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.
2/18/2021
Daily Guidelines: February 18, 2021February 18, 2021 – Thursday
Lk 9:22-25 “Take up your cross and follow me” We often think that suffering is not happiness but Jesus assures us that after the suffering there is happiness. In life, we could be suffering from different situations and decide to escape from those realities and from carrying our cross. Because of the gift of wisdom God has given to us, ignoring our cross will not resolve anything and we will be trapped on an endless cycle. In this season of lent, Jesus invites us to carry our cross. Jesus is pleased to help us and is willing to accept our burden. Let’s pick up our cross and start journeying with Jesus because He will assure us a journey full of love and happiness. Holy Spirit, grant us the wisdom and fortitude to carry our cross that will lead us closer to Jesus #PrayVD
2/17/2021
Daily Guidelines: February 17, 2021February 17, 2021 – Ash Wednesday
Mt 6:1-6,16-18 “Do it for God with love” Today we celebrate “Ash Wednesday” as we start our Lenten season in which we commemorate the suffering of Jesus for our salvation. In the gospel, Jesus speaks about the attitude of praying and doing mission out of love and not out to please others. It is a very good reminder for us on what attitude we should celebrate this season of lent. Like how Jesus endured His suffering and how prayerful and faithful He is to the Father, we are also invited to do the same thing. Let us live lent with genuine prayer and faithfulness and to give love in the measure how Jesus gave everything because of His love for us. #PrayVD
2/16/2021
Daily Guidelines: February 16, 2021February 16, 2021 – Tuesday
Mk 8:14-21 “Do you still not understand?” “Do you still not understand?”, The question Jesus asked to His disciples when they were travelling and left only with one loaf of bread. They worried that they might get hungry while travelling. Jesus recalled to them how He was able to feed the multitude when he broke the 5 loaves and they were able to receive 12 baskets full of fragments. In this gospel, Jesus assures us that He will provide everything. He will keep us nourished in following Him. It is also a reminder to us not to worry in following Jesus. Even if we are still in a pandemic, Jesus will take care of us. #PrayVD
2/15/2021
Daily Guidelines: February 15, 2021February 15, 2021 – Monday
Mk 8:11-13 “Do you seek a sign?” The gospel today reminds us of our two attitudes in following Jesus. One is like the pharisees who follow when there is a sign from the heavens. The other one is our faithful following. Jesus is inviting us to see the extraordinary in this ordinary time. Jesus is also showing us in the gospel that even though we are in this trying times, we should still get into our boat and go to the other shore in continuing our mission. Holy Spirit, grant us the gift of faith in following Jesus so that we may be able to push our boat further and continue our mission #PrayVD
2/14/2021
Daily Guidelines: February 14, 2021February 14, 2021 Sunday
Gospel: Mk 1:40-45 "I do will it. Be made clean." Whatever burdens our body, mind and spirit, let us come to Jesus with a humble heart, and with great faith and absolute trust in His mercy and power. These are winning virtues that never fail to touch the heart of God. We can be certain that in His own perfect time, and the best way He chooses, God will answer our prayers. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen #PrayVD
2/13/2021
Daily Guidelines: February 13, 2021February 13, 2021 Saturday
Gospel: Mk 8: 1-10 "Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them..." God made us for Himself. He created us to recognize His love and to love and glorify Him in return. He alone can fill that empty space in our hearts, longing for true happiness and satisfaction. He alone is the Bread of Life that satisfies. St. Pope John Paul II reminds us, "It is Jesus you seek, when nothing else satisfies you." #PrayVD
2/12/2021
Daily Guidelines: February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 Friday
Gospel: Mk 7:31-37 "He has done all things well." Jesus heals a deaf and mute man by touching his mouth with His own saliva. As in biblical times, here, Jesus breathes His own life into the man, giving him new life and restoring him to wholeness. Jesus' mission on earth is to heal and liberate us from the effects of sin caused by Adam and Eve - our first parents, the sins of others, and our own sins. Jesus provided us a way to reconcile with Him when we fall into sin - in the Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation. A truly repentant heart is not only forgiven, he is healed and repaired from the effects of sin, and his loving relationship with Jesus is restored. God's love for us is truly great! He is a God of fresh starts and makeovers, making us become more pleasing not in the eyes of the world, but His own. Mama Mary, lead us on to the right path of salvation. Amen. #PrayVD
2/11/2021
Daily Guidelines: February 11, 2021February 11, 2021 Thursday
Gospel: Mk 7:24-30 "She came and fell at his feet." The woman in the Gospel shows us the way to win Jesus' heart. She begged Jesus to heal her daughter possessed by an unclean spirit. She demonstrates her humility by falling at his feet, despite the seeming denial of Jesus at first. Because of her faith and humility, Jesus is able to work the healing that she asks for. As we celebrate today the World Day of the Sick, and the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, let us bring ourselves and those suffering from physical, psychological and spiritual ailments at the feet of Jesus. May we also imitate our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Lourdes' humble response, "Let it be done to me according to your word." Amen. #PrayVD
2/10/2021
Daily Guidelines: February 10, 2021February 10, 2021 Wednesday
Gospel: Mk 7:14-23 Things that come out from within make us unclean Jesus says, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45) What we say and do, especially in our unguarded moments, reveal what is really in our hearts. What a beautiful reminder to plant and nurture in our hearts, only those that will yield good fruits: charity, generosity, joy, gentleness, peace, faithfulness, patience, modesty, kindness, self-control, goodness, chastity. These are the fruits of the Holy Spirit that cannot flourish on our own efforts alone, because of our fallen nature. We need to humbly ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our weakness. Dear Holy Spirit, give us the grace to detach from ourselves that you may do your work with us. Amen. #PrayVD February 9, 2021 Tuesday
Gospel: Mk 7:1-13 "This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." We can do many things that can appear on the outside to be honoring God, and make us appear to be good Christians. But Jesus, the searcher of hearts, sees what's in our hearts that is not visible to others. He desires us to honor him not just with outward gestures, like going to Holy Mass, giving alms and donations, performing religious works and the like; but more than the gestures, He desires us to offer it with love and with the purest intentions. Lord Jesus, help us to say and do things each day, that measure up to what you do and say. Grant unto us a heart like yours that always desires to please our Father in heaven, not just to look good on this earth. Amen. #PrayVD |
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August 2021
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