Our Gospel for December 27. The Empty Tomb.

 

Jn 20:1a and 2-8

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.

A Guide to a Simple Method of Bible Sharing.

The expression "Bible Sharing" may defy a clear definition, however, it always refers to a group of people gathered together to listen in common and in prayer to God´s Word addressed to them today and trying to live this Word accordingly.
For effective Bible sharing, "methods" have been developed corresponding to the individual needs and interests of the Bible groups. Depending on the participants, their situations and countries, these methods are garbed in different colors.
Experiencing other methods and models may lead to the modification and improvement of one´s own practice. In any case, Bible sharing methods will almost never be exported in their entirety since they are normally molded to the requirements of the group where they originated.
The method described below was developed at the John Paul I Biblical Center (JPIBC) in Vigan, Philippines and promoted through its Basic Bible Seminar. It has found wide acceptance in the ecumenical movement.

Even though it is presented here in short form only, experience has shown that this Basic Bible Seminar mentioned above or a similar detailed introduction to Bible sharing, is highly recommendable for responsible and fruitful Bible sharing.

Bible Sharing at Peace Church

I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Group
Four to six persons (or more) who in trust, openness and mutual respect listen in common to the Word of God, and try to find answers to it; persons who, on the basis of the Word of God, through mutual self-communication, try to find their way towards a deeper Christian community.
2. The Atmosphere
For Bible sharing, a quiet atmosphere is absolutely necessary, i.e.

• Freedom from noise, thus a meeting-place where the group will not be disturbed.
• Freedom from time pressure, thus sufficient time should be available, (according to experience, a group of five people needs about 45 - 60 minutes for this method).
• The participants sit in an open circle (not around a table), so that each one can not only hear the others but also see them.
• A burning candle in the midst reminds the participants that Christ, the Word of God, is the Light of the World (Jn 1,1.9; 8,12; 12,46) and that He is present in the midst of those gathered in His name (Mt 8,20).

All of these factors contribute towards creating the right atmosphere.

3. The Group Facilitator
He/she need not be an expert, because it is not his/her task to convey actual knowledge. The task rather is to lead the group in the Bible sharing by announcing the individual steps of the method. He/she may also lead the opening and closing prayer, or may ask for a volunteer. He/she may invite someone in the group only to read, but not to share.
4. The Bible and the Scripture Text
It is advisable, but not absolutely necessary, that all members have a copy of the Bible in the same translation. It is recommended to choose a reading that the facilitator feels comfortable with.

1. Model A: "Prayer - Response"
Opening Prayer or Song
The participants are endeavored to become aware of God´s presence. Jesus said "Where there are two or three gathered in my name, there I am in their midst." (Mt 18 ,20). Also a prayer of petition would be appropriate according to the words of Scripture, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening" (1 Sm 3,10) or "You have words of eternal life" (Jn 6,68) or a petition to the Holy Spirit, who can open our ears and free us from everything that would hinder us from hearing God´s Word, or a hymn to the Holy Spirit, "Come Holy Spirit", etc.
First Step
First contact with the TEXT, with the "dead letter".

• Reading of the text: One member of the group reads it aloud, the others participate by listening and/or reading it silently.
• Silence: After the reading, all observe silence for about three minutes, during which time they may go over the text once more in their minds. Each chooses a word(words), a phrase (phrases), a verse(verses) which strikes them.
• Sharing: After about three minutes, the facilitator invites the group members to share the word, phrase or verse which struck them. They are not to give any explanation, only the word, phrase or verse with the corresponding verse number, e.g. "I was struck by the word ´light´ in verse 5" (in 1 Jn 1). No explanation is given, nor any reason why this particular word, phrase or verse was found striking for the respective individual.

Second Step
The "dead letter" of Scripture becomes the "LIVING WORD" for each individual (and perhaps, through the individual, for others as well).

• Reading of the same text: After all have shared upon the invitation of the facilitator, another member reads the same text aloud. The others participate silently again.
• Silence: After the reading all observe deep silence for about five minutes, during which time each member listens intently to God´s personal message to him/her. Prompted by the text and/or the sharing of the other group members, something will emerge as most meaningful to each group member, and true to their own experience or applicable to their own lives. While listening, the participants ask themselves, "What do you, God, want to tell me personally for my very own life?"
• Sharing of the Word for me with the others: After about five minutes the facilitator invites the group members to share what they have heard in the depths of their hearts. In order to keep the sharing on a personal level and to refrain from moralizing, they will try to use only the first person singular (I, me, my, mine). It is a matter of simple sharing, not of discussion or of preaching in the sense of moralizing. The word of Pope Paul VI may be recorded here "Is there any other way of handing on the Gospel, than by transmitting to another person one´s personal experience of faith?"

