Verbum Dei Missionary Family Mindanao

Verbum Dei Missionary Family Mindanao We shall dedicate ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. (Acts 6:4)*

We are a Catholic missionary community dedicated to prayer, ministry of the Word and testimony of life, forming apostles of Christ and generating evangelizing communities.

Reflection | Mark 3:7–12In today’s Gospel, people come to Jesus from every direction—Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jorda...
22/01/2026

Reflection | Mark 3:7–12

In today’s Gospel, people come to Jesus from every direction—Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, Tyre, and Sidon. The crowd is vast, made up of the sick, the broken, the curious, and the hopeful. They press in toward Him, not out of obligation, but out of faith. They believe that being close to Jesus can change their lives.

This passage reveals a powerful truth: faith moves people toward Christ. Even before fully understanding who He is, they trust that He can heal and save. Their faith is active—it walks, travels, risks discomfort, and refuses to stay at a distance.

That same hunger exists today. Many are searching for meaning, healing, and hope, often without knowing where to find it. The desire for Jesus is still strong, but the world needs disciples who are willing to help bring Him to the crowd. We are invited to become bridges—through our words, our compassion, and our witness—so that others may encounter Christ.

Prayer
Holy Spirit, grant us the grace to become true disciples of Christ.
Use our lives so that Jesus may reach those who are thirsty for Him.

Amen

January 21, 2026 – WednesdayGospel: Mark 3:1–6“Healer”In the silence of our hearts, today’s Gospel invites us to look at...
21/01/2026

January 21, 2026 – Wednesday
Gospel: Mark 3:1–6

“Healer”

In the silence of our hearts, today’s Gospel invites us to look at Jesus—not only as a teacher of the law, but as a healer moved by compassion. Faced with the suffering of a man with a withered hand, Jesus does not hesitate. He sees beyond rules and customs; He sees a person in need.

How often do we hesitate to bring healing because we are afraid—afraid of being judged, of breaking expectations, of not being good enough? Like the onlookers in the synagogue, we sometimes choose safety over love, silence over action.

Yet Jesus reminds us that love is never wrong. Healing is never a violation of God’s will. Even when we feel unqualified or small, the presence of Jesus within us gives us the grace to heal—through kind words, forgiveness, compassion, and courage.

We may not heal as the world understands healing, but when we choose love over fear, mercy over comfort, and faith over doubt, God working through us, WE HEAL OTHERS.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, soften our hearts. Give us the courage to choose love when it is difficult and compassion when it is costly. Make us instruments of Your healing grace.

Amen.

“With whom I am well pleased.”Matthew 3, 13-17At Jesus’ baptism, the Father’s voice declares His love and delight in His...
11/01/2026

“With whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3, 13-17

At Jesus’ baptism, the Father’s voice declares His love and delight in His Son. This same God looks at us with love and invites us to live in a way that pleases Him—not through perfection, but through OBEDIENCE, HUMILITY & TRUST

May our daily choices, our faithfulness in small things, and our courage to follow God’s will lead us closer to Him.
May God also be pleased with us.

“Christ Must Increase”John 3:30At the heart of the Gospel is a simple but demanding truth:Christ must increase.These wor...
09/01/2026

“Christ Must Increase”
John 3:30

At the heart of the Gospel is a simple but demanding truth:
Christ must increase.

These words invite us to examine what truly shapes our lives. To let Christ increase means allowing Him to grow in influence over our thoughts, decisions, relationships, and priorities. It is not merely about doing more religious activities, but about letting Jesus take deeper root within us.

Christ increases when we make room
For Christ to increase, something else must give way. Our pride, our need for control, our fear of change, and our desire for recognition often crowd Him out. When we choose humility, forgiveness, and trust, we create space for Christ to act.

Christ increases when prayer becomes a relationship rather than a routine.
Christ increases when love guides our choices more than convenience.
Christ increases when faith shapes how we live, not just what we believe.

A quiet, steady growth
The increase of Christ in our lives is often hidden. It happens in small, faithful moments: choosing patience, speaking truth with kindness, serving without being seen, remaining faithful in difficulty. These quiet acts allow Christ’s light to shine through us.

As Christ increases, we begin to reflect Him more clearly. Others may not notice us—but they will encounter His peace, His mercy, and His compassion.

A call for daily renewal
To say “Christ must increase” is to make it a daily prayer:
• Increase in my heart when I am tempted to act selfishly.
• Increase in my words when silence or anger would be easier.
• Increase in my choices when the path of love is costly.

09/01/2026

We got over 100 reactions on our posts last week! Thanks everyone for your support! 🎉


“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” (Luke 5:12)This simple prayer holds deep faith.The l***r does not doubt Jesu...
08/01/2026

“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” (Luke 5:12)

This simple prayer holds deep faith.
The l***r does not doubt Jesus’ power—only entrusts himself to His will.
In response, Jesus does not keep His distance. He reaches out and touches, restoring not only health, but dignity and belonging.

This Gospel reminds us that God’s mercy is never afraid of our brokenness.
When we come before the Lord with humility and trust, He desires to cleanse our hearts and make us whole.

