RENA JOCELLE C.

NALZARO

1. WHAT IS PASTORAL APOSTOLATE

Pastoral Apostolate aims to give support and guide to the partners in the mission of Jesus. The mission
of preaching the Gospel to all creation, entrusted to the disciples of the Lord with the desire of
preaching the good news, listening to the journey and reflecting together including everyone, excluding
anyone to strengthen the faith of the people to be deeply committed.

2. 8 BEAUTITUDES

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

2 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled

5.Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy

6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

8.Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

REFLECTION PAPER
In the gospel during the prayer meeting, Jesus reminds me to "don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t respond
with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called
us to do". Usually, when we suffer physical, emotional, or mental pain, our natural instinct is to punish
the person who caused us harm. But in the gospel Matthew 5-38:48, God is calling us to share love
continously instead of bringing pain and hatred. Even to the people who inflict us pain, God is reminding
us His disciples to remain forgiving and generous.

These are some things that Christians need to perform, according to the gospel reading: 1. we are not to
retaliate; we are to offer the other cheek if we are slapped; we give away our cloak if we are asked; we
love our enemies; and we pray for our persecutors. At first, it seems like God is asking us to do
something impossible or too much because how can we love our enemies? how can we pray for the
people who insults us? But actually, God is not requiring us to be super human for us to be able to
forgive and love those people who hurts us but instead what God wants us is to accept Him fully in our
lives because once we accept God in our lives and we truly love Him, it would be easier for us to respond
to His calling to be perfect by filling our hearts with love and goodness.

God is calling us Christian to be one who can be characterized as one who goes beyond. May we
embody nonviolent manner of confronting evil and conquering it with the practive of love. May we learn
a new way of resisting without harm. The Gospel reading speaks love not just a feeling but beyond that,
it is the obligation to remain respectful to others and see their value even if they were offensive. God
knows that we cannot correct a wrongdoing by doing wrong just what God showed to us during the
hour of His passion and His death.

Just like everyone else, it is also hard to forgive my enemies and those people who pained me but with
the practice of love and with the help of the promise of God that says "As many times as you forgive
others, that’s how many times I’ll forgive you.” I could say it is easier for me to forgive my enemies.

REFLECTION PAPER

The Gospel Reading, Mt 6: 1-6, 16-1 "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may
see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father." It reminded me that
Jesus wants us His followers that our good deeds, prayers, almsgiving, and fasting should be done in
secret. We don't need anyone else to know, the only audience we need is Jesus Christ. In reminded me
It does not matter what people think of us, what matters is who we really are and how God sees us. The
Gospel reading also motivates me that my good deeds is not for anyone to be pleased but the only
person I should be pleasing is Jesus and although my good deeds is not seen to anyone else but it is clear
to Jesus Christ who seen my efforts.

Ash Wednesday serves as my reminder of my Christian identity, history, and responsibilities. We are
made of dust, and we will return to dust. Getting back to this origin requires us to acknowledge our
helplessness. As God's children, it is my responsibility to live a holy and good life that includes prayer,
fasting, and almsgiving. As I received the dust in my forehead, I am reminded with my shortcomings as a
Christian and my trespasses that I have to change.

In this Lent season I want it to be more of Jesus Christ and less of me and myself. I want it to be more of
repentance and acknowledging that I am a sinner. I want it be more of working hard to be worth it for
the endless love of God.