MARK MY WORD! It’s a common expression for us to say “Mark my word!” when we’re angry or when we want to emphasize something. There’s a Spanish term, “Palabra de Honor,” that means honoring one’s word, promise or covenant. I remember my late father whom we fondly call Daddy P. He always reminds us that our words are crucial when dealing with others and we should honor it. Because while trust can be easily given, when we lose it, it’s hardest to get it back. Today, we will talk about the book of Mark. Hopefully, God’s Word will truly make a “mark”’ in our life. Be blessed, ADRIAN PANGANIBAN
08.12.18 / 9:00AM Cinema 3 , Robinsons Place Manila
HOLY BAIT
I would never forget my college best friend. He was insistent that I had to join their Catholic youth group. At first I was hesitant because I found no value in it. I felt like I did not need it. Then I asked him, “Are there lots of beautiful girls there?” He said yes so I joined immediately. Looking back, this makes me smile. God uses a holy bait to bring me to people where I can experience His love. Through them, I have been healed and I have discovered that even if I came from a broken family, I am valuable in the eyes of God. By the way, I really found beautiful girls there. Beautiful because they all loved God and followed Him. My plan was just to have a girlfriend but God’s plan was to change my life forever. In the end, I found satisfaction with God and the friendships I had. In today’s talk, we will learn how God has blessed and has shown Mark His bigger plan for his life because he hangs out with the right people -Peter and Paul, his mentors.
READINGS:
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:4-8 Psalm: Ps.34:1-22 Second Reading: Ephesians 4:30-5:2 Gospel: John 6:41-51
You are at the right place here at the Feast because God will bless you with a family that is as loving as Him. Together we will seek out His bigger plan for our lives. In Christ, JOHN BEN RODRIGUEZ
BREAKING NEWS
Pe rsonal Re f le ction and Group Sh ar i n g
Your Story According To...
Talk 2 - MARK When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. (Acts 12:12 NIV)
1. What one thing fascinated you about Mark’s Gospel? 2. How do you experience God serving you? 3. And how do you serve Him?
When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. (Acts 12:15 NIV) My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) (Colossians 4:10, NIV) She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. (1 Peter 5:13 NIV) The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,.. (Mark 1:1 NIV)
BLESSING BLOG
A DISABILITY IS AN ABILITY Gregorio “Don Greggy” Licaros III, 58, widow, former broadcast journalist and businessman, proves that despite his disability, he can still serve the people. Story as told to Krystel Ramos-Tobias.
My wife was diagnosed with bone cancer. Ironically, she was a doctor by profession. Because of her illness, she came to know Saint Pio of Pietralcina. Death and Sickness We became devotees of Padre Pio and we had the opportunity to visit his church in Italy. Despite that, my wife succumbed to bone cancer. Her passing, five years ago, was one of the saddest moments of my life. We used to be together all the time. How could I get used to life without her? The pain seemed unbearable. It hit me hard. I thought that was it but God continued to test my faith. Later on, I was diagnosed with a kidney failure caused by diabetes. I persisted in praying. After a long process, I underwent a kidney transplant.
Greggy Licaros, with Bro. Adrian Panganiban (right) and Mon Bumatay (left) of Feast Ermita during the Outreach Program of The Feast Bay Area in He Cares Foundation last October 1, 2016.
My son migrated to another country. I only had my driver and maids with me. Nevertheless, God never abandoned me. Overcoming Trials Indeed, God is good. I am healed from my kidney problem! I believe I still have a mission to fulfill even though I can no longer walk. I’m still capable of helping others. I visited and supported charities such as the Leukemia Foundation. Leukemia didn’t have a cure. In my own simple ways, I felt joy knowing that I was able to help extend the life of a cancer patient, even when sometimes it was just for a day. The important thing was to make them feel that someone cared for them. The prisoners in the Bilibid Prison needed attention and support as well. Most of them had no one to turn to. Though my encounter with them were limited due to my health condition as a kidney transplant patient, my spirit was with them. I also enjoyed spending time with the street children and many others. Every interaction was an enriching experience. My suffering and pain from the past allowed me to unite with their suffering and somehow helped heal their wounds. Everything I had came from God, the Source of All, so it was my way of giving back to Him. I felt I became closer to Him. I never felt alone anymore. Never Alone It all started when two years ago, Father Jerry Orbos invited me to attend The Feast. He presided the Holy Mass for the birthday celebration of Bro. Adrian Panganiban in PICC. I did not personally know Bro. Adrian but I checked it out as prompted. Then it became my Sunday habit. I kept on attending the community because I found fulfillment and enlightenment when I listened to God’s Word. It gave answers to questions I had been asking in life. Actually, I had difficulty in reading so I preferred listening. There had been challenges but I kept on attending the prayer community. Every time I’d attend the bible study and The Feast, there was a light feeling. Also, I learned to appreciate the blessings of God. I became grateful for what I have despite the incapacities I had. Furthermore, it opened my eyes to our call to serve others. As long as we have a strong faith, God will answer our prayers in His time. His timing is perfect. I never asked for another partner in life but eventually God gave me one and she supports me in my outreach activities. Trust God. When I heard that Bro. Adrian Panganiban was launching The Feast Ermita, I went. Ermita had been known as the red light district in Manila. I believed that the prayer group would bring many people closer to Jesus. We should be thankful for the things that we have instead of focusing at the negative things happening in our life. There is no use complaining because life is too short. What is important is to remain faithful to God because He will take care of us.
