Sep 29, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Jerome, Priest, Doctor
Saturday of week 25 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 2 Timothy 3:14-17
As we celebrate the Feast of St. Jerome, the reading helps us to understand the importance of Scriptures in our life. “All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work”. It’s vital to be close to the Word of God because it contains the inspiration of God Himself. The Word of God teaches what we must know in our relationships. The Word of God helps us to refute the errors of selfishness. The Word of God guides our lives. The Word of God instructs us to be holy. So, the more we are close to the Word of God, the more we learn. This is the way to prepare ourselves for our mission. By being close to the Word of God, we equip ourselves fully and prepare for any good work. In other words, for any good work we need the support of the Word of God. Let’s reflect: Do I equip myself with the Word of God or am I concerned about other preparations?
Sep 28, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – Feast
First reading – Daniel 7:9-10,13-14
Today we celebrate the feasts of Archangels. “I gazed into the visions of the night”. Angels are the answers to the darkness of the night. They present the presence of God in His majesty. The sovereignty glory and kingship of the son of man is really presented by the Archangels in different situations in the salvation history. This presence of God is close to all peoples, nations, and languages. As the sovereignty is eternal, the presence of the angels also is for always. Whenever we have a need for the presence of God, then that presence is made effective by these angels. The divine intervention or providence in our daily affairs are acts of these angels. Today is the day to thank them, to entrust ourselves more to their protection. Let’s reflect: Do I thank the Archangels for their presence in my life?
Sep 28, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 25 in Ordinary Time
Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr
Saints Laurence Ruiz and his Companions, Martyrs
First reading – Haggai 1:1-8 ·
“Is this a time for you to live in your panelled houses, when this House lies in ruins”? This passage shows how much it is important to take care of the house of the Lord before we take care of ourselves. If we are not taking care of the house of the Lord, our own efforts will be useless. It will be like the wage earner who gets his wages and puts them in a purse riddled with holes. Due importance is to be given to the matters of the Lord so that we can duly take care of ourselves. Only when we give due importance to our Creator, we can duly take care of ourselves as creatures. Often, we find lame excuses to avoid doing service to the Lord because we are taking care of ourselves. But that will not help. We will be sowing a lot but we will only harvest little. First rebuild the house of the Lord and our life should be organized around the house of the Lord. Let’s reflect: Am I giving due importance to the matters of our Lord than my own matters?
Sep 26, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
Wednesday of week 25 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
“The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom”. God has made us members of Christ Jesus. That means, Christ has become our wisdom, our virtue, our holiness and our freedom. Christ becomes our wisdom when we can think like Christ. Christ becomes our virtue when we can act like Christ. Christ becomes our holiness when we can will like Christ. Christ becomes our freedom when we can be free from fears of darkness. That’s why if anyone wants to boast, we must boast about the Lord. Because in Him, we become his members. Let’s reflect. Is Christ my wisdom, virtue, holiness, and freedom?
Sep 25, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 25 in Ordinary Time
Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs
First reading – Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20
“The elders of the Jews prospered with their building, inspired by Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building in accordance with the order of the God of Israel and the order of Cyrus and of Darius”. The rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem continues to be theme of the reading of today also. The rebuilding of the Temple is inspired by the prophets. It’s also done in accordance with the order of the God and also of the kings. So we can see that there is the inspiration from the prophets and the order of God and king. We must connect the reconstruction of our spiritual life to the inspiration of the Word of God. But not only the Word of God but also the earthly realities. The construction of the Temple involves both divine and human elements. These both elements are blended by the inspiration of the Word of God. Let’s reflect: Do I manage to blend both the divine and human elements in my reconstruction of spiritual life inspired by the Word of Go
