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.
6/6/2018
Daily Guidelines: June 6, 2018June 6, 2018 – Wednesday
Mark 12:18-27 Truth is not easy to define for us. What is real to a person may not always be real for another. Yet, however we define it, we decide and live each day based on the things we believe are true. We eat breakfast because we believe in the truth that it will help us get through all the day. We ride a jeepney because we believe that it will bring us to our destination faster than walking.
Many claim that they know the truth and they hold the same. But the deepest truths can only be found in Jesus. The Truth is Jesus Himself. “I am the way, the TRUTH, and life.” (cf Jn 14:6 ) As Christians, we are called to live not in the human perspective but in the light of the truth of God. And when we do so, we can never be wrong nor misled. For it is living in and with the Truth that we can find meaning in life. Today, the gospel invites us to believe what Jesus has spoken, “He is not God of the dead but of the living.” (Mk 12:27) Live this truth and be open to the great things the living God can do in your life. #PrayVD
6/5/2018
Daily Guidelines: June 5, 2018June 5, 2018 – Tuesday
Mark 12:13-17 There is nothing that does not belong to God.Seemingly, questions are asked to get clarity. But such was not the case when the Pharisees and Herodians questioned Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar. Their questions were intended to put him in a trap. But Jesus knew their heart, and so he said to them, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
What do you believe belongs to Caesar and that to God? Often times, we proportionate Caesar to worldly things as God to eternal ones. But isn’t it that when we spend so much time and energy discerning what is equally of Caesar’s and God’s, we are actually fighting a losing battle? There is nothing that does not belong to God--The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his. (Psalm 24:1) Only when we do not withhold from God what is due to Him, giving to others follows. Lord, as we give what is due to you, may it move us to be generous with others. #PrayVD
6/4/2018
Daily Guidelines: June 4, 2018June 4, 2018 – Monday
Mark 12:12 If God is all you have, you have all you needIf you’ve lived in the province, you’re familiar with tenant farmers. Tenant farmers are people who farms the land of another person and pay rent or with portion of the grown crops.
Each one of us is a tenant farmer of God. We do not fully own anything in this world. Not the family you built, the business you started, the community you founded, not even your own life. But sometimes, we act like the tenant in today’s parable. We tend to think that we are the sole responsible in what we have and attain in life; and then we start to fear losing it. We do everything to protect it even at the expense of others. But in reality, we only share and receive God’s generosity. And only when we recognize it that we can become free from the danger of being possessive. And eventually, we will realize that we do not need to own anything in the first place, because the “everything” that we need in life has been sent to us thousands of years ago– Jesus. If God is all we have, we have all we need (cf John 14:8). Then in that sense, everything already belongs to us. #PrayVD
6/3/2018
Daily Guidelines: June 3, 2018June 3, 2018 Mk 14:12-16, 22-26 Be one with HimHappy 1st Sunday of June! Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The gospel started with an attitude of the disciples asking where Jesus want them to go for the preparation of the Feast of Passover. Jesus instructed them to see a certain man carrying a water, go to its house and follow Him. In the Feast, Jesus said to his disciples, “"Take it; this is my body. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.”
At this point, we are invited to carry and imitate the attitude of the disciples to be one with Jesus in the celebration of turning the bread and wine into His body and blood in the celebration of the Eucharist. In our life, we become busy chasing a lot of things, filling up our list of to-do’s, going to a lot of places and many more but Jesus opens and invites us to His feast where we can receive Him fully and lovingly. Also, Jesus wants to share the feast to everyone, not only to us disciples. Today, let us ask for the grace and openness of our hearts to be one with Jesus today. Mama Mary, we ask you to pray for our consistency to receive the body and blood of Christ and let it dwell on our hearts to bring us eternal life. #PrayVD
6/2/2018
Daily Guidelines: June 2, 2018June 2, 2018
Mk 11:27-33 We do not knowIn our lives, there is always a presence of authority. It can be someone we love, we trust or respect. Today's gospel speaks about questioning where does it comes and who gives it. The scribes asked Jesus by what authority does He operates and who gave him the authority to do such things.
