Living Water– July 14, 2017 1

July 14, 2017

BUKÁS-LOÓB SA DIYÓS • OPEN IN SPIRIT TO GOD

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THEME

We bear much fruit

when our hearts be-

come rich soil for the

Word of God. WORD

Isaiah 55:10-11 ; Ps

65:10-14 ; Rom 8:18-

23 ; Mt 13:1-23

ORDER Let anyone with ears listen. (Mt 13:9)

DIRECTION

Encourage one an-

other to ponder on

God’s word through

our Word Sharing

Circles

REFLECTION

In the first reading (Isaiah 55: 10-11), we see that

the Word of God is compared to the snow and

rain that water the earth “making it bud and

flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and

bread for the eater”. The snow and rain give

moisture to the soil and in turn give life to the

plants and trees of the

earth. After accom-

plishing its purpose,

the moisture then re-

turns to the atmos-

phere and falls back to

the earth to give the

soil its needed mois-

ture. God sends His word to

us in a similar way. He

speaks his word to

accomplish whatever

is his intended pur-

pose for each and

every one of us. Jesus

is the Word and be-

cause of the power of

his word, it will not return to him void or

empty, but will do something good for those

who listen and eagerly receive it in their hearts. In the Gospel, Jesus compared people to four

kinds of soil. The first is like the hardened soil

in the footpaths where people walked making

the seeds exposed to be eaten by birds or ….P2

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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The Parable of the Sower Mt 13:3-9

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Living Water - July 14, 2017

(Cont’d from P.1)

...easily trampled by travelers. Such person is

unreceptive and not willing to accept any-

thing new. The second is like the rocky

ground who is excited upon hearing the Word

of God, but his excitement

does not last. He easily

falls upon encountering

trials or sufferings along

the way. His faith is not

rooted on the word of

God. The third is that per-

son where the word is

sown among thorns, and

the cares of the world and

lure of wealth choke the

word and accomplish

nothing in him.

The fourth is like the good

or fertile soil who received

the word, put it in his

heart and tried to under-

stand it. He nourishes

himself with the Word of

God, thus it bears fruit on

him. In one case, it may yield thirty, in an-

other sixty and another a hundredfold.

We are reminded, however, that no matter the

kind of soil that we are; God always calls us to

be part of his kingdom. He doesn’t discrimi-

nate even if He is sure that his message would

sometimes fall on deaf ears. He plants the

message just the same, and it is up to the per-

son on how he will receive and respond to his

message. God’s call needs a personal response

and different kinds of persons respond in

varying degrees. Some are excited at first, oth-

ers will react halfheartedly, and others don’t

care and will just ignore the word they heard.

They are described in the Gospel reading as

those who “look but do not see and hear but

do not listen or understand”.

Yet, self transformation is

part of our human response

to the initiative of God. If we

have been converted, healed

and at peace, then the seeds

sown in our hearts are ready

to bear fruit – thirty, or sixty

or a hundredfold. Many ob-

stacles can prevent us from

making any headway in our

struggle to live the values of

the kingdom. And we are

challenged to continue, with

the hope that the Gospel

message and the initiative

for change can grow in us

and lead us to a change of

heart. Such conversion will

empower us to initiate ap-

propriate responses to the

realities of our times especially those which

do not mirror the kind of kingdom that God

has already inaugurated in us. (Last 2 para-

graphs - Excerpts from reflection on the Par-

able of the Sower of Fr. Anthony Salas, SVD)

PROMISE “ My word shall not return to me

empty, but it shall accomplish that

which I purpose, and succeed in the

thing for which I sent it.” (Is 55:11b)

We are

reminded that

whatever the

kind of soil we

are, God always

calls us to be a

part of His

kingdom.

