Daily Reflections, Year 2

Wednesday April 29, 2026

Posted onAuthorGraciela Ribot
Today's Good News Reflection

Good News Reflections:
Making scripture meaningful to your daily life
by Terry Modica

Imagine spending eternity with Jesus

When we die, Jesus comes for us and clears our minds of all misconceptions about how we’ve lived our lives and about who he really is.

Good News Reflection for:

Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter
Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
April 29, 2026

Today’s Prayer:

I thank You, Holy Father, for enlightening our lives in Jesus! May Your word take root in my heart to announce it to those who haven’t heard about it yet. Amen.

Daily Prayer and ReflectionIMPROVE YOUR DAY!
Powerful Catholic prayers are available on our YouTube channel.

Today’s Readings:

Acts 12:24 — 13:5a
Ps 67:2-6, 8
John 12:44-50
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042926.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-april-29-2026

Receive what you choose for eternity

[ Listen to the podcast of this reflection ]

In the Gospel reading today, Jesus explains how people end up in hell.

Many are confused about this. As Catholic Christians, we’ve been taught that immediately upon our death we “receive” our Particular (i.e., personal) Judgment and that our soul immediately goes to its reward or punishment. But if we misunderstand the divine meaning of “receive,” we assume that our fate is entirely up to the Judge and how he chooses to sentence us.

We presume that God either gives us heaven (with purgatory first if we need to be purged of some unholiness when we die) or he gives us hell (if we’ve committed a mortal sin without repenting and going to Confession and/or if we reject belief in Jesus).

From this, we get the impression that God is a harsh father who is eager to punish bad children, and then we assume that anything bad that happens to us is because we are bad and God is punishing us. In this mindset, we fear that because we are not perfect we might lose our salvation. And (I hate to admit this) we hope that the unrepentant sinners who greatly irritate us will finally get their just rewards of God’s hellish condemnation.

Right? Are you hoping that this world, because of its worsening and widespread immorality, will soon be chastised and severely punished by divine intervention? To some extent we all would like to see evil-doers get punished. But Jesus did not come to condemn the world. He doesn’t have to. We condemn ourselves. Hell is not what God wants for evil-doers; it’s what they want for themselves.

When we die, Jesus comes for us and clears our minds of all misconceptions about how we’ve lived our lives and about who he really is. Then, fully understanding, we receive what we want. If we want to be like him, we’re purged of everything that’s not like him. If we prefer to be unChrist-like, we don’t want to spend eternity with him. God gives us what we want.

(You can research this by looking up the word “salvation” in the Catechism; see vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM.)

God does not sentence anyone to hell, because Jesus took the punishment for us and for the whole world. God won’t reject anyone who wants accept the salvation that Jesus provides, even if it happens at the moment of death. God won’t turn away anyone who wants to live with the Savior forever, but neither will he reject our free-will decisions to disregard the truth.

This is why he added: “Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words is judged — not by me — but by the word I spoke.”

What is the word that condemns people? “I love you. I really, really love you. I love you so much that I died for you.” To reject that is to prefer hell.

To help you reflect further on this, go to our WordByte: “What is God saying in evil times?” @ https://wordbytes.org/victory/what-is-god-saying-in-evil-times/

Discover more of the Father’s love for you. Read Terry Modica’s book “The Father’s Heart“; for more information, go to https://tothefathersheart.com/

© by Terry A. Modica, Good News Ministries

for church bulletin and RCIA To distribute the Good News Reflections in your church bulletin or in RCIA or faith sharing groups, please contact us.


Telegram texting You can also receive this & more faith-builders by text message on your phone.


home page Keep it going! This reflection reached you thanks to benefactors. Please support this ministry today.


post a prayer request Post your prayer request.


home page How else can we serve you today? Visit our homepage.


More Good News Reflections Search more reflections in our continually growing database.


Homebound, Prison & Hospital Ministers are invited to print and distribute them without further permission.


Continue your prayer time with these:
Pray with Saints | Pray the Rosary | Other Prayers | Random Quotes.

 

Order and share Terry Modica's books

Terry's books, The Father's Heart, and My Soul Shall Be Healed

Socialize with us at:
Facebook   Pinterest   Twitter   Instagram

Please share this with others by inviting them to visit this page. You may also print this for your personal use and you may share the print-out with others.

image_print

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Required Guidelines
for Posting Your Prayers

1. Posts are held for approval and then forwarded to the Good News Prayer Network. Your prayer intentions are carried to God by countless caring people all around the world.

2. All fields are required! We do not share any identifiable, personal information to anyone. Use only first names in your prayer request. Any information that you give to us is protected with the utmost care and security.

3. Do not use abbreviated words as is done in text messaging, because that makes it difficult for some of your prayer supporters, who come from around the world. If your prayer request is important enough to post here, take the time to spell correctly, please!

4. Use capital letters only where they belong. DO NOT post in ALL CAPS. Capitalize names appropriately.

5. Please, no lazy disrespect for God’s names (Jesus, not jesus). And DO NOT POST FULL NAMES! We want to fully protect the identity of everyone.

