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.
3/15/2021
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
3/11/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 11, 2021March 11, 2021 Thursday
Luke 11:14-23 "The Kingdom of Heaven is upon you." In today's gospel, God worked miracles through Jesus by casting out a demon and healing a mute man. The crowd, even if they have witnessed it with their own eyes, refused to believe that it is really God working through Jesus. God continues to work miracles in our lives every day. Are we attentive to it? Do we take a moment to recognize and enjoy how He extends His love to us through these little miracles he shows us every day? Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, harden not our hearts as we receive your love through the great and little wonders you continue to show us every day. Amen. #PrayVD
3/10/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 10, 2021March 10, 2021 Wednesday
Matthew 5:17-19 “Whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Today's gospel shows us how God has gifted us with His commandments to guide us in our journey towards eternity. Through His commandments, He shows to us the direction towards an everlasting life with Him, a life freedom and in all its fullness. How are we following the path God has set for us? Are we on the right track? And as we move forward, do we bring others with us? Lord, thank you for always guiding us in our way to You through your commandments. Help us to be faithful in following them and as we lead others in drawing closer to you. Amen. #PrayVD
3/9/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 9, 2021March 9, 2021 Tuesday
Matthew 18:21-25 "I say to you, not seven times but seventy seven times." In today's gospel, Peter approached Jesus and asked "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sinned against me? Up to seven times?" He might have though he has given an exceptional answer but Jesus said to him, "not seven times, but seventy seven times." Jesus invites us to have a forgiving attitude each time we are hurt, simply because He desires for us nothing else but freedom and happiness. As imperfect people living in an imperfect world, we all make mistakes.. And isn't it beautiful to know that Jesus forgives us not just seven times, but seventy seven times? Jesus forgives us forever. Dearest Father, grant us humility to receive the gift of your everyday and through this mercy that we receive, may we be able to show mercy to others as well. Amen. #PrayVD
3/8/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 8, 2021March 8, 2021 Monday
Luke 4:24-30 "He passed through in the midst of them and went away" In our modern world, we have this so called "cancel culture" wherein people cast out people for doing or saying things that are unacceptable. Have you ever been rejected or cancelled by the people around you, even by the people closest to you, because you have spoken or done something uncomfortable for them? Jesus knows how you feel, He'd been there. He Himself experienced being cancelled by the people of his hometown for speaking of his hometown for speaking truths that they find unacceptable. And as response, "he passed through in the midst of them and went away." Jesus, in today's gospel, invites us to be courageous and bold in our loving by speaking the truth in love, regardless of how others will receive it. Dearest Jesus, help us to receive God's truths with an open heart, especially those which we find uncomfortable. May we be as courageous as you are in proclaiming them to others. Amen. #PrayVD
3/7/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 7, 2021March 7, 2021 Sunday
Gospel: John 2:13–25 “He drove all of them out of the Temple.” (cf. John 2:15) In today’s Gospel, we see how Jesus cleansed the Temple of God by driving out those who desecrate it. It is safe to say that inside our heart lies the foundation of our humanity in which we believe that the things we say and do are mostly motivated by its beatings. And our heart takes the toll of our daily endeavors; be it spent with joy or anxiety; our heart reflects the outcome of our day. And today, we may see how Jesus ardently wants to be in our hearts that He wants to cleanse it from anxieties – he wants to purify it. Let us open our hearts today to Jesus, ready to be cleansed and purified by Him. #PrayVD
3/6/2021
Daily Guidelines: March 6, 2021March 6, 2021 Saturday
Gospel: Luke 15:1–3, 11–32 The Father’s Loving Embrace When two people embrace, their hearts are in the closest distance it could reach, letting them feel the beat of each other’s hearts – enabling them to express the depth of their love. This scene in today’s Gospel shows to us how our Heavenly Father yearns to express His love for us and for those who have lost their way. He wants us to feel the beat of His heart ready to love us in our every decision and deed. As we go our way in our day-to-day lives, may we always find our way back home to the Father in giving a moment to pray and reflect with the love He continuously express to us. #PrayVD |
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August 2021
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