Third Step
The WORD demands a RESPONSE.

• Reading of the same text: After all have shared, another member of the group reads the text aloud for a third time, while the others listen and/or read silently.
• Silence and personal answer to the WORD: After the reading the group observes deep silence once again, during which time each individual tries to find an answer to what has been perceived as the personal Word of God. There ought to be a real correspondence between the Word and the answer, for instance, expressing one´s trust if the Word was a promise; one´s obedience if it was a command. The prayer could also be praise and thanks, repentance, petition, intercession, depending on the message received.
• Sharing of the personal prayer response: Each person expresses aloud the personal answer of his/her heart to the Word received, so that it may be confirmed through the "Amen" (expressed aloud or in silence) of the other participants.

Concluding Prayer or Song
A prayer of praise or thanks, a song, or the Lord´s Prayer recited in common by the group, are a very fitting conclusion to this Bible Sharing.

Our Gospel for Dec 26. The Flight to Egypt.

Mt 2:13-15, 19-23


When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son. When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”
He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee.
He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazorean.

Our Gospel for Dec 25. The Word became Flesh.

John1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
 
Nagkatawang Tao ang Salita

Juan 1:1-18

Sa pasimula pa ay naroroon na ang Salita. Ang Salita ay sumasa Diyos at ang Salita ay Diyos. Siya ay sumasa Diyos nang pasimula pa.


Ang lahat ng mga bagay ay nilikha sa pamamagitan niya. Kung wala siya ay walang anumang nilikhang bagay na nalikha. Ang buhay ay nasa kaniya at ang buhay ay ang ilaw ng mga tao. Ang ilaw ay nagliwanag sa kadiliman at hindi ito naunawaan ng kadiliman.


May isang lalaking isinugong mula sa Diyos. Ang kaniyang pangalan ay Juan. Siya ay naparitong isang saksi na magpatotoo patungkol sa ilaw upang ang lahat ay sumampalataya sa pamamagitan niya. Hindi siya ang ilaw ngunit siya ay sinugo upang magpatotoo patungkol sa ilaw. Ang tunay na ilaw ay iyong tumatanglaw sa bawat taong pumarito sa sanlibutan.


Siya ay nasa sanlibutan. Ang sanlibutan ay nilikha sa pamamagitan niya at hindi siya nakilala ng sangkatauhan. Siya ay pumunta sa kaniyang sariling mga tao ngunit hindi siya tinanggap ng kaniyang sariling mga tao. Datapuwat ang lahat ng tumanggap sa kaniya ay binigyan niya ng kapamahalaan maging mga anak ng Diyos. Sila ay ang mga sumampalataya sa kaniyang pangalan. Ipinanganak sila hindi sa dugo, ni sa kalooban ng laman, ni sa kalooban ng tao. Sila ay ipinanganak mula sa Diyos.


Nagkatawang-tao ang Salita at nanahang kasama natin. Namasdan namin ang kaniyang kaluwalhatian, ang kaluwalhatian ng bugtong na Anak ng Ama. Ang Salitang ito ay puspos ng biyaya at katotohanan.


Si Juan ay nagpapatotoo patungkol sa kaniya. Siya ay sumigaw at nagsabi: Siya ang aking sinasabi na ang paparitong kasunod ko ay mas higit sa akin sapagkat siya ay una sa akin. Mula sa kaniyang kapuspusan ay tumanggap tayong lahat ng abut-abot na biyaya. Ito ay sapagkat ang kautusan ay ibinigay sa pamamagitan ni Moises. Ang biyaya at ang katotohanan ay dumating sa pamamagitan ni Jesucristo. Walang taong nakakita kailanman sa Diyos. Ang bugtong na Anak na nasa piling ng Ama ang naghayag sa kaniya.

Our Gospel for Dec 24. The Song of Zechariah.

The Canticle of Zechariah.

Luke 1:67-79

Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”