8 Living Water - January 15, 2016888

Living Water - March 11, 2016

A N N O U N C E M E N T S

Youth Life in the Spirit Seminar No. 17 Tonight: One-on-One Shepherding March 18 – Invocation Mass 8:15 pm, OLA Church March 19-20 – Cardinal Leger School, 600 Morrish Rd, Scarborough April 8 – Growth & Transformation, OLA basement hall May 21 – YLSS 17 Grand Reunion, OLA basement hall Please see the Youth Ministry for more information. A friendly reminder to all YLSS 17 candidates and all youth/adult working

team, please go to confession prior to the weekend proper. May we kindly request everyone to please pray for all YLSS # 17 participants. Thank you.

YOUTH

MINISTRY

KORNER

DON’T FORGET…. OUR FRIDAY

PRAISE & WORSHIP NOW STARTS AT

8:00PM!

From the Pastoral Services Ministry: The BLD Enrichment Day scheduled for

Saturday, March 19 is postponed and will be rescheduled sometime in

October 2016. Thank you for your support.

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR #33

(April 15-17, 2016)

The first shepherding session will be on Friday, March 18/16 on the topic of God’s Love.

For more information, please contact Bing and Emma Ongteco, LSS #33 Coordinators.

Living Water-March 11, 2016 1

March 11, 2016

BUKÁS-LOÓB SA DIYÓS • OPEN IN SPIRIT TO GOD

www.bldworld.org www.bldtoronto.com

THEME

“We live a life of holi-

ness when we do not

pass judgment on

those who have gone

astray.”

WORD

Is 43:16-21/ Ps 126:1-6/

Phil 3:8-14/ Jn 8:1-11 ORDER

Forget what lies behind and strain forward to

what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for

the prize of the heavenly call of God in Jesus

Christ. (Philippians 3) DIRECTION

Be compassionate and do not be judg-

mental.

Be humble and be honest with yourself

and do not compare yourself to others. REFLECTION

Lent is an opportunity to reflect on our jour-

ney towards salvation and eternal life. It is a

time to acknowledge

our sins, frailties and

weaknesses, and to

seek God’s mercy

and forgiveness,

trusting in His infi-

nite grace, goodness

and unconditional

l o v e f o r u s .

This Sunday’s gospel

is an ultimate story

of mercy and forgiveness. Jesus demon-

strates His compassion towards the adulter-

ous woman who was about to be stoned to

death. Instead of condemnation, Jesus gives

His unqualified pardon to a declared sinner

in the eyes of others. As followers of Christ,

we are expected to practice acts of mercy and

forgiveness, but it seems to be the most diffi-

cult to do. Human as we are, it is easier to

condemn those who have gone astray. Mercy

contradicts rationality as it is given without

expecting any repayment of justice, atone-

ment or repentance – it is given solely out of

the goodness of one’s heart. ... Cont’d P.2

5th Sunday of Lent

www.bldworld.org www.bldtoronto.com

2 Living Water - January 15, 2016222

Living Water - March 11, 2016

Cont’d from P1…..

Our theme for the 5th Sunday of Lent reminds

us exactly just that:

not to pass judg-

ment, not to con-

demn, but rather

forgive those who

have gone astray.

Jesus offers the

woman a second

chance, as the 1st

r e a d i n g s a y s ,

“Remember not the

events of the past,

the things of long ago consider not; see, I am

doing something new!” (Is 43:18-19). Jesus

did not only forgive sins but He also wel-

comed forgiven sinners into the community of

God from which sin had separated or even

excluded them. Jesus said, “Neither do I con-

demn you. Go and from now on do not sin

anymore,”(John 8:11). Clearly, Jesus forgave

the woman but convicted her of her sin; He

separated the “sin” from the “sinner”. He

gave the woman a new lease in life, with an

opportunity to start with a clean slate.

We too, are given this same chance to amend

our ways through the sacrament of Penance

or Reconciliation. The second reading says,

“…but one thing I do, forgetting what lies

behind and straining forward to what lies

ahead,”(Phil 3:13). No sin is too big to be for-

given by our Lord when one goes to confes-

sion with a truly contrite heart.

In our BLD community, and even in other

faith communities, we hear of quarrels and

differences among members over trivial issues

which pale in comparison with the magnitude

of the offense committed by the adulterous

woman. And yet these

conflicts, no matter how

small and petty, could

sometimes drag on for

years mainly because of

pride, self-righteousness

and hard heartedness.

