Sep 4, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 22 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,9-11
“So, give encouragement to each other, and keep strengthening one another, as you do already”. The Apostle is preparing the community to associate the faith and future. The future as of the Day of the Lord. There are lots of uncertainties around the Day of the Lord, especially about the time and how it will be. These uncertainties are compared to darkness. We can be in darkness regarding this. But St. Paul is admonishing us that we must not be afraid of darkness. Because, “but it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober”. This light is kindled and flamed by our mutual encouragement. Let’s reflect: Am I encouraging others enough so that there is always light in our life?
Sep 4, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 22 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
“We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope”. Faith determines all aspects of our life which includes death. The way we see the death is very important from the point of view of faith. With faith we can see the death as the entry into the eternal life. Without faith we see the death as the end and darkness. With faith we see the death as the reality which Jesus transformed in Him with resurrection. In Jesus, all those who die, rise into eternal life. Only with faith we can see that. Without faith we see only the absence of those who die. With faith we see the union of those who die with Jesus Risen. This gives the hope and light. Let’s reflect: Do I see in death, the unity with Jesus Risen?
Sep 3, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading – Jeremiah 20:7-9
“The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long”. This is a very difficult situation in our life. The choice we made because of our faith in God becomes a pain for us. The decision we took because of our faith in God becomes a suffering for us. Jeremiah is going through such a situation. He prophesied what the Lord commanded, and everyone hated Jeremiah for this. He obeyed the Lord, and he became a daily laughingstock before everyone. This is the moment when our faith in the Lord is questioned. But the Word of God is more powerful than this. It is like a fire burning in the heart, imprisoned in the bones. Jeremiah had to continue prophesying. This is what happens in our life if you have the Holy Spirit in us. We cannot restrain from doing good. Even if we suffer, we continue doing good. Let’s reflect: How much am I affected by the challenges of my faith in the Lord?
Sep 2, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of week 21 in Ordinary Time
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First reading – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11
“As for loving our brothers, there is no need for anyone to write to you about that, since you have learnt from God yourselves to love one another,”. This shows where our school is for learning to love. It is from God Himself we must learn to love. Because only from God we can learn to love selflessly. He loves us unconditionally. This love must be learnt every day. That is why St. Paul is saying, “However, we do urge you, brothers, to go on making even greater progress”. We must progress in learning to love. We must not be content in the way we love. We must always try to make progress in loving by our learning from God. This learning comes from our relationship with God. How can we learn from God if we don’t have a contact with God? So, the more we experience the love of God, the more progress we make in learning to love. Let’s reflect: Am I learning to love from God and am I making progress in this love?
Sep 1, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 21 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
“What God wants is for you all to be holy”. This holiness is what we achieve by dedicating ourselves to the live a life that is worthy of our call. We have our body that belongs to God. We must use that body in a way that is holy and honorable, not giving way to selfishness. The moment we have selfish interests in our relationships, we are moving away from being holy. With our selfish interests, we take advantage of our brother or sister. We use others. This is what makes us unholy. Using others for our selfishness. We must avoid this and grow in holiness by overcoming selfishness. Let’s reflect: Am I using others for my selfishness?
