Category: Daily Reflections

“If anyone does not receive you or listen to what you have to say, leave that house or town, and once outside it shake its dust from your feet.” –Matthew 10:14 Remember, man, that we are dust (Gn 3:19), and we tend to pick up dust as we struggle through life. As we announce the good news of God’s kingdom, we are often rejected and persecuted. We naturally feel resentment, discouragement, and unforgiveness. However, we must shake off this lethal dust, or we will no longer be able to serve in God’s kingdom. Through forgiveness and healing, we let the...

Jesus “summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind.” –Matthew 10:1 In our secularized times, many Christians are so confused they deny or question the existence or activity of the devil. Their confusion permits the devil to get away with murder, lust, greed, perversion, etc. He has also been able to mass-produce his perversities through mass media, especially TV. The combination of these factors results in a dramatic increase in demonic activity not only in pagan lands but even in Christian areas. We have let the devil...

“Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.” –Genesis 32:25 The Lord has wonderful plans for us – “plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope” (Jer 29:11). However, He will not force us to accept His plans. We must say with Mary: “Let it be done to me according to Your word” (Lk 1:38, our transl). The Lord had a wonderful plan for Jacob. To say “yes” to this plan, Jacob had to: wrestle “with divine and human beings” all night (Gn 32:29), suffer injury (Gn 32:26), receive...

“Before Jesus had finished speaking to them, a synagogue leader came up.” –Matthew 9:18 While Jesus was talking about a new way of living and fasting, “a synagogue leader came up, did Him reverence, and said: ‘My daughter has just died. Please come and lay Your hand on her and she will come back to life’ ” (Mt 9:18). Jesus then raised the little girl from the dead (Mt 9:25). This resurrection-miracle immediately followed His healing a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years (Mt 9:22). These miracles of healing and resurrection are put in the context of Jesus’...