May 9, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of the 6th week of Eastertide
Saint John of Ávila, Priest, Doctor
Gospel – John 16:20-23
“I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy, and that joy no one shall take from you”. In these words of Jesus we can see that it’s about heaven. When we are in heaven, no one can take away the joy from us. And also Jesus says, “When that day comes,you will not ask me any questions”. This is also about heaven because when we are in heaven, we will understand everything and we will not have any more questions. Our joy will be perfect and we will not have any questions. But this is not only about the heaven, but it’s also about our Christian life. Because our Christian life is a life with Jesus and when we are with Jesus we are in heaven. When we are with Jesus nothing can take away our joy. When we are with Jesus, our faith in Him, take away all the questions. These are day when we are praying and waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit makes the presence of Jesus Christ in our daily life and also gives us the grace of faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s reflect: Let’s pray for the Holy Spirit so that we can live in the presence of Jesus Christ.
May 9, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
The Ascension of the Lord
Gospel – Mark 16:15-20
“…he took his place”. In the today’s Gospel we read this. Jesus ascended into heaven. There at the right hand of God he took his place. Because the reality of incarnation did not change anything in the Trinity. The second person became man and accomplished His mission. This did not add or subtract anything in the Holy Trinity. The unity and integrity of the Holy Trinity remained the same. No one took His place. Nothing changed in Him that He cannot take His place. It’s the same Person in the Holy Trinity. These four words explain a lot about incarnation. This really happened and it happened without changing anything in the Holy Trinity. Here we have another important message which Jesus Christ leaves before ascending into heaven. That’s to go to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation. Ascension is about the truth that the Good News is to all creation and to the whole world. Let’s reflect: Ascension assures the Good News to all creation in the whole world.
May 7, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of the 6th week of Eastertide
Gospel – John 16:12-15
“But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth”. With the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the whole humanity is welcomed to the truth of salvation. In Jesus Christ we will be saved. But we should know the whole truth regarding this. Partial truths are often creation of our minds and imagination. But the whole truth is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The whole truth is that there is only salvation through Jesus Christ. This whole truth can be known only in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But He is going to be ascended into heaven. So how is this possible to have this knowledge. Here comes the role of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will let us know the life of Jesus Christ and let us to be partakers in His Sonship. It’s imperative that we welcome the Holy Spirit in our life. It’s the Holy Spirit that reveals everything and not the other things which we think has a role to play. Let’s reflect: Easter is facing the whole truth of salvation.
May 7, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of the 6th week of Eastertide
Gospel John 16:5-11,
“…because unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you”. Now we are at the end of the Paschal Weeks, when we are going to celebrate the Feast of Ascension. The reality of incarnation continues after the ascension with the mission of the Third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit. So, the readings in this week is about the work of the Holy Spirit. With the Ascension of Jesus Christ to the heaven, what is going to happen with us? We are not to be left alone. We are going to be loved and taken care by the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus Christ is telling us. “Still, I must tell you the truth: it is for your own good that I am going”. This good which Jesus Christ is telling us is the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit in our daily life. Let’s reflect: Easter is God’s constant and eternal accompaniment to humanity.
May 5, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of the 6th week of Eastertide
Gospel John 15:26-16:4
“‘When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset”. From these words of Jesus, we can understand that the truth of incarnation and resurrection is not something we can comprehend and witness without a divine help. This is the Holy Spirit. The third person in the Holy Trinity who is the Spirit of truth as Jesus the second person of the Holy Trinity calls. This Spirit of truth brings out the truth of God’s love for us. All activities of God are manifestation of His love. And the Holy Spirit brings out the truth of this love in all these activities. The same in incarnation too. And now this Spirit of truth is necessary for us to understand the truth of God’s love and to proclaim it. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the humanity got prepared to receive this Spirit of truth. Let’s reflect: Easter is understanding that we need the Spirit of truth to understand the truth of God’s love.
May 4, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
6th Sunday of Easter
Gospel - John 15:9-17
“You are my friends… I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father”. Jesus is calling us, “Friends”. What a joy! That’s the joy of Easter. Jesus called the Apostles, “Friends” because they were chosen by Jesus. Everything is revealed to them by Jesus. But, when Jesus calls them, “Friends”, He made a condition. “You are my friends, if you do what I command you”. And He also says what does He command: “This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends”. If I want to become a friend of Jesus, I must learn to love all those persons around me. And I should learn to love so much that I can give my life. This is the condition to become a friend of Jesus. When we read this together, we can come to the conclusion that, Jesus chose me to His friend because He wants that I love the persons around me to the point of giving up my life for them. This is the friendship with Jesus: to give up our life for others as Jesus gave up His life on the cross. This friendship brings us joy and peace. Let’s reflect: Easter is being a friend of Jesus Risen by loving those around me.
