ON THE HOLY BIBLE : PERSONAL REFLECTION ON THE BIBLE AS THE

LETTER OF GOD TO YOU

1.1 How would you describe the Holy Bible as the letter of God for you? Cite a Scripture passage to affirm
this insight.
At some point, we would feel that we had fallen in the heat of temptations and mistakes. We
don’t understand the point of us falling into our weaknesses that it breaks us as a person. In those
moments, we might feel like everything has gone against us and no one will be able to help and guide
us. But with the help of the Holy Bible, it will help us gain strength and hear the message we should
have known ever since everything had happened. God knows us better than anyone and at any point,
He would prove us to understand His teachings and love for us through us reading the Holy Bible.

According to Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” With this passage, God is waiting for us to come
to Him to get the help that we need in order to overcome the issues in our life. We just need to get
with Him, and he would be able to deliver His message for us. To help us be aware and know that we
are loved. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift,
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood,
to be received by faith.” (Rom 3:23-25) God’s love allows us to stand accepted and loved before Him.

1.2 How does the Holy Bible help you in your daily life as a Catholic. Share a short personal story where you
obtained help through the Holy Bible.
The bible contains different stories and practical wisdoms that may influence a Catholics
perspective in life. Through the fast pace that our life has come, the Bible can help us lead to a little
or big direction towards where we really deserve to be lead. The bible is full of wisdoms that helps us
set our priorities straight. It teaches us how to handle our fears and our questions in life. The Bible
can act as a story written for us to ponder on and learn on.

During summer 2019, I have set a goal for myself to read a bible verse and write a reflection
about it on my notebook. Every day, I have thought myself different stories and wisdoms that has
helped me cope up with life. I have used my imagination to put myself inside into some of the gospel
stories to feel the message and feel the importance of its story for us Catholics. Through this goal, I
got myself covered with all the issues I have been in, and brought myself up to continue and pursue a
good life with all His teachings.

1.3 What can you do to increase your knowledge and love of both the Old and the New Testaments?
I would set a goal on reading one gospel for both Old and New Testament once a week. For each
gospel I read, I would write all my reflections about this story or wisdom on a special notebook. With
the help of reading these gospels every week, I would also reflect this on my daily life. I would use this
 as an opportunity to be a better person and teach myself to be aware of things that I should have
known. I would use this as a lesson and a motto every week to use as an answer to my daily questions
in life.

2.1 Interview with a young boy, between 16-21 years old

2.1.1 Name : Eduard Pequena Jr.

2.1.2 Origin:
Home Address: Isla Verde, Makati City
School: University of the Philippines Diliman
Level of Education: First Year College

2.1.3 Asking the Interviewee:

- How do you consider Jesus as a Friend?

“As a friend, He is someone to look for. Siya yung laging mong pwedeng matakbuhan. Laging siya
yung nandiyan, siya yung lagi mong pwedeng sabihan. Whether if it’s about my weaknesses and
strengths, He is always there to listen.”
“I consider him as a friend, like I run into him. Siya yung laging kong kino-cope ko with my
problems. Ayun, even though parang ako yung laging nagsasalita, He speaks through me with words
coming from His words sa Bible. Ayun, dun ako nabibigyan ng strength at siya as my friend,
ginagabayan niya ako sa mga past ko.

2.1.4 Inviting the Interviewee to share:

- A short personal story on his/her personal relationship or friendship with Jesus

“Before, high school ako, siguro mga 2nd or 3rd year ako noon. Before, pinapangarap ko na
talaga maging top 1 and through that may nakilala akong isang Professor na nagpakilala kay Jesus.
Pinakilala niya sakin si God, and nung 3rd year ako; naging leader ako sa mga group na nagdi-
disciple. So one of the things na nangyari noon, ayun nga dini-desire ko as maging top 1 and
mapunta ako sa isang dreamsection. So with that desire and yung spiritual guidance saakin,
sobrang blessed. Kasi pagkarating ng 4th year, 3rd year nagging top 1 ako at 4th year napunta ako
sa dream section. One of the best things na nangyari yun sakin kasi I keep on praying and praying
lang. Tapos biglang ayun, pinaramdam nalang sakin ni God yun. Para bang, “Eto oh, sayo na ‘to
Anak, pinag-prayan mo ‘to palagi.”

2.2 Interview with a young adult woman, between 25-30 years old
2.2.1 Name : Rochelle Lampas

2.2.2 Origin:
Home Address: Isla Verde, Makati City
 Workplace: Real Estate Company, around Ortigas

2.2.3 Asking the Interviewee:

- How do you consider Jesus as a Friend?

“Jesus is my No. 1 friend, my best friend because for me other people may betray you nut si jesus
never niya ibebetray ever. Kapag nagopen ka kasi sa tao possible na i-betray ka niya or i-disapoint ka
niya. Pero kay Jesus kapag nag-rant ka, siya yung No. 1 hearer ng mga problems mo.”

2.2.4 Inviting the Interviewee to share:

- A short personal story on his/her personal relationship or friendship with Jesus

“Close kami at hindi feeling close. Sometimes kasi yung mga tao, nagppray lang sila kapag may
problema sila. Pero yung relationship talaga naming ni Lord in good times and in bad times, sakanya
ako nagrrant.”

2.3 Interview with a young adult woman, between 25-30 years old
2.3.1 Name : Josephine Lampas
2.3.2 Origin:
Home Address: Isla Verde, Makati City
Workplace: Own Business in Isla Verde
2.3.3 Asking the Interviewee:
- How do you consider Jesus as a Friend?

