Daily Gospel Meditations - Saint John Society

The trials of martyrs, a participation in Christ's Passion - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What's been the spiritual fruit of going through trials and rejection? What does Jesus want you to learn from the testimony of martyrs?

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What do you find most moving in what God has done for us? What traits of God's character stand out to you in this prologue? Have you seen the power of God entering someone's heart and transforming it? What does that transformation look like?

What prompted Zechariah to speak that way? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What are those partial fulfillments of God's promises in your life that enable you to anticipate the complete fulfilment of his promises? How has He already anticipated his promise of making you holy? How has the Lord purified your heart so that you can see his signs more clearly?

The trial of Zechariah - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.In this meditation you can consider whether God has used some situations that threw you a bit off balance to purify your heart. What growth did the Lord intend for you? How is He using current trials to purify you? What is the freedom Jesus wants for you, so you can be ready to accept greater gifts from him?

Mary's Magnificat - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Think of some situations you have seen that resonate with Mary's words. How do you think the Lord wants you to blend humility and great aspirations in your own life? What could be the great dreams that God has for you? And what would it look like to remain humble, even when attaining those dreams?

The trials of Joseph - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What calls your attention about Joseph's trial? What do you find inspiring in the way he acted? Can you relate to the complexity of his position, one that required leadership and obedience at the same time?

Was Mary unassertive? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What do you find inspiring in her? In what way does God want Mary to be a good influence for you? What can you learn from her responses?

Readiness for demanding graces - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.With what aspect of your faith journey does this passage resonate? Have some opportunities and gifts from God placed some demand or constraints on you? How have you been led to grow because of those opportunities?

Why was Joseph left in the dark? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you seen these dynamics at work in your life? Are there situations in your life in which God is calling you to be faithful to the light that is available to you at this time? Has He purified your heart through different tests, so that you may be ready for the mission He has for you?

Is the genealogy of Jesus relevant to us? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How were the people in this genealogy an anticipation of who Jesus would be, or of something that He would solve? How have the factors of your own natural story been assumed, purified and redeemed in your new life in Christ?

Two types of disobedience - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you lived at some point in the first type of open rebellion? How did God reach your heart? Is God using the example of others to encourage you to take a step of conversion? What signs could help you detect if there are pockets of rebellion in your soul?

Do we have the authority to judge Christ? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Is there is any area in your heart in which you have accepted some inconsistency? Do you see the importance of trusting God's authority? Have you seen, in your case or in the case of others, what life is like when there's no guidance of any authority? How do things look different when the voice of Christ is guiding you?

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What signs would Jesus bring before your eyes in moments of desolation? What words can you imagine him say, praising you in the midst of trials? In what way is Jesus inviting you to align your discipline with the promptings of the Holy Spirit?

Was Elijah supposed to come back before Christ? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Why do you think God sent someone in the spirit of Elijah to prepare his coming? Could anything be eclipsing the signs of God's coming to us this Advent? What would the Lord want you to do in preparation?

On the visitation, and on some keys to Mary's holiness - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Is God opening doors in your life, doors that could lead to growth? Can you find examples of things you did beyond what was your duty that led to good fruits in your human and spiritual growth? How has the Lord encouraged you to grow by pointing you toward good companions on the journey?

The violent taking the kingdom? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Are there aspects of your journey as a disciple in which you need to take up the fight again? Have you noticed that special strength that you have when you stand in Christ – how, because of Jesus, you can achieve things that would be impossible without him?

The burden Jesus bids us carry - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What's the burden you are carrying? To which of these burdens do the words of Jesus apply most clearly? Have you experienced that rest that Jesus promises when you take his yoke upon you?

The parable of the lost sheep - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What is the Lord showing you about his own character and his love for you in this gospel? In what ways does this parable resonate with your own journey?

Mary, full of grace - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Where do you find your identity primarily? In what ways is Mary's example a source of encouragement for you? How does God's call for Mary and her response illumine your discernment of what the Lord wants for you?

What does it mean that Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What's your experience of miracles in the human world? Why do you think God wants to use personal signs? What steps of initial conversion is Jesus inviting you to take, so He can later perfect that work through his grace?

The connection between Jesus and the Church - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Can you enter for a moment the gaze of Christ over today's world? What do you see through his eyes? Who were those messengers that Jesus put in your path? In what ways is Jesus sending you now, so that his light may reach others?

Walking after Jesus even when we don't feel - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What inspiration do you receive from Christ's example to manage tensions in your life in a better way? How has the Lord purified your own faith and given you greater gifts after that purification? What healing and transformation has the Lord brought about in you after you encountered him and decided to follow him?

What is the connection between faith and obedience? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What are the things that the Lord may be asking you to revise, so as to build on more solid foundations? What aspects of your behavior, would you say, especially manifest your faith in Christ? In what ways has your obedience to Christ made your life more solid?

Why healing and salvation are connected - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.When Jesus looks at society today, and when He looks at you, what needs does He notice? Why does He feel pity for us? What are the needs you have that Jesus wants to provide for in the Eucharist?

The challenge of trusting again - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What do you see at the root of the joy of Christ? Are you ready to accept his invitation to enter his relationship with the Father? Is there anything in you that holds you back? Could you be missing joy because of lack of perspective on your blessings?

