Feast Bay Area Morning Bulletin for Dec 15, 2019

God’s Sacrifice on the First Christmas
PICC AM
We all sacrifice.
Let me give you an example. One day, even if
it was hot, I ditched the car and walked on the road
because I wanted to add to my 10,000-steps. At least
on that day, I sacrificed my comfort for my health.
Sometimes, I’m a good boy but sometimes,
I’m not. Because there are days when I sacrifice my
health for halo-halo, especially if there is leche flan plus
two scoops of ube ice cream on top of it.
But why talk of sacrifice this Christmas season?
It doesn’t fit. Because we connect the idea of sacrifice
to Good Friday, not Christmas. Sacrifice is Jesus on
the Cross, not Jesus on the Manger.
In our minds, Christmas isn’t Sacrifice, but sleigh bells, Santa Claus and sweet ham.
But after this talk, you’ll change your mind. You’ll realize that God’s biggest Sacrifice
started nine months before Christmas Day.
Have a heart-transforming Feast today!
May your dreams come true,
Matthew
Birth of a Nation
Talk 3: You’re Worth It
“This was how the birth of Jesus
Christ took place. His mother Mary
was engaged to Joseph, but before
they were married, she found out
that she was going to have a baby by
the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a man
who always did what was right, but
he did not want to disgrace Mary
publicly; so he made plans to break
the engagement privately. While
he was thinking about this, an
angel of the Lord appeared to
him in a dream and said, “Joseph,
descendant of David, do not be
afraid to take Mary to be your wife.
For it is by the Holy Spirit that
she has conceived. She will have a
son, and you will name him Jesus—
because he will save his people from
their sins.”
Now all this happened in order
to make come true what the Lord
had said through the prophet, “A
virgin will become pregnant and
have a son, and he will be called
Immanuel” (which means, “God is
with us”).
So when Joseph woke up, he
married Mary, as the angel of the
Lord had told him to.”
—Matthew 1:18-24
BO SANCHEZ
The Feast, Founder
A Worthy Sacrifice
The bells are ringing, the carolers are
singing and friends and family have gifts
meant for giving.
Yes, my friend, Christmas is just
around the corner.
But beneath the cheer and the
celebration, there is a deeper meaning
to this beautiful season.
When we think of Christmas, the
word sacrifice is not in the immediate
vocabulary.
Today’s talk will change the way you see the happiest season of all.
You will be blessed.
In Him,
AUDEE VILLARAZA
The Feast PICC AM, Builder
15 DEC 2019 | SUNDAY
Philippine International Convention Center
Pasay City
BIRTH OF A KING
Lessons and Inspiration
From the Book of Matthew
continued on page 2

This Is My Story
The Hotline that Saved Me
Accountant Rieena “Rina” Piquero, 27, tells Imy
Eulin how God used a support center to stop her
from committing suicide one night, and other people,
including her mom to serve as her lifeline.
Drunk, alone and brokenhearted. So why not jump off the building
and end it all? That was me. I wanted to take my life because I found out, my
boyfriend was cheating on me.
What saved me was the Light of Jesus Pastoral Care Center —their
Facebook post suddenly popped up in my head. I thought, baka kailangan ko lang ng
kausap.
I dialed their hotline. A friendly voice came on the line and helped me get
over my suicidal tendency.
Away from my family, I realized that all I needed was someone to talk to,
someone to listen to me.
Growing Up
Kami ‘yung pamilyang
laman ng simbahan. My mom,
Emeteria, brought us up, her
children — Kuya Ryan, Kuya
Rhene and me as church
servants. From elementary
through high school, I served
in various ministries from
being an altar server, lector/
commentator and the leader of
the Rosary brigade both in our
local parish and in our school
in Cagayan de Oro City.
In short, serving
God was part of my regular
schedule. Eventually, however,
I failed to see the reason I do
such and I grew tired of it.
▲ Rina Piquero from CDO says, “I’ve
searched high and low before, but I forgot the
most important thing – to search with Him.”
Going Astray
Entering college at the Xavier University — Ateneo de Cagayan, I got
exposed to various influences. In an attempt to understand my faith, I secretly
joined other churches.
With my spiritual debacle, I experienced chaos internally. And then
externally. Our family experienced a tragedy. Dad suffered a heart attack. He
needed a bypass surgery at a time when my brother’s and his wife’s businesses
were not doing well and I just started working. Suddenly, we had money
problems.
One time as our family said grace over meals in the hospital, Mama
noticed me not making the sign of the cross. “Are you not Catholic anymore?”
She asked.
Hearing those words, I felt judged and mocked. I wanted to reply “How
can I express the faith that I couldn’t understand by making the sign of the
cross?” But I held back.
With all these happening, I found refuge in the arms of my boyfriend — a
pastor’s son. My life revolved around him.
I entered a new world without my family knowing it. We became
intimate. We did heavy drinking and partying. The relationship was intoxicating.
A Roller Coaster Ride
By December 2017, back home in CDO, I got the shock of my life when
I found out about my boyfriend’s infidelity. Devastated, I broke off with him.
He tried to woo me back — stalking and begging me to get back with
him — but immersed with the Feast teachings, I resisted. Those encounters were
messy and full of drama. It affected my work performance, so I decided to leave
the city.
I prayed and things just fell into place.
New Year, New Life
In January this year, I found a job at an Australian accounting firm in
Mandaluyong. The best part of moving to Manila is being part of Bro. Bo’s
spiritual community. In March, I joined the Love Life Retreat (LLR) Batch 2 and
was later given the chance to speak onstage at The Feast to invite singles for the
next batch.
I even posted about it on my social media account. My friend Nova
commented, “Look at you now, the one bearing fruit, inviting others to go to
God as I did to you.” To which, I could only mutter, thank God.
The Lord also surrounded me with great people — my Light Group (LG)
sisters and friends at work — another answered prayer.
At work, I like sharing with my colleagues The Feast teachings. I also
introduced them to the He Cares Mission, a home for street children, one of the
mercy ministries of our spiritual community. Now, our company is sponsoring 44
street children. We do volunteer work there every month.
A Big Thank You
I used to think I can do everything on my own. Akala ko, hawak ko lahat.
Ngayon, naisip ko, ang liit pala ng kamay ko. Di ko pala kaya kung ako lang. It’s better to
hold hands with God.
Thanks to the people He sent me to be my lifeline — starting with Mama
and my family. Mama, thank you for bringing me up the way you did. Your
efforts bore fruits. I may have gone astray but I found my way back because from
the very start, you taught me Whom to cling to.
Thank you to my friends, my LG sisters and the people behind the LOJ
Pastoral Care Center for making me feel loved and accepted.
continued from page 1
Need an advice or just a listening ear? Call up the LOJ
Pastoral Care Center, a support group for people in crisis.
Their new numbers are 87260267, 87266728, 87264709 and
0923-1323071.
PERSONAL REFLECTION AND GROUP DISCUSSION:
• Can you explain in your own words how God sacrificed Himself in the Incarnation?
• Will this deeper understanding affect the way you sacrifice your life for God?
Finding The Feast
Stationed in our head offce in Taguig, we had to make do with a longdistance
relationship. It was also the time I came to know about the Sunday
prayer event at PICC. My colleague Nova Fajardo, a colleague, invited me.
Through the God Mythology talk of Bro. Bo Sanchez, The Feast founder,
I received this message: “God doesn’t want to punish you.” Tears streamed down my
face. It felt good to hear that. I felt like a heavy burden was lifted off me. That
started my Feast habit, whether on-site or online.

