daily-praise

[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

From our gospel today, Jesus is the vine planted by his Father, who cares for the vine, and for those who are listening and following him completely they will become lovely fruit-bearing branches within the kingdom of God. For they are the ones who belong to the truth, who keep the commandments just as Jesus, the vine instructs, which we do by always loving one another and remaining with Jesus. We see this played out in first reading: for Paul is a branch; that is a disciple, as much as any other disciple of Jesus and through the love of God, he became a trusted person within the community of believers, for he followed the commandments of God with faith, hope and above all with Love.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 28, 2024

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Today’s Reflection

As we go through life and encounter people, we come to value some for their insights. Such as a valued Professor, Mentor, Pastor, or a Superior in which some mark of their charism is transferred on too us. For instance, we Benedictines have taken upon ourselves the chrism of our Holy Father Benedict through his rule in which we embody his Benedictine values. Jesus did something like this with his Father but only immeasurably more. For Jesus brought God's desire, God's message, God's mind, and God's heart to us.[1] This is what Jesus is trying to get across to his disciples, and especially to Phillip, that by meeting Jesus, they indeed received the charism of his Father, which is love and respect, and for this, we ought to remain eternally thankful.

[1] Barclay, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/john-14.html

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 27, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

Today’s gospel comes from the last supper discourse by Jesus who is trying to introduce some measure of hope, because Jesus knows that his disciples will soon face the darkest period of their lives when he dies upon the cross. Therefore, Jesus reminds his disciples to hold on to their faith, that what he says will come true, for he is the way and the truth and the life and for those who hold on to their faith they will be with Jesus. For Jesus said, ‘Where I am, there you will also be.’ Here is a great truth put in the simplest way, because heaven is where Jesus is located. Therefore, it is enough to know that we who believe will be forever with him.[1] This is what his disciples came to understand as they preached the good news of hope, which witness in our first reading today.

[1] https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/john-14.html

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 26, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

Jesus, when he appeared in our flesh, as we know, came to do his Father’s will that is spread the gospel, help us to repent, and believe, which he did but in a limited way, for there was only so much Jesus could do as we walked among us. However, with the ascension of Jesus to his Father and with the help of the Holy Spirit, his disciples continued the ministry of Jesus, which became open to all people and through such saints as Saint Mark, this became possible. Because Mark presents to us a work, which Matthew and Luke used as one of their main sources. This together, with other works, we have come to know Jesus and his mission, which we have received so that we may continue to spread the good news so that the next generation may come to know the risen Christ and gain eternal life.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 25, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

Jesus today shows his disciples that the unity of the Father and the Son is such that by listening to Jesus ‘one’ hears the Father and for anyone who listens and responds accordingly steps into the light of faith. This we see with our first reading today for Barnabas and Saul listened and stepped into the light of faith and acted accordingly, and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they brought the light of the good news to Cyprus. This is the good news of the gospel, which continues today, for the Holy Spirit, is still active within the Church in many different ways and continues to help the Church grow through our understanding of the Words of Jesus. For he tells us what the Father wants us to hear and that is the commandment of love that brings to us life eternal.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 24, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

In any successful revolution, a rallying cry becomes important because it unites a group together so that through unity it may give the cause a fighting chance. This occurred in 1836, during the Texas Revolution from Mexico, for a rallying cry emerged among the Texans, "Remember the Alamo," and this carried the Texans to eventual victory. In our first reading today, something similar to a rallying cry occurred with the growing persecution of the Church. For the Jewish elders, who rejected Jesus as the good shepherd, persecuted the growing Church in order to stamp out any mention of Jesus. However, an opposite effect occurred for the members of the scattered Church, found a rallying cry around the word Christian, which united the Church in one belief allowing the Church to grow to the far ends of the world.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 23, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

As we continue with Jesus being a good shepherd we know that Jesus is trying to maintain a good relationship with us as much as a shepherd maintains a good relationship with his fold. Yet, this fold is larger than one thinks for Jesus said, “[that] I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd,” which the Church follows as Jesus who expands the limits of salvation to all people. This begins with Peter in our first reading as a second Pentecost event occurs now for Gentiles when the Holy Spirit fell upon those who sent for Peter. This all occurs in hope that those who are lost but now found will enter into the fold of Jesus who is the perfect shepherd guiding his fold into his kingdom.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 22, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

Today the Church on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday, prays to our Lord, for an increase in vocations to his Church, which began with Jesus who referred to himself, as the stone rejected by the builders who has become the cornerstone.

