My sheep hear my voice, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand

METTURDAM

Scripture: John 10:27-30

The Old Testament often speaks of God as shepherd

of his people, Israel. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! (Psalm 80:1) We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3). The Messiah is also pictured as the shepherd of God's people.
JESUS died for us as truly Good, and truly our Shepherd, so that the dark shadow of death driven away He might join us to the company of the blessed in heaven; and in exchange for abodes that lie far in the depths of the pit, and in the hidden places of the sea, grant us mansions in His Father’s House above. Because of this he says to us in another place: Fear not, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you a kingdom (Luke 12:32).

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting

METTURDAM

Scripture: John 6:60-69

This expression meant that it was not just hard to understand, but hard to accept. Jesus pressed the issue with his beloved disciples because he wanted to test their faith and loyalty. Jesus promised his disciples nothing less than the full blessing of unending life and union with God. Jesus assures his disciples that it is his heavenly Father who invites and who gives the grace to follow even in the "hard sayings". Jesus knew that some would not only reject him and his word, but would do so with hatred and violence, even betraying him to his enemies.

Real faith is not blind nor ignorant. It seeks understanding. That is why God gives us the help of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of our mind to understand his truth and wisdom (Ephes. 1:17-18). Jesus offers his life-giving word and Spirit to those who believe in him and who obey his word. Peter’s profession of faith and loyalty was based on a personal relationship with Jesus. Through the gift of faith Peter came to understand that Jesus was the true Messiah, the Holy One of God. He believed in the words which Jesus spoke, because he accepted Jesus as the Son of God and savior of the world. Faith is a personal response to God's revelation of himself to us. Faith is the key to seeing and experiencing God acting and working in our personal lives.

He who eats this bread will live forever

METTURDAM

Scripture: John 6:52-59

Jesus chose the time of Passover to fulfill what he had announced at Capernaum– giving his disciples his body and his blood. Jesus’ passing over to his Father by his death and resurrection, the new Passover, is anticipated in the Last Supper and celebrated in the eucharist, which fulfills the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the church in the glory of God’s kingdom. When the Lord Jesus commands his disciples to eat his flesh and drink his blood, he invites us to take his life into the very center of our being. That life which he offers is the very life of God himself. Do you hunger for the bread of life?

If anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever

METTURDAM

Scripture: John 6:44-51

God offers his people abundant life, but we can miss it. What is the bread of life which Jesus offers? It is first of all the life of God himself -- life which sustains us not only now in this age but also in the age to come. When Jesus offers us real life he brings us into a new relationship with God, a relationship of trust, love, and obedience. And he offers us real life which last forever, a life of love, fellowship, communion, and union with the One who made us in love to be with him forever.

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation

METTURDAM

Scripture: Mark 16:14-20

Mark ends his gospel account with Jesus' last appearance to the apostles before his ascension into heaven. Jesus' departure and ascension was both an end and a beginning for his disciples. While it was the end of Jesus' physical presence with his beloved disciples, it marked the beginning of Jesus' presence with them in a new way. Jesus promised that he would be with them always to the end of time. Now as the glorified and risen Lord and Savior, ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven, Jesus promised to send them the Holy Spirit who would anoint them with power on the Feast of Pentecost, just as Jesus was anointed for his ministry at the River Jordan. When the Lord Jesus departed physically from the apostles, they were not left in sorrow or grief. Instead, they were filled with joy and with great anticipation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, give us this bread always

METTURDAM

Scripture: John 6:30-35

Do you hunger for the bread of life? The Jews had always regarded the mana in the wilderness as the bread of God (Psalm 78:24, Exodus 16:15). There was a strong Rabbinic belief that when the Messiah came he would give manna from heaven. This was the supreme work of Moses. Now the Jewish leaders were demanding that Jesus produce manna from heaven as proof to his claim to be the Messiah. Jesus responds by telling them that it was not Moses who gave the manna, but God. And the manna given to Moses and the people was not the real bread from heaven, but only a symbol of the bread to come. Jesus then makes the claim which only God can make: I am the bread of life. The bread which Jesus offers is none else than the very life of God. This is the true bread which can truly satisfy the hunger in our hearts. Do you hunger for God and for the food which produces everlasting life?

Doing the works of God

METTURDAM

Scripture: John 6:22-29

What do you most hunger for – wealth, peace, health, love, the good life? Jesus addressed this issue with those who sought him after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. Where they simply hungry for things which satisfy the body or for that which satisfies the heart and soul?Jesus echoes the question posed by the prophet Isaiah: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy" (Isaiah 55:2)? There are two kinds of hunger -- physical and spiritual. Only God can satisfy the spiritual hunger in our heart and soul - the hunger for truth, for life, and for love.
Jesus also spoke about the works of God and what we must do to be doing the works of God, namely to believe in God's Son whom he has sent into the world. Jesus offers a new relationship with God which issues in a new kind of life: A life of love and service.

This is eternal life, that they know the Father the only true God

METTURDAM

Scripture: John 17:1-11

In his Last Supper discourse Jesus speaks of his glory and the glory of his Father. What is this glory? It is the cross which Jesus speaks of here. How does the cross reveal his glory? In the cross God reveals the breadth of his great love for sinners and the power of redemption which cancels the debt of sin and reverses the curse of our condemnation. Jesus gave his Father the supreme honor and glory through his obedience and willingness to go to the cross. The greatest honor, trust, and love any person can give one's leader is through his obedience even to the point of sacrificing his own life.