May we have the courage to place our wounds, our hurts, our regrets, our fears, our weaknesses before Christ, confident that His will is always LOVE, RESTORATION & NEWNESS.

Jesus Gets Into Our BoatMark 6:45-52Imagine your own boat on the water. Notice its size, its condition, and the weight i...
08/01/2026

Jesus Gets Into Our Boat
Mark 6:45-52

Imagine your own boat on the water. Notice its size, its condition, and the weight it carries. This boat represents your life as it is right now—not as it should be, not as you wish it were, but as it truly is.

The wind begins to rise. The Gospel reminds us that storms are not signs of failure or lack of faith; they are part of the journey. Even the disciples, experienced sailors, are overwhelmed. Let yourself name the winds in your own life—the pressures, fears, griefs, uncertainties, or quiet anxieties that disturb your inner waters.

Now notice Jesus. He does not shout instructions from a distance. He steps into the boat. He chooses closeness. His presence tells us that God does not avoid our chaos; He enters it. Sit with this truth: Jesus sits with you - in your chaos, in your storms, in your troubles.

At times, Jesus seems silent. The waves continue, the boat rocks, and we wonder if He notices. In the quiet, allow yourself to feel that tension without rushing to resolve it. Faith grows not by escaping silence, but by remaining in it with Him.

When Jesus speaks, the wind obeys. The sea grows calm. But listen carefully—His first concern is not the storm, but the hearts of those in the boat. “Why are you afraid?” He asks gently. An invitation to trust, to surrender control, to rest in His presence.

As the waters still, notice what changes within you. What fears soften? What space opens for peace? Carry this awareness with you as you leave the retreat. Storms will come again, but you will remember: Jesus gets into the boat, and His presence is enough—even before the wind is silenced.

-less

Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25A Great LightAt the start of the year, I hear Jesus say again:“Change your ways: the kingdom is ne...
05/01/2026

Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

A Great Light

At the start of the year, I hear Jesus say again:
“Change your ways: the kingdom is near.”

Lord, You are near—not in distance, but in relationship.
Yet I ask myself honestly:
How near do I allow You to be?

Where in my life do I still walk in shadows—
in fear, distraction, impatience, or doubt?
What darkness do I try to manage on my own
instead of letting Your light enter?

Isaiah speaks of a people who saw a great light.
Today, I am among them.
Your light does not judge my darkness;
it gently reveals it so it can be healed.

How often do I speak to You, Lord—
not with rehearsed words, but with my real heart?
Do I give You time, or only moments left over?

As this new year begins,
I desire a deeper relationship with You.
Teach me to come near—
to listen more, to trust more,
to allow You to change what needs changing within me.

Shine Your light into every hidden corner of my heart.
Remind me that no darkness is stronger than You,
that hope is always possible,
and that true transformation begins with You.

Amen.

As a new year begins, it’s a reminder that God is a God of fresh starts. The past year may have held both joy and challe...
02/01/2026

As a new year begins, it’s a reminder that God is a God of fresh starts. The past year may have held both joy and challenges, but God invites us to step forward with hope, trusting Him with what lies ahead. A new year isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about walking day by day with faith, knowing God goes before us.

“…Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

27/12/2025

Hope is born from love, and today we remember St. John, the disciple who stayed close to Jesus in joy and in suffering. His closeness gave him hope—hope that light is stronger than darkness and that love always has the final word.

John reminds us that Jesus is the Light who came into the world, and no darkness can overcome Him (John 1:5). Even after the cross, even in times of fear or confusion, John believed that God was still at work.

That is the heart of Christian hope: trusting God’s promises even when we don’t fully understand the path ahead.

As we continue celebrating Christmas, today invites us to hold on to hope—hope rooted not in circumstances, but in God’s faithful love made visible in Jesus.

Prayer:
God of hope, help me trust in Your light when things feel uncertain. Strengthen my heart to believe that Your love is always greater. Amen.

After the celebrations fade and the noise grows quiet, hope often meets us in stillness. It reminds us that even when no...
26/12/2025

After the celebrations fade and the noise grows quiet, hope often meets us in stillness. It reminds us that even when nothing dramatic is happening, God is still at work. Hope is not only found in miracles—it is found in endurance, in rest, and in trusting what we cannot yet see.

This day invites us to hold on to hope that is steady, not rushed. Hope that carries us forward when answers feel far away. God’s promises do not expire with the season; they remain, guiding each new step.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
— Jeremiah 29:11

Let this verse remind you today that your future is held with care. Even now, hope is being written into your story.

This Christmas, I want you to remember that you are deeply loved and never alone. No matter what this year has held—joys...
24/12/2025

This Christmas, I want you to remember that you are deeply loved and never alone. No matter what this year has held—joys, challenges, or quiet struggles—God sees you and cares about every detail of your life. The birth of Jesus is a reminder that hope is real, light overcomes darkness, and new beginnings are always possible. May this season bring peace to your heart, strength for tomorrow, and comfort in knowing that God is with you every step of the way.

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
— Isaiah 9:2

May the light of Christ fill your heart this Christmas and carry you forward with hope. 🎄✨

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