DAILY GOSPEL REFLECTIONS

"The BIBLE is God's chart for you to steer by, to keep you from the bottom of the sea, and to show you where the harbor is, and how to reach it without running on rocks or bars." ~Henry Ward Beecher ~

Dear Friends,

For what they are worth, I invite each one of you to come to my "Daily Gospel Reflections" corner. These reflections are designed as a "spiritual food" for all those who wish to nourish their spiritual life.

Part of my intention of writing these reflections is to challenge readers to reflect their own faith in light of God's Word and hopefully, this would motivate them to exemplify their Christian faith in their daily lives. As someone said, "The words of God by themselves are just words. They come alive when they are lived."

Not all of these reflections are of my own writing. Some...I may have copied them somewhere because they are interesting, and some may have been sent to me by friends and acquaintances, for my own reading and reflection, but of which I am not able to trace their source anymore. If in some way I have inadvertently not given proper credit to someone who has written a reflection which I may have posted here, for whatever reason, please accept my apology. It is not my intention to appropriate something which is not my own. But there are certain things that are simply beyond my control. In any event, I will try my best to give credit where credit is due.

Yes, for busy people like I am, these reflections could provide resource materials for personal meditation and self-examination. For everyone, these reflections could serve as impetus to deepen one's spirituality.

I like what Fr. San Luis once said: "Reading about God's Word or hearing it on Sunday is not like listening to a cassette tape rerun. You hear it now, then forget it after a while. Rather it should question and enlighten our minds, move and inspire our hearts; above all, guide and challenge us to put Christ's teaching into practice and thus make his Word alive."

God bless you all.

With love,

PACIANO ALEXANDER BARBIETO

DAILY GOSPEL REFLECTION MEMBERS(WITH PICTURES)

"LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND...LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF" (MATTHEW 22:37-40)

"I UNDERSTAND THAT TO BECOME A SAINT ONE HAD TO SUFFER MUCH, SEEK OUT ALWAYS THE MOST PERFECT THING TO DO AND FORGET ONESELF" (ST. THERESE)

GOD AND HIS EXISTENCE

GOD IS LOVE; EVERY PERSON IS LOVED BY GOD....THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT YOU, YOUNG PEOPLE OF TODAY, ARE CALLED TO RECEIVE AND TO SHOUT ALOUD TO THOSE OF YOUR OWN AGE; "MAN IS LOVED BY GOD! THIS IS VERY SIMPLE YET PROFOUND PROCLAMATION IS OWED TO HUMANITY BY THE CHURCH" (JPII, Message for the Twelfth World Youth Day, 1997, n. 9)

Sin and Its Consequences

"EVERY HUMAN BEING COMES FROM THE HAND OF GOD, AND WE ALL KNOW SOMETHING OF GOD'S LOVE FOR US. WHATEVER OUR RELIGION, WE KNOW THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO LOVE, WE MUST FIRST LEARN TO FORGIVE BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE" (Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

...AND FORGIVE US THE WRONG WE HAVE DONE AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO WRONG US. (MATTHEW 6:12)

SMILE - GOD LOVES YOU!

"EVERY TIME YOU SMILE AT SOMEONE, IT IS AN ACTION OF LOVE, A GIFT TO THAT PERSON, A BEAUTIFUL THING" (Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

^"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."^{~ Philippians 4:4-7~}

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." ~Matthew 19:14~

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him,give us all things? Romans 8:32

Thoughts on today's verse

If God gave up his Son to save me, what would he not give up to bless us and keep us! That's Paul's point. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, he tells us we are bought with a price to encourage us toward holiness. Here, he makes the same point, but to give us assurance. Isn't it amazing how the truth of God's grace contains such a multifaceted blessing.

I WANT TO GIVE THIS LIFE TO YOU

WRATH OF TYPHOON ONDOY IN THE PHILIPPINES - September 26, 2009

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' ~ Matthew 25:40~

Matthew 10:42: "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."

GOD IN THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY

PLEASE PRAY FOR VOCATIONS

“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone's task is unique as his specific opportunity.” ~Victor Frankl~