Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide
Community Word:God’s unconditional love brings salvation in Christ Jesus.

Theme: We respond to God’s unconditional love when we believe and obey every word that comes from God.

Promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”(Rom 10:13)

Reflection:
Our theme for the 1st Sunday of Lent is inspired by the events when Jesus was tempted by the devil in a span of 40 days. The temptations of Jesus were not easy because they challenged the status of Jesus as the “Son of God.” A person weakened by hunger, fatigue and complete deprivation could succumb to the cunning invitation of the devil to be comforted, to be empowered and to be in control. But not Jesus. He thwarted these temptations by invoking the word of God at every turn. He demonstrated that the most effective weapon against the snares of the devil is claiming the word of God as the source of truth and strength. He knew that it is the Father’s will that he became man to suffer and die for our sake, to fulfill the covenant of God’s unconditional love for mankind.

Calling on the name of the Lord to be save is not enough. It demands from us not only to believe, but also to obey every word that comes from God. It requires that to love God, we must follow His will and turn to Him alone. Jesus tells us: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven,” (Mt. 7:21). What happens to our life when we abide in God’s word? When we abide in the Lord and allow His word to abide in and nourish us spiritually, we become what God wants us to be, to experience and accomplish what God wants us to accomplish and to know what God wants us to know.Jesus is very explicit in telling us: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you,”(Jn 15:7). This is a vital reality in the life of a Christian. Our only hope of seeing God’s best in our life is to hold fast to the truth of God’s word operating in us, in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

Believing in Jesus and obeying His direction for our life keep us in His company throughout our faith journey. Unlike those disciples who left Him because they stopped believing in Him, let us not wait for the Lord to ask as – “Do you want to go away?” Instead, we should be like Peter who boldly declared – “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” (cf Jn 6:66-69).

To ensure that we abide in Christ, it is important that we read and study God’s word consistently, thoroughly and reflectively, and then obey it. Jesus is telling us, “He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him,”(Jn 14:21). We must continue to study His word and let the Holy Scripture teach us to make us wise and deepen our faith in Christ. St. Paul tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work,” (cf. Tim 3:14-17).

Believing God’s word leads us to communicate and pray to God. Sometimes, we wonder why our prayers are seemingly not answered, and why blessings do not flow freely. We should go back to Christ’s exhortation to love and forgive one another. Perhaps, there is still unforgiveness in our hearts that even praying “Our Father” becomes pretentious. Jesus has promised: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,”(Rom 10:13). Let us be worthy to receive God’s salvation and forgiveness by truly believing and obeying His holy word.
Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for saving me. Thank you for Your word of Truth and Your desire to transform me into Your image and likeness through Your Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I want to live a righteous life with humility of heart and in obedience to Your will.

Lord, the eyes of my heart are on You and my confidence is in Your word. Inspire, convict, teach and correct me, through the Scriptures. Root out the unholy parts of my life as Your Holy Word searches me. May I develop a docile spirit like Mother Mary, in submission to the leading and guidance of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to reflect the love of Jesus to others in my life, in my thoughts, words and deeds. Amen.

Reflection Guide Questions:
1. What are some obstacles that have made your faith journey difficult?How has the word of God transformed and guided you as a renewed Christian?

2. In serving community, what would be some reasons why you are reluctant in accepting assigned tasks? Do you look into the word of God to give you an inspiration?

3. During the season of Lent, ponder upon your relationship with God and others. Do you have a need for reconciliation or go to confession?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
March 10, 2019 (Sun)-Dt 26:4-10/Ps 91:1, 2, 10-15/Rom 10:8-13/Lk 4:1-13
March 11, 2019 (Mon)- Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15/Mt 25:31-46
March 12, 2019 (Tue)-Is 55:10-11/Ps 34:4-7, 16-17, 18-19/Mt 6:7-15
March 13, 2019 (Wed)-Jon 3:1-10/Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19/Lk 11:29-32
March 14, 2019 (Thu)-Est C: 12, 14-16, 23-25/Ps 138:1-3, 7, 8/Mt 7:7-12
March 15,2019 (Fri)-Ez 18:21-28/Ps 130:1-8/Mt 5:20-26
March 16, 2019 (Sat) – Dt 26:16-19/Ps 119:1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8/Mt 5:43-48

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