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.
February 5, 2019 – Tuesday
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43 “Our faith will heal us.” In the series of readings we can notice that Jesus went to different sides of the sea to visit the people who are in need. Up until now Jesus is still visiting each in every one of us because we need Him, because Jesus knows that we are in need of His healing. For us to be healed we must have faith. The woman against the pressing crowd did everything to touch Jesus and then she’s healed. Her faith pushed her to get closer to Jesus. Let us ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of faith so that we may be able to journey in this life always closer to Jesus. #PrayVD February 3, 2019 - Sunday
Gospel: Luke 4:21-30 “But He passed through the midst of them and went away.” When Jesus tried to challenge the faith of the Israelites by citing how it was to the widows who were not Jews that God sent prophets (implying that maybe the faith of those widows were greater than the faith of the Israelites), they did not take it quite well. In fact, they wanted to hurl him down the hill. But He managed to stay safe. When we follow Christ, sometimes it would entail people not taking our intentions, gestures well. Take courage, Jesus will keep us safe. Lord, thank you for setting us the example to be brave in following you. #PrayVD February 2, 2019 - Saturday
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 “For my eyes have seen your salvation.” In the gospel today, Simeon was waiting all his life for the promised Messiah, the one who will save God’s people. Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to him and he carried him in his arms. He saw the salvation in the little child. Sometimes, Christ is presented to us in ways that are little or not in the way we expect it to be. We think the one we are waiting for all our life has not arrived but in reality, Christ is already with us. Let us embrace him too with all our being. #PrayVD February 1, 2019 - Friday
Gospel: Mark 4:26-34 “The birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” How has your mustard seed grown? Has it also become what it should be – the largest plant where birds of the sky can dwell in its shade? If yes, give thanks to God for the grace given you. If not, continue to believe in what God has spoken to you. God desires for our faith to grow and no matter how small we see ourselves, God never gives up on us. He dreams big with our lives. Mother Mary, we entrust this day to you, may it be lived with so much faith. #PrayVD
1/30/2019
Daily Guidelines: January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 - Wednesday
Gospel: Mark 4:1-20 "A seed sown on rich soil grew and yielded a hundredfold.” The world has countless ways of measuring productivity. Most people are measured by net worth, power, popularity, FB friends or likes. In today’s gospel, Jesus explains what it really means to be fruitful. It entails building a sturdy foundation in our belief and faith and trying to obtain the richness of life. How can we do this? It is only by establishing a deeper relationship with Him thru prayer and multiplying the fruit of our prayer by sharing it with others. #PrayVD
1/27/2019
Daily Guidelines: January 27, 2019January 27, 2019 – Sunday
Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4;14-21 "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21) The passage that Jesus read expresses the presence of the Spirit upon Him to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, to recover the sight of the blind, and to free the oppressed. Jesus indeed fulfilled this written passage during His public ministry. This promise of God remains true even up to now. We can always come to Jesus whenever we feel hopeless, blind, and oppressed and He will surely give us the hope, the sight, and the freedom that we long for. Let us always cling to God’s promises because He never disappoints.
1/26/2019
Daily Guidelines: January 26, 2019January 26, 2019 – Saturday
1st Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-8 Gospel: Mark 3:20-21 “Bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.” (2 Tim 1:8) Today, we celebrate the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus – the two companions of St. Paul in the mission whose following of Christ started when they heard St. Paul’s preaching about the Gospel. Like them, we got to know Christ because someone willingly shared to us the Word of God. As Christians, we are called to continue this mission bearing all its challenges and struggles. How beautiful that with the life of Saints Timothy and Titus, Jesus is assuring us that no matter how hard the mission is, it will always be sustained by God’s strength. What challenges your mission of sharing the Word of God? Carry on! Believe that God accompanies you and will give you the strength that you need.
1/25/2019
Daily Guidelines: January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 – Friday
Gospel: Mark 16:15-18 “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) This is the mission Jesus gave to His disciples. Today, he reminds and gives us the same mission. He trusts us so much that He calls us to go not only in a place where we are, but in the whole world to preach the Gospel to every person we encounter. He sees and believes in our capacity that even only one person we can bring to Him, it will mean a lot for the conversion of the world. As we celebrate the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, let us ask his intercession that we may also allow Jesus to work in us so we can boldly respond to the mission He shares with us.
1/24/2019
Daily Guidelines: January 24, 2019January 24, 2019 – Thursday
Gospel: Mark 3:7-12 “For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.” (Mark 3:10) People from different places got attracted to come to Jesus when they heard and saw His compassion in curing the sick. Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church, whose great love for God attracted also a lot of people to live their faith. Let us ask the grace from the Holy Spirit that we may live our lives magnifying God’s love and fidelity so that others too may be attracted to come and know Him more.
1/23/2019
Daily Guidelines: January 23, 2019January 23, 2019 – Wednesday
Gospel: Mark 3:1-6 “ Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4) Today’s gospel speaks of the Pharisees watching closely if Jesus would cure the man with a withered hand on sabbath day so they could accuse Him. Are there times in which we become the Pharisees who, instead of seeing the needs of others, become caught up to following the rules and regulations? More than strict compliance to the law, the gospel teaches us mercy and compassion. Ultimately, the greatest law that Jesus wants us to be adherent to is to the law of love. After all, love is all that matters in the world. |
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