BCBP Imus Chapter

Happy Easter, everyone! Let's rejoice in the risen Savior!
How does Jesus' resurrection inspire hope in your life? Share your reflections below!

As we wait for Easter, let's remember that even in the dark, there's always hope.

Learning and growing together in faith. 📖 What lessons from Jesus' teachings resonate with you?

Reflecting on our community's journey and growth. 🙏 How can we grow closer to Jesus this Holy Week?

𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬' 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 🌿
What does His entry into Jerusalem mean for us today?

𝘽𝘾𝘽𝙋 𝙄𝙢𝙪𝙨 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙖 𝘽𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙄𝙩𝙨 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙒𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝟮𝟴 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨!

The Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) expects a bigger chapter after its successful Way of Life retreat of a robust 28 participants on March 16, 2024 at Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD) Covenant House and Retreat Center, Piela Sampaloc III Dasmarinas, Cavite.

The retreat was a whole day event from 7:30am to 5:00pm, which serves as the final stage of preparation before the Members-in-Formation (MIF) become fully pledged members of BCBP.

The Way of Life retreat wraps up all the preparatory seminars and programs which prepare the aspiring members as they embark the life of a true BCBP member.

Composed of 6 talks, the retreat talks about the huge responsibility of a BCBP member to its country, environment, religion, marketplace, community, family, and to their fellow BCBP members. The way of life is an all encompassing role of a good Christian citizen in the society where they live in which all boil down to one goal– honoring God.

Simply put, honoring God is honoring ones family, religion, community, environment, marketplace and country.

As former BCBP National Treasurer B**g Santos put it, “Always be a blessing to one another so others may see Christ in you.”

While BCBP’s advocacy focuses on bringing Christ to the marketplace and winning the marketplace for Christ, it emphasizes on the value of putting ones family in order as its core priority, in order to fulfill its mission to the marketplace.

The MIF’s formation program is composed of Christian Life Program, Free to Follow and Business Retreat, Marriage Retreat for married couples, and Way of Life retreat, which took the MIFs a year and even more than a year for some to complete.

Given the long formation to prepare the 28 MIFs to entering the BCBP Way of Life, the MIFs and the Imus Chapter are equally excited to finally welcome them in the BCBP community.

Congratulations MIFs! Congratulations Imus Chapter!

Contributed by Alcris Agno Poyos, Member-in-Formation

Today was a busy day at BCBP Imus Chapter. First, we had three simultaneous breakfast meetings: Imus Chapter and Dasma Mission Men’s Breakfast meeting, and Ladies’ Breakfast meeting. We shared inspiring stories of our faith journey and laughed together, feeling the beauty of our vibrant community.

After that, we had a Lenten Recollection facilitated by Jun Villena. The theme was about the salvific nature of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection .

Lastly, we did the Stations of the Cross activity. Each station made us reflect deeply, reminding us of God's love for us.

We're thankful for this day, Lord. Thank you for the gift of our community, for allowing us to serve, and for showing us your love, especially during this Lenten season.

𝐊𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 (Article 23)

LENT. Remembering the Passion, preparing for Easter. Where does it begin? The First Sorrowful Mystery brings us to a garden. But let’s backtrack a little, into the Upper Room. There, Jesus, through bread-turned-Body and wine-turned-Blood, offers Himself for our sakes. An agonizing gift, because He means every word.

Let’s follow Him, down from Mt Zion, across the Kidron, to Gethsemane. On His knees, “overwhelmed by anguish and distress,” His “soul is full of sorrow, even unto death,” He prays, “Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from me; however, not my will but Yours be done.” Again, words He means with all his heart. And as “he prayed even more earnestly, great drops of blood formed like sweat and fell to the ground.”

In extreme physical or emotional stress, a rare condition called Hematodrosis may occur. Capillaries feeding sweat glands burst, exuding blood. This makes the skin hyper-sensitive, such that the lightest of touches causes physical pain.

First-century physicians like Luke may not have known this, but we do now. We can think of what follows – the entire Way of the Cross – with more knowing minds. And back in the Garden of Olives, Fr. Andrew Dalton says, “the first physical violence that men perpetrated against Jesus” occurs. Can you guess?

With Jesus’s skin now painful to the littlest touch, His betrayer arrives. He who offered to surrender Jesus to the authorities; who took thirty coins in exchange; who arranged the signal for His arrest. Oh, that kiss. A sting on Jesus’s cheek, a stab upon His back, unsaid words screaming into His heart, “I hope you die.”

Later, when Pilate asks, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, just as I have power to crucify you?” Jesus makes it so clear how consequential is this two-faced kiss: “You would have no power over me unless it had been given to you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is more guilty.” Yes, Judas’s faithless deceit indeed opens the road to Calvary.

