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.
2/3/2018
Daily Guidelines: Feb. 3, 2018Come Away and Rest with MeFebruary 3, 2018 – Saturday Mk 6:30–34 In our gospel, the disciples of Jesus have been working very hard and Jesus invited them to stay for a while and have some rest. A lot of people were following them... a large crowd coming and going just to see and hear Jesus' preaching.
In our own way, we are not so different from the disciples of Jesus. We work every day. We study. We deal with a lot of people: family, friends, colleagues, people in the streets, etc. Many times these people seek to be nourished by Jesus through our lives--a piece of advice, a prayer... Jesus knows that we need time to rest and recharge. Through what? Prayer is the key to the rest that we have been longing for. Jesus is inviting us to come away and rest together with him in prayer. Let us take some moments to rest and dialogue with Him. Share to Him how you want to start this day and how things have ended yesterday. Ask for the grace to receive the nourishment you need in order to feed the many hungry hearts that he will place in front of you today.
2/2/2018
Daily Guidelines: Feb. 2, 2018Jesus is Presented to UsFebruary 2, 2018 – Friday Lk 2:22-40 Simeon, a righteous and devout man was waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was within Him and revealed to him that he would see the Lord’s Messiah before he died. Moved by this promise, he went to the temple courts to see Jesus.
In the gospel, we are reminded by the canticle of Simeon about the consolation of Israel. It is also the invitation for us to think of the consolation of our world today. To be aware of the disappointments, sufferings and so many situations in our world today that need God's consolation. Like Simeon the Holy Spirit is within us, and He will guide and move us to see Jesus in our world today--seek for Him and go wherever He wants us to go to proclaim his consolation and share the good news of salvation. We are blessed to have the Holy Spirit within us. Let us allow Him move us and bring consolation to the world through Jesus.
2/1/2018
Daily Guidelines: Feb. 1, 2018Be Simple, Be JesusFebruary 01, 2018 – Thursday Mk 6:7-13 In the gospel, Jesus instructed his disciples to bring nothing but walking sticks and wear sandals only. These gestures are signs of the simple life that Jesus wants his disciples to live.
Moreover, he told them this, “Whatever place that does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them." In this modern and extravagant world we're living, we are enticed by a lavish and comfortable life. There is a lot happening in our society today--big changes and trends in big and small things that seem to be important. The gospel invites us to be simple like Jesus, and walk with the changes happening in our lives without changing the essential: living the words that we have received from Him. Let us pray that our lives be a simple yet great witness to other people who do not know God. Let us not persecute them rather, as disciples of Jesus, attract them by the simplicity and beauty of the gospel. Let us ask Him the grace to be humble and simple in our own ways today.
1/31/2018
Daily Guidelines: Jan. 31, 2018Proclaim Jesus MoreJanuary 31, 2018 – Wednesday Mk 6:1-6 In the previous days, we have witnessed how great and powerful Jesus is. Yet, in today's gospel people in his own town are doubting Jesus despite all the deeds He has done. They didn’t give Him any honor despite showing mighty deeds and exceptional wisdom. They simply do not believe.
As true hearers and believers of the gospel who have witnessed how great God is, we appreciate, are amazed, and give honor to everything God has done for us. The call for us is to reach people who are blinded by the trials and challenges of life helping them realize that, despite all the challenges they are encountering, God loves them, God is blessing them, God wants to talk to them in prayer, God wants to touch their hearts and make them believe in Him. Spread God’s greatness by being a testimony, by preaching the word of God and by living what you preach.
1/30/2018
Daily Guidelines - Jan. 30, 2018Just Have FaithJanuary 30, 2018 – Tuesday
Mk 5:21-43 Jesus in the gospel did miracles, miracles that is because of faith. The woman whose sickness cannot be cured by many doctors was healed when he touched Jesus’ robe despite the crowd pressing upon Jesus she still went through and touched Jesus. On the other hand, the synagogue’s daughter has died and Jesus made that little girl walk again.
