Jul 21, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Mary Magdalen
First reading Song of Songs 3:1-4
On the feast of Saint Mary Magdalen, we are invited to reflect on the passionate, personal journey of seeking and finding God, the one whom our heart truly loves. In the words of the Song of Songs, “I will seek him whom my heart loves… I found him whom my heart loves,” we hear the echo of Mary’s own longing as she searched for the Risen Lord at the tomb, her heart restless until she heard Him call her by name. This journey of love is not abstract or distant; it is intimate and deeply human. To seek God means to carry a yearning that moves us beyond complacency, to search through silence, tears, and even apparent absence, until we encounter the One who has never ceased to seek us first. To find God is not the end of the journey but the beginning of communion, a love that transforms grief into joy and longing into mission. Like Mary Magdalen, may we never tire of seeking, and may we live each day with hearts ready to recognize the Lord when He draws near. Let’s reflect: Do I seek God with the same longing and love as Mary Magdalen, and am I attentive enough to recognize Him when He calls me by name?
Don Giorgio
Jul 21, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 16 in Ordinary Time
Saint Laurence of Brindisi, Priest, Doctor
First reading: Exodus 14:5-18
In today’s reading, Moses finds himself caught between two overwhelming forces: the pursuing Egyptian army, full of strength and fury, and the panicked Israelites, who doubt the very liberation they had long awaited. It is a moment of impossible tension, one that mirrors the crossroads we often face when fear rises, and faith is tested. Yet, in the face of this crisis, Moses does not give in to despair or react with frustration; instead, he proclaims a powerful truth: “Have no fear! Stand firm, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today.” This is the voice of a man rooted not in certainty of outcomes, but in certainty of God’s faithfulness. Moses reminds us that salvation is not earned through human strength but received through trust. When circumstances press us on every side, our calling is not to panic or retreat, but to remain firm, believing that the Lord who led us here will not abandon us now. Let’s reflect: When I feel overwhelmed by fear or pressure, do I choose to stand firm in faith, trusting that God will act even when I see no way forward?
Don Giorgio
Jul 20, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Genesis 18:1-10; Colossians 1:24-28
On this 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the encounter between Abraham and the three mysterious visitors under the oak of Mamre invites us to contemplate the mystery of the Holy Trinity—three persons, one God, acting in perfect unity. These visitors not only foretell the birth of Isaac but also foreshadow the redeeming presence of the Triune God who enters human history to fulfill His promises. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, speaks of the glorious mystery now revealed to all nations: Christ, the visible image of the invisible God, dwelling in us. Redemption is not the isolated work of the Son alone but the loving act of the Father who sends, the Son who saves, and the Spirit who sanctifies. This divine unity and mutual self-giving reveal the very heart of God—a communion of love that now reaches out to draw all humanity into fellowship. As Christians, we are not merely recipients of grace but witnesses to this mystery, called to reflect the glory of the Trinity in how we live, love, and share the Good News. Let’s reflect: Do I live in a way that reflects the unity, love, and mission of the Holy Trinity, allowing the mystery of God’s presence to be revealed through my words and actions?
Don Giorgio
Jul 19, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
First reading: Exodus 12:37-42
Today’s reading recalls the sacred night of Israel’s liberation, when the Lord Himself kept vigil, faithfully watching over His people as He brought them out of bondage. This was not merely a historical moment, but the beginning of a lasting remembrance—a vigil to be kept throughout the generations as an expression of love and gratitude. Liberation, as Scripture shows us, is never the final destination; it is the starting point of a life lived in faith, attentiveness, and devotion. In the Blessed Virgin Mary, we find the perfect embodiment of such a response: her heart was constantly awake to God’s presence, rooted in silent prayer, patient waiting, and unwavering obedience. Her life teaches us that true freedom is not passive but lived consciously, with a spirit ready to respond to grace at every turn. Today, we are invited to look inward and ask ourselves: Do I live with spiritual vigilance and heartfelt gratitude, honoring God’s saving love by remembering what He has done and allowing it to shape each day of my life?
Don Giorgio
Jul 18, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
First reading Exodus 11:10-12:14
In today’s reading, the blood of the lamb marked on the doorposts becomes a sign of deliverance for the Israelites, a powerful prefiguration of the saving blood of Christ poured out for our redemption. Just as that blood shielded them from death and marked the beginning of their liberation, so the blood of Jesus frees us from the slavery of sin and opens the way to new life. This act is not merely symbolic, it is deeply personal, revealing the cost of our salvation and the depth of God’s love. It reminds us that redemption is not a distant hope but a lived reality, written not on doorposts but upon the heart of every believer who receives Christ with faith. As we recall this moment, we are called to live as people marked by the blood of the Lamb, not in fear, but in the freedom and gratitude that come from knowing we have been claimed, protected, and saved by a love that never fails. Let’s reflect: Do I live each day with the awareness and gratitude that I have been redeemed and set free by the saving blood of Christ?
Don Giorgio
Jul 17, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
First reading Exodus 3:13-20
In today’s reading, God reveals His name to Moses as “I Am who I Am”, a name that defies all human categories and resists every attempt to limit or control the divine mystery. This revelation is not an answer meant to satisfy curiosity, but an invitation to enter into the vastness of God’s being, where eternity touches time and the ungraspable becomes near. It reminds us that God is not a concept to be understood, but a Presence to be encountered. Rather than fitting Him into our frameworks, we are called to let go of our need for control and allow ourselves to be drawn into His freedom and depth. This divine self-disclosure opens a door to faith that rests not on clarity, but on trust, a trust in the One who is ever-present, ever-faithful, and beyond all that we can imagine. Today, we are challenged to approach God not with definitions, but with reverence, allowing His mystery to transform our limited understanding into awe and surrender. Let’s reflect: Am I willing to let go of my need to define or control God, and instead open my heart to trust and encounter the mystery of who He truly is?
Don Giorgio