Blessed by the Feast? Share your story and inspire our community. Email to a1media.feastbayarea@gmail.com
SCENES FROM LAST SUNDAY
Unless we find the personal connection, the Gospel is a dead book. It is about how Jesus changes lives.
YOU’RE MADE FOR
BIGGER THINGS God created us with God-dreams and God-capacities.
“B.I.B.L.E. means Brief Instruction Before Leaving Earth” - Bro. A
“More than proclaiming the Gospel is being the Gospel.” - Bro. JB
RECAP FROM LAST SUNDAY
BREAKING NEWS Your Story According To...
Talk 1 - GOSPEL What does Gospel mean? This came from the Greek word euangelion, which means good news. The root word is angelos which means messenger. More than the good news, Gospel means good news of victory. Like the angelos, we are messengers of God. We are all called to preach the Gospel. Why four Different Gospels in the Bible? It is important to note that the Gospel writers were not journalists, but theologians. Therefore, the gospel is not a biography of Jesus, but His theology. 1. WHO was writing makes a difference. Luke was a doctor who researched his writings and wrote in Greek for the intellectuals. Matthew was a tax collector who wrote about finances. Mark was a young disciple who wrote simple Greek. John wrote the Gospel based on his teachings that his disciples gathered. Each of us has a story to tell. Whoever, whatever and wherever you are, God is calling you to proclaim His Gospel in your own way. 2. WHEN they were writing makes a difference. Mark wrote the first Gospel around 70 A.D. and Matthew and Luke followed around 70-85 A.D. and used Mark’s work as reference. John came in later between 90-110 A.D. and wrote a completely different story from the synoptic (single optic, single reference) gospels often addressing issues such as heresy. Whatever is happening now has an application in your life.
Gospel Reading according to John 6:24-35 “Do not demand consolation from God or the people around us. Look for God, the source of consolation.” - Fr. Boogie Tacdoro Jesus is the Bread of Life. We need to let go of our old selves and allow the Lord to form and transform us. He assures us that He knows what we need even before we ask. He is the spiritual bread that will satisfy our hunger and thirst to be with Him and to follow His will.
3. TO WHOM they were writing for makes a difference. Mark wrote for the Gentiles and so did Luke but his audience was more of the educated class. John wrote for the Gentiles and Jews while Matthew wrote for the Jews who converted into Catholic. Because you are the Gospel, who are the people God wants you to love? Maybe you don’t like your situation. God is asking you to love the people around you. The Kingdom is all about following the King If we are not building His kingdom, we are wasting our God-given dreams and capacities. Follow Jesus. Be the Gospel.
MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER
Action Hero
MARK’s Gospel is a blockbuster action movie—and Jesus is the action hero. Matthew, Luke, and John are talkies. They have long introductions—genealogies (which my friend uses as his sleeping pill), stories about Joseph and Mary, Baby Jesus narratives, plus one story about the almost-teenager Jesus, and John taking us back to Genesis. Mark skips all that. The first 30 years of Jesus’ life aren’t mentioned. Mark goes directly to Jesus working: Preaching, healing, and performing miracles. In Matthew, Luke, and John, Jesus talks a lot. Matthew has five Sermons—“Sermon of the Mount” was only the first one. Luke has Jesus telling the most parables—24 of them of which 18 are found only in Luke. And John has Jesus doing 7 dialogues and 4 monologues, with the last one—His Farewell Speech—three chapters long. But Mark is mostly Jesus working. Jesus serving. A total 41 times, Mark mentioned the word “immediately”. Mark loves that word so much, he used it more times than the entire New Testament combined. When I read Mark, I hear God’s voice in my heart saying, “I’m working in your life.” Sometimes, we feel stuck in our circumstances and it seems He isn’t working… but He is.
Have a faith-inspiring Feast today!
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
The Builders: Adrian Panganiban • John Ben Rodriguez Council Heads: Mayvin Alejandro Gigi Alvarez Mon Bumatay A1 Feast Bulletin Staff Media Heads: Ryan Alejandro and Joemer Ernn Embernate Editor in Chief: Judee Quiazon Associate Editor: Bethany Dechavez Editorial Assistant: Krystel Angeline Ramos Writers: Juliann Silva, Jerome Tobias, Robby de Guzman Chief Photographer: Ryan Carlo Mahinay Photographers: Mike Belleza, Androu Magno Layout Artists: Dino Castañeda, Robert Quiazon Art Director: Wilma Cosme Contributing Photographer: Dahlia Bagatsing