purpose. The reason for community is for the
members to support each other so that each of them can know Jesus
personally.
Without a personal relationship with Jesus, one cannot call oneself
a Christian - because Christianity is not just believing in Jesus -
even demons believe in God. Christianity is a commitment to God
through the person of Jesus Christ. If a community does not help its
members to attain this goal, that community has failed.
I have personally met some of the leaders of the Genesis Catholic
Community in Jakarta, I know some of them as close friends and I
thank God for people like them - who are sincere in their desire to
serve the Lord. Their devotion to the Lord, in the Word, in the
Community, in the Eucharist and their personal prayer life is
undeniable. A tree is known by its fruits - and if the fruits of the
Community is proof, all I can say is that the Lord has indeed
blessed the members of the Community with shepherds after His own
heart.
They may have their faults but the Lord has also blessed the
Community with members who accept these faults and love them still.
I just stand in awe at the great and marvelous things the Lord has
done through you.
1 Chronicles 4:10 tells of a man called Jabez. He prayed this to the
Lord and this too is my prayer for the Community: Jabez called on
the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and
enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you
would keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me!" And God
granted what he asked.
May the Lord indeed bless you abundantly and increase your
territory, may His hand be on you - to keep you from harm - for the
glory of His Name through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Terpujilah Tuhan dan Selamat Ulang Tahun!-
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ideas,
- Write us: Jl. Bacang
No. 20 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan,
Indonesia
- Call us: (6221)
720-3824
- Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
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Catholic Community
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