Daily Reflection – 5/12/2025
Sacred Scripture
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power. He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him. (John 10: 31-42)
Reflection
All of us, at times, are burdened by the chasm that can form between our ears and our hearts. It’s these very chasms that obstruct the voice of Jesus as he seeks to guide and transform us.
Each day we can bring alive the words of Jesus Christ. Yet there are moments when our ears, burdened with the stone of deafness, fail to perceive His message. This deafness emerges in a variety of occasions. When we do little to ease the suffering of a neighbor, or when our lips remain sealed in the face of injustice. Or when we turn away when another is demeaned without pointing out the mental injury that is occurring. In these moments, we are not acting on His love.
By not acting on His love, we are giving away the opportunity to know His grace within us. His love and grace call us to a deeper union with Him. We are called to step into a renewed covenant with our Creator. where our weaknesses are eclipsed by the power of God’s transforming love.
The psalmist expressed it well:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
In that desire to live out His words in our life, that we can utter prayers such as these, whispered in humility:
“Lord, the scars of past injuries have left my spirit rigid, unable to embody forgiveness. Lord, I implore You to soften the clay of my heart that I may release this encumbering bitterness.”
“My expectations of loved ones sometimes get in the way of their living the life you intended. Reframe my aspirations that I might cherish my beloved just as they are, undistorted by my personal desires.”
“I find my soul clouded with prejudices that cause discord within me. Temper my spirit that I may dwell in serenity and acceptance, and help me bridge divides with the olive branch of peace.”
Our prayers for the transformation of our human spirit are not in vain, for our Lord seeks always to write His teachings afresh upon the tablets of our hearts—to form a new narrative of grace within our lives.
Our God is a personal God, earnestly seeking communion with each of His children. Through the sacrifice of His Son, He has shown us the meaning of immeasurable love that calls for us not to hide ourselves within the concept of self-reliance but to accept a love that liberates and saves.
Salvation blossoms only when we nurture a living faith, when we turn away from the beguiling notion of self-salvation, and tenderly accept the loving arms of our Father. It is in the act of surrendering to God, where we permit God’s grace to anchor our souls, that we find true salvation—not by merits of our own, but through the fruit of living our faith that serves as a sign of God’s love to all.
Let God write on your heart. Meditate on the words of John 10: 31-42 to help overcome life’s hardships. During this journey of life, invite God to guide you, to transform you. You may face times where you don’t understand His message, but don’t lose hope. Our weaknesses can be our strength when we rely on God’s love.
Turn to God with humility, asking Him to mold you, soften your heart, repair your relationships, and help you dwell in peace. Your prayers are not in vain. God promises to write His teachings on your heart. Open your heart to His love and commit fully to your faith.
Prayer of The Day
“What a generous and loving God you are! May I never lack the courage to approach you in my weakness and frailty because you show me in these verses of Scripture how much you want me to know your deepest reality. “
Daily Note
The gift of God’s love has a specific purpose. God is a personal God who desires relationship with each one of us and has proven his love to us by sending his Son to save us. Because of our brokenness we are often reluctant to receive this gift of love. We desire to remain independent and to try to solve our problems on our own. Perhaps we even think we can save ourselves by being good. But the truth is that we can only be saved by exercising living faith and receiving God’s unmerited gift. We must turn to him and allow him to be the center of our life. We must surrender to him. This is the living faith that saves,
