The National Pastoral Consultation on Church Renewal held recently boldly challenged us to become a community of disciples. It exhorted us to focus on nine pastoral priorities, one of which is the "family as the focal point of evangelization." To do this, it stated that the Gospel must first be shared in the family so that it can become the agent of proclaiming the Good News.

          The Twelve Pebbles is our humble response to this exhortation. It is a simple way to learn and follow the footsteps of the Twelve Apostles, who were ordinary people themselves, as Jesus taught them to become a Church.

          In the Gospel this Sunday (Luke 6:39-45), Jesus continued to teach His disciples. Read this Gospel to your family and then relate it again in your own words. Read it the second time and request the family to listen to Jesus in a prayerful manner as if them were there with the disciples. As Jesus gives examples for them to follow, request them to form in their minds how a disciple receives His teachings.

          "Can a blind man lead another blind man? Surely both will fall into a ditch." (6:39) Jesus expects me to lead, so I have to see life situations with the eyes of Jesus. Otherwise, I may mislead the people who shall depend on me.

          "No disciples is above his master; if he lets himself be formed, he will be like his master."(6:40)

The people whom I shall lead should become like me as I become like Him.

          "So why do you pay attention to the speck in your brother's eye and are not conscious of it? ... First remove the log from your own eye and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (6:41-42)

The people whom I shall lead may have "specks" on their eyes. They may not see the truth. But I may have a "log" over mine. He means, I have a larger responsibility in preparing myself first for the task He is giving me by knowing the truth and living it that others may see.

          "No healthy tree bears bad fruit, no poor tree bears good fruit. And each tree is known by the fruit it bears ... For the mouth speaks from the fullness of the heart." (6:43-45)

I should become like a healthy tree that would bear good fruits. The people I shall lead must truly learn from me everything I shall learn from Him. They must be able to show that they are good fruits as they later on shall lead others become good fruits. This way, we shall be known as truly disciples of Jesus.

          Spend a few minutes in silent reflection on the expectations of Jesus from you.

• Whom shall I lead?


• How shall I respond to Jesus' expectations? State His expectations and your response in concrete terms in your life.

Joe & Charito

THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org