Living Water - February 8, 2013

Toronto Teaching Schedule

For a complete and up-to-date Teaching and Activities Schedule, visit: www.bldtoronto.com

Youth Life in the Spirit Seminar #14

A VALENTINES Dinner Dance Saturday February 9, 2013 at 6:00 pm Garnet Williams Community Centre

501 Clark Avenue W.

Thornhill, Ontario L4J 4E5 Sponsored by the

Marriage Encounter Class #29 Love is the greatest gift of all

Date Time Topic Venue Invitees Feb 23

Sat 9am to 3pm

Witness Development

Part 1 OLA Hall

Newly covenanted disciples and those

who have not taken said teaching

Feb 25

Mon 8pm to 10pm

Advanced Intercession

Part 2 OLA Hall

Intercessory Ministry members and those

who have not taken it

YOUTH

MINISTRY KORNER

We praise and thank the Lord for Nigel Delgra and Marylou Malicdem for accepting the role of

YLSS # 14 Coordinators. We pray that the Holy Spirit will grant them wisdom, knowledge and

strength to perform the assigned task in His vineyard. May Nigel and Marylou’s commitment and

dedication serve as inspiration to other young people.

Congratulations and blessings to Nigel and Marylou.

Tonight: Welcome/Salubong after the Youth Praise and Worship

Next shepherding session - Friday, February 15 on God's Love

May we kindly request everyone to please pray for all YLSS # 14 participants and to observe si-lence during the shepherding sessions in the OLA basement hall. Thank you.

Living Water - February 8, 2013

February 8, 2013

BUKÁS-LOÓB SA DIYÓS • OPEN IN SPIRIT TO GOD Toronto District

www.bldworld.org www.bldtoronto.com

THEME

We proclaim God’s word when we respond to

His call to be fishers of men.

WORD

Is 6:1-2,3-8; Ps 138:1-5, 7-8; 1Cor 15:1-11; Lk

5:1-11

ORDER

“Put out into the deep water and let down

your nets for a catch.”(Lk 5:4)

“ Do not be afraid, from now on you will be

catching people.” (Lk 5:10)

“Here I am send me.” (Is 6:8)

REFLECTION

“We proclaim God’s word when we respond

to His call to be fishers of men.”

Looking at our readings for this weekend, all

three of them have a common denominator

pointing to an act of humility, humbleness and

unworthiness that eventually lead to anointing,

installation, appointment or empowerment.

From the first reading Isaiah said “Woe is me, I

am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living

among a people of unclean lips” or in New Living

Translation it says “My destruction is sealed for I

am a sinful man and a member of a sinful race. Yet

I have seen the King, the Lord almighty”. (Is 6:5)

In the second reading, taken from the letter of

Paul to the Corinthians, St. Paul exclaimed “I

am the least of the apostles, in fact because I perse-

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Living Water - February 8, 2013

cuted the church of God, I do not even deserve the name or I am not worthy to be called an apostle”.

(1Cor15:9)

And from our Gospel, Simon Peter declared “Leave me, Lord I am a sinful man”. Or I love the other

version again from New Living Translation, he said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of

a sinner to be around you”. (Lk 5:8)

All these three different persons in different life situations accepted with humility their nothing-

ness before God. They acknowledged that they were sinners, undeserving of what the Lord was

doing for them. Because the Lord had seen the purity of their humbleness and remorsefulness for

their past actions, the Lord had forgiven their sinfulness and had even assigned them for a higher

calling in His ministry. Isaiah was sent to be the messenger to His people, St. Paul to be His Apos-

tle and Peter to be His disciple.

Come to think of it how many times have you been asked by the Lord to be like those three. Per-

haps, these were the familiar initial reactions, “oh I don’t deserve it, I am a sinful man, I am not

worthy to do it”. Well then having said all that, I believe you have the qualifications of being God’s

messenger or be His apostle or disciple, all you need to do is approach the Lord with total humility

and be truly sorry for all your sins. Be humble enough to accept your nothingness, lowliness and

fully submit to His grace.

Remember the scripture says time and again the Lord humbles the proud and honours the lowly.

When the angel appeared to Mary, she said in total humility, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am will-

ing to accept whatever He wants. May everything you have said come true.” (Lk 1:38)

Then again in the gospel of Luke 18:9-14 about the Pharisee and the dishonest tax collector wherein

the prayer of the humble and contrite dishonest tax collector was heard before that of a proud and

overconfident Pharisee.

Finally from Lk 23:39–43, when He was on the cross, the request of one of the thieves who was cru-

cified with Him was granted because of his regret over his actions and total surrender in contrast

to the other thief who was arrogant and self-centered.

Let us then accept the challenge to proclaim God’s word by responding to His call to be fishers of

men fully trusting that when He invites he will anoint, when He sends He will empower and when

He asks he will provide. And as the Psalmist professes “The Lord will complete what He had done for

me …” (Ps 138:8)

DIRECTIONS:

Have courage in building communities.

Living Water - February 8, 2013

Do not be afraid in trying new things in your evangelization work.

GOD’S PROMISE:

“ The Lord will complete what He had done for me.” (Ps 138:8)

PLEASE WEAR YOUR BLD ID EVERY FRIDAY

ANNOUNCEMENT

Do you love to write? Do you have something to share to inspire others? The Word Minis-

try is pleased to invite everyone to be a contributor of articles for the Living Water bulle-

tin. An example of an article to submit is a testimonial on how God works in your life.

Inauguration of First Prayer Meeting of OSG (BLD) SFX

Our Lord must have been pleased Tuesday night with the significant turnout during our 1st Prayer

Meeting for Open in Spirit to God ( BLD) Prayer Group at St. Francis Xavier (SFX). Pending confir-

mation from registration data, my sense is about a 3 way split, between BLD active members / BLD

inactive members / Parish parishioners. We saw many of you really going out of your way to wel-

come non Filipino attendees and interact animatedly with them.

Ed & Lu were truly anointed by the Lord as their prayers and songs captivated the attendees'

hearts. Heard non Filipinos commenting they had goose bumps while singing the songs, even if it

was first time for them to hear the songs. Many were touched and said they will attend the next

prayer meeting on Feb 19. Many had tears during the P&W.

We were touched by the presence of many members of the community showing their support, tru-

ly signifying they are one with us in our mission to build communities of faith.

In obedience to the Lord, we "put out into the deep water and lowered our nets for a catch". In-

deed, when we obey and worship, miracles happen. Thank you for allowing God's Word to flow

from our heads into our hearts, then eventually to our hands and feet.

Truly when we are united in obeying the Word of God, together we are blessed by the Lord. His

joy becomes our strength.

To God be the glory!

Tony & Angie Ng