“I consider Jesus Christ as a friend kasi I know I can open to him everything, all my feelings na
walang tinatago or anything. I can share whatever comes in my heart. Alam mong hindi ka magaa-
alinlangan na hindi ka niya maiintindihan kasi I know lahat ng pwede kong i-share sakanya, kaynga
kaya niyang sagutin yung mga feelings na galling sa puso.”

2.3.4 Inviting the Interviewee to share:

- A short personal story on his/her personal relationship or friendship with Jesus

“Simula nang makilala ko si Jesus nagbago lahat ang storya ng buhay ko, kasi alam kong meron
akong diyos na tunay na nakikinig. Alam ko na sa bawat paglapit ko sakanya, walang bagay na hindi
niya kayang gawin para saakin. Simula nang makilala ko si Jesus Christ, I accept him as my personal
savior. I consider him as one of my very best friend. Kasi alam kong bawat paglapit ko sakanya hindi
niya ako hihindian. In my heart, alam ko na lahat ng bagay ko na maibabahagi sakanya, naiintindihan
niya. In a way na kahit hindi ako perfect, dahil syempre as a human maraming pagkakamali. Pero
dahil nga si Jesus, I consider him as a friend nandun siya umalalay. Kayang kaya niyang ayusin ang
buhay ko na dati hindi ganun kaganda. Simula nung naging close ako sakanya naging mas maganda
ang buhay ko. Sa tuwing nalulungkot ako lagi siyang nakaalalay sakin.”
2.4 My short personal relationship or friendship with Jesus
As a student, a friend and a child, I have experience a lot of struggles that I was not able to cope up
with properly. I had gone through the darkness of life in my personal experiences that I was not able
to see the light and way of where I should go to escape the misery. But at that time, I tried to find
little time to see the true persons love for me and is always waiting for me. All along I slowly pushed
myself towards God even if everything is crushing down. I have silently prayed for a happy positive
life and a lovely surrounding. And finally, with all my trust, God offered me such blessings that has
woken up my mind that there are people waiting for me. Just as He was waiting for me to open up.

3 Analysis of the Data from the 3 Interviews

3.1 Similarities of insights about their friendship with Jesus
Jesus is someone they can run to. Someone who will support and carry them along the heavy
work load of life. They have Jesus as a shoulder to rest on in times of big conflicts in life. They find
Jesus Christ as a big source of comfort and serenity, in midst of all the problems in life. They do
believe that Jesus has a big factor in guiding them towards solving the issues and finding a way
towards the solace of life. Ever since they met Jesus, life has helped them come along and cope up to
easily understand the questions in life.

3.2 Differences of insights about their friendship with Jesus

They met Jesus at different times yet still ended up having the same lovable and accepting
experience with God. For Ms. Rochelle, she has seen God as her No. 1 hearer and best friend.
Someone who would never betray and disappoint you. For Mr. Eduard, he had expressed the coming
of Jesus in his life as a blessing and answer to all his dreams. He had felt the love in all the spiritual
guidance he has put himself to experience in. Lastly, for Mrs. Josephine, she have Jesus as her No. 1
savior in all times of experiences. She believes that God will always be there to solve her problems
and make her life easier and comfortable.

3.3 Insights about their friendship with Jesus unique to the Interviewees
Jesus has a good impact for everyone. If you let God in your life and trust in Him all the way, He will
guide you in the right way and lead you to a happy life. Jesus is someone who will never deny you,
ignore you, and forget you in low times. He will always be there to teach you and offer you a shoulder
to lean on. Jesus as a friend to them, had helped them lead to a better life and comfortable life.

3.4 Insights about your friendship with Jesus unique to you

God has waited for me to accept and see him. To see what He has in store for me and the people
around me. He has shown me that in times of struggling, there is someone that is waiting for me to
call for them. He is there to guide me, He is just waiting for me and my trust. All along I have come to
realize that there will always be someone that can help me. Most importantly, that is Jesus, a friend
and a savior.

4 Synthesis of the reflection on faith

4.1 Get a copy of the Rites for the celebration of Confirmation.
Source: Diocesan Liturgical Commission Toowoomba 2015
 4.2 Choose at least three instance when we are invited to pray the Blessed Trinity in the Rite of the
Sacrament of Confirmation
 Laying on hands is the first movement in the preparation of the ritual. In laying of hands we
are invited to pray in silence, and the Bishop who will minister the Sacrament will hand over
their hands upon all the candidates. With the laying on hands, the union of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit is coming together for the candidates.
 Anointing with Chrism is the next because this action emphasizes the connection between
the candidate and the Blessed Trinity. They are to accept the blessing by the Bishop dipping
his right thumb in the Chrism and make the Sign of the Cross on the forehead of the one to
be confirmed. When the Bishop anoints them with the word, “be sealed with the gift of the
Holy spirit” with the response of “Amen.”
 Lastly the Lord’s Prayer, where we all join and recite the Lord’s prayer. Which also cites the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

4.3 Express in your own words the prayers to the Blessed Trinity that you chose.
Almighty and everlasting God, to whom we owe all the wisdom and grace circulating around the
world. Please rant us the glory and the union just as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. Glory
be to the Father, whose power is almighty and love is everlasting. Whom have offered us all the blessings
and sacrificed his own Son. Glory be to the Son, whose blood saved me from hell and opened me a way
for the gates of hell. Glory be to the Holy Spirit, who has helped me ever since I was born. Who has
blessed me for every sacraments, I have done. Please offer us the unity that our community may be able
to connect and understand each other as one.