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.
September 3, 2018 Monday
Gospel: Luke 4:16- 30* "The spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor." Luke 4: 18 In today's gospel, Jesus talked about his mission to bring good news to the poor.
As His true disciples that were moved and touched by Jesus, we also have to do something about it. We have to work for it - seeking out the oppressed, reaching out to the unwanted and unloved, reaffirming their dignity, listening to the cry of the wounded and poor and lifting them up with compassion. Jesus invites us today to honor Him by doing His works. If we are true disciples of Jesus we also need to respond to His call following Him by proclaiming the good news to the poor. Mama Mary help us to respond to the invitation of Jesus to do His works and to bring good news to the poor. Amen. #PrayVD September 2, 2018 - Sunday Gospel : Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 The heart of the matter Here we see Jesus being confronted by the Religious Leaders who strictly follow human traditions. Jesus protested this legalism and hypocrisy! Purely external compliance. A contradiction to God’s commandment! For he invites us to look to the inside- to the heart, where it matters to him. Don’t sweat the small stuff, focus on the essentials. Rest assured, God sees our heart.
Let us be grateful! On any day, there is always something to be grateful for . Thank you Holy Trinity and Mama Mary! We are almost near the end of 2018. Your love for us sustained us! Increased our capacity to love that we may bring peace and joy into our broken world. Amen! #PrayVD September 1, 2018 - Saturday Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30 Well done! Merry Christmas! Well at least here in the Phillipines! “All roads” lead to Charity institution for “gift giving” from extra bonuses received! Well done!
But wait, this parable means more than that. We are challenged to emulate Jesus by using all that God has given for the sake of the church- his people. In anticipation of his return, to continue to do the work each one of us is called for - faithfully, consistently and wise. However, people are not the same. The “foolish” may take time to relax, neglect his work and worst, take advantage of what he has for his own selfish ambitions. For this type of character, there will be regrettable consequences. So let us be good stewards of the gifts entrusted to us. In giving it is not measured by its physical attributes for God looks at our heart. #PrayVD
8/31/2018
Daily Guidelines: August 31, 2018August 31,2018 - Friday
Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 Keep your lamp burning!
Jesus told the parables to clarify further what it means to ready when he returns and how to live until he comes.
This parable is about a wedding. Ten bridesmaid were waiting to join the procession and take part in the marriage feast. But when the groom didn’t come at the expected time, five of them were out of lamp oil. By the time they secured the extra oil, it was too late to join the feast. No parable itself completely describes our preparation. Instead, we are encouraged to make use of our God given time, talent & treasure to make our world a better place to live. To love is to live . Let’s keep loving while we can! #PrayVD
8/30/2018
Daily Guidelines: August 30, 2018August 30,2018 - Thursday
Gospel: Matthew 24:42-51 So you too must keep watch! Flooding here! Hurricane in Hawaii!
Earthquake in Bali! We must expect and prepare for the events foretold!
Jesus’ purpose in telling about his return is not to stimulate predictions about the date but to warn us to be prepared. Will you be ready? “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the matter can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.” This is what Jesus ask of us, to spend the time of waiting taking care of his people and doing his work here on earth. This is the best way to prepare for Christ’s return. “If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.” Lord Jesus may you find us faithful. Keep us on fire. May the footprints that we leave inspire the others to obey your word. Amen. #PrayVD
8/28/2018
Daily Guidelines: August 28, 2018Aug28, 2018- Tuesday
Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26 Insideout Jesus teaching emphasizes that it is not what is on the outside that matters but what is on the inside of us. In contrast, the Religious Leaders did all their deeds to be seen by men. Putting on their best garments to look a righteous man of God. But “clothes do not make the man”. Jesus went about doing his mission dressed just like everyone else.
The point is that Jesus teaching is not to make us look good, rather aimed at transforming us day by day from the inside out. By focusing on the interior life and set free from sin can we become more like him. Spending more time in prayer, we draw ourselves closer into his image & likeness. So that Jesus may live through you and me. Today let us ask St Agustine to intercede for us that we may be delivered in our pre-occupation to pleasing man. Rather to remain our gaze to Jesus the giver of life. #PrayVD
8/27/2018
Daily Guidelines: August 27, 2018Aug 27, 2018- Monday
Gospel : Matthew23:13-22 Blind Guides! What sorrow awaits you! Jesus condemns the Religious Leaders - Hypocrites! Which is more important- the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
Church leaders in the past were powerful & most respected of all leaders. Jesus made this accussations because the leaders hungered for more power, money & status thus losing sight of God . And this may happen to us lay people too!When our wants and ambition occupies our mind. Getting into the rat race may seem exciting initially but eventually makes you wearisome, wasted and sad. There you find all these tips & ideas on “Happiness Project” but still do not satisfy. Come back to him. Return your gaze upon him and never lose sight. He is the way, the truth and the life. For only through him we find true peace & joy which the world cannot give. Mama Mary, help me not to be blinded of what the world dictates. Help me to see and listen through God’s word. That i may not lose sight of God. #PrayVD
8/26/2018
Daily Guidelines: August 26, 2018August 26, 2018 – Sunday Gospel: John 6:60-69 “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of Eternal Life.” When we accept our path to holiness is through Jesus Christ, then we listen to His words and are sensitive to His every teaching. We seek to understand Him more, give Him our full trust, making Him live in our hearts forever.
We seek His teachings so as not to be led astray, we accept what He says freely with no conditions. We just follow and it liberates us. When the Holy Spirit has touched us, we know because of the peace that envelops us. We are freed from the guilt, the doubts, the fears, the helplessness and suffering. We know deep in our hearts when we are freed from these tensions. The peace and joy are immediately manifested in our smiles, and in our calm thoughts and actions. . Let us imitate Mary who said “Behold, the Handmaid of the Lord, let it be done according to your Word.” #PrayVD
8/24/2018
Daily Guidelines: August 24, 2018August 24, 2018 – Friday Gospel: John 1:45-51 “Come and see...” On this feast of St. Bartholomew or Nathaniel, we see that Philip led him to Jesus. We too have been led by some others to Jesus. We were also told “Come and see.” Since our friends speak with joy, we believe we too will find peace and joy in Jesus.
When Nathaniel approaches Jesus, He says “This is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.“ Wow the words struck me the most: Is there duplicity in me? Such simple words but heavy words to think about. We may be guilty of self-interest when we think of approaching Jesus only because we have to find solutions to our problems. But at the same time, we find comfort and solace from Him, because we know He is all giving and forgiving. Let’s listen to Him more, instead of talking one way. Dear Mama Mary, help us to see Him more clearly and be more determined in our path to holiness. #PrayVD
8/22/2018
Daily Guidelines: August 22, 2018August 22, 2018 - Wednesday Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16 “The last will be first and the first will be last.” This statement appears confusing but what Jesus means here, is that He may call us to become His workers or shepherds at any stage of our lives. It maybe early or late in life, but the reward will be the same = eternal life (a full day’s pay).
He calls all of us to be co-Redeemers in His work. We have to work with urgency to bring in new souls; to be constantly vigilant in watching out for opportunities to teach, to counsel, to lead others from going astray, to lift their spirits, to bring to Confession or Reconciliation, and bring them back to the fold. By our example, others will see Christ in us; see the joy in us. They will seek our company, ask our advice and prayers, may follow our lead in serving others. We go to Mary, our Mother, and St. Joseph, the first teachers of Jesus, make good use of our time in serving others through the Church and as we go about our ordinary day’s activities with joy. #PrayVD |
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