Daily Gospel Reflection on Veritas Catholic Network

Go Not With Your Fallen Nature - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today's Gospel Reading is Matthew 5:38-42. Jesus tells us to not go along with those things that are the result of fallen nature. Not an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but rather, turn the other cheek. Jesus teaches us that it isn’t about “getting even”, it’s about the call to love and to forgive. We are to let go of the desire for revenge and instead seek to love in all moments.
There can be no peace in the world if we are always looking for revenge. The world is in great need of conversion, let us pray for that conversion today.
 

God Uses ALL Your Good Works, Even If YOU Don't Know How - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Gospel Reading is Mark 4:26-34. Today we  are given two parables, on whereby the seed grows, but the sower knows not how, and the other, the parable of the mustard seed, that goes from the smallest of all seeds to the largest bush. Together, these parables emphasize that we must trust that the Lord is using all of our work for good, despite our inability to recognize where, when, and how the works will bear fruit.
Let us be servants of the Kingdom that starts with a small seed and grows beyond what we can understand, because it is God that makes it grow.

Nothing, If Not You, Oh Lord - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 16. It is a prayer to God, crying out that He will be our protection and saving grace. So often we hope in our own abilities and talents. As we listen to this Psalm it is a reminder to entrust everything to God, and as such, we say “you are my inheritance, O Lord”.  St. Thomas Aquinas at the end of his life had a vision of the Lord, who offered him a reward for his service. Aquinas responded by saying “Nothing, if not You, Lord”.
Let us pray for the grace to respond in kind.
St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!

Find God in the Still, Small Voice - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s reading is from 1 Kings 19:9-16. Elijah has run away from persecution and is trying to find shelter and safety. God then speaks to Elijah in the intimacy of Elijah’s heart, in the still small voice. There are times when God speaks in large signs and wonders, but most frequently, He speaks to us in simple and small ways. Today let us ask for the grace to listen to His voice, find Him in silence, and to worship Him as He passes by.

The Feast of St. Anthony of Padua - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today is the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, Fr. Sam connects the story of St. Anthony with Christ’s call for our righteousness to surpass that which the law requires. Jesus tells us if we arguing to truly live the Christian faith we must go beyond the law. We go beyond the call of the law out of love and deep conviction of heart. Let us pray for the grace to go beyond the law into perfect charity!

You Still Have to Follow the Commandments! - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Gospel reading is Mt 5:17-19. Jesus doesn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. As such, the Beatitudes can be read as the fulfillment of the law, of the Commandments. The Beatitudes reveal not the rules, but the proper disposition of heart we must cultivate to properly live the fulfillment of the law.
Not one iota is removed from the law, and thus, we must be obedient to it. We must also teach others to obey the law. In order to do so, we must first tell others that there is a God who loves them and thus shows them how to live.

As Salt of the Earth, We Sometimes Must Be Gritty - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised be Jesus Christ! Today’s Gospel reading is Mt 5:13-16, it is the feast of St. Barnabas the Apostle.
Jesus instructs us to be salt if the earth and light for the world. We can only be these two things if we have cultivated the spirit of the Beatitudes. Salt is gritty, as such the Gospel sometimes “rub you the wrong way”, it can convict your conscience of your sin. It can sting.
When we celebrate the feasts of the Apostles we are reminded of our own vocation to bring the Gospel to the world. St. Barnabas, pray for us.

Live Focused on God - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Gospel Reading is Mt 5:1-12.
Today we hear the Beatitudes, a tremendous compliment to the Commandments. While the Commandments are truly “commands” we must follow, the Beatitudes illustrate the spiritual growth for which we must always strive. Jesus wants us to truly cultivate in our hearts the spirit of poverty (Blessed are the poor in spirit) so we might always turn to the Lord.
The Beatitudes teach us to always live a life focused on God. Today let us pray for the grace to be men and women of the Beatitudes.

Aim For Heaven, This World is Passing Away - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
The Second Reading from Mass comes from 2 Corinthians 4:13-5.
St. Paul reminds us that the material of the world is transitory, it’s passing away. We must aim for the eternity of heaven in this life, not wealth, power, or status. We must always focus on the relationship with God to which we are called, a relationship which begins here and maintains in Heaven.

