Daily Reflections

Luke 19:47-48

Consoled by Fervent Preaching

“And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.”

Reflection:

Jesus had just entered Jerusalem for the upcoming Feast of Passover. He arrived in that holy city and then returned again the next day and entered the Temple area.

As He witnessed the corruption of those selling animals for the Temple sacrifices, Jesus responded with fervent preaching in an attempt to cleanse the Temple from this corruption. He quoted the Prophet Isaiah and cried out, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”

Luke’s Gospel points out the reaction of the chief priests, the scribes and the leaders of the people. They were “seeking to put him to death.” However, as the Gospel further relates, “they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.”

Today, we need the full Gospel message. Many need to hear Jesus’ gentle invitation to conversion by which their heavy burdens are lifted. But many others need to hear His firm words of condemnation. And the Church as a whole needs both of these messages to be proclaimed if we are to fully participate in the apostolic ministry of our Lord.

Only our Lord has the right to condemn, chastise, and call others to repentance. But we are all called to share in this mission of our Lord. And though we do not have the right to judge the hearts of others, when we see objective evil and disorder within our world and even within our Church, we must cry out with our Lord, “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”

And when we do hear the holy and inspired words of God’s messengers who boldly and courageously proclaim the truth and call others to repentance, it should inspire, invigorate and console us as we find ourselves hanging on their every word.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2023/11/23/consoled-by-fervent-preaching-2/

Luke 19:47-48 Read More »

Luke 19:43-44

Daily Reflections, Verse

Holy Sorrow

“For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Reflection:

Jesus spoke these words as He looked at Jerusalem from a distance, preparing to enter that holy city for the last time in preparation for His passion and death. As He spoke these words, the Gospel says that Jesus wept over the city. Of course, it wasn’t primarily tears over the future physical destruction of the Temple and invasion by Roman forces. It was first and foremost tears over the lack of faith of so many which was the true destruction He mourned.

Reflect, today, upon your own approach to the evil you face in your life. Consider carefully your interior and exterior reaction. Do you mourn with love over sins you witness and experience? Do you mourn, with a holy sorrow, over your own sins and the sins of others? Work to foster this form of love within you and you will find that it can become a motivation for you to help transform the sins you commit and the sins of others you endure.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2023/11/22/holy-sorrow-2/

Luke 19:43-44 Read More »

Luke 19:12-14

Daily Reflections, Verse

Your Apostolic Calling

“A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’”

Reflection:

There are three categories of people in this parable. The first includes those who received a gold coin and followed the master’s request to “engage in trade” until he returned. The second has those who received the same command but were lazy and failed to produce any good fruit from that which our Lord has given them. And the third includes those who “despise” our Lord and do not want Him as their King.

Reflect, today, upon which category of people your life most fully resembles. Most likely it is one of the first two. Do you have great zeal for God’s Kingdom? Are you willing to do all that you can to help build His Kingdom? Are you willing to do so even at the cost of great personal sacrifice? If so, then rejoice and know that an abundant reward awaits.

But if you are one who struggles with fear, specifically, if you struggle with a fear to evangelize, to share the Gospel and to live your faith openly with humility and love, then spend more time with this parable and the fate of that one servant who hid the coin in the handkerchief. Engage in the apostolate. Commit yourself to the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. Dispel all fear and know that you will never regret putting your whole heart and soul into the service of God and the building of His Kingdom.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2023/11/21/your-apostolic-calling-2/

Luke 19:12-14 Read More »

Luke 19:1-3

Daily Reflections, Verse

The Desire of the Heart

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now, a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see Him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

Reflection:

Reflect, today, upon the fact that you and you alone have the ability to draw Jesus to yourself. You can do this by looking at your need for Him. Do not hide it. Climb the figurative tree by which you will be able to look for Jesus and, more importantly, by which Jesus can see your manifest desire for Him.

As you express your need for Him, know that He will be compelled, by His unshakable love and mercy, to come to you and to stay with you in the house of your soul. And when He does, be ready and willing to abandon all that has been a hindrance to your meeting with Christ in the past.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2023/11/20/the-desire-of-the-heart-2/

Luke 19:1-3 Read More »

Luke 18:35-39

Daily Reflections, Verse

Gospel:

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!”

Reflection:

Reflect, today, upon these four aspects of a deep prayer life that are presented to us through the witness of this blind beggar. First, ponder your weakness and poverty as you turn to God in prayer. Second, be attentive to the presence of God as He passes by, waiting for you to call to Him. Third, cry out to Him and beg Him to come closer. And fourth, work to overcome every obstacle to prayer and see those obstacles as opportunities to call out to God all the more.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2023/11/19/a-model-for-prayer-2/

Luke 18:35-39 Read More »

Joshua 1:9

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

Joshua 1:9 Read More »

Matthew 6:19-20

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” - Matthew 6:19-20

Matthew 6:19-20 Read More »

Proverbs 15:5

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.” - Proverbs 15:5

Proverbs 15:5 Read More »

Psalm 27:4

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Prayer To Wait On The Lord

Lord, too often I try to do things in my own strength and only when I grow weary does it occur to me to take steps to consciously abide in You and to cast all my cares upon You. Teach me Lord, to truly abide in You, moment by moment, and to learn to wait for You as my first option, rather than as a last resort.

Show me I pray, what it truly means to wait on the Lord, and to abide in You moment by moment. Help me Lord, to cast all my burdens on You and to learn to wait on You in every situation. Thank You for hearing my prayer. In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen.

Sources:

https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-for-Waiting-on-God

Psalm 27:4 Read More »

1 Corinthians 15:58

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58

Prayer Of Strength For Service

Thank You, Father, that You are the same yesterday, today and forever and just as You went ahead of so many of Your saints of old and furnished them with the abilities and capacity to fulfil the tasks that they were given, so too I pray that You will graciously carry out Your good purpose in my life. And Father, just as You promised to be with both Moses and Isaiah in the work that each was called to do, so I trust You to strengthen and support me in all that You have set before me. And may I do everything as unto the Lord. In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen.

Sources:

https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-for-Strength#1208

1 Corinthians 15:58 Read More »

Consoled by Fervent Preaching

Holy Sorrow

Your Apostolic Calling

The Desire of the Heart

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Verse:

Prayer To Wait On The Lord

Sources:

Verse:

Prayer Of Strength For Service

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