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.
5/9/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 – Wednesday
Jn 16:12-15 I Declare It To YouIn today’s Gospel reading, Jesus reveals in some way the unpreparedness of his disciples to receive all that he has to reveal. But when the Spirit comes then he will guide them to all truth. The Spirit will witness to the truth, he will speak what he hears from God and will declare the things that are coming. The Spirit will take everything Jesus has and declare it to them.
Jesus is telling us that He will send the spirit to us as a gift. Through the Spirit we will know the truth, we will be able to hear what God is saying to us, and we will be able to know the things that are coming. The Spirit is a very precious gift from God for he is our guide in our journey of life and prayer. Jesus is inviting us to receive the Spirit for he will speak the word of God to us. The Spirit is a gift so we can understand what God is saying in every moment of our lives. The Spirit will help us in preaching the word of God and so helping many others understand God’s message for them.
5/8/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 – Tuesday
Jn 16:5-11 Where are you going?Jesus said to His disciples that he is now going to the one who sent Him and no one asks him where is He going. He said also that he has to go so that he can send the Spirit to the disciples.
The disciples didn’t ask Jesus where he will go for they trust Jesus and have no need to question him about anything . . . they just put their Faith in him. Jesus is also inviting us to listen to him and put our faith in him and not question what he says to us. In the gospel the line “Where are you going?” is mentioned. Jesus knows where he is going and the purpose of it: to send the Spirit to us, his disciples. How about you? Do you know where you are going? Jesus is inviting us to listen to what He is saying to us for He speaks the truth. Jesus is also inviting us to go on the places where He is sending us and bring there the Spirit of truth.
5/7/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 7, 2018May 7, 2018 – Monday
Jn 15:26 – 16:4A You will not fall awayJesus said to His disciples that he would send them the spirit of truth. He told them this so that they would not fall away when the hour of persecution came. Then he explains that those who persecute them don’t know either Jesus or God the Father--persecution is the fruit of ignorance, it is therefore an opportunity to testify!
We have a reason to be confident even when facing persecution for He has been with us from the beginning. We should not be afraid to testify Jesus to the world for we know the truth. Let this truth be spread to people who ignore Jesus and the Father. Jesus is inviting us to spread the truth and let the people who don’t know him experience His love through us. Let us be confident in this task, for the spirit of truth is within us.
5/6/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 6, 2018May 6, Sunday
Gospel - John 15: 9-17 ”I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.”The movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” tells the story of Chris Gardner, who for love of his son, endured many trials before he finally landed a job to provide for his son. It was then he declared he found happiness.
All of us seek happiness in one form or another. Like Chris, we would go to great lengths to obtain it. Today Christ tell us the secret to finding real happiness: to love one another and to abide in His love. Love is patient and kind, forgives and bears no grudges, is generous and thinks of the welfare of the others. Love believes in the eternal and makes all things possible. That’s why, despite facing the cross, Jesus is joyful. To love like Christ is to have happiness that is complete and does not fade. That is called joy. Lord, help us to love courageously and to abide in Your love. Help us to find true joy.
5/4/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 4, 2018May 4, Friday
Gospel - John 15:12-17 ”No longer do I call you servants... instead I call you friends.”I find it interesting seeing how people react whenever a famous person is around. In the age of the smartphone, it's not enough to just get an autograph. We have to get a selfie! This is about as close as we are going to get with that person. What are the chances he or she will ever regard us as a friend or even get to know our name?
But today Jesus calls us his friends. He does know our names and more besides. He knows every bit of us, our whole lives, what we are doing, the thoughts that we keep, the feelings in our hearts. In short, like a true friend, He knows us in all our imperfections and yet He loves us. It is this kind of humble, self-giving love which changes the world. It is this kind of abiding and unconditional friendship which changes our lives. Today, let us ask the Lord with great gratitude, “How is it possible for You to love me so much, Lord?” Let His answer touch our hearts and bring back the sense of wonder of just how big His love really is.
5/3/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 3, 2018May 3, Thursday
Gospel - John 14:6-14 ”Lord show us the Father and we will be satisfied.”What is the greatest thing we can aim for in this life? Today Philip’s response tells us the best possible answer: “Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied.”
This is the greatest thing to aim for – to know and love God. Every other desire is meaningless and pales in comparison to this and Philip understood it. That which we desire defines who we are. So, if we desire only temporary things, then our satisfaction becomes temporary. Even the desire to become a better person, while certainly more admirable than the first kind of desire, is momentary and fleeting because none of us will live forever. But the desire of the everlasting God inclines us to eternity. And the best part is this. Jesus tells Philip that those who have seen Him have seen the Father. In other words, it is not that hard to find God if you seek Him. Knowing Jesus is the fulfillment of the greatest desire of all, the one that truly satisfies--knowing God himself.
5/2/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 2, 2018May 2, Wednesday
Gospel - John 15:1-8 “Apart from me, you can do nothing”If you happen to walk in a forest, it's likely that you will see many fallen branches along your path. Once the branches are cut off from the tree, what little life they have seeps away very quickly. But if they remain connected to the tree, they are strong and can bear much weight without giving way.
We could sometimes feel like those fallen branches and many things can cause us to break off. Our crosses, our struggles, our inadequacies, even our own missions, can become burdens so heavy they can weigh us down. In these moments, Christ reminds us to hold on. He sees our difficulties and sufferings and promises us that, so long as we hold on, we will bear fruit regardless of whatever obstacle we face. Lord, we thank You for being our life-giving vine, for being the strength in our limbs and the breath in our bodies. Help us to rely on you and cling to you so that we can bear fruit for the Kingdom.
5/1/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 1, 2018May 1, Tuesday
Gospel-John 14: 27-31 ”Rise, let us go hence.”Have there been times in your life when you received really bad news? You or your family member was diagnosed with a severe illness. Or the company you are working for is closing down and you’re about to lose your job. The natural reaction would be fear, anger, anxiety, confusion – but certainly not peace!
And yet today, Jesus assures His disciples that peace is to be found, despite the direst of news. How is it that we can face tough times without letting our hearts be troubled, or being afraid? Only by the grace of Jesus can we do this. Only by acknowledging that His peace is with us, and this peace is greater than our frail human hearts. And when we hold on to this peace, we find the strength to “rise and go hence”, to meet the danger with courage, to face the seemingly insurmountable obstacle with a deep faith. Jesus’ peace does not make the obstacle go away. But what Jesus’ peace does is to make our fear go away and give us the courage to stand. Lord, give us Your peace today. There is much that troubles and worries us but we know that Your peace gives us comfort and strength. Help us to remember that You are with us always, and that Your presence is the greatest peace of all. |
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