The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ! Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In the second reading, 2 Tim 4:1-8, Paul instructs Timothy to preach the Gospel “in and out of season”. As we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary we can contemplate Mary’s constant pondering of the Life of Christ, and furthermore, her perfect example of loving the Christian life. Mary is the perfect example of bearing witness at all times, both in the upper room and underneath the cross.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Daily Gospel Reflection

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus!
The Heart of Jesus burns with love for humanity, it is wounded but constantly pours out love. As Jesus reveals his Most Sacred Heart to St. Mary Alacoque He emphasizes His desire that the Gospel be shared with the whole world.
The Lord calls of us, who are, with St. Paul, “the least of the holy ones” to share the Gospel . Let us pray for the grace to cooperate with Our Lord’s desire to share the Good  News with the whole world.

The Two Greatest Commandments - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Gospel Reading is Mark 12:28-34. Jesus provides us with the two greatest commandments. To love God above all others and to love all others for God. By putting God first, we are able to love all others properly.
Today, let us pray for the grace to put into practice the first and greatest Commandment and the second which is like it.

Preaching the Gospel in a Pagan World - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s First Reading is from 2 Tim 1. Paul is reminding Timothy that the Good News is not only preached but is given sacramentally. When St. Timothy was ordained he was given the gift of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual reality to live in.
St. Boniface was a tremendous witness of this, proclaiming the Gospel to a pagan people, and as such, stirring the flame in his heart. Like St. Boniface, we need to learn how to share the good news in our culture and to all the world.
St. Boniface, pray for us!

What belongs to Caesar? What Belongs to God? - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ! 
Today’s Gospel Reading is Mark 12:13-17.
Jesus is asked if it’s a sin to pay the census tax. The census, remember, is a grave act for the Jews (cf. David's census being considered a grave sin). Nonetheless, Jesus says those famous words “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mk 12:17). The Lord’s instruction applies today, don’t allow the earthly authority to determine how you relate to God. We shouldn’t allow our faith to be so temporal that it is dictated by an earthly authority.
 

The Amazing Story of St. Charles Lwanga (Ugandan Martyr) - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Gospel Reading is Mark 12:1-12. Today is the feast of St. Charles Lwanga. St. Charles was a man who was appointed an official to his king in Uganda after his predecessor was executed for challenging the king’s decision to execute Anglican missionaries. Charles not only protected other servants in the kings court, but gave his life defending them from the sexual advances of the corrupt king.
St. Charles Lwanga is a martyr for chastity, for others, and for the Catholic Faith. Today let us pray through the intercession of St. Charles Lwanga for all those who have been the victims of sexual abuse.

Jesus Christ is TRULY Present in the Eucharist - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!Today’s Gospel Reading is Mark 14:12-26. It is fitting that we hear of the Last Supper on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi! Today we celebrate the Eucharist, the gift of the Lord’s very presence. As we are in a time of Eucharistic Revival, we are reminded of our need for this great gift.
What is our disposition before the Eucharist today? Let us pray for the grace to grow in our appreciation and gratitude for the great gift of the Holy Eucharist.

St. Justin Martyr on the Mass - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Gospel is Mark 11: 27-33. It is the feast of St. Justin Martyr. St. Justin is one of the earliest apologists in the history of the Church. He writes about the structure of the Mass, Christians in society, and standing against the temptation to earthly power.
St. Justin also shares how the priest gives God praise and worship to the best of their ability. Let us pray that we might do so as well in our own worship?
St. Justin Martyr, Pray for us!

The Visitation of Mary - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Gospel Reading is Luke 1:39-56, it is the feast of the Visitation!
When Mary greets Elizabeth, John the Baptist jumps in the womb of Mary. So too, we hear the great phrase “blessed are you” and the Magnificcat, “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord”.
Through the message of the Gospel, we are being invited into the greatness of the Lord. Does our soul proclaim God’s greatness and glory?
Our Lady of the Visitation, pray for us!
 

Jesus Goes Through Jericho! - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Gospel Reading is Mark 10:46-52.
The fact that Jesus is leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd of people is significant. Jericho represents “the walled place” that needs to be destroyed. What is it then? It’s sin.Jesus thus goes to the city of sin on a mission, and when he leaves, there are many people who leave with Him.
Let us pray for the grace to be among those who leave their sins behind and follow Jesus.

What Is Required of Jesus's Disciples? - Daily Gospel Reflection

Praised Be Jesus Christ!
Today’s Gospel Reading is Mark 10:32-45.
Jesus is reminding his apostles what is going to happen, namely, that he will suffer and die. He’s also reminding them what is required of his disciples.
We also learn several lessons about what it means to pray as a disciple. If you’re going to be a disciple you have to prepare yourself for challenges, difficulties, and put yourself last.