Jan 7, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
St Raymond of Peñafort (c.1175 – 1275)
First reading – 1 John 3:22-4:6
“This is how we can tell the spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood.” How can we distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood? We can distinguish between when we say that we believe in the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ and we don’t love one another. This is the spirit of falsehood. But when we believe in Jesus Christ and when we love one another, that is the spirit of truth. Also it’s vice versa; if we don’t believe in Jesus Christ and just we love each other this is spirit of error because your love to each other is superficial and attached to this world. But if our love to each other is based on our belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God, we have the spirit of truth. Because our love to one another is a participation in the life of God as we love one another as the Son of God told us. We believe in Jesus Christ; we follow Him, and we love each other. When one element in this is missing, we fall into error. Let’s reflect: Are our belief in Jesus Christ and our love to one another are connected?
Jan 6, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
The Epiphany of the Lord
First reading – Isaiah 60:1-6
“Lift up your eyes and look round:”. The glory of the Lord is rising on you, though night still covers the earth and darkness the peoples. With incarnation, the salvation is there. The light is there. Though the night still covers the earth and darkness the people. The visit of Magi are the sign that the Savior is not only for the elected people but to the entire world. The birth of Jesus Christ transforms the concept of elected people to the entire people of the world. The world is redeemed by Jesus Christ. But many times, we have the question because we see only the night that still covers the earth and darkness. We don’t lift up our and look round. The Word of God is asking two moments, to rise above the human level, “lift up your eyes”. It’s easy to see things in a human level and to see in a depressive way. But when you look things in a divine way, the realities appear different. Beyond the night that still covers the earth and darkness the people, you will see the glory of the Lord that is rising. Let’s reflect: can I see beyond the darkness the glory of the Lord?
Jan 5, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
First reading – 1 John 3:11-21
“My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active; only by this can we be certain that we are children of the truth and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence”. This is so clear. The love in words to love in action. St. John is using two words: real and active. Our love towards others should be real and active. Real because it should be concrete, something the other person needs or desires, something relevant. It’s not about doing something good to the other person which I like but something relevant to the other. Then it should be active. Our help or our love can never be something inactive. It should be something which continues, which remains to exist. Love in action can never be inactive because it’s alive, it continues to be there. To do something out of love which is not active is easy. But a love that continues is something challenging. It’s a commitment, not just an action. Let’s reflect: My love to others, is it relevant and a commitment or just is it what I like and an any action?
Jan 4, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774 – 1821)
First reading – 1 John 3:7-10
“In this way we distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil: anybody not living a holy life and not loving his brother is no child of God’s”. The difference between the children of God and the children of devil is this: “not living a holy life and not loving his brother”. The lack of a holy life and lack of a love towards his brother. Both are totally interconnected and not separated ones. When you have a holy life, it is easy to love your brother. Or better said, when you have a holy life, you will love your brother. In this sense, let’s think the other side: when I cannot love my brother, I am not living a holy life. When I cannot love my brother for any reason, I must improve in my holy life. Normally, when we cannot love our brother or sister, we say, “he or she must behave different”. But according to the reading of today, when we cannot love my brother or sister, it is not him or her that must change but I must grow in holy life. This is a whole new perspective. Let’s reflect: What in me must change to love my brother or sister?
Jan 3, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
The Most Holy Name of Jesus
First reading – 1 John 2:29-3:6
“Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children;”. Are we really thinking about this lavishness? St. John living in this abundance is expressing very well. Are we really thinking about this lavishness of the love of Father? Most of the times, the answer is negative. If we are really thinking about the lavishness of that love, we cannot be sad, we cannot be depressed, we cannot be disappointed or moody in life. Because the lavishness of God’s love is above all things. And we are children of God. We don’t feel like the children of God because we are not thinking of the love of God the father. When we start thinking of the God as a father who is lavishly loving us, we will feel what it means to be a son or daughter of God. If we really recognize who we are by baptism, we will start thinking about the love of that Father. The lavishness of His love is above all things in our life. Above my weakness and my defects, about my shortcomings and my flaws, He lavishes His love so that we live as His sons and daughters. Let’s reflect: How much love of God are we feeling and how much that lavishness of love is guiding us in our actions of daily life?