Whenever such conflicts

occur, it is important to

remember why we are

here in this community -

as embodied in our vi-

sion, “We are a commu-

nity of disciples inspired by the Holy Spirit

to be living witnesses of transformation in

Christ...” In order for us to keep this vision

alive, and to make sense of all the teachings

we received and all the LSS and encounter

weekends we sponsored, let us remember that

to be living witnesses for Christ, we have to

be less judgmental and more forgiving of

one another. Let us be more tender, more

compassionate, more loving and concerned

with each other, keeping in mind that we be-

come true disciples of Christ by the love we

bear for one another. Let us always seek

God’s grace to grant us open and willing

hearts for dialogue, forgiveness and recon-

ciliation when conflict or misunderstanding

arise.

As we go through our Lenten journey and re-

examine our relationship with Christ, now is

the perfect time to change our ways and start

anew. It is time to break free from the past

through a general confession and plead for

God’s mercy.

Living Water-March 11, 2016 7

The logic for euthanasia,

compassionate in so far as it

goes, does not go far

enough to consider a num-

ber of deeper issues.

Of course no one can fail to

be distressed to see suffer-

ing in any form. But as

Maritain shows us, even

when the sufferer is uncon-

scious, he or she would still

be present in a web of rela-

tionships. He or she likely

would have been read to,

washed, dressed and gently

caressed, held and wept over, sim-

ply loved to the end. And not only

would the sufferer have been loved

to the end, but, perhaps more im-

portantly, he or she would have

been actively emitting love until the

end. From a ravaged, silent, mostly-

unconscious body would have ema-

nated an intangible, but particularly

powerful, nurture and love, akin to

the powerful life-giving grace that

emanated from Jesus' broken, naked

body on the cross.

We too seldom make this important

distinction: We believe that Jesus

saved us through his life and

through his death, as if these were

the same thing. But they are very

different: Jesus gave his life for us

through his activity, his usefulness,

through what he could actively do

for us. But he gave his

death for us through his

passivity, through his

helplessness, through the

humiliation of his body in

death. Jesus gave us his

greatest gift precisely dur-

ing those hours when he

could do nothing active

for us.

This is not something in-

tangible. Anyone who

has sat at the bedside of a

dying loved one would

have experienced that, in

their helplessness and pain he or

she is giving us something they

couldn’t give us during their active

life. From that person’s helplessness

and pain emanates a power to draw

us together as family, a power to

intuit and understand deeper

things, a deeper appreciation of life,

and especially a much deeper rec-

ognition of that person’s life and

spirit.

And this impalpable gift, as Marit-

ain says, emanates from the mys-

tery of pain, non-utility, and dying

in which he or she is enclosed. In

our dying bodies we can give our

loved ones something we cannot

fully give them when we are

healthy and active. Euthanasia is

partially blind to the mystery of

how love is given.

“Jesus gave

us His

greatest gift

precisely

during those

hours when

He could do

nothing

active for

us.”

“From that person’s helplessness

and pain emanates a power to

draw us together as family...”

6 Living Water - January 15, 2016666

Living Water - March 11, 2016

Last Sunday, over 200 parishes read a statement from Cardi-

nal Thomas Collins in behalf of the Archdiocese of Toronto

urging all Catholics to oppose a parliamentary committee rec-

ommendation easing the path to assisted suicide. In reflecting on this issue, we found an interesting article

written by Fr. Peter Knott SJ, a Jesuit based in Britain, giving

a definitive perspective on the value of human suffering. To

all of us who believe in the sacredness of life, may this be a

reminder that assisted dying and euthanasia should never be

a choice.

Godtalk: euthanasia & love By Fr. Peter Knott SJ

The philosopher and spiritual writer, Raissa Maritain, died

some months after suffering a stroke. During those months

she lay in a hospital bed, unable to speak. After her death, her

husband, the renowned philosopher, Jacques Maritain, wrote

these words: “At a moment when everything collapsed for both of us, and which

as followed by four agonizing months, Raissa was walled in herself

by a sudden attack of aphasia. Whatever progress she made during

several weeks by sheer force of intelligence and will, all deep com-

munication remained cut off. And subsequently, after a relapse, she

could barely articulate words. In the supreme battle in which she

was engaged, no one on earth could help her, myself no more than

anyone else. She preserved the peace of her soul, her full lucidity, her

humour, her concern for her friends, the fear of being a trouble to

others, and her marvelous smile and the extraordinary light of her

wonderful eyes. To everyone who came near her, she invariably gave

some sort of impalpable gift which emanated from the mystery in

which she was enclosed.”

