Rañin, Manilac Melissa Salcedo ReEd 1:30PM- 2:30PM MWF Sr.

Mary
Martha Fe, OSF

1. (Number 9) Look up the following miracle stories in the New

Testament and identify the type each one belongs. If it is a teaching
miracle story, tell the main point being taught.

• Mt. 15: 29-31

This story is a teaching miracle. The disciples felt hopeless before the
hungry crowd, how to give them enough food. The people were amazed
because all the blind men, deaf and lame were cured. On this, Jesus told
them to count their blessings. After all, they were nor empty-handed for
they have Jesus, our savior. It seldom happens that we are without any
assets, yet we do not consider these for we notice only what is lacking in
our lives.

Every person has qualities which deserve appreciation and which can
be developed. The main point of this is that no matter how little we have
to offer, God can work with them and achieve great things. When we are
overwhelmed by problems and responsibilities in life, we must not
complain and give up too easily. Instead, we must count our blessings and
assets and give thanks to the Lord.

• Mt. 8:5-13

The miracle and healing in this gospel occurred because there was a
master, a centurion who initiated and loved. God’s action necessitates
human action. The centurion’s act of love, his selflessness, is worth
noting. He is a master yet he came a servant to a sick servant. He was not
indifferent to the servant’s condition but saw it as a moral challenge.

The servant’s misery was not a burden but an occasion of self sacrifice.
The dedication and selflessness of people who are concerned with
reducing human misery translates God’s actions and plans in history. In
this sense, wonders of science, medicine and technology do not contradict
faith but are subtle manifestations of God’s power. I always remember
what Albert Einstein said that life can only be lived in two ways: “Either
you believe everything is a miracle or you do not believe at all.”
• Mark 7: 31-37

On this gospel, Jesus cured a deaf man whose tongue was also tied.
Jesus must have been feelingly aware of the struggles and predicament of
the man that he took him by himself away from the noisy and teasing
crowd. The man whom Jesus cured was very blessed, as he was the only
person in all history who had the distinct honor to converse with Jesus as
soon as he was able to speak.

In some sense, I think being deaf and dumb has natural advantages. If
you’re a deaf, you do not have to hear on TV and radio about the
government’s shameless corruption and feel sick about it. You don’t have
to listen to the lies and stupidities of politicians, congressmen and
presidential spokesperson: the gossips about showbiz actors and
actresses: the criminally incoherent singing of drunken people over
karaoke and the curses and complaints of foul mouthed people.

Lastly, it is somehow a great blessing to be deaf and dumb! It is a

great blessing to deaf to lies, curses, complaints, canards, insults,
inanities and flatteries of petty morals. It is a great blessing to be mute- to
be unable to speak ill of others, gossip, whine, swear and lie to the
expense of other people.

• Lk. 7:11-19

This gospel- Jesus teaches us to be grateful. Yes, may our gratitude be

louder, more often and more real. I always believe that as along as we
are grateful, as long as we do not become proud or resentful,
we are on the right track. When gratitude ceases to be in our hearts, we
lose sight of who we are and what we are meant for in life. It is not
enough to think of our blessings. We also must thank God for our
blessings. We are told that in our Anglo-Saxon language that to be
THINKFUL meant to be THANKFUL.

Lastly, Gratitude does wonders not only to its recipient but more to its
source. Gratitude, especially if it is sincere, gives so much fulfillment and
liberation to the one who gives it. As long as one is grateful, as long as
one is not resentful, the heart will be peaceful, joyful and hopeful.

• Mt. 9:27-31 and Lk. 7:11-19

 The two blind men in today’s gospel prayed for healing. After
requesting to heal them,

Jesus touched their eyes and uttered something and they were healed.
They who once were blind, can now see they who were once poor are now
enriched. More than the cure they were craving, they were granted
healing. A beautiful miracle of trust, faith, and new life took place.

