Jun 15, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Solemnity
First reading – Deuteronomy 7:6-11
“…it is you that the Lord our God has chosen to be his very own people…” The Lord has chosen us to be his very own people. His choice of heart so that we are His own. It is out of His love for us. He redeems us to make us His own. He is faithful to His covenant to keep us His own. By His graciousness for thousand generations, we remain as His own forever. His love for us is not because of our merits. But because of His choice. So, we must remain in that love by our choice in all things. He wants that we remain as His very own people. Therefore, we must make choices of love as He chose us. We must develop a relationship with the Heart of Jesus where we can find the love of God in its perfection. The Heart of Jesus is the best place to be because it’s full of love and forgiveness, mercy and grace. It’s a sure place because it’s God who decided to love us knowing us perfectly. Let’s reflect: How much am I devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
Jun 14, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 10 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1,3-6
“It will not be removed until they turn to the Lord. Now this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Now this Lord is the Spirit and this Spirit of the Lord is giving us freedom. We are not anymore living in the world of veiled realities because in Jesus Christ the face of God is revealed. “‘Let there be light shining out of darkness’, who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory on the face of Christ.” The light shining out of darkness is the face of God revealed in Jesus Christ. And we are called to radiate what has been shone in our minds. The encounter with Jesus without veil gives you the freedom to radiate what you have received in that encounter. The light which Jesus Christ brings to our life can be received only when we enjoy the freedom which He gained for us. Let’s reflect: Am I free enough to radiate the light which Jesus Christ brings to my life?
Jun 13, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of week 10 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 2 Corinthians 3:4-1
“all our qualifications come from God”. This is very important to remember in our daily life. We would like to qualify ourselves, as we want and as we would wish. But the Word of God says that all qualifications come from God. So, we cannot qualify ourselves but accept the qualification that comes from God. We would also like to qualify those around ourselves. But again, the Word of God say that all qualifications come from God. So, we are not in a grade to qualify others. We are not in a grade to judge others. Then St. Paul is also saying how is the qualification from God. The qualification from God is based on Spirit which gives life and not based on written letters that bring death. The Spirit of God which gives life always tries to see light and life. The letters that bring death tries to bring darkness and death. We must submit ourselves to Spirit so that we always see life and light. Let’s reflect: Am I ready to qualify myself and others in the light of the Spirit which brings life?
Jun 13, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Antony of Padua, Priest, Doctor
Tuesday of week 10 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
“…with him it was always Yes…”. In this small paragraph we can see something fundamental. St. Paul is underlining the fact of life in Jesus Christ. All the promises of God in the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. So, our response to God in Jesus Christ can never be “No” but only “Yes”. St. Paul is even underlining it, “many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in him. That is why it is ‘through him’ that we answer Amen to the praise of God”. The relationship of God to us is assured in Jesus Christ. In other words, in Jesus Christ, our relationship with God is concrete and final. The Word of God is even stating the proof of this. “Remember it is God himself who assures us all, and you, of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts”. The Holy Spirit we receive in the sacraments is the proof of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, that we carry in our heart is the pledge of the constant relationship of God with us. Let’s reflect: Am I able to say “Yes” always to God based on our relationship to God in Jesus Christ?
Jun 11, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 10 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 2 Corinthians 1:1-7
the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves”. In this verse, we can see how the relationship of God to us is and what does it mean. God is God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows. God is with us in all our sorrows. He is gentle with us in all difficult situations in our life. This is beautiful. But this relationship does not stop there. The Word of God says, this love of God the Father has a purpose. The purpose is that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God. We are called to offer others the consolation which we receive. The consolation which we receive from God should flow through us towards others. It cannot stop at us. Let’s reflect: How much am I sharing the consolation which I receive from God the Father with others?
