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.
4/7/2020
Daily Guidelines: April 7, 2020April 7, 2020 – Holy Tuesday
Gospel: John 13: 21-33, 36-38 “.....you will deny me 3 times.” Isn’t it hurting when your trust is broken, specially by someone close to you? Jesus was denied 3 times by Peter, his closest confidante. In our lives, we may personally have been guilty too about not being faithful to our friends and loved ones. How about our faithfiulness to Jesus? How faithful are we to Him? Do we stand up courageously when He is maligned? Do we defend the Church, Mama Mary and the Pope? Are we consistent in being the light and the path to Jesus, when others criticize them and call God “stupid”? Let’s pray more that Jesus give us the courage to stand up and speak up openly in their defense. We are, after all, the Lord’s warriors here on earth. Mama Mary, help us develop a stronger faith and firmer convictions. #PrayVD
4/6/2020
Daily Guidelines: April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 – Holy Monday
Gospel : John 12: 1-11 “.....the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” When we love someone, we always want to give them what is best, perhaps the most expensive item we know they will love and appreciate. That was how Mary in the Gospel loved Jesus, using perhaps her most treasured oil to wash His feet. Wasn’t that truly shocking, so expensive it could have fed a number of needy people! During this Lenten time, why not give our most treasured time, attention, or belongings to someone who has loved us so much, who gave His life for us. What is it that Jesus wants you to offer to Him that you have been holding back and keeping to yourself? Jesus, teach us how to live our lives entirely devoted to you specially during these days of sacrifice. Help us understand what we need to give up now and for the rest of our lives.... #PrayVD
4/5/2020
Daily Guidelines: April 5, 2020April 5, 2020 - Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
Gospel: MT 26:14—27:66 Take and eat, this is my body. Today is the start of the Holy Week – Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – a great testament of God’s love for us. Our gospel is about the preparation of the Passover meal shared by Jesus and his disciples. As we enter this sacred time, Jesus is preparing us of what we are to receive: his body and blood. Let’s ask ourselves, “What does our heart contain right now?” and “Are we ready to take and receive Jesus in our hearts?” Mother Mary, be our model of unconditional love so we also could be ready to offer ourselves most especially to those in need. #PrayVD
4/4/2020
Daily Guidelines: April 4, 2020April 4, 2020 - Saturday
Gospel: JN 11:45-56 Jesus stayed with his disciples The Pharisees and Jews mocked Jesus’ doings and restrained him from doing more to the people. However, Jesus responded with nothing but an action of love. He went out to the wilderness and stayed with his disciples after all the happenings. We are stuck in our own homes right now because of the quarantine as means to fight the virus. We are in the wilderness with Jesus during this Lent. As we stay home, let us continue to be more faithful because Jesus stays with us as well amid uncertainty. Mother Mary, help us to stay with Jesus as we continue to live in this trying time. Amen. #PrayVD
4/3/2020
Daily Guidelines: April 3, 2020April 3, 2020 - Friday
Gospel: JN 10:31-42 Know that the Father is in me and I in the Father In our gospel, Jesus experienced rejection from the Jews. However, he stood his ground and anchored his faith firmly in his Father’s promise of protection. “Again, they tried to arrest him, but Jesus escaped from their hands.” Putting our trust completely to God is something easier said than done especially in this current crisis that we are facing. But Jesus continues to invite and inspire us to trust even more firmly and to be rooted in the love of God to us and to all his people. Mother Mary, may we be able to survive the challenges that we are facing and continue to trust more and firmly into God’s love for the humanity. Amen. #PrayVD
4/2/2020
Daily Guidelines: April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 - Thursday
Gospel: JN 8:51-59 I know Him and I keep His word! The message of Jesus to his disciples talks about his confidence and full trust to the Father. “I know him and if I were to say that I don’t know him, I would be liar like you. But I know him and I keep his words.” Jesus is obedient to the Father’s will. What are the things that God might be challenging you to leave behind in order to know him more and keep his words? Mother Mary, continue to invite us to walk with trust in our hearts so that Jesus can lead me to the Father in this Lenten journey. Amen. #PrayVD
4/1/2020
Daily Guidelines: April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 - Wednesday
Gospel: JN 8:31-42 The truth that I learned from God the Father Our gospel today is about the conversation of Jesus with disciples on how we can be true disciples. One may say, “I have faith” through words but how are we to prove our faith? Jesus shared the truth that He learned from God the Father: our faith must be backed up by our own actions and not just merely words. How does our own faith create a difference in the world we live in today? Mother Mary, help us as we create change daily no matter how small it is. May our faith be transformed into concrete actions for the betterment of everyone. Amen. #PrayVD
3/31/2020
Daily Guidelines: March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 - Tuesday
Gospel: JN 8:21-30 The one who sent me is truthful How has been your Lenten journey? Are we like the Jews in the gospel? Stuck in our sins and disbelief in our current destination? Especially in this uncertain time, we can fall into great fear and disbelief in what is happening to our world. However, Jesus is assured that the Father is with him in His journey to the cross. “The one who sent me is truthful and everything I learned from him”. Jesus continues to show us the way to the Father. Do you trust God’s words in this time? Mother Mary, give us the grace to have the same full trust in God just as Jesus did. Amen. #PrayVD
3/30/2020
Daily Guidelines: March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 -Monday
Gospel: JN 8:1-11 Jesus bent down As we enter the 5th week of Lent, we are invited to reflect on the story of an adulterous woman presented to Jesus. The Pharisees did this to put Jesus to test. However, Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground twice. In this time of crisis, many things are challenging our faith with the Lord. Jesus is inviting us to bend down and pray like what he did with the woman. How can we pray? Look closer into our hearts and discover the goodness within the people and the situation we are in right now. Mother Mary, accompany us during this time to grow more closer to Jesus and God the Father as we continue our Lenten journey in this difficult time. Amen. #PrayVD
3/29/2020
Daily Guidelines: March 29, 2020March 29, 2020 Sunday
Gospel: John 11:1-45 "Forgive my little faith." ("Lazarus" by Corrinne May) There were times when we feel that it was dead-end for us but there was Jesus who always reminds us that there is still life and hope for us. Today's Gospel narrates to us how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. But before He did it, there was Martha who cried out to Jesus expressing her sorrow on the loss of her brother. With this, Jesus reassured her that He is the resurrection and the life. Sometimes we are like Martha who display lapses of faith. But Jesus will never leave us. He gives us hope when we experience despair, he gives us life in times when we are spiritless. Let us ask Mother Mary to help us strengthen our faith in times when we need Jesus to be our aide and guide. #PrayVD |
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