January 2011
Vol 10 Issue 1
This is the time of fulfillment
Mk 1:15
Dear brothers and sisters,
After a long lull, we have resumed writing "Letters of Aquila and Priscilla". This year, we have chosen to reflect on and share with you our thoughts on selected passages from the Gospel of Mark.
We wish to inform you also that we have compiled and edited our reflections on selected passages from the Gospel of Luke (we found out that we can organize and edit them into a continuous narrative from the birth of Jesus to his death and resurrection). This new book, which will be published soon, is titled "Aquila and Priscilla's Reflections on the Third Gospel". If you or your community wishes to reserve copies of this book, please let us know.
May the Lady of Guadalupe, the Virgin of Evangelization, lead us to her Son, whom St. Mark wrote about in his Gospel.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
May 2011
Vol 10 Issue 5
Their hardness of heart
Mk 3:5
Dear brothers and sisters,
Last month, the subject of our reflection was the first of the five "conflict stories" in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus comes in conflict with some of the scribes because of the healing of the paralytic. This month, we reflect on the last of these five "conflict stories", where Jesus comes in conflict with the Pharisees because of the healing of a man with a withered hand in the synagogue on a sabbath. Last month we focused on the "silence of Jesus" with respect to the four men who helped the paralytic. This month we focus on the "hardness of the heart", our heart, my heart. May the hardness of our heart be melted by the stretching of our arms and hands to embrace the Cross!
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
September 2011
Vol 10 Issue 9
Whoever is not against us is for us
Mk 9:40
Dear brothers and sisters,
During the past two months we have been reflecting on passages from the First Gospel, relating them to past events in the Carmelites and the Redemptorists, and discerning lessons for our community This month, we have again passages from the Gospel of Mark, relating them to past events in the Franciscan Order, and deriving lessons for our community. You may have noted that the Carmelites were divided into the Calced and the Discalced, the Redemptorists were divided and then reunited, and the Franciscans divided into the Observants, the Conventuals, and the Capuchins. May our community be always protected by the Blessed Mother!
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
2011
February 2011
Vol 10 Issue 2
I will make you fishers of men
Mk 1:17
Dear brothers and sisters,
With great joy we wish to share with you the second issue of Letters of Aquila and Priscilla for 2011. It is a continuation of our reflection on the Gospel of Mark. When Jesus calls us to be "fishers of men," it is for a two-fold purpose: to cast our nets – to catch people and bring them under his name, to preach and evangelize; and to mend our nets – to remove the holes that will cause the fish to be lost again, to serve and provide pastoral care to those already in community. We pray for God's blessing on you all.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
June 2011
Vol 10 Issue 6
Do you not yet have faith?
Mk 4:40
Dear brothers and sisters,
We apologize for the delay of the June issue of Letters of Aquila and Priscilla, but we were busy with the many activities related to the celebration of our pearl anniversary. We pray that the Holy Spirit may grant us the gifts of courage and faith to face the uncertain future, particularly among brothers and sisters who, like us, have reached that age where being busy normally means taking care of grandchildren and enjoying it.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
October 2011
Vol 10 Issue 10
But she from her poverty
Mk 12:44
Dear brothers and sisters,
This month we reflect on the widow's mite. And as we do, we wish to praise and thank the Lord for touching the hearts of many members of the community who, after giving to the community from their surplus for a long time during their youth and midlife, are still giving to the community but now from their needs or the relative poverty of their retirement. We pray that after their earthly pilgrimage, the Lord may call them to himself.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
March 2011
Vol 10 Issue 3
Moved with pity, he touched him
Mk 1:41
Dear brothers and sisters,
We continue our reflection on the First Gospel. During this season of Lent, let us reflect on the irony of the cross -- he who is without sin suffers death associated with sin so that we who are sinful may have life. We then pray that the hand that was pierced by a nail that left a permanent mark may touch us for the forgiveness of our sins.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
July 2011
Vol 10 Issue 7
It shall not be so among you
Mk 10:43
Dear brothers and sisters,
We continue our reflection on selected passages from the Gospel of Mark. We take a glimpse at the life of St. John of the Cross who, together with St. Teresa of Avila, worked hard to reform the Carmelite Order that became divided into the Discalced Carmelite and Calced Carmelite. As we reflect, we realize our human weakness and so begin to know the importance of fraternal and pastoral correction in the community to ensure the integrity and continuity of its life and mission.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
November 2011
Vol 10 Issue 11
Whoever does the will of God
Mk 3:34
Dear brothers and sisters,
We continue our reflection on the Gospel of Mark, which we will do till the end of this year. Beginning with this Letter, we have dropped the exhortative greeting "Brothers and sisters", which always appears three times in all authentic Letters of Aquila and Priscilla. We will also begin our series of reflections related to the Blessed Mother although the First Gospel is not the ideal source to start from since she appears only once in Mark's gospel (Mk 3:31) and is mentioned only one more time (Mk 6:3). May the Blessed Mother, who was looking for her Son in our gospel passage, always seek you too that she may bring you closer to Christ.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
April 2011
Vol 10 Issue 4
Jesus saw their faith
Mk 2:5
Dear brothers and sisters,
We continue our reflection on the First Gospel and now we reach the second chapter where Jesus heals a paralytic. Countless homilies have been shared on this gospel passage focusing on the paralytic and his healing. But here let us focus on the four men who help bring the paralytic to Jesus by opening a hole through the roof of Jesus' house in Capernaum and reflect on how we could identify ourselves with these four men. We wish you a blessed and Spirit-filled Holy Week.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
August 2011
Vol 10 Issue 8
You will have your faith shaken
Mk 14:27
Dear brothers and sisters,
As we continue our reflection on selected passages from the First Gospel, we now focus our attention to the theme of betrayal, division and trials, both at the community and personal levels, that serve to test our faith. St. Alphonsus, the founder of the Redemptorist Order, underwent his greatest trial late in life at the age of 83. As our community passes its 30 years, a number of members, who have served in the community for many years and are now close to or at their retirement years, are now having their faith shaken with trials. They need to hold on to God, to focus on Jesus -- if they are to receive the heavenly reward that awaits them.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
December 2011
Vol 10 Issue 12
The son of Mary and the brother of James
Mk 6:3
Dear brothers and sisters,
We share the final issue of Aquila and Priscilla for 2011 and thus also end our series of reflections on the Gospel of Mark with the only other passage in Mark that refers to the Blessed Mother. Also with this issue is the photo of possibly the oldest living member of the CFC community worldwide and certainly the oldest to finish the Christian Life Program, Jun's mother. With this we wish you all a Blessed Christmas. May the Son of Mary, the Child in Bethlehem, shower you with bountiful blessings this Christmas season and all through the coming years.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN