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.
1/12/2021
Daily Guidelines: January 12, 2021January 12, 2021 – Tuesday
Mark 1:21-28 “I know who you are, The Holy One of God” Even the evil spirit recognized Jesus as He was ordering it out of a possessed man. As we deepen, renew and give honor to our relationship with Jesus, we give Him recognition and make Him our model to be good children of God. As we follow Him , the only Begotten Son, we become heirs to the Kingdom of God. We are aware of our limitations and are unable to save ourselves, we thus seek to be mindful of our need to cling to Him and be concerned with others. This consciousness of being a child of God, gives us the peace and serenity to keep us joyful the whole day, while serving others. It’s going beyond ourselves and our daily needs. Not only are we fishers of men, we are sowers of joy “For the joy of the Lord is our strength.” #PrayVD
1/11/2021
Daily Guidelines: January 11, 2021January 11, 2021 – Monday
Mark 1:14-20 “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” Just like the first Apostles, they were called in their daily work, doing ordinary work: open, down-to-earth people, adaptable, used to hard work, The timing as just right for them, their hearts were open at the perfect time. They responded without thinking of consequences, they left their work, no calculations, no thinking twice. From then on, Christ became the center of their lives. We, in the same manner, may be called in the middle of whatever/ wherever we are: businessmen , housewives, students, teachers etc. And be fishers of men. He will mold us, erase our doubts, give us the tools, wisdom and knowledge, Once we take on his challenge, He becomes the center the everything we do. We hold on to His promises in our daily chores. Let us remind ourselves through our daily prayer, Mass and Rosary of how deep our relationship can be with Jesus and Mary. #PrayVD
1/10/2021
Daily Guidelines: January 10, 2021January 10, 2021 – Sunday
Gospel: Mk 1:7-11 I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. As we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday, John invites us to continue being a witness of Jesus’ life moments by seeking Him in all ways in our life moments especially when we feel lost, in pain or in conflict, etc. The Holy Spirit will be with us when we seek Jesus’ ways and when we open our hearts to Jesus’ words. Holy Spirit, we pray for an open heart so we can receive the light, hope and faith we need in the situations we are carrying. Amen. #PrayVD January 9, 2021 – Saturday
Gospel: Jn 3:22-30 He must increase; I must decrease. Now that we have already prepared the way of Jesus in our hearts the past Christmas season, where he was born in the many situations we are in, are we still joyful at the end? Is our joy complete like John? Today we are invited to decrease our pride and selfish intentions, so Jesus presence can continue to increase in our life. Mother Mary, we ask for your guidance to increase Jesus presence in our hearts with joy and enthusiasm, praying for renewal in our minds and in our hearts. Amen. #PrayVD January 8, 2021 – Friday
Gospel: Lk 5:12-16 Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean. A man with a leprosy saw Jesus and pleaded Him saying “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Without hesitation, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched the man. The leprosy man left him immediately. Were you also struck with how the leprosy man asked Jesus to heal him? He included words, “if you wish”. He thinks that Jesus has the option to reject him and choose not to heal him. Today, Jesus is reminding us of his equal and selfless love to everyone. He loves everyone regardless of who is good or bad, despite who is sinful and those who claim to be not. Holy Trinity, we pray for our own personal heart, that it may always think of the purest intentions just like how you are selfless to everyone who is in need. We pray for the strength to carry on this task as your beloved children here on Earth. Amen. #PrayVD January 7, 2021 – Thursday
Gospel: Lk 4:14-22 Proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord! Jesus came to Nazareth and read a scroll with a passage written on it that says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” How are you? It has been 7 days of the year 2021! Some are already back to work from home or office, in the streets or hospitals being a frontliner or just back to the routine that we are doing. Whatever it is you are doing right now; Jesus is telling us “proclaim this year acceptable to the Lord!”. For he said in the gospel, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Holy Trinity, we pray earnestly with a joyful heart and warm acceptance of this amazing prophecy: that this year will be an amazing and gracious year to all of us. May we remain faithful and steadfast in life and in love as we journey with You. Amen. #PrayVD January 6, 2021 – Wednesday
Gospel: Mk 6:45-52 Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid! After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and went off to a mountain and pray. The boat was tossed, and Jesus meant to pass with them. He was walking on the sea towards the disciples, but they all got terrified by the sight of Jesus. Today, Jesus invites us to trust in Him fully. Trust in his words, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” Trust in all circumstances and in all the situations that we are asking for Him in prayer. Let our hearts be open to his loving words in the scripture. Mother Mary may our hearts not be hardened like the disciples; we pray for a heart that is open to the graces of the Lord. May we have the courage to ask for His guidance in the current situation we are living in. Amen. #PrayVD January 5, 2021 – Tuesday
Gospel: Mk 6:34-44 How many loaves do you have? Go and see. Most of us are familiar with the gospel today which is about “Multiplication of the Bread and 2 Fishes”. I have read this gospel so many times that I wonder if it will ever have a new meaning to me. Today, I wanted to focus on the response of Jesus to the disciples who told Him to dismiss the crowds. Jesus asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” At this moment, we can reflect on the past and current blessings that we received from God. Was it overflowing, non-stop and amazing blessings? Jesus is inviting us today to pray, go and see with a grateful heart all the good tidings we received from the Father and how we can continue sharing this to the “crowds” we encounter everyday. Mother Mary, we pray for the grace and a selfless heart to share the blessings that we received despite the pandemic situation we are in. Amen. #PrayVD January 4, 2021 – Monday
Gospel: Mt 4:12-17, 23-25 The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light Jesus heard about John being arrested and he moved to Capernaum to live in the sea. With this, he might have fulfilled what the prophet had said: “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light.” Afterwards, Jesus began to preach and heal people whom he met. Today, as we move into another calendar year, we are invited to reflect on the “arisen light” that this new year has brought into us. Let the darkness of the year 2020 serve as our great lesson which we can use to preach and heal the people whom we will meet for this year 2021. Mother Mary, we pray that this year be full of hope, renewal, and healing to all of us. May we continue to walk this journey being accompanied by you, help us to be faithful in our personal relationship with your Son, Jesus. Amen. #PrayVD January 3, 2020 Sunday
Matthew 2:1-12 "Where is the newborn King of the Jews?" On this day, we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany where we remember the three wise men who were so diligent in searching for the child Jesus, going out of their way to follow the star that led them to Him. As we unite ourselves in commemorating this feast learning from the three wise men, we are invited to put on the same attitude of eagerness and enthusiasm to seek Jesus's presence in our lives. How open are we to receive Him? Do we rejoice in His presence? Dearest Jesus, thank you for always choosing to come to our hearts. Grant us the humility and openness to welcome you and receive the joy of your presence. Amen. #PrayVD |
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