However, the experience of God manifesting his healing presence in

times of sickness and crisis reminds you and me that He is truly our
Emmanuel, the God-with-us. Thus, as we are enlivened by this life-giving
reality, let us also enliven others by mirroring the love we receive
wherever we may be today and everyday. Let us always smile and always
remember that God loves us always.

2. What were the “hidden years” of Jesus like?

This is one of the curious features about the Christian story in which
we do not know nothing about Jesus before he began his public
ministry. All I have learned is that Jesus was born around 4AD. When he
was 12 years old it was the time of the Lost and Finding of Jesus in the
temple. Until He was baptized when he was 30 years old and died on the
33th year of His life.

Those years between 12 and 33 years old- we’re the hidden years of
Jesus. So far, I did not know what happened between those silent years of
Jesus. As what I have researched, many people believed that in those 18
hidden years- Jesus was having fellowship time with his father as well as
preparing for what He knew He had to do in the future. Maybe, those
were His 18 years of preparation until his death on the cross will take
place.

3. List some ways we can bring God’s healing love to other people . List
some ways by which other people have brought God’s healing love
to us. Then write a thanksgiving prayer.

Whenever I attended mass, the homily of the priest always makes me

realize some
 things. He really captured the imagination of his listeners. He appealed
not only to their

minds but also to our hearts. This is one way of God’s healing love to us.
Listening to the word

of God makes our feelings light and keeps all our worries out. My friends
are God-fearing

also, in which through them I still have the firm faith to God until now.

Jesus always troubled himself because of love. He troubled himself not

only once but

again and again for the welfare of others. Just like Jesus, we can bring God’s
healing love to other people by advocating goodness to others. Spending
quality time to the marginalized poor people is like being a Christian to
others. We can feed their hearts and minds with the words of wisdom
inspired by God. It is much like of continuing God’s mission on what God has
started that is to live the Divine Word’s life and to carry on its mission even
on simple and little ways. We can also care for others and help them lead
back to God’s fold and make them experience God’s gift of life.

We can bring God’s healing love to others by being a channel of hope

to others. We can do good to others through us. We must also relate to God
in all things, for ourselves as well as for our people.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Lord,

Sorry for the times we saddened you whenever we did not

notice your loving work in our life. May you bless all those who are starving
and in sadness to be replenished. Lord God, thank you for the gift of family
and friends who always nourish us.
 God, we are always thankful for extending our time in this short and
precious journey of our life. May you keep the eyes of our spirit open up to
you always and may you always bless us.

Thank you.

4. What type of discipleship do you think Jesus is calling you to do?

We all know that the world usually offers a different set of principles and
perspectives that may run perpendicular to the ones of Jesus. Jesus is calling
us to do good things to other people. That is one form of discipleship. It is a
reality that the decision to follow him and for the sake of the kingdom of God
is oftentimes unacceptable, impractical, incomprehensible, an affront to basic
logic and even culture. God calls us to be a good disciple by following His
footsteps. We must meditate and act on His word. We must keep on believing
on Him and obeying all His commandments to us. We must be what God
wants us to be. Those are simple things we can do that will make a great
impact in our lives and in our relationship to God.

5. Why is it important to learn the background situation of Jesus before

we study the mission of Jesus?

It is very important to learn the background of Jesus first before we

study the mission of Jesus. We must first know how He lived and planned by
God when He was born. Knowing Him is like witnessing His greatness in our
lives. Knowing Him is like loving Him. We can based it in reality that knowing
the life of our loved ones is a form of caring.

Witnessing His ministry gives us the strength and courage to continue

the mission He started. We had witnessed how pitiful He is in time of
inhumane Herod.

Jesus is the secret in attaining Joy in our precious life. Joy comes to
those who seek the presence of God, those who are simple and humble in the
desires of their hearts, those who are Poor and puts serving the poor and the
needy first before the self, those who sing and praise God in gratitude and
those who trust God and who is enough to surrender themselves to His will.