The Lord’s Flock Charismatic Community (TLFCC) held its first day of recollection with a theme: Walk with Jesus on April 16, 2025 (Holy Wednesday) at the Heritage Sanctuary. Pastoral Ministry Head Steward, Raymond Nobleza, moderator of the event, highlighted the three-day recollection, a sacred annual Lenten tradition. He emphasized the following goals which inspire the conduct of spiritual community gathering:
- to embark on a sacred journey of reflection
- to draw nearer to Jesus during this holy season – a pilgrimage of the heart
- to pause amidst the clamor of the world, to listen with attentive hearts and to gaze upon the face of the Lord, seeking His grace and guidance
Thereafter, the Elders, Leaders and members of the community entered the “Court of the Lord” with heartfelt singing and praising led by Daphne Tapia, (Psalm including the Koros Ministry).
Moreover, a video presentation showcased the Holy Week events: Palm Sunday mass; the Passion of Christ (other religious theme plays); three-day Recollection (Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday); Via Crucis (Lenten Walk); Easter Sunday Eucharistic Mass; and the Easter Egg Hunt for the Small World Ministry.
Fr. Anton Pascual, renowned recollection speaker, centered his teaching on the theme: The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, with the following reflections:
1. The Passion and Death of the Lord demonstrates the reality that no one is exempted from pain and suffering.
1.1. Three types of suffering even Jesus himself experienced:
1.1.1. Physical ailments, accidents, among others
1.1.2. Psychological rejection, bullying and betrayal
1.1.3. Existential hopelessness, lack of meaning and sense of direction in life.
2. The Significance of the Paschal Mystery
2.1. The Paschal Mystery- the summit in the life and mission of Christ – is His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
2.2. God’s Paschal Mystery is offered for our victory and redemption.
2.3. Passover led to the liberation of the Israelites after 400 years of slavery.
2.4. Passover in the New Testament is the offering of Jesus’s Crucifixion. 2.5. The Cross which was once a symbol of violence, misfortune, rudeness and death is the most degrading and excruciating form of punishment among the Roman enemies.
2.6. The weight of our sin called for the need for Christ to embrace our humanity and experience death on the Cross; moreover, God yearns to bring His children back to Him and to restore their dignity — a manifestation of God’s greatest love.
2.7. Christ on the cross is the highest form of love; thus, Kenosis is the unconditional and self-emptying kind of love (Phil. 2: 9-11).
3. Christ’s Resurrection declares that Jesus is Lord.
3.1. Christ even descended into hell to gather souls and bring back them to God in Heaven.
3.2. The Great Love of God (Jn. 3:16 – 17).
3.3. Resurrection has ushered a new way of life, with the declaration that Jesus is Lord.
4. Conclusion – Walk with Jesus
In suffering, we surrender to God’s loving and powerful hands, and declare, “Into Your hands, I commend my spirit.” (Lk. 23: 4-6). It is our prayer that the Lord will help us to encounter Him when we begin a new life in the Spirit (Rev. 21).
To conclude the recollection, Fr. Anton led the community prayer. Finally, Mike and Leo Concepcion shared their powerful and inspiring story of God’s faithfulness and miraculous provisions when Mike experienced a life-threatening medical condition. Truly, their ability to overcome the challenge and his recovery are manifestations of God’s love and mercy.
To God be the Glory!
SCRIBES MINISTRY
Written by: Lorelai J. Grutas
Edited by: Vera I. Tuplano
