Ang Iglesia Metodista . . . through the valley with Christ
"This one thing let us do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are ahead, let us press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14); crying unto him day and night, till we also are "delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious freedom of the children of God!" (Romans 8:21)
John Wesley, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, 1872
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The Good News
They are all plain to him who understands and opens his heart, and right to those who find knowledge and live by it.
Proverbs 8:9 (Amplified Bible)
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MANILA, Philippines - There is no more classroom shortage in the country . . .
More than 35,000 classrooms were funded by the national budget; 13,189 classrooms built using local government funds; 14,886 from local donations; 1,215 from foreign donations, and 2,242 under the Public Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project I.
“This is a collaborative work of private organizations and public institutions, showing commitment to quality education for Filipino learners,” said Luistro...
(By Delon Porcalla,with Helen Flores, Arnell Ozaeta,
The Philippine Star, http://www.philstar.com)
5th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Epiphany of Compassion
“This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is : sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’ (Isaiah 58 : 6-9)
To share bread with the hungry, to provide shelter for the homeless, and to clothe the naked goes far beyond the servant's commission and addresses common human compassion in a general imperative." (Brevard Childs, Commentary on Isaiah, Westminster John Knox Press, 2001
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As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. And when the day was already far gone, His disciples came to Him and said, This is a desolate and isolated place, and the hour is now late. Send the crowds away to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat. But He replied to them, Give them something to eat yourselves.
(Mark 6: 32-37)
Human compassion, indeed, is the Lord's Chosen fast.
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As we journey on through the valley...with Christ, let us bring the books we read, the songs we sing, the reflections we write,
the pictures we keep and the people we love.