BLD WASHINGTON NEWSLETTER

June 23, 2017

VOL. 17 NO. 167

Bukas-Loob Sa Diyos (Open In Spirit to God)

Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church

4835 MacArthur Blvd. N.W. Washington D.C. 20007

Inside this Issue:

- Counsels

- Member’s Corner

- Four Newly Ordained Priests in Washington D.C.

- Pope Francis’ Message for the First World Day of the Poor Is Published

- Feed the Homeless

-BLD 1st Fun Bowling Team Building Tournament!!

Praise and Worship Every Friday 8:30 p.m.

Hess Auditorium

Eucharistic Celebration every

First Friday of the month—OLV Church

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Visit us at www.BLDWASHINGTON.com

Theme: We are strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit when we testify to others what Jesus has done in our life.

Sunday’s Reading: Jer 20:10-13/Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35/Rom 5:12-15/Mt 10:26-33

Reflection: “ The LORD is with me like a mighty champion.’” (cf Jer 20:11) The living reality of human encounters involves two aspects, namely, the human and the divine dimensions. Since we are born with many tendencies, too often, we are prone to let our minds and actions shift towards the allures and deceits of the world.

Christian life requires a dynamic and constant consciousness of the natural moral law, because we are given the choice - the free will to choose what is right and what is of God. In Acts 14:22, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” There are many moments in our lives that we are challenged by conditions that hamper our pursuit of true happiness.

We often say that it is easy to understand the word of God and His instructions, and yet, it can take miles before they reach our hearts. In Phil 4:13, the St. Paul assures us, “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” When we receive and use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it makes it possible for Him to enter our hearts and to be strengthened by Him, thereby enabling us to accomplish what may have first seemed too difficult and unreach-able.

In the midst of our human weaknesses lies a divine element that imparts an opportunity for us to touch and feel the tangibility of an intangible God. Look around us - family, work, school, friends and acquaintances; these are places and people where we can welcome the two great-est commandments with open arms: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as your-self.” (Mt 22:37,39) Continued on Page 2

Please Read Your

Bible daily

“Ignorance of Scripture is

ignorance of Christ”

- St. Jerome

Promise: “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.”

" AND HE GAVE SOME AS APOSTLES, OTH-ERS AS PROPHETS, OTHERS AS EVANGEL-

ISTS, OTHERS AS PASTORS AND TEACHERS, TO EQUIP THE HOLY ONES FOR THE WORK

OF MINISTRY, FOR BUILDING UP THE BODY OF CHRIST, UNTIL WE ALL ATTAIN TO THE UNITY OF FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE OF

THE SON OF GOD." EPHESIANS 4:11-14

COUNSELS

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COUNSELS

BLD WASHINGTON NEWSLETTER

MEMBER’S CORNER

Continued from Page1

We are now a new creation in which we claim to be called “adopted children of God.” We are called to a higher calling to overcome the lures of the world, to see through to the reality of realities, our beloved Triune God. We are chosen, not for intellectual knowing, but for a deeper knowing, entering into a relationship where we affirm that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

With great humility, we must accept our nothingness, stirring our hearts to enliven in them, the gifts we received through baptism in water and in fire. We fear no one but the Lord. If we do not cling onto the charism of fear of the Lord, then the thrust for obedience with a trustful heart is in vain. True humility serves as a channel to absolute dependence on God, with which we are able to build up the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love in our hearts.

As believers and members of Bukas Loob sa Diyos, we are graced to live a sacramental life to ensure that we are constantly in tune and connected to Him, through the first portion of His gifts, the greatest gift of GOD - the Holy Spirit.

Do we have to be in despair just because of our sinful nature? No, by virtue of His great love for us, the kindness and mercy of God abounds even more. And we are strengthened by His words in Matthew 10:31, “So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” In the words of a famous poet, Oscar Wilde, “The only difference between saints and sinners is that every saint has a past, while every sinner has a future.” So, there is hope. In the Gospel of John, verse 14:6, Jesus said these words that now guide us towards that hope, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” To live a genuine Christian life, we must be connected to Jesus and most importantly, we must stay connected. In Isaiah 7:14 God vowed that He will be with us, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.” Emmanuel – God is with us. Let us embrace His promise so that we may live our faith, enabling us to say, in good times, that “I rejoice with the Lord”, and in times of difficulties, that “I persevere with the Lord because I know that ‘the LORD is with me like a mighty champion.’” (cf Jer 20:11).

“Fear no one” Jesus told his disciples. Have you had someone tell you this phrase before? This is a bold statement and usually said by someone who has faced fear, challenged it and had survived to tell us all about it. Jesus was warning them of the suffering that they will encounter on the days ahead as his apostles were spreading the word of God. Jesus knew that this fear will ultimately lead the apostles to failure. By hav-ing them face the consequence and the reward of eternal life with him, the fear of human death is nothing compared to the death of body and soul.

When my children were still living at the house, I told them this phrase in one form or the other, do not fear, be not afraid. Whether it’s trying out for sports, learning an instrument, taking an exam, learning to drive and many more, I told them, don’t be afraid, nor be anxious.

Recently, a health issue, made me face these same words, do not be afraid I told myself. But then the words seem hallow. I was afraid. Afraid of death, afraid of being handicapped, afraid of not being whole. Afraid to accept the truth, that even though I did not have any symptoms, the cancer was growing inside. Continued on Page 3

https://www.facebook.com/BLD-Washington-1605599433049199

Member’s Corner Continued

I asked myself in the coming weeks, what was I really afraid of? Somehow, my faith that has grown in our community has given me the strength to face my mortality with an inner calmness. I prayed and I asked for prayers and, with this miracle, I accepted my condition and allowed my faith to grow in strength and belief. A faith bolstered by the belief that God knows his plans for me and that they are all good. Be not afraid and fear no one. God is in control of everything.