RECAP
Homily
The Gospel According to Matthew 3:1-12 //
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
“Every day,
God offers
you the gift
of peace.”
For us to have peace on earth —in our family,
community, country and in the world, as the song goes,
let it begin with me. Let it begin with you.
Talk
MATTHEW
Talk 2: Birth of a King
Big Message:
You are part of God’s story.
“The real superheroes
of The Feast are the
servants.”
Bro. Audee Villaraza
Library of Books. That’s the literal meaning
of the Bible or Biblia. This Holy Book has many
different books with stories. Each story is connected
to another story, but the climax is Jesus Himself.
Genealogy of Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel starts by
identifying the ancestors of the Messiah but with a
few names skipped.
The names of the ancestors of Jesus are
divided in three sections of 14 generations; 14 being
a meaningful number to the Jews. The number 7
symbolizes perfection while 14, spiritual perfection.
Jesus’ lineage is a picture of the grandness, and
thus, sends the message that the Messiah has finally
come.
Women Power. Five of the names in Christ’s
genealogy are women; three of them —Tamar,
Rahab and the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba) with
questionable or dirty past.
tWhat does this tell us? That God loves us all
—despite our flaws — and that He came to save us.
No matter how dirty we are, we are included in His
lineage. Jesus is the climax of this beautiful story and
we are next in line.
▲ Children from the He Cares Mission, one of the mercy ministries of the Light of Jesus
Family, perform for the Feasters.
“
”
Bro. Audee Villaraza
You are God’s hero.
Dear Lord, You say I am Your
hero, and so, I say I am grateful
to play a part in what You’re
doing in this world. While I have
breath, while I have life, I will do my
best. I am going to do this job with all
my heart, with all my soul. Use me,
Jesus to build Your kingdom. Amen.
God’s Rep. When you fear that you are not enough
– for your family, friends and other people around
you – remember that Jesus’ genealogy doesn’t end
with Him. It continues through us, as God’s children,
representing Him here on Earth. Because we are all part
of His story.

ENHANCE YOUR
FEAST PICC AM EXPERIENCE
THE FEAST BAY AREA LEADERS
Builders: Bo Sanchez, Alvin Barcelona
and Audee Villaraza
Council Heads: Loie Alaba, Tine Duran,
Jhay and Lhei Jatap, Edwin and Rezza Soriano
THE FEAST BULLETIN STAFF
Media Head: Anne Sanchez
Editor in Chief: Rhoda Osalvo
Managing Editors: Zelle Flora, Meg Gonzales
Associate Editor: Anna Galura
Editorial Assistant: Jerica Severino
Writers: Imy Eulin, Jen Go
Chief Photographer: Jayr Purisima
Asst. Chief Photographer: Cherrie Bansale
Photographers: Trey Bagatsing
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