Tagged: Daily Reflections

Jude 17:20-25; Psalm 63:2-6 ;  View Readings “Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you a question.’ ” —Mark 11:29 Did you ever notice that Jesus was constantly asking questions to those around Him? “Search the Scriptures” (Jn 5:39), especially the gospels, and notice the contexts in which He asks these questions. At times, he asks a question to elicit a response of faith (see Lk 18:41). Sometimes, he asks a question as the grand finale to a teaching (see Mt 21:31, 42). At other times, he asks a question which He knows that no one will answer, simply to drive home...

“When you stand to pray…” —Mark 11:25 As the Blessed Virgin Mary and the early Church prayed in the upper room before the first Christian Pentecost (Acts 1:13ff), let us pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God as soon as possible to as many people and nations as possible. Jesus remarked that there is “the necessity of praying always and not losing heart” (Lk 18:1). Therefore, pray for the grace to pray. Pray for the grace to keep praying. Pray with your spouse and family. Pray for conversions. Pray for an end to hunger, violence, and war. Pray...

“Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; He Whom you serve is the Lord.” –Romans 12:11 When you received the Holy Spirit, the devil immediately tried to extinguish the flame (1 Thes 5:19). At the same time, the Lord stirred into an even greater flame the Spirit in your life (2 Tm 1:6). Yield to the Spirit. Put on the lampstand of your life the gifts and fruit of the Spirit (Lk 8:16). The Lord will continue to light your fire. With Mary, go into the hill country (Lk 1:39) and give as a gift what has been...

“By obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a genuine love.” –1 Peter 1:22 We all want “genuine love,” true love, love that will last forever. Yet we all find that what we thought was love often proves not to be the real thing. Human beings are deceived about love probably more than about any other aspect of life. We can have genuine, true love only in Christ, Who is Love (see 1 Jn 4:16). We are prepared to give true love by being purified, especially in the context of obeying the Lord in being true, that is,...

“Peter was moved to say to Him, ‘We have put aside everything to follow You!’ ” –Mark 10:28 Like Peter, we are moved by selfishness, pride, and insecurity to tell the Lord about the sacrifices we’ve made to follow Him. We hope the Lord will “pat us on the back” and reward us. The Lord is willing to talk about the subject of sacrifice. However, He may bring up sacrifices we haven’t made. This gives the impression that we have not reached the pinnacle of sacrifice but have barely begun to sacrifice. Next, the Lord may bring up the subject...