Oct 4, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Francis of Assisi
Wednesday of week 26 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Galatians 6:14-18
“The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” The words of St. Paul who lived this profound union with Jesus Christ we can see also in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. As St. Paul says this profound experience can be achieved only by becoming altogether a new creature. It cannot be achieved by making some adjustments and some adaptations. A radical and complete transformation which results in becoming a new creature. This is necessary because the effect of incarnation is not some adjustments or adaptations but a radical new beginning. In order to personalize that reality, we must also become a new creation. This essence of this becoming new creation is recognizing the value of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Cross of Jesus Christ becomes the parameter to see, to evaluate and to access every other reality in our life. The world around me will be relativized according to the Cross of Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s reflect: Is the Cross of Christ my parameter to see the world around me?
Oct 2, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 26 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Zechariah 8:20-23
“Come, let us go and entreat the favour of the Lord, and seek the Lord of Hosts; I am going myself.” Our daily journey is a journey to entreat the favour of the Lord and seek the Lord. It’s not a journey to seek our selfish interests. It’s a journey to the know the will of God. We walk to implore the favour of the Lord. The favour of the Lord is the love of God which accompanies us. But we must use our daily journey to understand this love of God and the favour of our Lord. And from finding the love of God we move to seek the will of the Lord. We must seek that because, normally we are always following our plans and projects. Only when we recognize the love of God, we will be motivated to seek the plan of God. Let’s reflect: Am I recognizing the love of God to seek the plan of God?
Oct 1, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
The Holy Guardian Angels
Monday of week 26 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Exodus 23:20-23
“The Lord says this: ‘I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says”. This Word of the Lord shows the personal love of God to each one of us. The Lord has a plan for us and the Lord sends an angel before us to guard as and to lead us according to that plan. The love of the Lord is personal, and He takes care of us in a personal way. Here comes the role of our guardian angels whose feast we celebrate today. The presence of guardian angels in our life is a true fact as the love of God to us which is personal and concrete. Celebrating the feast of the guardian angels is the celebration of the personal and concrete form of God’s love in our daily life. While thanking the guardian angels, let’s be aware of the love of God concretely in our life. The best way to listen to the guardian angel is to be grateful. Let’s reflect: Do I acknowledge the presence of my guardian angel in my life?
Oct 1, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873 – 1897)
First reading – Ezekiel 18:25-28
“When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die”. Repentance heals our lives. Repentance is renouncing sin to become law-abiding and honest. We renounce sin to abide to the law of love towards God and neighbour. We move from selfish love to selfless love. We renounce our ego to embrace the other without selfish motives. This is repentance. Then we can be honest too. Often, we cannot be honest, because we have our selfish interests in loving God and loving others. So, when we renounce our selfish interest, we can be honest. This honestly is primarily an honesty towards oneself. This honesty clears the path of grace which was previously blocked by us. Therefore, following the law of selfless love and by being honest, we have the life to live. Let’s reflect: Am I ready to renounce my selfish interests to become honest towards myselfe and towards others?
Sep 29, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Jerome, Priest, Doctor
Saturday of week 25 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 2 Timothy 3:14-17
As we celebrate the Feast of St. Jerome, the reading helps us to understand the importance of Scriptures in our life. “All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work”. It’s vital to be close to the Word of God because it contains the inspiration of God Himself. The Word of God teaches what we must know in our relationships. The Word of God helps us to refute the errors of selfishness. The Word of God guides our lives. The Word of God instructs us to be holy. So, the more we are close to the Word of God, the more we learn. This is the way to prepare ourselves for our mission. By being close to the Word of God, we equip ourselves fully and prepare for any good work. In other words, for any good work we need the support of the Word of God. Let’s reflect: Do I equip myself with the Word of God or am I concerned about other preparations?