Living Water– July 14, 2017 3

July 14 1st Reading …...Dennis/Mila Calim Psalm ………….Nati Albano 2nd Reading …..Geena Feliciano July 21 1st Reading …Jackie Cristini Psalm ………..Mert/Nimfa Geronimo 2nd Reading....Cora Montilla July 28 1st Reading ….Manny/Nilda Raymundo Psalm ………...Nestor/Cielo Naluz 2nd Reading …Bing/Emma Ongteco

July 2017 Lectors

In Matthew 13: 9-12 it is said: “ „Let

anyone with ears listen.‟ Then the disci-

ples came and asked Jesus, „Why do you

speak to them in parables?‟ He answered,

„To you it has been given to know the se-

crets of the kingdom of heaven, but to

them it has not been given. For to those

who have, more will be given, and they

will have an abundance...” Jesus often used parables to teach people and to make a point. Parables do not define

things precisely, but use comparisons to point us in the direction of an understanding

of how God works. The meaning of parables is never too obvious, and indeed, the pur-

pose of parables is not to settle issues, but to challenge us to think more deeply about

the issues. That is the goal - parables raise more questions than answers. They help us

see beyond the obvious into the deeper meaning that Jesus had in mind. So take time to read and reread a parable. If the parable can be found in more than one

Gospel, read that version too. Think about what Jesus might have had in mind when he

was telling that parable. Talk to God in the quiet of your heart. (Excerpted from the Loyola Press, a Jesuit Ministry)

Parables - Seeing Beyond the Obvious

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Living Water - July 14, 2017

In Matthew 13:3-9, Jesus spoke of the Parable of the Sower to a

huge crowd gathered by

the Sea of Galilee. After

He spoke, most of the

people went back to

their daily routine…their

lives unchanged. Yet, a

handful who heard Him

were touched by His

Word in such a way that

their lives were never

the same again. And it

was through this hand-

ful of faithful witnesses that the Gospel of Je-

sus Christ spread throughout the earth.

On July 7, thirteen BLD disciples were offi-

cially installed: eleven as 5-Pt Committed Dis-

ciples and one couple as Class Shepherds of

ME No. 42. All 13 were part of that huge

crowd that gathered at the Sea of Galilee to

hear Jesus speak. Like seeds in Jesus’ parable,

they all found their way into good earth and

into the soft soil of open hearts. And through

God’s grace, they sprouted and grew to be-

come the new BLD evangelists ready to go out

into the world and spread the Good News.

From seeds to sowers, the cycle of transforma-

tion thus begins anew. This cycle will con-

tinue for as long as there is good earth where

we can go. And indeed, there is enough good

earth to keep us go-

ing…to keep us

reaching into our

pouch of seeds and

casting them about.

Yet, we need to keep

our focus on what

God has entrusted us

to do. Our work is to

stride the fields and

cast the seeds. We

water them and lay

their foundations,

but we must always

remember that it is

God, in His mercy and grace, who causes the

seeds to sprout and to grow until they are ripe

for us to harvest.

It is this undeniable truth that gives us a clear

sense of what our mission is and where we

stand in God’s grand plan and purpose. Re-

calling the prayer of Bishop Oscar Romero, he

said: “We are workers, not master builders.

We are ministers, not messiahs….Our work

may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a

step along the way, and an opportunity for

the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.”

This is what drives us to keep doing our small

part and doing it with tenacious humility and

uncompromising love . And this is what will

propel us as a community to spread the Gos-

pel of Christ in the years to come. ...P5

From seeds to sowers... By Mon/Len Carluen

Living Water– July 14, 2017 5

To the 13 tenaciously humble BLD evangelists and God’s new sowers of seeds…

Congratulations!! May the Spirit guide you as you walk God’s fields and cast

your seeds on good earth!!

L-R Above, 5-Point Committed Disciples: Jun/Emily Corillo,

Jun/Janet Canale, Irene Pelayo, Julia/Louie de Belen,

Ed/Amy Lorenzana, Cris/Muriel Desa. Right Photo, ME#42 Shepherd Couple: Frank/Grace Gujol

...the cycle of transformation begins anew!

