Daily Gospel Meditations - Saint John Society

The parable of the wheat and the weeds - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings.

Why Jesus did not completely reject the request of James and John - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. What is the kind of greatness you are looking for? Are you allowing your heart to dream of great things? Or are you completely dominated by discouragement and self-doubt? How has Jesus guided you by providing a better scope for your desires and dreams?

Why did Jesus teach the crowds only in parables? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. What could be keeping you from understanding the gospels more deeply? What steps in your faith journey enabled to you better understand Christ’s teachings? Why is it that you couldn’t get the kingdom of God before taking those steps?

The parable of the sower - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Are there graces that God is asking you to be open to, or to protect to a greater degree? What makes the soil of your heart change from one type to another?

Why did Jesus ask Mary not to hold on to him? - Fr. LucasLaborde. Click here for today’s readings. What elements in this encounter with Christ reflect your own spiritual condition? What do you seek most passionately? If Jesus said to you: “Do not hold on to me,” what would that refer to? What has led you, in different moments, to recognize Christ’s presence and voice?

What does the sign of Jonah mean? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. How are you receiving the signs that God has given you? What are those signs, the providential encounters, the transformed lives, the responses to prayer? And then think of Christ as the great sign. What calls your attention about the person of Jesus, about his words, teachings, and actions?

Martha and Mary: the one thing necessary - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Where is most of your activity stemming from right now? What could be the one thing, the mission or pathos, that could provide unity to your life? How is Jesus inviting you to bring greater balance to your life?

The key of Christ’s resilience against criticism - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. How do you respond to challenging situations? What is the fruit of countering evil with goodness? When you find yourself in some trial, what would Jesus want you to focus on?

Why does Jesus claim to be Lord of the sabbath? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Could we be doing the same? Could we be placing discipline and sacrifice and efficiency above love of God and others? Are there situations in your life that resonate with this one? On which aspect of the commandments do you need to focus: the sacrificial, discipline aspect, or the core aspect of s...

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 aspec...

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...

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 lea...

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 tempta...

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?