The Psalmist (55:13-15) says, “If it were a rival insulting me, I could bear with him; if it were a foe in pursuit of me, I could hide from him. But it is you, an equal of mine, my bosom friend, my companion; whose fellowship I enjoyed, as we walked together in the house of God.”

Oh, Lord of the Shroud! Could these words be meant for me? Am I Judas too, pushing You toward the Cross? Grant me clarity as I reflect, that I may see. And repent. And do better.

Sources:

The Gospels of Matthew (26:37-38), Mark (14:44-45), Luke (22:42 and 44), and John (19:10-11)

Jesus and the Shroud – The Spiritual Significance of Death and Resurrection
Fr Andrew Dalton, LC. Nonius Reccaredus.
27 May 2023 / https://youtu.be/MwCyVV4Hl1g?feature=shared

Seeking the Face of Christ: How the Shroud of Turin Reveals God's Love
Nora Creech, lecturer on the history, science and pastoral implications of the Shroud
19May2022 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNXnG2Xkf4Q

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙚 𝙋. 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙧, 𝘽𝘾𝘽𝙋 𝘽𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙤 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 is a 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴. 𝘞𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴'𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴, and 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳e 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦.

Excerpts from the sharing of Bro. Jayvee and Sis Cheye Dela Fuente

“Awakened by His love, we've embraced service as our calling, finding a new family in fellowship. Let's nurture this bond and grow together, harmonizing our roles and embracing life in Christ. Let's not just be part-time Christians but uplift one another in all we do. Even in the fire, His presence sustains us”

🌅 Rise and shine, BCBP family! 🌟 Something incredible is brewing, and we can't wait to share it with you at our Saturday breakfast. 🍳 Save the date - Saturday, February 24, 2024. Join us for a morning filled with inspiration, fellowship, and a hearty breakfast. Trust us, you won't want to miss this!
Drop a 🙌 if you're joining!

𝑨 𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒅
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

Fridays in Lent should be days of penance. Why? What is penance? What’s the value of penance? First of all, Fridays are days of penance because our Lord died on the Cross on a Friday. We should see every Friday as a commemoration of that saving sacrifice. By doing penance on Fridays, we willingly participate in the penance Jesus did through His passion and death. So every Friday is a day on which we should more fully share in Jesus’ Cross, just as every Sunday should be celebrated with great solemnity as we rejoice in His Resurrection.

Penance can be mysterious. Why would we deny ourselves pleasures? Why wouldn’t God want us to enjoy everything this life has to offer every day of our lives? Jesus already destroyed sin and death, so one might conclude that we should only focus on the joy of the Resurrection, always!

The problem with this thinking is that Jesus Himself said numerous times that if we are to rise with Him, we must die with Him. We will save our lives only by losing our lives for Christ’s sake. We must take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Penance is necessary in this life because our human nature remains in a state of Original Sin. As a result, our desires, appetites, passions, and emotions are not easily aligned with the will of God. These good human qualities are subject to confusion, indulgence, and sin. Penance is a way of helping every part of our humanity to enter into submission to God’s will by overcoming those inordinate tendencies that lead us to sin. Penance helps those disorders within us to die so that every part of our humanity may rise with Christ, conform to His humanity, and be set free from the sins and temptations that keep us bound.

On a personal level, Jesus did not need to enter into the penitential state of the desert to curb His appetites, desires, and passions. His soul was already perfect in every way, and He always felt, desired, and chose only the eternal goods. Jesus’ choice to embrace the penitential state of the desert was not for Him; it was for us. By doing penance in the desert, by denying his appetites and human desires, He endowed penitential acts with power. For that reason, when we choose to imitate Jesus’ penance in the desert and choose to embrace His Cross as our own, we receive that power and grace that are now hidden within penitential acts, waiting to be discovered and received.

Ponder your attitude and approach to penance. Though the Church only prescribes abstinence from meat today, our penance should go much further if we are serious about becoming more like Christ. Think about ways in which you can live more sacrificially today. Make concrete choices to do so. As you do, offer them to the Father in Heaven, in union with the penitential life of Jesus in the desert, and anticipate the blessings of grace you will discover in this holy act.

My penitential Lord, by doing penance within Your human nature, You endowed penitential acts with Your grace. Please fill my heart with a burning desire for that grace, as well as with a desire for how Your grace is received. Give me a desire to live a penitential life. Help me to find You, dwelling within those acts of love, to be strengthened to overcome the disorders and temptations I endure every day. Jesus, I trust in You.

True conversion is an ongoing process that transforms not just our actions but our hearts. Let this verse from Philippians 2:13 inspire you to embrace continuous personal conversion. God is at work within you for His purpose. Share with someone who needs this reminder today. 🙏