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Living Water - July 14, 2017

Casting Seeds as Ninong & Ninang A BLD-Toronto Recruitment Initiative

Why?

As we come to a critical crossroad in our community’s history and

launch the Ninong-Ninang Recruitment Initiative, it is timely that the

Gospel reading this week is about the Parable of the Sower. At the onset, the parable brings out a painful truth: that the number of

seeds that are lost on rocky ground always outnumber those that

thrive on rich soil. This appears evident in the experience of BLD-

Toronto and its Outreaches: Out of the more than 3000 graduates who

went through our various encounter programs during the last 26

years, only about 300 remain active today. And yet, true as this may

seem, that is not the point of the Parable. The whole point of the par-

able is to focus not on our loss, but on our gain. And that gain is em-

bodied in every soul that was touched by BLD Toronto through the

years — you, me, our new members, our seasoned disciples, our eld-

ers, and each one who holds a personal stake in the divine purpose of

our community. Indeed, the Parable of the Sower gives a clear sign at the crossroad. It

is God’s word exhorting us to keep reaching into our pouches and

casting those seeds of new possibilities so we can gain a hundredfold

more. It is a challenge posed to each one of us to embrace our com-

munity’s new Recruitment Initiative and do our small part, knowing

that our Lord will faithfully fulfill His promise and do the rest: “My

word shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I

purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Is 55:11b) The sign is clear...and the choice is ours to make.

Living Water– July 14, 2017 7

How does it work?

Casting Seeds as Ninong & Ninang A BLD-Toronto Recruitment Initiative

NINONG - NINANG: It’s about doing our small part, so that the Lord’s grace can enter and do the rest.

This Recruitment Initiative was launched to target the upcoming ME#42

Weekend on September 9-10, 2017. If successful, it will be used as a template

for future Encounters.

Following the lead of the DCS and DLCs, all ME couples are encouraged to

group themselves into Ninong-Ninang sets. Each set will be comprised of two

couples and tasked with the following:

Recruit at least 1 couple-candidate for ME#42.

Act as principal sponsors for their candidate/s.

Individual BLD members (Singles or Solo Parents) who wish to participate in

this program are enjoined to group themselves in sets of 4.

All Ninang-Ninang Pairings/Sets are to be registered with the Recruitment Task

Force headed by Olie Ealdama.

As sponsors, each Ninong-Ninang Set is requested to:

Subsidize the ME fees of candidates by contributing $25.00 per couple

(or a total of $50.00 per Ninong-Ninang couple-pairing). With all things con-

sidered, this Initiative will bring the ME fees down from $225.00 to $80.00

per couple for the ME#42 weekend in September.

Provide continuous support to ME candidates and graduates through a

ministry of presence and good witnessing.

Corollary to this initiative, BLD-Toronto will streamline the delivery of its

ME Program by cutting unnecessary costs and timetables. For ME#42, the

live-in program will start Saturday, instead of Friday evening.

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Living Water - July 14, 2017

Let us celebrate

the beauty of summer,

the blessings of Community,

the glory of God’s creation!

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

MARY LAKE SHRINE PARK 13760 Keele Street, King City ON

2017 BLD COMMUNITY PICNIC

PRAI

SE BE

TO YO

U

LAUDATO SI’

On Care for our Common Home

FROM THE SPONSORS OF THE

2017 COMMUNITY PICNIC:

WE WILL HAVE A TABLE SET UP

AT THE BASEMENT HALL FOR

THE NEXT 2 FRIDAYS TO

ACCEPT PRIZE DONATIONS FOR

GAMES.

GIFT-WRAPPED DONATIONS

WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED.

PLEASE INDICATE IF YOUR

DONATIONS ARE FOR KIDS,

YOUTH OR ADULTS.

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS FOR

YOUR GENEROSITY. WE LOOK

FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT

THE PICNIC.