Jesus did this for a reason, because cornerstones are important in construction of a house or building, for the cornerstone is the measure that all other stones use in order to produce a square and secure building. That is to say, a cornerstone acts as a leader, and as such is the most important part of a building, as much as Jesus is for the Church and for those who follow him, much as sheep follow a shepherd, for they will find security, love and support that keeps one safe in a very dark world of individualism. Therefore, as the cornerstone or shepherd, Jesus is calling all of us to reflect upon the precious gift of his call to each of us, as members of his faithful pilgrim people here on earth, and as pilgrims, this vocational call is real whether that be a call to marriage life, religious life of the single life. Yet, if one is to answer this call and embrace their vocation, the cornerstone of the Church; that is Jesus our shepherd, must be at the center of our lives, because Jesus is our perfect leader who willingly gave up his life just for us. This is the point that St. Paul makes in his ministry. For Jesus is more than just another good shepherd who cares for his sheep, he is the perfect shepherd who cares not only for his friends, but as the perfect shepherd he loves even the wolves, and this is what it is needed if we are to embrace our vocation, a complete and total commitment of love. This must occur in each vocational call, but in very different ways. In married life, a couple commit to each other with God as their center, together they raise a family that are committed to each other and as such, they are blessed. Because as Pope Francis states, “mothers and fathers … do not think first of themselves or follow fleeting fads of the moment, [they] shape their lives through relationships marked by love and graciousness, openness to the gift of life and commitment to their children and their growth in maturity.” This we see in the Holy Family in Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in which Mary and Joseph in their commitment to Jesus raised him and taught him what it means to be fully human. In religious life, a community forms in which each member commits to each other in their relationship to and with God who “tirelessly and creatively exercising their charism by serving those around them.” This we see with the disciples of Jesus who came together in one heart and mind to spread the good news to the ends of the earth. In the single life, there is a unique commitment here to serve the common good, for they by their vocation have the freedom to give of their time “in various ways to build a more just world, a more solidary economy, a more equitable social policy and a more humane society.” This we see in saintly people, such as Dorothy Day and her Catholic worker movement or others who through third orders or oblations have helped humanity find their way into the kingdom of God such as with Saint Catherine of Siena. This is all good news, for those who heed the call of a vocation. For they through time and effort, in placing God in the center of their lives, help produce a lasting kingdom with Jesus the rejected cornerstone as a guide. Because, he is truly our shepherd or leader who gave up everything so that we may, in our vocation, grow closer to each other and to God, and for this we ought to remain eternally grateful as we continue to pray for an increase in vocations to his Church.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 21, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

Today we conclude the Eucharistic message of Jesus we do so with a question: “Do you also want to leave?” which can only be answered through faith, which is a gift, that allows the receiver a chance to grow in their understanding of God, which we see occur with Peter, for through his simple statement of faith, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,” Peter makes a decision to remain with God. Yet, even with this beginning, Peter has a long way to go, for he will continue to stumble, deny, and falter – but in the process, he helps establish a good apostolic foundation within the Church, with a faith that goes beyond signs. This allows Peter to do miraculous things, such as the rising of Tabatha in our first reading, but remember all of this occurs through faith in the name of Jesus.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 20, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

As we continue with the discourse on the mystery of the Eucharist, which is not completely understandable by us, let us be careful, because not all mysteries are worth solving. Therefore, there must be a better way to understand what Jesus is trying to say, and this understanding must occur through faith. Because as we accept the Eucharist, which is the very body of Christ, we also accept his words and the truth for, Jesus, through his teaching brings to us eternal life, which will sustain us in life through the Eucharist and that ought to be good enough.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 19, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

During this week, Jesus has continued to refer to himself as the Bread of Life. Although we have a better understanding today of what this means, it still remains a mystery. Yet, for those who accept this challenge, they are not alone. Because “the relationship we have with Jesus [has been] made manifest [through] the cross. This act revealed what sort of God we worship, one who gives his flesh for the life of the world. This is the God we not only celebrate, but [also] truly encounter in the Eucharist.”[1] for Jesus gave to us through this sacrament, his Life to sustain us so that we can continue to take up the challenge of Jesus daily as we strive to live better Christian lives.

