HarpaDei

“It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:33) These words are addressed to the son who stayed home and served his father. As we know, he had a hard time understanding his father’s joy and why the […]

“Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25) Once again—as was already hinted at in yesterday’s reflection—the focus is on true life. From God’s perspective, true life is that which is united with Him and unfolds according to His will. Only here

“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) Following Christ means bringing God’s plan to life in one’s own life. This plan comes from the heart of a loving Father. Perhaps such words immediately bring to mind ideas of renouncing life and

“Truly, I say to you, you who have left everything and followed me will receive a hundredfold in return and inherit eternal life.” (cf. Mt 19:28–29). This is the great promise for all who wish to fully commit to following the Lord. What some may see as the “death of their life” is, in truth,

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.” (John 8:10–11) Jesus does not condemn the adulteress, but He does give her a clear warning not to sin anymore. This is how God wants to encounter

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged.” (Mt 7:1–2a) These words become clear to us when we think of our Heavenly Father. We need only observe how He treats us to learn how we should treat others. In tomorrow’s reflection, in Jesus’ encounter with the

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” (Mt 7:15–16a) The Lord does not leave us in the dark about the dangers that lie in wait on our path of discipleship. It would be unthinkable for Him not to do

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me” (Jn 10:14) The good shepherd—what a reassuring image this is, even though we see shepherds and flocks less and less in the wild. Yet the image speaks to us from within. Deep down, we know what the good shepherd means. He

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” (Mt 6:33) How much more orderly everything in our lives would be if we would only follow this counsel of the Lord! That spiritual order—which governs all things but has, unfortunately, become so thoroughly disrupted—would be restored. Our Heavenly

“Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ (…) Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” (Mt 6:31-32) Very often in Scripture we are warned not to give in to worry, for then we easily lose sight of any way out. Worries can constantly accompany us, gnawing