The Daily Word
Hear the Daily Word on
Get the Daily Word in Your Inbox!
No One Believes
Were you ever denied a second chance or were misunderstood or not believed in when you tried to make things right? How often do we look upon others and judge others from our biases, and not looking at others objectively, seeing not the heart but only the appearance? Saul experienced this. No one believed him, but that didn’t stop him from believing and preaching. How we we react in the face of adversity?
Click on the title to read more.
“When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him,
not believing that he was a disciple.”Acts 9:26
Have you ever felt misunderstood and no one believed in you? Have you ever made a mistake, tried very hard to change, and yet no one sees it and continues to reject you? Saul must have felt that way. Yes, he was a major proponent for persecuting the followers of Jesus and even condoned the stoning of St. Stephen. He even asked permission to search homes and drag anyone who follows the Way out and put them in prison. Then by God’s grace while on the road to Damascus, Saul encountered the Risen Christ and came to believe. Not only did he come to faith, Saul went and proclaimed the Good News, bringing Christ to everyone. But people were suspicious of him.
He tried to explain what had happened to him and that he was truly sorry for what he did and is now a firm believer and follower of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the others worried that maybe he was working “undercover” to try to turn them over. They wouldn’t accept him.
Were we ever on the same side Saul was? Or maybe were we ever on the side of the disciples? Are we always suspicious of those who have sinned or have committed something against us or do we give them the benefit of the doubt? Jesus always gives us the benefit of the doubt. The Father is always ready to forgive. Jesus commanded His followers to love. And this love includes apologizing, forgiving, and reconciling. It is in truth and deed that we must love.
Even when it seems like no one believes us, we must have faith and know that God does. God sees the heart while the others sees the appearances. God sees us as we truly are while humans see with biases. How do we react when everyone around us doubts us? Do we hide and go away? Saul didn’t. Today may we be forgiving as God is forgiving and to not judge and disbelieve someone because of their past, but rather to love with compassion, remembering that we too were given many second chances.
Ask Me
Today Beloved Son Ministry turns one! One year ago all this was started as an effort to evangelize while in quarantine and in the midst of the pandemic restrictions. One year later, the pandemic is still here, but the people seem to be better. Today we celebrate St. Joseph the Worker who worked tirelessly to provide for Mary and Jesus. We know that we can turn to him to bring our prayers to Jesus, because Jesus will never refuse his prayers.
Click on the title for the full reflection.
“If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:14
Today, Beloved Son Ministry turns one! This all started one year ago today when we celebrated St. Joseph the Worker while in quarantine. We wanted to make sure the Good News was still being proclaimed, and so we started the Beloved Son Ministry website.
Today we remember again St. Joseph. St. Joseph was the foster father of Jesus, the man who taught Jesus how to walk and talk, how to be a man and a father, and how to love Mary. We do not hear much about him in the Bible, and so often he is referred to as the “Sleeping Giant.” We may not hear much from him or about him, but we know the great impact and influence he must have had on Jesus and Mary - the only two sinless people! St. Joseph prays for us and intercedes for us everyday. Let us not forget him and the great place he has in heaven.
Jesus reminds us today that we can ask Him anything, and we can ask St. Joseph for anything and we can be sure that he will bring it to Jesus. God wants to give to us all that we need to live life, not just get by or survive, but to really live life and enjoy every moment of it. He wants us to be able to find joy in our sufferings, peace in our anxiety, hope in our despair, love in the hurtful parts of our heart. Let us today boldly ask Jesus everything that we want and need, confident that He wants to grant to us all that we need for an abundant and fruitful life. May we turn too to St. Joseph whose prayers his Son will not refuse.
St. Joseph, pray for us!
Have Faith
Is there something weighing on your mind or heart right now? Is there something that is causing you to be anxious and worried? Jesus says to you, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Jesus wants to wash over all of those burdens and sources of stress and pain with His peace and love. He wants to, but will you let Him?
Click on the title for the full reflection.
“Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.’”John 14:1
What’s troubling your hearts right now? What is causing you to be anxious and worried? What is keeping you from fully living life? Jesus tells us in the Gospel “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” This is the Gospel passage that is most commonly proclaimed at funeral masses. I can imagine why. The death of a loved one may induce in us worry, fear, pain, anxiety. “What should I do now?” “How can I continue on living?” “I can’t do this alone.”
Jesus says to you, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in my Father and in me.” Jesus begs you to have faith in Him. Do you believe that He walks with you through your sufferings and the storms of your life? Because He does and He wants to. It can be so easy to turn inwards and shut everyone and everything out when things are not going as well as we had hoped, but it is very dangerous to do so. We think this is the way to find peace. There have been times when I have done that and I always found myself alone, unhappy, and feeling hopeless. Then this loneliness and hopelessness turned into despair and I found myself very agitated and irritable, feeling the world owed me something. This was not peace. This was the breeding ground for the enemy to make his attack. Don’t let him.
Instead of turning inwards, let us to upwards. Instead of turning to loneliness and despair, let us turn to our faith. Jesus asks you today, “What is troubling your heart today? Show me and let me wash it over with my peace.” Have faith and know that you are loved.