The last sentence has something important to say in an age

where we are coming to believe that euthanasia and various

forms of physician-assisted suicide are the humane and com-

passionate answers to terminal illness.

“From that person’s helplessness

and pain emanates a power to

draw us together as family...”

Living Water-March 11, 2016 3

Cont’d from P2....

When we abide in Him, He will grant us a

content and joyful life that is fully confident in

claiming His promise for the week,

“Although they go forth weeping, they shall

come back rejoicing.” (Psalm 126:6)

Prayer:

“Lord, we are in awe of Your profound mercy

and compassion towards the woman caught in

adultery. We recognize the many times we

have offended You and admit that, like her,

we are unworthy sinners. Please forgive us

Lord ! Thank you for the unconditional love

and boundless mercy you have shown

us. Grant us the grace to make a deep, heart-

felt confession this Lent so we can begin

anew. Keep us from being too quick in pass-

ing judgment on others, but instead allow us

to readily grant forgiveness, especially to our

brothers and sisters in the community. You

are the Lord of second chances and we thank

you for never giving up on us. Amen.”

Solo Parents Encounter No. 15 A Weekend Experience of God’s Healing Love

WHEN: April 22-24, 2016

WHERE: The Valley of the Mother of God (Mono, Orangeville, Ontario)

WHO: Single parents, widows, widowers, divorced, separated

Please see SPE #14 class shepherds Odette Maralit& Sylvia Taton, or any member of SPE #14 class at the registration table in OLA Hall before and after Praise & Worship every Friday, or any one of the Solo Tricord: Linda Canaria, Nilda Villa and Cora Montilla.

4 Living Water - January 15, 2016444

Living Water - March 11, 2016

Pope Francis

offers tips

on preparing

for

confession Excerpted: National Catholic Reporter

A s members of BLD, going to con-

fession has become an integral

part of our lives. This is borne out

of our awareness that we are sin-

ners…that we need forgiveness for the sinful

ways in which “we think and act in a manner

contrary to the Gospel.” We are also aware that

the sacrament of reconciliation entails more

than going through the motions of confessing

our sins to a priest. It is a process which begins

by listening to God’s voice and carefully exam-

ining our conscience. ….cont’d P5

Living Water-March 11, 2016 5

This Lenten season, perhaps we should

revisit Pope Francis’ handy tips in prepar-

ing for the sacrament of reconciliation . He

said that the best way to guard our hearts

is with the daily practice of an

“examination of conscience,” in which we

quietly review what bad things we have

done and what good things we have failed

to do for God, our neighbours and our-

selves. He emphasized the importance of

asking ourselves the following questions:

Our relation to God Do I take attend Mass on Sundays

and holy days of obligation?

Do I begin and end the day with

prayer?

Do I only turn to God when I’m in

need?

Am I embarrassed to show that I am

a Christian?

Do I rebel against God’s plan?

Our relation to others and the world

around us Do I forgive, attempt to understand,

and help my neighbor?

Do I judge without mercy, both in

thought and in words?

Have I slandered, despised or

stolen from the lowly and the

defenseless? Do I care for the poor

and the sick?

Am I envious, angry, or partial?

Am I honest and fair with everyone

or do I fuel the “throwaway

culture?”

In my marital and family relations,

do I uphold morality as taught in

the Gospels?

Do I honor and respect my parents?

Have I rejected newly conceived

life? Have I snuffed out the gift of

life? Have I helped do so?

Do I respect the environment?

Our relation to ourselves Am I part worldly and part

believer?

Do I overdo it with eating, drink-

ing, smoking and amusements?

Am I overly concerned about my

physical well-being, my

possessions?

How do I use my time? Am I lazy?

Do I want to be served?

Do I hold grudges or seek revenge?

Am I a peacemaker? Am I

compassionate and humble? According to Pope Francis, “confession is

meant to be a sincere moment of conver-

sion, an occasion to demonstrate trust in

God’s willingness to forgive his children

and to help them back on the path of fol-

lowing Jesus.”

So for direction on how to prepare for a

good confession, let’s consider seriously

these handy tips from the Holy Father. He

knows….for he goes to confession every

couple of weeks!