[1] http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/DailyReadings/3Easter.html#Thursday

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 18, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

Jesus today reminds us that everything that the Father gives the Son will appear to him. For the Father and the Son are one in the Spirit and this is good news. Because the focus of God’s love is for us in such that Jesus will not reject anyone who comes to him. Rather those who come to Jesus receive redeeming grace, given to us by the Father through the Son, who is the bread of life, which we receive through our frequent reception of his body at every Eucharist we celebrate. Grace then received through the bread of life, gives us who properly use his grace, life, because the optimal word here points to the word ‘living.’ This is the key to any spiritual development, for it leads us away from sin and death and brings us closer to God and our salvation.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 17, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

In our gospel today, the Jews, those people Jesus is speaking to, jumped to a conclusion and clung to the idea of Mana, which fed the exiles during their forty-year journey through the desert to the promise land. It is unfortunate, that they misunderstood what Manna was, for Manna could only satisfy one’s physical hunger but nothing more. Still, they demanded a sign, which they will never see. Because, even the sign they demanded, which was standing right in front of them in Jesus who is the bread was not enough. Yet, for those who take the time to listen and make an effort to understand, much as Stephen did in our first reading, will grow in their faith and find Jesus who is the sign that gives them eternal life.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 16, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

Whenever we encounter a situation where a decision occurs, we ought to be careful, because a decision made in haste often means that one jumps to a conclusion. This often makes for good stories in books, television, and movies. That is to say, by jumping to a conclusion, often lead a person from the truth, such as the people in our gospel today who were reacting to Jesus only on the surface looking for actual bread. Yet, there is more to Jesus here, and for those who take the time to see the whole picture will find that the bread that Jesus invite us to receive is his body, which sustains us and brings us eternal life.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 15, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

As we picture the upper room, where the disciples were sitting it is understandable that they were experiencing hard emptions, anxiety, and fear or even grief, and these emotions tends to create despair. As for Jesus, as he appeared to them, he knew their state in life. It is here we see the depth of his mercy, for Jesus could have scolded them in their unbelief, but he did not as he says “Peace be with you” as he reassures them that it was he standing before them. With this. their trepidation and despair was slowly turning into joy. This is truly good news, for them as it brought to them life, that despite all that had happened, that everything would work out well for those who believe.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 14, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

John in his gospel today shows us the duality of Jesus and depth of his love for us, for prayer is important, but so is his unending care for us, because as he prayed, he must have kept an eye on his disciples as they struggled against the wind during the night. Therefore, in their need, Jesus came to his disciples to rescue them by the quickest means possible by walking on water. Yet, for salvation to occur when God offers it to us, we need to cooperate with God and his grace. For, if his disciples had not made an effort to help Jesus into the boat, salvation would not have occurred. Something to ponder as we go through life.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 13, 2024

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[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

With today’s gospel, we witness the wholeness of Jesus for when we encounter him, primarily in the Eucharist, he fortifies the whole person in three ways. First, he does so symbolically. In our gospel, Jesus connects the crowd that gathered around him to the past by feeding the multitude. It is through this that he reminds them of how God fed a multitude of people with Manna in Desert. Next, Jesus does so physically. In our gospel, Jesus connects the crowd that gathered around him to the present by feeding them actual food satisfying their physical hunger. Lastly, Jesus does so divinely. In our gospel, Jesus connects the crowd that gathered around him to the future by pointing this event to the final judgement at the end of time. Thus, we ought to remain always grateful, for Jesus sustains us completely in life.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 12, 2024

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