6. Limit text to to briefly stated prayers.

7. NO QUOTED (formula) prayers – use your own words.

Post-a-Prayer


The Father’s Heart:
Meet the Real Abba Father

10 Spiritual Exercises to Heal from the Wounds of the Heart: Heal your father wounds through the love of Father God.

What are you seeking from God your Father? How close do you feel to the Father’s heart? Do you know that, if what you want is good and God doesn’t have a better plan, you already have what you seek? It often takes time for it to be revealed and understood, but God has already granted it because he loves you far more than you realize.

[ MORE ]

Radical Love: Reflections for CouplesRadical Love: Reflections for Couples

215 short inspirational messages that bring God’s radical love into the context of romantic relationships.

Two private reflection questions at the end of each message will help you apply the messages to your everyday life and challenges. This is followed by ideas for discussing the topic as a couple to further integrate it into your relationship.

[ MORE ]

Victor

A suspense-filled Christian novel about the saving power of love. Patti Regall is a young mother trying to escape from a lifetime of abuse and the devil-worshiping coven that wants to use her little boys, Victor and Vincent, to uncover the identity of the Anti-Christ. When she finds an opportunity to escape, she has to leave Victor behind.

Patti fights her own demons while desperately trying to rescue Victor from the coven. Tobias, a Christian man, comes to her aid. This novel will affirm your faith in Christ’s victorious power.

[ MORE ]

Forgiven

Free Download!A free PDF document of this is available for your own personal use.

donateHowever, your support can help us continue to provide faith-building resources like this.

For sharing with others, please get special permission.

To obtain the document with a Single User License, please submit this copyright contract agreement. See our copyright usage permissions policy.

How to Win Victories in Spiritual Warfare

Download a collection of Catholic prayers and scriptures for today’s spiritual warfare battles and for everyday protection.

This printable handbook includes the Prayer for the Presence of Christ, Prayer for the Power of the Holy Spirit, Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, Prayer to Wear the Armor of God, Saint Patrick’s Breastplate, Prayer to Conquer Evil, Prayer to Break Curses, Prayer for Release from Ancestral Curses, Prayer of Authority to Conquer Demons, Consecration to Mary Defeater of Satan, Consecrate Your Marriage to Mary Ark of the Covenant, Zechariah’s Canticle as a Victory Prayer, and Praying the “Our Father” for Victory Over Evil. Plus more than 200 scriptures!

[ MORE ]


My Soul Shall Be Healed
A 5-Part Study Guide of Ecclesia de Eucharistia, On the Eucharist in its Relationship to the Church, an encyclical of Pope Saint John Paul II.

This easy-to-understand study guide explains in ordinary language how to understand this very important Church document and apply it to our every-day lives and today’s world. It's life-changing and soul-healing!

The book explores:
• developing a personal relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist
• the Eucharist as the “source and summit of the Christian life”
• what Catholics believe and do not believe about the Eucharist
• why only Catholic priests can consecrate the Communion elements
• the role of the whole community in Holy Communion

[ MORE ]

Knowing God’s Will and Doing it WellKnowing God’s Will and Doing it Well

How do you know what God’s will is for your life? Do you know your calling? God has gifted you and has a desire to use your experiences and skills to help make the world a better place and to advance the purposes of his kingdom. Whether it’s in ministry or a secular job, God has a divine plan for you! 

This book is a compilation of 20 thought-provoking reflections from Terry's daily Good News Reflections. Use it for meditation, spiritual guidance, and inspiration.

As a bonus, it includes 3 self-assessment tests to help readers figure out which particular ministries God has gifted them to do.

[ MORE ]

Lessons from the Blessed MotherLessons from the Blessed Mother

This book is a compilation of reflections from Terry's Good News Reflections, articles from the WordBytes website, and Rosary meditations.

Includes: How I met the Blessed Mother, Living by the Grace of God, Saying Yes to God, How to be a Handmaid of the Lord, Mary’s Trust, Mary’s Courage, The Guarantee of Victory, Giving Birth to Love, The Blessed Mother in Ministry, Sharing in Mary’s Fullness of Grace, Sharing in Mary’s Glory, Time for Action, and more. Plus Q & A about Mary and about the Rosary.

[ MORE ]

Daily Prayers with the SaintsDaily Prayers with the Saints

Experience the friendship and spiritual guidance of hundreds of saints, one for each day of the year.

What do you need prayer support for? Find a Saint to pray with you!

Need spiritual guidance? Find Saints according their patronages!

What’s your birthday? Or anniversary? Find a Saint and a prayer for that day!

Or read one prayer a day all year long!

[ MORE ]

The Trail of Roses
Free Download!A free PDF document of this is available your own personal use.

donateHowever, your support can help us continue to publish faith-building resources like this.

For distributing it to others, please request permission.

To obtain the document with a Single User License, please submit this copyright contract agreement. See our copyright usage permissions policy.

The Dark Secret of the Ouija
Free Download!A free PDF document of this is available your own personal use.

donateHowever, your support can help us continue to publish faith-building resources like this.

For distributing it to others, please request permission.

To obtain the document with a Single User License, please submit this copyright contract agreement. See our copyright usage permissions policy.

[arve url="https://youtu.be/ggPRtoabDm8" title="The Christmas Yes" description="Jesus said yes to humbling himself to become one of us because, as He says to you, “I want to be with you in every way and help you through every trial.”" upload_date="2020-12-07" thumbnail="23617" loop="no" muted="no" /]