Aug 4, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 18 in Ordinary Time
Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major
Gospel – Matthew 14:13-21
“When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves”. This is touching moment in the life of Jesus. The martyrdom of John the Baptist is a prefiguration for what is expecting in the calvary. And it is profound to meditate how Jesus is handling this moment. St. Matthew says that he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. Three points to note: withdrawing, to a lonely place, to be by themselves. The first is the withdrawing from the noise, from the surroundings, and from the distractions. Then is the lonely place. Withdrawing becomes real when it is a withdrawal to a lonely place where you can listen to the voice of God, the voice of your mission, the voice of your vocation. The third is to be by themselves. This is the moment of unity between Jesus and disciples. The sad news of the beheading of John is a moment of trial. In the moments of trial, we must stand united among ourselves. It should not be a moment of blaming one another but a moment of being by ourselves united. This moment of Jesus gives us light, how to deal sad moments in our life. Let’s reflect: Do I handle sad moments in my life as Jesus handled it when He received the news of John the Baptist’s death?
Don Giorgio
Aug 3, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, Curé of Ars
Gospel John 6:24-35
“I tell you most solemnly, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world”. Jesus is teaching about Eucharist. In these words, we can understand a lot about Eucharist. Jesus is referring to manna given in the desert. The context of manna is the context of Eucharist. We also are in a journey towards our heavenly Jerusalem. We also need the sustenance in our journey. And often we are in desert where there is no other nothing else other than the manna which comes from heaven. Here comes the context of Eucharist. Jesus says very clearly that it was His Father in heaven who gave the bread from heaven. Manna in the Old Testament was a sign of the love of God the Father. A love that touches the daily life and sustained their life. And in the New Testament, God the Father is also giving the bread, but this bread is not just sustaining the life. This is the bread that gives life. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst”. We must go to Him. We must believe in Him. Going is encountering and believing is entrusting. Every Eucharist is encountering Jesus and entrusting to Him. Jesus is life. Let’s reflect: Do I participate in the Eucharist as an encounter with Jesus and an act of entrusting myself to Him?
Don Giorgio
Aug 3, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of week 17 in Ordinary Time
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First Saturday : Let us entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Gospel – Matthew 14:1-12
“Give me John the Baptist’s head, here, on a dish”. Why? Because that is the only head which tells you the truth. Many times, we want to do this because we don’t like the head which tells us the truth. The girl said this because her mother prompted. Every important aspect in the whole story. Often, we do evil this because we are prompted by different things. Sometimes, we are prompted by things inside us, and sometimes we are prompted by things outside of us. In both cases, we listen to a voice that is evil because we are afraid of the truth. So, we want to silence the voice of truth. Truth liberates us. This act of silencing John, who represents the voice of truth, symbolizes the broader human inclination to suppress or eliminate those who challenge our moral failings or demand uncomfortable changes. The narration illustrates how people we react negatively to truth, not because it is false, but because it threatens their comfort, power, or status quo. It highlights the dual influences of internal fears and external pressures that drive individuals to commit acts of wrongdoing. Despite the immediate silencing of John, the narrative underscores a deeper, timeless message: truth, though often resisted and suppressed, possesses an inherent power to liberate and transform. It calls for introspection on our motivations and the courage to embrace truth, even when it is difficult or unsettling, as a path to genuine freedom, integrity, and moral clarity. Let’s reflect: How often I feel uncomfortable with the voice of truth?
Don Giorgio
Aug 2, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Piątek 17. tygodnia czasu zwykłego
Friday of week 17 in Ordinary Time
Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop
Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest
First Friday: Let us entrust ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
“Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?”This is the same question we ask when we fail to recognize the power of God in our daily life. This is the same question we ask when we think that God has nothing to do with what happens in our life. This is the same question we ask when we hesitate to entrust everything to God. Why is this happening? This is happening because we fail to see the hand of God. This is happening because we want to see God in the way we want. This is happening because we don’t want to see God in the way God wants to reveal to us. This happens because of our prejudices. This is happening because of our judgmental nature. This is because we are adamant. This is where even God is helpless. “and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith”. God has given us freedom but if we close ourselves to the grace of God using our freedom, our prejudices, our adamant behavior, even God is helpless in doing something. Be open to God without frameworks. Let’s reflect: Do I close myself to the grace of God with my prejudices?
Don Giorgio
Jul 31, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Alphonsus Mary de’ Liguori, Bishop, Doctor
Gospel – Matthew 5:13-19
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house”. Today is the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, who is the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, popularly known as the Redemptorists, in order to follow the example of Jesus Christ announcing the Good News to the poor and the most abandoned. Alphonsus was a lover of beauty: musician, painter, poet and author. He put all his artistic and literary creativity at the service of the mission, and he asked the same of those who joined his Congregation. This goes with the message of the Gospel in which Jesus calls us to be light of the world. How can we put our light on the top? This can be done when we can put the love for the other on the top of our every action. Often our actions are projections of ourselves. We will be lamps put on the lampstand when we can put our love for the others above our love for ourselves. Even our good actions when they are projection of ourselves will become like a lamp put under a tub. When we put our love for others on the top of our actions, our actions will become light for others. Let’s reflect: What is on the top of my actions, my love for myself or my love for others?
Don Giorgio