The centurion's faith - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you seen the impact of God's grace, mysteriously drawing people to himself? What aspect of the centurion's character stands out to you? What is the Lord encouraging in you through his example?

How to prepare for the Lord's coming this Advent - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Are there ways in which our world resembles the world of Noah? What is God inviting us to do? How is he encouraging you to stay alert?

On being spiritually alert - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How does this relate to your life? What is Jesus encouraging you to do to overcome spiritual drowsiness and be more vigilant?

Jesus' words will not pass away - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you experienced the passing character of some challenges, and the enduring character of what God has done in those moments? What positive signs have you seen that anticipate the fulfillment of God's kingdom? Why does God want each generation to experience these anticipations of the end?

The virtue of gratefulness - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Are you a grateful person? Are you aware of the contrast, of where you would be without Christ? What is it that you are grateful for? How have you used the blessings received to connect with the One who gave them?

Why opposition can feel so disorienting - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What does rejection look like in your own life? What could your testimony be like in those situations? What grace do you need from Christ?

The grace to be gained in times of crisis - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What are the certainties that provide you with stability? Have you experienced the collapse or failure of worldly securities? How have those failures helped your spiritual growth?

The offering of the poor widow - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Why does Jesus want to remind you that He notices you? Is vanity a spiritual danger for you? What is that area of your life in which Jesus wants you to give him you two small coins? Why is that important for him?

Jesus brought a new understanding of power and leadership - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What is the kind of leadership that has been most inspiring to you? What then is the kind of leadership the Lord wants you to develop? Is your path excessively influenced by negative voices? How can you use your influence to lift others up?

Why did the Sadducees reject the invisible world? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How is God encouraging you to choose him and his vision over other predominant worldviews? What provides you with encouragement to choose Christ's view for your life?

Why did Jewish authorities oppose the cleansing of the Temple? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Is there something that you want Jesus to purify in the temple of your heart? Are there instances in which jealousy or pride get the best of you? What is the root of that? Are you being proactive in carrying out the tasks He has placed under your care?

What can we learn from Christ's tears? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What causes him to feel that way? And then, what are the instances in which He could have cried and lamented, and did not? Think about yourself: what are the things you usually lament or even cry about? Is that lamenting Christ-like? What motivates those tears?

How to handle character flaws - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What responsibilities has the Lord entrusted you with? How are you responding to them? Is fear keeping you from investing your gold coins? Do you see this pattern in your life, that prior good performance led to your being entrusted with more?

The conversion of Zacchaeus - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How does this story resonate with your own faith journey? What graces have you received from God based on past steps of faithfulness on your part? How did your perception of God's ways change as you came closer to Christ?

The healing of the blind beggar - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How does this story resonate with your own spiritual journey? What has the Lord enabled you to see more clearly? How does living for Christ feel different from living for yourself? How are you utilizing the talents that came to life in you with your conversion?

The signs that anticipate the end - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you faced situations that anticipated the end for you? What did you learn from those? What is Jesus inviting you to do to be more firmly rooted in him in times of upheaval?

The parable of the judge and the widow - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Do I really trust God's character? Do I trust his goodness? In what way may the Lord be challenging me to expand my prayer? Or to be more perseverant? Has weariness entered my heart? Has lack of trust entered my heart? What should I say to the Lord?

Why is it difficult to think of the Second Coming as a reality? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Where is your heart and your security? What is the Lord asking of you, so that your life is grounded in Him?

Why does the Bible use the image of a kingdom? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How is it that the internal and external dimensions of the kingdom of God nurture each other? Can this gospel help you understand how the kingdom of God has entered your own life? How would Jesus want you to strengthen your belonging to his kingdom?

The healing of the ten lepers - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.What new possibilities have you received by God's grace in your life? In what ways receiving salvation has opened a door for you to know God? How have you taken advantage of that opportunity to know him and to serve him?

Why would Jesus say we are unprofitable servants? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How does this teaching apply to you? Do you think you could be tempted to some entitlement, or to forgetting the privilege it is to know Christ and serve him? Can you think of some saint or role model that embodies the right attitude toward God in this regard?

Could we be causing others to sin? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How does your behavior impact others, for good or evil? Are there people who depend on you to find moral guidance? How would the Lord want you to respond to situations in which others around you are acting poorly? Have you seen how God's grace can transform the hearts of people?

Why did Jesus expel vendors from the Temple? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How is Jesus challenging you to purify your heart and your worship? How has He purified your worship already, by uniting you to his own sacrifice? Is anger a problem in your life? How is Jesus inviting you to purify the way you address wrongdoing?

The true wealth of the kingdom - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Do you perceive your possessions as a means to serve, or as an end in itself? How is Jesus encouraging you to make friends with what you have? What is true wealth in your eyes? What is the image of a successful life for you?

Lessons on prudence from children of this world - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.In what instances do you see Jesus as a model of prudence? How could you apply these lessons to the prudential pursuit of good goals? In what ways is Jesus encouraging you to apply these elements of prudence, so as to grow in this virtue?

The parables of mercy - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.How did Christ seek you out when you were lost? To whom is He sending you now? What's the change of heart that needs to take place in you, so that you have the same interests Jesus has?