Daily Gospel Meditations - Saint John Society

How can we find rest bearing Christ's yoke? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What makes you feel weary and burdened? What is the yoke Jesus is inviting you to take upon yourself? In what way can you come to Jesus today? What does He want you to learn from his heart?

Why only the childlike receive the Son's revelation - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What is the source of your identity and your joy? What have you received from Christ? Are there areas of your life in which you still choose to rely on your own wisdom, more than on God's?

Why did Christ reproach the towns where He conducted his mission? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How does God want you to use the graces and blessings He is giving you at this time? Are there ways in which self-complacency can pose a spiritual danger for you?

How can Jesus ask us to love him more than family? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.So, how does this passage resonate with you? What are the conflicts you need to accept as part of your journey as disciple? Are there tensions, however, that don't result from faith, but rather from your sinfulness? What does it mean for you to place Christ above other relationships? What aspects of Christ's message are well received by those around you, and what aspects might find more resistance?

The parable of the Good Samaritan is connected to all of Christ's teaching - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What do you find distinctive about Christ's love? Has someone been an image of Christ for you in this way? How can you manifest this kind of love at this time in your life?

The temptations that stem from fear - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What do those fears tell you about what you love and value most? How can you start challenging those fears, so as to place your Christian identity as the most important thing in your life?

The paradox of a peaceful conquest - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What examples of simplicity and shrewdness do you find most inspiring in Christ and in the saints? What skills or virtues is Jesus encouraging you to cultivate, so that you can bear fruit in your mission?

How are we supposed to bring the gospel to others? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What is your experience of living in the kingdom of God? How would you explain the novelty of living in Christ to others? In what ways does your life reflect the message of the gospel? Have you ever seen this played out – you or someone you know being an instrument of Christ to bring salvation to others?

Why did Jesus send his disciples on a mission? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you experienced that distinctive union of wisdom and power in Christianity? Why did God decide to count on us as messengers?

How Jesus dealt with the worst accusations - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What fuels your activity? How is Jesus inviting you to see the outcomes of your activity and to deal with criticism? Invite Jesus today to pour his sentiments into your heart.

A contemplation of the heart of Christ - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Can you think of situations in which you had to address people's needs or balance many things at once? How do you normally perform in those situations? Now, imagine Christ walking through the same scenario you were in. How would Jesus react? Talk to the Lord about it, telling him what you would like to learn from him.

Why did Jesus send his disciples on a mission before his Passion? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How would you convey what peace, the blessing of living in Christ, means for you? How can you proclaim that blessing to others persuasively? How are you invited to trust in God's providence in doing so? What is the source of your joy?

Why were Christ's disciples not supposed to fast? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.When did you see that transition in you? When did practices cease to be a burden, and become a way to feed the fire the Holy Spirit kindled in you? Are there still old wineskins in you, areas in which practices are a burden, not connected with that fire?

The conversion of St. Matthew - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How was Matthew doing before Jesus called him? How did the Lord make those first inroads into your life? Have you seen Christ reach others through the invitation of friends? Can you distinguish when entering a certain environment can bring the light of Christ, from situations that will simply be walking into temptation?

Why did Thomas doubt the resurrection? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What are your own struggles with faith? Do you struggle because it's hard to believe God can do certain things? Or do you struggle that God has chosen this particular way to convey faith to us? Can you relate to Thomas' struggles – his jealousy, the comparison with others, his impulsiveness?

Why did these demons fear being cast out? - Fr. LucasLaborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you seen something analogous to this incident, either in your own life or in the life of others? Are you willing to face the unsettling aspects of that fight? What do you find inspiring in Christ's character and actions in this passage?

Why did Jesus challenge the disciples' fears? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What storms you've sailed through in recent times? What are some of the things Jesus wants to remind you of in response to fears or worries you may have? Why do you think He doesn't always respond right away, but may be quiet for a season?

The cost of discipleship - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What are your expectations in following Christ? Have you seen some of these misguided expectations play out and show their consequences in situations you have seen? What wisdom do you find in what Jesus answered these men?

The complementary charisms of Peter and Paul - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Why do you think Jesus decided to endow the Church with these different charisms and promises? In what ways has the Church illumined and sustained you in your faith journey?

Why did Jesus stay behind in the Temple? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Can you think of events that have been like reminders from God of what's important in your life? What is the ground of your obedience? Is it social convention? Is it doing what is less risky? Is it faith in God? What do you take away from Mary's response to what Christ did?

A parable that reflects the heart of Christ - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What aspects of Christ's love do you find most inspiring? How have you experienced those yourself? How is Jesus inviting you to imitate the traits of his Sacred Heart?

The house built on rock - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What elements in your life show that you are consistent in seeking the will of God? Are there areas you need to address to bring your life in line with the Lord's teaching? What are those good beginnings that could give you a false sense of security, if they are not backed up by a consistent behavior?

How are we to discern false prophets? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How can you grow in your ability to discern people's moral character? Do you tend to err on the side of distrusting too much, or of trusting too quickly, or in an unqualified way? What attitude would the Lord want in you?

Why does God create interconnected stories? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you seen instances of God's interventions in your life, or in stories you've heard or read about? What have you learned from those? What keys can you find in this passage about why such interventions can be missed, or misinterpreted, or, on the contrary, used in a good way?

