Mar 1, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of the 1st week of Lent
First reading – Esther 4:17
“Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She besought the Lord God of Israel in these words”. This is the example of Esther. We must be inspired by this. Taking refuge, beseeching the Lord God and empowering oneself before our challenges and crisis. Taking refuge comes from the unfailing trust in the Lord which you can see in these words, “My Lord, our King, the only one, come to my help, for I am alone and have no helper but you and am about to take my life in my hands”. The trust in the Lord which comes from our faith formation. Formation specially by the reading the Word of God and by the participation in the Sacraments. It’s a surety that God will help. And with this trust you entrust your life pouring out your anguish or agony or worries. This is followed by empowering oneself from his power, “As for me, give me courage, King of gods and master of all power. Put persuasive words into my mouth…”. The situation of agony or stress becomes a dialogue of confidence and empowerment in the Lord. Let’s reflect: Is this Lent a dialogue of empowerment from the Lord to face my challenges in life?
Feb 28, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of the 1st week of Lent
First reading – Jonah 3:1-10
The entire story of Jonah shows how much God wants to take care of us even when we are going away from Him. He sends His messenger to invite us to change our way of behaviour. He does not abandon and not only just words. God is concrete in His love. Jonah is real. God wants that we repent and get back to Him. And the people of Nineveh responded to that call. And the Word of God says, “God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.” God saw their efforts and God accepted it. Our efforts are enough for God. So, we continue with our efforts to get back to God. First, we have to find out the ways God is reaching out to us. And then we must make our efforts to make a change. Let’s reflect: During this Lent, am I aware of the ways God is reaching out to me asking to get back to Him?
Feb 27, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent
First reading – Isaiah 55:10-11
How much consoling is this Word of God! The desired effect is assured. We find lot of disappointing facts around us and even in us. Then we must remember this Word of God. “the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do”. The will of God will be carried out by His Word. So whatever happens around you and in you, stay subject to the Word of God which will bring the effect desired by God. It’s also interesting the comparison used in this Word of God. The Word of God is compared to the rain and snow coming down from the heavens to water the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide the seed for the sower, and bread for the eating. By accepting the Word of God into our life, we are letting the grace of God shower upon us to make fruitful our talents, our gifts and our opportunities. The grace makes us fruitful for the benefit of others. So, through the Word of God we become the channels of grace to others as the rain makes the seeds to become bread for the eating. Let’s reflect: How much close am I to the Word of God during this Lent so that I become fruitful for others?
Feb 26, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of the 1st week of Lent
Saint Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor of the Church
It’s very interesting to notice the connection between the who the Lord is and how we must behave each. These prescriptions begin with the sentence, “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy”. We are called to be holy because the Lord is holy. To deal with Lord who is Holy, we must be holy. And we can become holy by acting according to the instructions of the Lord. These instructions are for us to become holy like the Lord. The key is to make the other person part of you. Treat him or her as he or she is part of you. “You must love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord”. We can welcome others to us as ourselves only when you recognize the Lordship of the Lord over me and over others in the same way. We often discriminate the other because we forget that the other and us, we have the same Lord, and we all are equally important for Him. Accepting the Lordship of the Lord over the other person is welcoming the other person as myself. Because the Lord is Lord over me too. It’s loving the other person as myself. Let’s reflect: In my Lent, how much I accept the Lordship of the Lord over others as that of mine?
Feb 26, 2023 | NEWS
On the anniversary of the war in Ukraine, February 24, a great prayer for peace and for Ukraine was held at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. The basilica was filled with people who wanted to pray together with Ukrainian representatives for the cessation of this war, as well as so many wars currently being waged in the world. Our community from the Generalate also took part in this joint prayer.
The choir from Ukraine poignantly sang a prayer for peace, the words of which read:
O, great, inimitable God, save our Ukraine!
Spread freedom and light for her with your rays.
With the light of science and knowledge enlighten us, Your children,
In pure love make us grow more and more.
We ask Thee, O One God,
Save our Ukraine, all Thy grace and generosity be to our nation.
Give freedom, give wisdom, give happiness to a good world,
Give serenity to Your people with hope for long life.
