May 18, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
The Ascension of the Lord
First reading – Acts 1:1-11
Today is the feast of Ascension. Ascension is the feast where we got the clear indication of the future. Jesus was lifted up and vanished from the sight of the disciples. But we got lots of assurances on this feast. Ascension is the feast in which we are assured of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Ascension is the feast on which our mission is stated. Ascension is the feast through which we found that Jesus will come back from heaven. We are assured of the coming of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit empowers us. This power of the Holy Spirit will make us witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth. This power makes the Church missionary to the ends of the earth. This power makes each one of us missionary to the ends of the earth. This witnessing to the ends of the earth will be confirmed by the second coming of Jesus. This is the future. So, in Ascension we got the direction to move, we got the direction to the future. Let’s reflect: Do I really see the future in the feast of Ascension?
May 16, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of the 6th week of Eastertide
First reading – Acts 17:15,22-18:1
“To An Unknown God. Well, the God whom I proclaim is in fact the one whom you already worship without knowing it”. Quoting this Paul is presenting the real face of the God unknown to them. Paul is revealing to them what was hidden to them. But when Paul was mentioning about resurrection they started laughing. “At this mention of rising from the dead, some of them burst out laughing;”. They don’t know the God, but they want to know the God according to their framework of mind. This is what also happens to us. We don’t know God, but we want to know the God as we want. We want God to accept our plans and desires. What we cannot imagine, we cannot except even from God. This is not the right way. We must be opened to God. Not that God has to be according to my idea and my wish. God is greater than we are. God is our creator. God is the creator of everything. This is the starting point. God is not our creation. So, let’s be humble to welcome God as God is in our life. Let’s reflect: Am I open to welcome God as God is in my life?
May 15, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of the 6th week of Eastertide
First reading – Acts 16:22-34
“Late that night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God’s praises, while the other prisoners listened… All the doors flew open and the chains fell from all the prisoners.” Singing praises in a prison itself is a great act of faith. Faith in the Lord who is the Savior. Faith in the Lord who has a plan for everything. Faith in the Lord who transforms everything for good. Again, we see that the prison doors were opened, and the chains fell. This is what happens when you praise the Lord in the faith mentioned. When we sing praises with faith we will be liberated from our prisons and chains. Prisons and chains of fear, of sins and of our egoism. We will be liberated. We will have freedom of the sons and daughters of God. But there is something more. They are liberated so that they can preach the gospel. They were liberated but they did not run out because they were waiting for the gaoler to come. They wanted to preach the Good News to him, and he was converted along with all his family. Our liberation is for preaching the Gospel. Sing praises with faith for liberation and with liberation we can preach the Gospel. Let’s reflect: Am I able to sing praises in faith which liberates me to become a missionary?
May 14, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of the 6th week of Eastertide
First reading – Acts 16:11-15
“She listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying”. How beautiful! We must aspire that this happens in us. From her part, Lydia was listening to the Word of God. We must listen to the Word of God like Lydia. When we have disposition, the Lord will also open our heart. We must listen with complete docility to the Word of God. The Word of God will open our heart. Often, we listen to the Word of God to hear that which substantiates our way of life or our actions. We don’t let the Word of God decide our actions. We must listen with complete openness to the Word of God and then the Word of God will open our heart. Let’s reflect: Am I listening to the Word of God with complete docility that it can open our heart?
May 13, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
6th Sunday of Easter
St Matthias, Apostle
First reading – Acts 8:5-8,14-17
“they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”. Faith in Jesus Christ must be confirmed with the Holy Spirit. Here we find the importance of the sacrament of Confirmation. In Baptism we are reborn with the life of Christ. But the life we received in the sacrament of Baptism must be animated by the Holy Spirit when we face choices in our life. And the Holy Spirit strengthens us in our decisions. And it’s important to cultivate a devotion and relationship to the Holy Spirit who accompanies us from the moment of our Confirmation. This devotion and relationship can be cultivated by turning to the Holy Spirit more often possible as a source of inspiration and strength. Let’s reflect: How often I turn to Holy Spirit for strength?