What makes judgment especially problematic - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How would you want others to judge you? How could your judgment of others reflect that measure you'd want used for yourself? How are you working toward removing any blind spots in your moral vision?

The Eucharistic anticipated in miracle - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What signs of God in your life have been revealing to you the deeper hunger you have? How is Jesus inviting you to pray at Mass, so that you may be caught up in the dynamic of his thinking and his love? How are you being renewed and transformed by receiving this sacrament?

Seek first the kingdom of God - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Are there areas in your life in which you still need to give God the first place? Have you seen God's providence at work in your life in recent times? If confidence in God's providence prevailed in your heart over anxiousness about the future, what kind of decisions would you make? What would your life look like?

The images of the treasure and the lamp - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How would you assess before the Lord your own relationship with possessions? Is there anything Jesus would encourage you to imitate in the way He looks at things?

The wisdom of the Lord's Prayer - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Choose three petitions on which you may focus your meditation today. What is the wisdom they contain? Why do you need them? How can they help you grow in prayer?

Walking before the Father's gaze - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Can you tell those things you do to glorify God from those you do to be seen? How are the outcomes different? What steps is Jesus inviting you to take, so that you may seek him instead of human glory?

How is it possible to love our enemies? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Did you ever receive an act of kindness from someone you considered an enemy? What impact did that have on you? What situations come to mind when you hear this teaching of Christ? What is He encouraging you to do?

How do we deal with difficult people? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Can you think of instances in which this teaching was applied? What was the impact of those actions? Even if you feel that responding in this way may be hard to achieve in some specific situation you are dealing with, are there smaller steps in that direction that Jesus is encouraging you to take?

What the mystery of the Trinity means for us - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.

Let your ‘yes' mean ‘yes.' - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Maybe constant swearing is not something people do in the circles in which you move, but what are other possible ways we may tempted to use today not to be completely truthful? How do lies impact relationships? What is the motivation behind most lies? Have you noticed the contrast there is between relationships that are transparent and truthful, and those that are not?

Jesus' teaching on sexuality and marriage - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Why do you think Jesus is so demanding in the area of sexuality? What are the consequences of not growing in virtue in this area? What is the kind of love that is attained by those who regain virtue in the area of sexuality?

A holiness greater than the letter of the law - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Why do you think Jesus asks us to interiorize his commandments? How do you deal with anger? Do you need to seek reconciliation? What is the Lord inviting you to do in this area?

Do we Christians still need the law? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you experienced the good use of laws and good teachings in your faith journey? Do you need to heal your image of the law? In what areas of your life do you need that external help of discipline, good community, mentoring, and good laws?

Salt of the earth and light of the world - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Who are the people who have been salt and light for you? How are you called to be salt and light for others? In what circumstances is the temptation to blend in the strongest for you?

Mary, our mother in the order of grace - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings. In what ways have you grown in union with Christ, so as to partake of his sufferings and of his joys, as Mary did? Imagine you are the one at the foot of the cross, and that Mary receives you as her child today.

Why did Christ send his Spirit upon his disciples? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What calls your attention about the way in which the Holy Spirit works? Have you seen signs of the Holy Spirit in you or others in recent times? What dimension of the action of the Holy Spirit resonates with you?

The temptation to compare ourselves with others - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Are there areas in your life in which you feel insecure or tend to compare yourself with others? What does Jesus say in response to those voices? How does He encourage you? What is it that matters to him?

“Simon, do you love me?” - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How can you show Jesus your love for him? How could yourlove for him grow?

What does Jesus ask for when He prays for us? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What does each of these gifts Jesus prayed for mean to you? What is keeping you from receiving them? How would your life look like if you received a greater portion of these gifts?

What does Jesus mean by asking that his disciples be consecrated? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How has Jesus protected you and watched over you? How has the message of Christ transformed you and led you to live in a way that is distinctive? In what ways has the Lord consecrated you, that is, established you solidly in faith?

What did Jesus say when He prayed? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How would you like to summarize your life? Imagine Jesus speaking to the Father about you. What are the good things He says? What do you find most inspiring in the character of Jesus?

Signs of spiritual growth - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Where are you in your spiritual journey? Can you identify some steps of growth you have taken? What is still lacking? Where is Jesus pointing next? Where do you get your identity from? How can you become more rooted in the Father?

The parting words of Jesus - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What are the things you have witnessed? What is the large context of your situation in life right now? When is it that you experienced the presence of Christ in your life most clearly? What were the fruits of that closeness with God?

What we can learn from Mary's visitation - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What doors has the Lord opened for you, so that you get to share your faith journey with others? What traits do you find especially inspiring in Mary and Elizabeth? Is there anything in their character that the Lord is encouraging you to imitate?

How to assess joy and sorrow in the spiritual life - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What have been some movements of joy and of sadness in recent times? What is the cause of those joys and sorrows? Is there something that Jesus wants to teach you through those movements in your heart?

How can sadness become joy? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Is Jesus inviting you to imitate some aspect of his leadership? What would be some examples in your life in which the reason for your sadness turned into joy in the Spirit?

Why does God reveal things to us gradually? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.