Reflections of Faith
Read and be inspired by a reflection based on today's Gospel made by members of the Verbum Dei Family in Manila.
6/20/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 20, 2020June 20, 2020 Saturday
Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Lk 2:41-51 “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” In today’s Gospel, we see the image of the child Jesus who as young as he was, already understood the beauty of staying in his Father’s house. With the current situation we have where we can’t freely spend time inside the churches, Jesus is inviting us to be the local church to our own families and communities. Let us ask Jesus for wisdom and strength so that the House of the Father can be felt by the people around us and those he entrusted us with. Mother Mary, pray for us so that when we’re lost, you’ll find is in the House of the Father too. #PrayVD
6/19/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 19, 2020June 19, 2020 Friday
Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 1 Jn 4:7-16 Beloved, let us love one another As we celebrate the Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus today, we are invited to learn from the heart of Christ how in our current reality we can become instruments of Love. Today, let us look beyond ourselves and find the people who Jesus wishes to put in our hearts. Let us carry them in our prayers today as we begin to understand how to use our hearts for the glorification of God. Mother Mary, pray for us as we learn how to love another. #PrayVD
6/18/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 18, 2020June 18, 2020 Thursday
Mt 6: 7-15 If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your father in Heaven will also forgive you When you pray, how often do you think of those people who have wronged you? In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to truly pray – to forgive first the wrongs others have done to us as we ask for forgiveness for the wrongs we have done. Jesus is inviting you today to bring in prayer not just your sins, but the sins of other people which have affected you in any way. Pray for them and pray for yourself as you find in your heart how to truly forgive these people. Holy Spirit, please give us the courage to forgive. #PrayVD
6/17/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 Wednesday
Mt 6: 1-6; 16-18 And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that our image in the eyes of The Father is the only image we should truly care about – not our image in school, in work, nor in our community. So, the next time that you do something good, be certain that you do it for the Lord, not for your own satisfaction nor for the people around you. Let’s do it for the glory and the eyes of God. Because after all, who we are in The Father’s eyes is who we truly are. Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. #PrayVD
6/16/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 Tuesday
Mt 5:43-48 Love your enemies Do you love your enemies? Because Jesus in the Gospel today says that in order that you may become the children of your Father in heaven, you should love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Once again, Jesus wants to tell us that who we are inside shall not be changed by those around us on the outside. Meaning, you are a child of God – a child of Love. And the love inside you shall still be there – available for EVERYONE including your enemies. Because that’s who a child of God is. Mother Mary, pray for us so we will more understand the beauty of being the children of God. #PrayVD
6/15/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 15, 2020June 15, 2020 Monday
Mt 5:38-42 Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too.” In our lives on earth, this teaching may seem too hard to accept and practice. But even in the world of today, Jesus wants to be concretely present. And the truth is, he can be – if we continue to give only what is good, regardless of what we receive prior or in return. Because that’s what living according to The Truth is about, this way of life is according to according to Life himself. May we not be afraid to seek and be Jesus in the ways we live. Mother Mary, pray for your children. #PrayVD
6/14/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 14, 2020June 14, 2020 Sunday
John 6:51-58 He who eats my flesh has eternal life Most people love bread. There is something very satisfying and nourishing whenever one eats bread. Sometimes it is so satisfying that some feels they will never be hungry again! Of course, you will get physically hungry again. But it is possible to never get hungry spiritually and this is when we accept Jesus as our Bread of Life. He nourishes us with faith, hope and love. He fills us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, whatever spiritual hunger we feel – despair, anxiety, doubt, jealousy, anger, and many others – we will find in Jesus and in His love the food that will take away that spiritual hunger. We need to turn to Him during these moments of hunger because sometimes we go somewhere else to find our nourishment. We try to feed ourselves with enjoyment, hobbies, and other wordly things. But these are like physical bread which only temporarily addresses our hunger. Lord, remind us always to turn to you as our Bread of Life! Thank you for your generous self-giving so that we may gain abundant lives. #PrayVD
6/13/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 13, 2020June 13, 2020 Saturday
Matt 5:33-37 Let what you say simply be yes or no. Commitment is not easy because it takes perseverance and determination to be true to what you say and to do what you say you are going to do. Jesus invites us today to consider carefully what and who we commit our actions and lives to. When we do so, we are prepared to stand by it through difficulties or trials. Then our Yes becomes a true Yes. But it is also important to understand what we say No to. We have to say no to sin and to evil and to also stand by that decision. But we are encouraged by the fact that Jesus stands beside us when we make our decisions in prayer. Let us lift up to the Lord in prayer, all that we are committed to do in these days. #PrayVD
6/12/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 12, 2020June 12, 2020 Friday
Matt 5:27-32 It is better that you lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. Today we celebrate Independence Day in the Philippines and appropriately Jesus talks to us today about freedom from sin. Similar to when a country is enslaved by another, sin makes slaves of us and diminishes our capability to become able disciples. Our Lord invites us today to examine what parts of our life sin is holding captive and to break free from it. No, we don't literally have to cut off our right hand or mouth or eye! But that we are to hold our whole selves captive to the love and mercy of Jesus so that we can strive not to sin anymore. Lord Jesus, help us to be aware of the sins in our lives that enslave us. Set us free by your grace and mercy! #PrayVD
6/11/2020
Daily Guidelines: June 11, 2020June 11, 2020 Thursday
Matt 5:20-26 Be reconciled with your brother, and then offer your gift at the altar What is the right sacrifice or offering in the eyes of God? I recall a priest saying in his homily once, "if you have a sick relative who needs to be brought to the hospital on a Sunday, by all means do so even if it may mean having to miss the Eucharist." In the same way, Jesus is telling us that, without love for others, any sacrifice or sacrament is compromised in the eyes of God. Our external actions and our participation in the activities in our community and churches must be preceded by mercy and forgiveness in the same way that God told Israel to "rend their hearts and not their garments". Lord help us to discern and always understand what you really desire from us and help us to love others as you love them. #PrayVD |
Archives
August 2021
CategoriesAll Daily Guidelines Reflections On The Word Of God School Of The Word Thoughts From A Disciple |