Daily Gospel Meditations - Saint John Society

How can Jesus be so strict and open-minded at the same time? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Do you recognize the patience of Christ toward you as you began your journey, when your steps were still imperfect, but well-directed? How is Jesus asking you to support the positive steps of others who are still on the way to a deeper life of faith?

Why the disciples avoided the topic of the Passion - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Are there questions about being a disciple that you are hesitant to bring up to Jesus? How can you expand your horizon, so as to see things from Jesus’ perspective? What entices you to want to be first in the way Jesus understands it?

Faith vs. idolatry and unbelief - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Have you observed a similar contrast between God’s consolation and trials in recent times? Has your faith been tested in some way? What is Jesus teaching you about the nature of faith, and what it means to trust him and follow him?

How can Jesus expect us to love our enemies? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Have you experienced the impact of someone returning good for evil? What examples do you find most inspiring in that way? How is Jesus challenging you to love in situations in which it is difficult to love? How could you apply the measure of God’s love to relationships you find challenging?

Why did Jesus give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. What do you find most inspiring in this passage? What does it show you about how God works? Can you relate this to your own life? Have there been moments in which you grew in knowing God, and so came to know yourself better as well?

Why self-denial makes sense - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. In what ways would Jesus say that it is necessary for you to deny yourself and take up your cross? What do you think He intends you to gain by doing that? What would be the outcome of never denying yourself?

Simon’s profession of faith - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. What difference does it make for you to relate to Jesus as one who is more than a prophet, as to one who is God himself? What experiences of walking with Christ give you an understanding of what his divinity means? In what ways has your faith in Christ been purified by following him on the path to the cross?

Jesus becomes the living way - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. In what ways has Jesus become your personal guide in the spiritual journey? How did He provide for you? What were the signs and instruments of his guidance? And then, what were the steps He had you take, as part of the process you needed to find healing in him?

What is the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Do you notice that the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod has, in some aspect, made its way into your soul? How would Jesus respond to those in your own circumstances? Could it happen that over-focusing on something you feel at fault about could make you miss other important lessons...

Why did Jesus refuse to argue or provide a sign to this group? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Do you find any areas of your soul that may adopt the attitude of the Pharisees? What is the step of faith and obedience Jesus is inviting you to take?

The ones who are blessed in the eyes of God - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. How did Jesus live these out? When were the woes a temptation to him? Is there a way in which Jesus is asking you to take a step of faith, and place God above wealth, pleasure, entertainment, and social approval, as your source of security and happiness?

Why did Jesus multiply the loaves of bread for that crowd? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Have you experienced that compassion of Jesus for you and for others? In what ways has Jesus invited you to enter his thoughts and sentiments? What are those loaves of bread and fish that you need to bring to the Lord, so that He can multiply them?

What does the healing of the deaf man represent? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. What calls your attention in the steps Jesus followed to heal this man? Has the Lord healed you in your capacity to connect with others? Is there a relationship or area in your life that needs to be healed? What change would that require?

Why did Jesus respond that way to the Greek woman? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Has something like this ever happened to you: has the Lord purified you, before giving you something you wanted? Why does God act that way at times? Does it make sense to give certain gifts in the context of a relationship, but not when that context is missing? Can you verify this in your own j...

Our circumstances don’t dictate who we become - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Are you giving too much weight to some circumstances? Are you allowing yourself to be simply carried away by some conditioning factors?

In what sense are human traditions wrong? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Why do you think it was important for Jesus to confront the Pharisees the way He did? What do you make of the fact that Jesus uncovered that, behind their strictness, the Pharisees weren’t really good observers of the Law? Have you incorporated habits that may be dissonant with the gospel in how you han...

The connection between salvation and healing - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. What wounds have you come to recognize in yourself? Have any lies derived from those wounds become a criterion of judgment? How does Jesus want you to cooperate in your healing process, by undoing the lies of sin, by cultivating wholesome attitudes? What attitude or gospel criterion do you need to “t...

The miraculous catch of fish - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. What calls your attention in the way Jesus called Simon to follow him? What signs has the Lord shown you that led you to believe in him, and to take steps of faith? How does Jesus respond to your fears and hesitations about your mission?

How did Jesus manage such an intense life? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. What is most needed in your life right now? Do you need to incorporate more rest, prayer, reflection, time for others? Or to be more disciplined in your activity? Or to connect your activities with your purpose in life?

Sin and the loss of freedom - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Have you seen these dynamics of sin in your own life? Have you experienced the power it has to narrow down your choices and rob you of your freedom? How has Jesus set you free?

The instructions for the apostles’ mission - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. What are the signs of authority that Jesus has given you to radiate his light? It could be your testimony, your faith, your love for Him, your peace, your eloquence. What have been the signs that drew you to Christ in the people that the Lord sent your way?

How come people in Nazareth didn’t believe in Jesus? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. Have you seen someone go beyond what was naturally expected of them through the power of God? (this could be yourself too) What is Jesus teaching you about the gift of faith? What is He teaching you about how to interact with those who do not yet share that same faith, and how to reach out to...

Christ’s miracles are doors to higher gifts - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. With which of these characters do you identify? What do you learn from the way in which Jesus addressed the needs of each of them? How would you handle emotions in a situation like the one Jesus found himself in? Try to enter his mindset, his criteria, his feelings. How would Jesus guide you to manage...

How should we handle fear? – Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. How does Jesus respond to each one of those fears? How does the Lord want you to handle situations that may cause you to fear? What keys do you learn from him on how to handle fear?

The selflessness of Simeon and Anna – Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today’s readings. How does this passage resonate with you? What is that big picture the Lord wants to remind you of? What is the Lord teaching you through the selflessness of Simeon and Anna?