Jesus also speaks of eternal life. What is eternal life? It is more than simply endless time. Science today looks for ways to extend the duration of life; but that doesn't necessarily make life better for us here. Eternal life is qualitative more than quantitative. To have eternal life is to have the life of God within us. When we possess eternal life we experience here and now something of God's majesty, his peace, joy and love and the holiness which characterizes the life of God.

They saw the signs which Jesus did

METTURDAM
Scripture: John 6:1-15
Can anything on this earth truly satisfy the deepest longing and hunger we experience? A great multitude had gathered to hear Jesus, no doubt because they were hungry for the word of life.

The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God's provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially those who lack?

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri-as

Scripture: John 21:1-14

Why didn’t the apostles immediately recognize the Lord when he greeted them at the Sea of Tiberias? John gives us a clue. He states that Peter decided to return to his home district of Galilee, very likely so he could resume his fishing career. Peter was discouraged and didn’t know what to do after the tragedy of Jesus’ death! He went back to his previous career out of despair and uncertainty. The other apostles followed him back to Galilee. When was the last time Peter was commanded to let down his net after a futile night of fishing? It was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee when the Lord dramatically approached Peter in his fishing boat after a futile night of fishing and commanded him to lower his nets (see Luke 5:4-11). After the miraculous catch, Jesus told Peter that he would be ‘catching people” for the kingdom of God. Now Jesus repeats the same miracle. John, the beloved disciple, is the first to recognize the Lord. Peter impulsively leaps from the boat and runs to the Lord. Do you run to the Lord when you meet setbacks, disappointments, or trials? The Lord is ever ready to renew us in faith and to give us fresh hope in his promises.

Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures

Scripture: Luke 24:35-48
Aren't we like the apostles? We wont believe unless we can see with our own eyes. The gospels attest to the reality of the resurrection. Jesus goes to great lengths to assure his disciples that he is no mere ghost or illusion. He shows them the marks of his crucifixion and he explains how the scriptures foretold his death and rising. The way to glory is through the cross. When the disciples saw the risen Lord they disbelieved for joy!
How can death lead to life, the cross to victory? Jesus shows us the way and gives us the power to overcome sin, despair, and death. Just as the first disciples were commissioned to bring the good news of salvation to all the nations, so, we, too, are called to be witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to all who live on the face of the earth. Do you witness to the joy of the gospel to those around you?

Did not our hearts burn while he opened to us the scriptures

ROMA

Why was it difficult for the disciples to recognize the risen Lord? Jesus' death scattered his disciples and shattered their hopes and dreams. They had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. They saw the cross as defeat and could not comprehend the empty tomb until the Lord appeared to them and gave them understanding. Jesus chided the disciples on the road to Emmaus for their slowness of heart to believe what the scriptures had said concerning the Messiah. They did not recognize the risen Jesus until he had broken bread with them. Do you recognize the Lord in his word and in the breaking of the bread?

Confessional Ministery

Bassano del Grappa:

During the Holy week we 3 cappuccinos Lourdu Xavier, Martin and Samy have gone to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation. Many people made good confession and experienced the mercy of God. It is very good pastoral work and extending of God's mercy and love to all. We have great hope to march forward in our life because Jesus is risen and He is with us.

Easter

Rome:
Jesus Christ made every thing new, at his resurrection, the new creation is begun, the new man is born on place of the old man. The first person to receive the news of resurrection is Magdala and she is the one who has to bear witness this greatest of events ---the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A VERY HAPPY EASTER TO ALL. Let us rejoice brothers and sisters because Jesus rose from the dead.Let our hearts be filled with hope and courage for the future.

SFO Asia - Oceania Congress 2007

PENANG

The SFO Asia -Oceania congress suggested to take certain steps to improve the quality of members.

• Translation of formation materials in local languages
• Training course: for SA, council members/ Formators
• Inclusion of lessons on SFO/Youfra /SA in the initial formation of First order and TOR seminarians and TOR sisters and brothers,
• Learn, live, love the Rule
• Concrete,creative ,dynamic witnessing
  

Synthesis of Asian -Oceanic SFO congress

PENANG
Collegial working from CIOFS,CONFERENCE OF ASSISTANTS, and participants.
Sense of unity and Fraternity, Discovering our shared strengths and weaknesses, working , praying and celebrating together, one mind, one heart and one vision. It was most helpful for inputs, country reports, Dialogue with CIOFS Presidency, Encountering brothers and sisters from different realities and countries and open forum after each input.

With increasing awareness of the identity and mission is moving forward with challenges to be leaven and light in the church and society.

SFO Asia - Oceania Congress 24 - 30, March 2007

PENANAG:

The SFO Asia -Oceania Congress was held in Penanag. Nearly 70 members of SFO have participated. The four General Spiritual Assistants and General Minister and Vice Minister of SFO took part in it. It was well organized by Serena Woon from Penanag. She is short but very efficient. All participants learned lot about SFO and the documents and the Role of Spiritual Assistants. The added beauty was many spiritual Assistants from Asia took part in it. God bless all those who made this seminar possible specifically sister Serena Woon.