Just the like the apostles walking and learning from the Lord, my walk with the BLD com-munity has been a walk of strengthening my spiritual muscles. Understanding God’s plan for me is something I do not know, but like a good soldier, I prepare myself for this work.

Every time I attend a praise and worship, an encounter, an LSS, a healing mass, or teachings, my faith is bolstered and made strong for the day it will be needed.

In the end, my prayers to God was my salvation. I prayed the prayer of a son to a father. I talked to him and asked for guidance and help. To heal me if possible and not to abandon me. I prayed to Mama Mary as a son prays to her mother. I asked Mama Mary to watch over me and envelop me in her protective bosom. I prayed to the Holy Spirit to walk with me and not let me falter. For the first time, I felt the power of prayer and specially the prayers of the community. Such a joy I found in community prayers. It truly lifted my spirits and made me face my fears. Fear no one but the Lord. Amen.

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On the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, our theme is: We are strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit when we testify to others what Jesus has done in our life. As renewed Christians, we are invited by the Lord not to be afraid to be his witnesses to the transforming grace in our lives. We testify by words, actions and lifestyles, as we openly acknowledge our personal experiences in following Jesus. If our life is a testimony to what Jesus has done, then it should be the reflection of Jesus as we follow His ways. Jesus assures us in His promise that: “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowl-edge before my Heavenly Father,” (Mt 10:32). As followers of Jesus Christ, we must not be afraid to defend our faith, but be uncompromising to the truth that He has taught and revealed to us in His words and through the teachings of the Church.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark your calendars

July 15, 2017 LSS Grand Reunion— Lincolnia Senior Center

4710 N. Chamblis Street, Alexandria, VA 22312

July 23, 2017 TEACHING DAY

July 28-30, 2017 YLSS #7 Shrine of St. Anthony

August 13, 2017 Community Day—Lake Fairfax

September 23 - 24 Singles Encounter #8

November 4 –5, 2017 Marriage Encounter #18

December 22, 2017 BLD Christmas Party

Love Offering

June 9, 2017 $816.00

June 16, 2017 $800.00

Thank you for your faithful and consis-tent giving. Your donations are so very

important because they allow us to carry on the work of evangelization.

God bless you!

“ Come Holy Spirit”

Share your time and talent!

We need writers and edi-tors for upcoming news-

letters. Kindly email Formtion@bldwashington.com.

if you are interested in writing a short reflec-tion or being an editor

*** Thank you to those who already volunteered!

Catholic Standard · June 17 at 2:41pm

During a June 17 Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl ordained four new priests for the Archdiocese of Washington: Father Andrew Wakefield, Father Benjamín García Domínguez, Fa-ther Robert Kilner, and Father Jorge Ernesto Ubau López. #DCpriest

MEMBER’S CORNER

BLD WASHINGTON NEWSLETTER

REFLECTION:

https://www.facebook.com/BLD-Washington-160559943304919

“Let Us Receive Them as Privileged Guests at Our Table”

Pope Francis suggests to the baptized and to communities, concrete gestures on the occasion of the first World Day of the Poor, established by “Misericordia et Misera” for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, and which, therefore, will be observed on November 19, 2017. The Holy Father stressed that this first Message for the First Day is published on June 13, 2017, in the liturgical Memoria of the great Franciscan Doctor of the Church and friend of the poor, Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) — of Lisbon for the Portuguese. Its title is the verse from Saint John: “Let us not love in words but in deeds.” The Pontiff invites to precede November 19 with a week “of numerous moments of encounter and friendship, solidarity and concrete aid.” He also suggests that the poor be invited to the Eucharist: “Invite the poor and the volunteers to take part together in the Sunday Eucharist, so that the celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Uni-verse, is revealed even more genuine the following Sunday.” The Pope asks for genuine “encounters” with the poor of the neighborhoods. “On that Sunday, if poor live in neighborhoods who seek protection and help, we should approach them: it will be a propitious moment to encounter the God that we seek.” Pope Francis sees in this celebration a true contribution to evangelization: “The poor are not a problem: they are a resource from which one must draw to accept and live the essence of the Gospel.” It is also an occasion to rediscover the “Our Father” as “the prayer of the poor.” Just as during the Jubilee of Mercy the Pontiff stressed “works” of mercy, so here he emphasizes the need for concrete love. For Francis, the poor are “the flesh of Christ” and he stresses the importance of a true “encounter” with them: “If we really want to encounter Christ, it is necessary that we touch His Body in the body of the poor covered with sores, as a response to the sacra-mental Communion received in the Eucharist. The Body of Christ, broken in the sacred liturgy, lets itself be found again, through shared charity, in the faces and persons of our weakest brothers and sisters.” More than that, the Pope appeals to the baptized to follow “the poor Christ” by living the evangelical counsel of pov-erty, in the wake of Francis of Assisi. What is at stake, is to change history, to make “an effective contribution for the change of history, by promoting a true development; it is necessary to listen to the cry of the poor and to engage ourselves in having them come out of their condition of marginalization,” writes the Pope. Francis laments the “generalized indifference, because poverty is the “fruit of social injustice, moral misery, the avidity of a minority and of a generalized indifference.” ANITA BOURDIN / POPE AND HOLY SEE / ZENIT.org

World Day of the Poor

BLD Feed the Homeless in action.

The BLD Feed the Homeless volunteers served bagged meals to the homeless last, June 17 at 6:00PM. Isabel Trinchera & family were the Volunteers this month.

For information on how to become a volunteer, please contact Melchor & Zeny dela Cruz, District Mission Coordinators.

First BLD Washington

BOWLING TEAM BUILDING TOURNAMENT—BETHESDA, MD

June 17, 2017