Aug 30, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of week 21 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
“You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom”. In these words of we can see the how the faith in Jesus Christ is bringing a new way of interacting. The people in authority are behaving as a father to everyone, to everyone without exceptions. Teaching what is right and encouraging to live accordingly. The words are exemplary, “our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair”. How many of us can say like this? Our treatment of others depends often on the circumstances and on our moods. But here we see that the Apostle is saying that it was impeccably right and fair. This shows how much the message of Gospel has penetrated the behavior of the Apostle. Not only from his side, but he also sees the good in the others, “you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it”. Let’s reflect: Is my treating of others impeccably right and fair?
Aug 29, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
Tuesday of week 21 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Jeremiah 1:17-19
“Do not be dismayed at their presence, or in their presence I will make you dismayed”. The Lord is the one in action. Are we aware of this fact? The Lord is the one who makes me, “a fortified city, a pillar of iron, and a wall of bronze, to confront all this land: the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests and the country people. They will fight against you but shall not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you, it is the Lord who speaks.’ Let’s reflect: Am I aware of the work of God in me?
Aug 28, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Augustine, Bishop, Doctor
Monday of week 21 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 1 John 4:7-16
“let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God”. The most important message we must understand is that “love comes from God”. We use the word “love” without considering this aspect of love. The origin of “love” is in God. Only when we understand this aspect of love, we can come to the real understanding that “God is love”. We want to love others. Bu the point of loving is that in order to love, we must acknowledge the divine origin of love and the divine essence of love. That is why, St. John says that, “God is love
and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him”. It has enormous consequences. We must love everyone. We must live in love. This is an aspiration. Let’s reflect: How much can I love?
Aug 27, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading – Isaiah 22:19-23
Through the words of the prophet, the Lord is saying how He prepares Eliakim for his new position. In these words, we can find how Lord prepares the one who is called for a mission. The Lord gives Eliakim all the grace necessary for his new mission. And at the same time, we read what are the expectations of the Lord for Eliakim. So, it is important that we understand that when we have the grace, we must also understand the expectations of the Lord. For this, we must be close to the grace by which we can understand what the Lord wishes from us. The grace is always given so that we can be take care of others as the Lord wants. In the case of Eliakim, the Lord says, “he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah” and by that he will “become a throne of glory”. This is how the grace is going to work in Eliakim. We must understand our vocation with the grace we receive so that we can become the throne of God’s glory. Let’s reflect: Do I understand my vocation with the grace I receive from the Lord?
Aug 25, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of week 20 in Ordinary Time
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First reading – Ruth 2:1-3,8-11,4:13-17
“I have been told all you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death, and how you left your own father and mother and the land where you were born to come among a people whom you knew nothing about before you came here.’ Here we see a way by which we can become part of the plan of God for others. The way is to see and acknowledge the goodness in others. Boaz learnt the goodness of Ruth from others. He acknowledged it and welcomed it. This is the way. Acknowledge the goodness in others to become part of the plan of God for them. We understand the plan of God when we find the goodness in others. When we don’t see the goodness in others, we become alienated from the plan of God. In the plan of God for others we also have our place, we also find the plan of God for us. We can get that place; we can understand the plan of God when we recognize the goodness in others. Let’s reflect: Am I recognizing the goodness in others to understand the plan of God for me?
