Dec 5, 2024 | POSITIVE IMPULSES
Today is the Feast of St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, in Lycia (now part of Turkey). Still in many countries, this feast brings gifts to the children. St. Nicholas, known for his secret acts of kindness and his care for the vulnerable, inspires us to think about the deeper meaning of giving—not just material gifts but gifts of ourselves. When you think more about sharing and less about receiving you start becoming a gift. By focusing on sharing rather than receiving, we shift our perspective to one of abundance and gratitude. Each act of kindness, no matter how small, has the potential to ripple outward and touch lives in ways we may not even realize. To become a gift is to embody the spirit of giving in every interaction and relationship. It’s about showing up with love, understanding, and a willingness to contribute to others’ well-being. This could mean lending a listening ear, offering a helping hand, or simply being present in someone’s moment of need. These small acts, when rooted in genuine care, often mean more than any material gift. This mindset aligns with the idea that giving transforms both the giver and the recipient. When we focus on what we can give rather than what we can receive, we nurture connections and create a sense of shared humanity. It’s a cycle of kindness that builds relationships and strengthens bonds. Give, and give without measure, you become more what you are!
Don Giorgio
Dec 4, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of the 1st week of Advent
Gospel – Matthew 7:21,24-27
“Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock”. Advent is building our life on rock which is Jesus. This building will not fall when rain comes and when floods rise, gales blow and hurl against that house. The challenges of rain, and the difficulties of floods will not bother our house. Because our house is built up on the rock, Christ. Advent, a season of preparation and anticipation, invites us to reflect on whether our lives are built on the rock of Christ—a foundation of faith, obedience, and love—or on the shifting sands of worldly distractions. The inevitable storms of life—challenges, struggles, and trials—test the strength of our foundation. A life rooted in Christ remains steadfast, enduring these difficulties with resilience and grace. This season challenges us to align our actions with our faith through prayer, Scripture, service, reconciliation, and hope, allowing Jesus to transform us and be our unshakable foundation. By living His teachings, we prepare not just for the celebration of His birth but also for His ultimate return, ready to face life’s trials with confidence and welcome Him into hearts strengthened by faith and love. Let’s reflect: Am I truly building my life on the solid foundation of Christ, aligning my actions with His teachings, or am I allowing the shifting sands of worldly distractions to weaken my faith and resilience in the face of life’s storms?
Don Giorgio
Dec 3, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of the 1st week of Advent
Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor
Gospel – Matthew 15:29-37
“they praised the God of Israel”. Advent is the seeing the working of God in us, around us and praising the Lord”. By incarnation God is our midst and He is taking care of the lame, the crippled, the blind, the dumb and many others. And the people were astonished and praising the God of Israel. Again, Jesus sees the needs of the people. “I feel sorry for all these people. They have been with me for three days now and have nothing to eat”. He finds a solution from what they had. From seven loaves he fed the whole crowd. God is living in our midst. The miracles, like the feeding of the crowd, are not only acts of compassion but signs of God’s presence and provision. They call us to trust and commit ourselves fully to Him. Here we need more than astonishment and praising. Here we need a real and deeper relationship with God who is in our midst. This relationship is believing in Jesus as Savior. This is going beyond the circumstantial relationship to a discipleship. This is making Jesus the center of our life. Advent challenges us to center our lives on Jesus, allowing Him to shape our actions, decisions, and priorities. Let’s reflect: How can you move from simply being astonished by God’s works to building a deeper, transformative relationship with Jesus, making Him the center of your life in this Advent season?
Don Giorgio
Dec 3, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Tuesday of the 1st week of Advent
Gospel Luke 10:21-24
“Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him”. Advent is knowing the Son so that we can know the Father. This knowing is not merely intellectual but relational and experiential. To know Jesus is to encounter the heart of God, who is love, mercy, and truth. Through His words, actions, and very presence, Jesus reveals the Father’s infinite compassion and desire for a relationship with humanity. In Jesus, the Father is no longer distant or abstract but becomes intimately near, accessible, and personal. The season of Advent is marked by hope and anticipation. It invites us to focus on the incarnation—God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. By contemplating the life and mission of Jesus, we are drawn deeper into the mystery of who God is. This Advent, we are called to open our hearts to this revelation of the Father through the Son. Each step in knowing the Son brings us closer to the Father, transforming our hearts and drawing us into the divine embrace. This is the promise and hope of Advent: in knowing the Son, we truly come to know the Father and His unfailing love. Let’s reflect: How is my relationship with Jesus shaping my understanding of God as a loving Father, and how might I open my heart more fully to this divine embrace during Advent?
Don Giorgio
Dec 1, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of the 1st week of Advent
Gospel Matthew 8:5-11
“Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured”. Advent is recognizing one’s own unworthiness and opening up to the mercy of God.The words of the centurion express an attitude that lies at the heart of Advent: recognizing one’s own unworthiness while trusting fully in God’s power and mercy. Advent is a season of anticipation and preparation, not just for the celebration of Christ’s birth but for His coming into our lives here and now. It is a time to pause and reflect on the ways we fall short—our imperfections, sins, and frailties. Like the centurion, we acknowledge that we are not deserving of God’s presence through our own merits. Yet Advent is not a season of despair or self-condemnation; rather, it is one of hope and openness to transformation. The centurion models an essential posture for Advent. This is a lesson for all who journey through Advent: our unworthiness is not a barrier to God but an invitation to encounter His grace more profoundly. Just trusting in the Lord and in His Word which will work miracle in our life. Let’s reflect: How can I embrace the centurion’s humility and faith during Advent, recognizing my own unworthiness while fully trusting in God’s mercy and the transformative power of His Word in my life?
Don Giorgio
