Category: Daily Reflections

“It is the decision of the Holy Spirit, and ours too.” —Acts 15:28 Two weeks from today, we will celebrate Pentecost. We will have the possibility of receiving in a new way the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Whom the Father will send in Jesus’ name (Jn 14:26). The Spirit plans to instruct us in everything and remind us of all that Jesus told us (Jn 14:26). This instructing and reminding from the Spirit, if discerned and heeded, will have such an effect on our lives that our decisions will also be the decisions of the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28). Therefore,...

“The congregations grew stronger in faith and daily increased in numbers.” —Acts 16:5 The Lord insists that we bear abundant, lasting fruit (Jn 15:5, 16). Consequently, it is good to ask ourselves: “How many people have I tried to lead to a total commitment to the Lord through my love, service, witness, words, prayer, and fasting?” Another crucial question we should ask ourselves is: “How many Christians have I tried to lead into leadership in the Church?” For example, when St. Paul heard of Timothy’s faith, he was eager to have Timothy go on mission and begin apprenticeship for leadership...

“It was not you who chose Me, it was I Who chose you to go forth and bear fruit.” —John 15:16 In the very first chapter of the Bible, we hear the Lord’s first words to the newly created human race. He commanded us to bear fruit (Gn 1:28). We are chosen specifically for the purpose of bearing much fruit that will last (Jn 15:16, 5). Shortly before His Ascension, Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations, that is, to bear the fruit of holiness and evangelization (Mt 28:19). We will come to a tragic end...

“As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you.” —John 15:9 The love of the Father for the Son Jesus is immensely powerful. God’s love for Jesus is explosive, powerful, creative, healing, regenerative, wild, unmeasurable, and beyond human control. Furthermore, Jesus loves each of us with that same love; He loves us “as the Father has loved” Him (Jn 15:9). If we truly experienced and realized how fully God loves us, we would be gloriously transformed. “For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29). God’s love has unfathomable power, like an avalanche that sweeps up all in...

“My Father has been glorified in your bearing much fruit.” —John 15:8 We are God’s branches, and we are to bear fruit for Him. Thus, the fruit we bear is not ours. For example, I have six children. All are adults, and five are married and live on their own. I had to let these five children go. They were my responsibility for two decades, and were ripening in my home under my care. Ultimately, however, these children belong to God, and they are His fruit. Over and over, we branches repeat this cycle. We remain attached to Jesus, the...