The gospel is telling us to have faith. The pressing crowd signifies the challenges we are encountering in life, it may be personal challenges, spiritual challenges, or more and there are times that those challenges are pressing us really hard. We might feel that we all the possible cure doesn’t work anymore but always remember that there is still Jesus waiting to be touched at the end of the crowd. When Jesus made the little girl walk again from death, it tells us that in life even if the chance is already 0% or everything is dead, a little faith will turn everything. The gospel is telling us how great a faith can do, we as the hearer of this gospel have witnessed how great Jesus is so the invitation is to spread the faith we have in our heart.
1/29/2018
Daily Guidelines - 1/29/2018Jesus HealsJanuary 29, 2018 – Monday Mk 5:1-20 In the gospel, Jesus encountered a man who is possessed by a demon. That man cannot be restrained by any means that no one is strong enough to subdue the possessed man. That man is crying out and bruising himself with stone but it is Jesus who was the one to drive the demon away.
Sometimes in our life, we might encounter people who are possessed by demon in a way that in life they are losing hope, they feel down, they underestimate their self-worth or they lost their identity. Sometimes, we might encounter ourselves being possessed in the same way. The invitation of the gospel is that even if we see ourselves or other people hopeless, down, underestimating their worth or have lost their identity; remember that Jesus is there to drive those things out. We as followers of Christ are carrying Jesus in our hearts wherever we go, we are called to bring hope, to help the people who are down to stand, to trust the worth of people who are underestimating their worth, and to bring back the identity of those who are lost and tell them that they are blessed because God has pitied them. Power and AuthorityJanuary 9, 2018 (Tuesday) Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 “I have given you authority to trample all snakes and scorpions. And to overcome all the power of the enemy.” (c.f. Lk 10:19)
This gospel shows the beginning of Jesus ministry. With his group of disciples they went to Capernaum. On Sabbath day he went into the synagogue and began to teach . People were amazed with his teaching because he spoke with real authority. Also, Jesus demonstrated his power and authority over demons and diseases. What did Jesus do to kick-off his mission? He seize the opportunity to worship and teach at the Synagogue . Then cast out demons! His power comes through prayer (Mark1:35) and dependence on the Holy Spirit. As he has done , Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew28:18) Then he delegated his authority to the church saying “go and make disciples of all nation” (Matthew28:18). Then he promised “ and these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME.” In my name! In the name of Jesus ! The power power and authority in the name of Jesus is here! It is yours to accept . Do you believe this? #VDGuidelines “Freedom is possible – if only we would try …”Spiritual reflection for day against human trafficking By Fr James McTavish, Verbum Dei missionaries, Manila There is a well-known film called “Braveheart.” It is set in Scotland and the main character, a warrior named William Wallace, has a famous battle cry “Freedom!” This is a desire in all human hearts, to be free. However, the reality today is that many are not free. We have more people now in slavery than ever before in human history. This is the reality of human trafficking, which is a form of “modern slavery.” Are you aware of the number of persons estimated to be trafficked each year? It is estimated that 36 million people were trafficked in 2016. Human trafficking is now a 32 billion dollar industry, running third behind arms and drug trafficking. Fifty-one percent of the victims are women, 21 percent are men, 20 percent girls and 8 percent boys.” (Source: see Archbishop Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Address to “The Holy See and the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” Inaugural Lecture of the Casamarca Foundation Chair in Migration and Globalization at Fordham University, Flom Auditorium, Walsh Library, Fordham University, Bronx, February 23., 2017).
Listen to the preaching of James McTavish, a Verbum Dei missionary priest during the School of the Word (SoW) reflecting on the readings of the 20th Sunday in ordinary time.
Below is the powerpoint presentation during the preaching:
James is a Scottish missionary priest with the Fraternidad Misionera Verbum Dei.
Now assigned in Manila, he has been in the Philippines for 14 years.
Listen to the preaching of James McTavish, a Verbum Dei missionary priest during the School of the Word (SoW) reflecting on the readings of this Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 on the Transfiguration.
Below is the powerpoint presentation during the preaching:
James is a Scottish missionary priest with the Fraternidad Misionera Verbum Dei.
Now assigned in Manila, he has been in the Philippines for 14 years. |
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