Dec 7, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor
Saturday of the 1st week of Advent
Gospel – Matthew 9:35-10:1,5,6-8
“And when he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd”. Advent is recognizing the love of God for us. His heart moves with mercy for the crowds, described as "harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd." This image reminds us of our own moments of confusion, weariness, and need for guidance. Advent is a season of preparation, and in this Gospel, we are invited to prepare by recognizing the immense love of God for us—a love that sees our struggles and reaches out to heal, restore, and guide. Jesus' mission, as He sends out His disciples, reflects this love: proclaiming the kingdom, healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers, and casting out demons. In the same way, Advent calls us to not only receive but also to share this love. We are reminded of the generous words, “You received without charge, give without charge.” As we await the coming of Christ, both at Christmas and in His second coming, we are invited to embody His love through acts of kindness, mercy, and service, especially toward those who feel lost or burdened. Let’s reflect: how I might shepherd others with love and care, as Jesus does for me. How can I, too, recognize and respond to the needs of those around me?
Don Giorgio
Dec 5, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of the 1st week of Advent
Saint Nicholas, Bishop
“As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’”. Advent is following Jesus even when things are unclear. These two blind men were following Jesus. How was it? That is the power of God being in our midst. Advent invites us to walk in faith, even when the path ahead is unclear. Like the blind men, we may not always “see” where Jesus is leading us, yet we are called to trust in His presence and guidance. Their ability to follow Jesus despite their blindness reflects the mysterious yet powerful reality of God being present and active in our lives, often in ways we cannot fully comprehend.
During this time of preparation, we too are encouraged to “follow Jesus” by seeking His mercy, opening our hearts to His grace, and trusting that His light will guide us, even in the darkness. Just as the blind men experienced the transformative power of God’s presence, we are reminded that Advent is a journey of faith, hope, and expectation—a time to trust in the unseen and embrace the nearness of God. Let’s reflect: In what areas of my life am I being called to follow Jesus in faith, even when the way forward feels unclear or uncertain?
Don Giorgio
Dec 4, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of the 1st week of Advent
Gospel – Matthew 7:21,24-27
“Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock”. Advent is building our life on rock which is Jesus. This building will not fall when rain comes and when floods rise, gales blow and hurl against that house. The challenges of rain, and the difficulties of floods will not bother our house. Because our house is built up on the rock, Christ. Advent, a season of preparation and anticipation, invites us to reflect on whether our lives are built on the rock of Christ—a foundation of faith, obedience, and love—or on the shifting sands of worldly distractions. The inevitable storms of life—challenges, struggles, and trials—test the strength of our foundation. A life rooted in Christ remains steadfast, enduring these difficulties with resilience and grace. This season challenges us to align our actions with our faith through prayer, Scripture, service, reconciliation, and hope, allowing Jesus to transform us and be our unshakable foundation. By living His teachings, we prepare not just for the celebration of His birth but also for His ultimate return, ready to face life’s trials with confidence and welcome Him into hearts strengthened by faith and love. Let’s reflect: Am I truly building my life on the solid foundation of Christ, aligning my actions with His teachings, or am I allowing the shifting sands of worldly distractions to weaken my faith and resilience in the face of life’s storms?
Don Giorgio
Dec 3, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of the 1st week of Advent
Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor
Gospel – Matthew 15:29-37
“they praised the God of Israel”. Advent is the seeing the working of God in us, around us and praising the Lord”. By incarnation God is our midst and He is taking care of the lame, the crippled, the blind, the dumb and many others. And the people were astonished and praising the God of Israel. Again, Jesus sees the needs of the people. “I feel sorry for all these people. They have been with me for three days now and have nothing to eat”. He finds a solution from what they had. From seven loaves he fed the whole crowd. God is living in our midst. The miracles, like the feeding of the crowd, are not only acts of compassion but signs of God's presence and provision. They call us to trust and commit ourselves fully to Him. Here we need more than astonishment and praising. Here we need a real and deeper relationship with God who is in our midst. This relationship is believing in Jesus as Savior. This is going beyond the circumstantial relationship to a discipleship. This is making Jesus the center of our life. Advent challenges us to center our lives on Jesus, allowing Him to shape our actions, decisions, and priorities. Let’s reflect: How can you move from simply being astonished by God's works to building a deeper, transformative relationship with Jesus, making Him the center of your life in this Advent season?
Don Giorgio
Dec 3, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Tuesday of the 1st week of Advent
Gospel Luke 10:21-24
“Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him”. Advent is knowing the Son so that we can know the Father. This knowing is not merely intellectual but relational and experiential. To know Jesus is to encounter the heart of God, who is love, mercy, and truth. Through His words, actions, and very presence, Jesus reveals the Father's infinite compassion and desire for a relationship with humanity. In Jesus, the Father is no longer distant or abstract but becomes intimately near, accessible, and personal. The season of Advent is marked by hope and anticipation. It invites us to focus on the incarnation—God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. By contemplating the life and mission of Jesus, we are drawn deeper into the mystery of who God is. This Advent, we are called to open our hearts to this revelation of the Father through the Son. Each step in knowing the Son brings us closer to the Father, transforming our hearts and drawing us into the divine embrace. This is the promise and hope of Advent: in knowing the Son, we truly come to know the Father and His unfailing love. Let’s reflect: How is my relationship with Jesus shaping my understanding of God as a loving Father, and how might I open my heart more fully to this divine embrace during Advent?
Don Giorgio
Dec 1, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of the 1st week of Advent
Gospel Matthew 8:5-11
“Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured”. Advent is recognizing one’s own unworthiness and opening up to the mercy of God.The words of the centurion express an attitude that lies at the heart of Advent: recognizing one’s own unworthiness while trusting fully in God’s power and mercy. Advent is a season of anticipation and preparation, not just for the celebration of Christ’s birth but for His coming into our lives here and now. It is a time to pause and reflect on the ways we fall short—our imperfections, sins, and frailties. Like the centurion, we acknowledge that we are not deserving of God’s presence through our own merits. Yet Advent is not a season of despair or self-condemnation; rather, it is one of hope and openness to transformation. The centurion models an essential posture for Advent. This is a lesson for all who journey through Advent: our unworthiness is not a barrier to God but an invitation to encounter His grace more profoundly. Just trusting in the Lord and in His Word which will work miracle in our life. Let’s reflect: How can I embrace the centurion's humility and faith during Advent, recognizing my own unworthiness while fully trusting in God's mercy and the transformative power of His Word in my life?
Don Giorgio
