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.
3/21/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 21, 2021March 21, 2021 – Sunday
Gospel: John 12:20-33 Grain of wheat “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” In life, there are things in us that needs to die for new things to grow. Think about what you are complaining mostly about that is missing in our life, or in your family relationships or at work. Instead of thinking the problem is them, try to look within you first. What is it in you that needs to die first so that you can contribute to providing what is missing. Sometimes the memory we hold of a mistake of another is what really needs to die so that we can begin to trust the other again and believe that we all make mistakes but we all are never the same too, we are always new, so who are we not to give the other the benefit of the doubt? #PrayVD
3/20/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 20, 2021March 20, 2021 – Saturday
Gospel: John 7:40-53 Arguments and division In the gospel, the Jews are arguing about Jesus as the prophet. They have so many ideas and positions if Jesus can be considered a prophet based on the place where he came from. Then, Nicodemus stood up saying, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” However, he received the same opposition from the people arguing about Jesus coming from Galilee. We might also find ourselves in a world filled with conflicts and arguments. Be it in the face to face encounters or digital encounters, do we take time to reflect and think first before we speak our mind, before we hit “send”. It is ok to disagree with someone but when we speak, is it to hurt or to heal? To destroy or to build up? Mother Mary, help us to speak the truth in love. Amen. #PrayVD
3/19/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 19, 2021March 19, 2021 – Friday
Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a St. Joseph, model of obedience Today we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The gospel recounted the birth of Jesus to Mary and Joseph. After knowing Mary’s situation, Joseph as a righteous man divorced her quietly. But an angel came before his dream and said to him “Do not be afraid!” and the rest is history as we all know. Joseph is an obedient man who followed what the angel of the Lord commanded him. He entrusted his own life to the Father’s will. Today, we are invited to be inspired by St. Joseph’s total obedience and trust. Mother Mary, inspire us to imitate the life of St. Joseph by continuously being open to God’s mercy and grace. Amen. #PrayVD
3/18/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 18, 2021March 18, 2021 – Thursday
Gospel: John 5:31-47 Jesus, the living testimony of the Word In the gospel today, Jesus was trying to address those who did not believe in Him as the son of God despite the many works that he has performed that by themselves prove He was sent by the Father if only they had eyes to see. In our prayer today, what would Jesus be telling you? “But you do not want to come to me to have life.” Or , “I know that you do not have the love of God in you.” Pretty strong words to hear right? But sometimes this is our reality. Even if we have been abundantly sustained by God’s mercy, we fail to believe that in truth, He has never stopped sending us His LOVE, his providence, every grace we need to live each day. We still believe in the lie that we are unloved. Open your eyes, God loves you. #PrayVD
3/17/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 17, 2021March 17, 2021 – Wednesday
Gospel: John 5:17-30 Like Father, Like Son In our gospel, it describes how close the relationship of the Son to the Father is and how the Son is obedient and trusting to the Father’s will. Jesus said, “I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” It takes great faith and trust to be able to say this. When things get rough, painful, and we have a lot at stake, it is not so easy to ask for God’s will. We forget that his will is always the best. We get tempted to pray hard for what we want and not for what God wants. But God knows our weakness and that’s why today, He simply asks us to pause for a moment and allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith in His will and learn to ask for it because we trust it. #PrayVD
3/16/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 16, 2021March 16, 2021 – Tuesday
Gospel: John 5:1-16 Sabbath As we journey towards Jesus’ passion, we see clearly in this gospel how the Jews were starting to build their case against Jesus. Here we see Jesus, healing a man on a Sabbath, asking him to pick up his mat which would be contrary to their Jewish tradition on the Sabbath. Giving them reason to hate him. But at the same time, actually, it is Jesus building a CASE for us and really trying to PROVE A POINT: We see Jesus, breaking the rules of man to show us the that the law of God, the law of love will always be more supreme. Jesus is showing us, “Don’t get caught up following rules for the sake of following it. Follow Christ. Follow His Heart. Let His LOVE decide.” When was the last time you let God’s LOVE decide how you should treat another person instead of letting your own “rules” decide? #PrayVD
3/15/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 15, 2021March 15, 2021 – Monday
Gospel: John 4:43-54 The Second Sign In the gospel, it was said that Jesus turned water into wine in Cana (the first sign). And when Jesus arrived at Galilee, a royal official asked Him to come down and heal his son. Then, Jesus responded that people need to see signs for them to believe. Jesus gave his word to the royal official that his son will be healed, and indeed it happened. Jesus and his life-giving words is the visible, tangible “sign” that we will ever need to cast away our fears, anxieties and worries in life that sometimes distract us from believing we have a God so close and near us and loves us infinitely. #PrayVD
3/14/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 14, 2021March 14, 2021 Sunday
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world” In this season of lent where we prepare ourselves for Easter, we are invited to offer sacrifices through spending more time in prayer, giving alms to our poor brothers and sister, practicing self-control through fasting, etc. Today’s gospel reading is a good reminder for us as we partake in the celebration of lent, may it not just be a season of that lent is more than just a season of obligation to make sacrifices, but more importantly it’s a to make space for relationship with Christ to grow deeper and to know more about Him as we journey with Him towards his resurrection. May we remember more to our heart the love behind these sacrifices. Dearest Father, we are grateful for this opportunity celebrate Lenten season. May our prayer, fasting and alms giving be a response to your love for us, as you have loved us first. Amen. #PrayVD
3/13/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 13, 2021March 13, 2021 Saturday
Luke 18:9-14 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” In the gospel, we are shown two different ways people pray.. one is a prayer that is focused on one’s self and the other one is a prayed that is more focused on God Himself. Perhaps, in this season of lent, we can take a moment to examine our own conversations with God. How has been my prayers lately? What do I bring God in my prayer? Does my prayer bring glory and honor to the Father? Or is it my own honor and glory that I seek in prayer? Dearest Father, help us refocus our prayer in you and you alone. As we go to you in prayer, may we have the humility to recognize how great you are and your power over our own weaknesses. Amen. #PrayVD
3/12/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 12, 2021March 12, 2021 Friday
Mark 12:28-34 "You are not far from the Kingdom of God" Jesus, in today's gospel, shares with us the two greatest commandments for us to enter the God's Kingdom --- to "love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength" and to "love your neighbor as yourself." Through these two commandments, Jesus teaches us to simplify. Our journey towards eternity need not to be very complicated with the long list of do’s and don’ts. It’s so easy for us to get overwhelmed with these that we forgot the real essence of why we do or not do such things, which is love. Dearest Jesus, thank you for reminding us of the ultimate purpose of our being and that is to love. May loving you and loving others be the highest goal in everything that we say and do. Amen. #PrayVD |
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