Sometimes, we fear things we do not know, yet we want to believe such things just because it came from someone who is powerful than us. Fame from the people whom we look up to, acceptance from the people we want to please and many more. We are same with the scribes who got fearful when asked by Jesus. However, Jesus tells us one thing: "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things." Today, we are invited to give our full trust to God for the things we do not know yet. Mama Mary, we pray for the wisdom to discern big decisions involving the different authorities surrounding our life. Amen. #PrayVD
6/1/2018
Daily Guidelines: June 1, 2018June 1, 2018 - Friday
Gospel - Mk 11:11-26 Believe it and it shall be yoursToday's gospel reveals a different side of Jesus which we usually don't see. We are used to Jesus preaching, healing the sick or instructing his disciples. However, he also did things that surprised people. In today's Gospel, he cursed a fig tree and became angry when he saw people buying and selling at the temple.
As the beloved sons and daughters of God, we also do things that might surprise Him: not following his will, his words and his ways. Jesus wants to cast away our sins and our old ways. Sometimes doing away with our bad habits and attitudes seems impossible, but Jesus said, "Have faith in God." We are invited to strengthen our faith, let us believe that we will receive what we need. The Lord knows what we are asking in prayer. Mama Mary, renew our hearts so that we may believe and hope only in the Lord. #PrayVD
5/31/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 – Thursday
Lk 1:39-56 – Feast of the Visitation Leap for JoyWe are happy when we see posts in social media sharing good news. This goodness happening around us gives us hope and joy. Something like this happened in today’s Gospel reading: Mary entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting then the infant on Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy.
Mary is faithful to the fulfillment of the word of the God in such way that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped for joy. This can continue happening today when others witness a person faithful to the word of God. The gospel is inviting us to be faithful to the word of God and its fulfillment. For faith will make the people around us leap for joy. A handful of faithful people can make the world leap for joy! #PrayVD
5/30/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 30, 2018May 30, 2018 – Wednesday
Mk 10:32-45 Tread to become greatJames and John asked Jesus to sit on the right and left in His glory. When the other ten disciples heard about this, they become indignant towards the two.
Like James and John, we would like to become great--to be famous, have authority and social status. In contrast, Jesus tells us that to be great and first is to serve all and give our life to many.
The path to greatness is to serve others. Jesus, teach us how to be truly great. May our hearts have the desire to serve and to give our lives to all. #PrayVD
5/29/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 29, 2018May 29, 2018 – Tuesday
Gospel – Mk 10: 28 - 31 Empty and offered to the LordPeter in the gospel said to Jesus, “We have given everything up and followed you”. This is a very brave and courageous statement. Are we bold enough like Peter? What did he surrender in order to follow Jesus? Was it love? Sadness? Confusion? Longing? No one knows except Peter. Of what can we be emptied so as to offer it to the Lord? No one knows except our own selves.
Personally, I have my own share of poverty at work. My soul longs for a Lord who will keep my heart at peace in times of trouble. Giving up my poor self and offering it to the Lord allows me to experience his peace, his embrace and his gentle love to me. Jesus affirmed that whoever gives up everything for him will receive a hundred times more—we receive more when we give up the things that consume or worry us. Mama Mary, help us to know the things that we need to be emptied of to receive God’s promise of eternal life. #PrayVD
5/28/2018
Daily Guidelines: May 28, 2018May 28, 2018 – Monday
Gospel – Mk 10: 17-27 Nothing is ImpossibleIn the gospel Jesus was asked how to have eternal life. The question raised does not ring a bell to us. Why? Oftentimes, we seek what is temporary, not the eternal. Or for some, ‘eternal’ is just an ordinary state, there is nothing new about it. We are left but to ask this to ourselves, how can we attain eternal life?
The word of God answers, “Go sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me.” Truly, doing away with our possessions is one of the greatest challenges for all of us. We tend to cling to things we think we own. We think of our own achievements and success, not minding or putting first our faith and relationship with the Lord. The reading tells us that if we rely only on our capacity, we will be limited to the here and now. But if we focus on the Lord, we will achieve the impossible, for all things are possible for God. Let us pray and ponder about the steps we must take to inherit the eternal life the Lord has promised to us. Mama Mary, pray for us so that we receive the grace of understanding what we need to pray for today. #PrayVD |
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