Oct 21, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading – Isaiah 45:1,4-6
97th WORLD MISSIONARY DAY 2023
The reading of the World Missionary Day is very inspiring as our duty is to profess the one God. Because when we are not to profess the one God which is revealed to be in the person of Jesus Christ, what I want to do is to find space for a God which suits my purposes. Often, when we don’t want to profess the one God, we want to profess the god which suits my purposes. A god which justifies doing what I want. A god which does not question my interpretation of things and incidents. It’s a god at my disposition and not myself at the disposition of God. When the Lord God says, “I have called you by your name”, it means that there is only one God to whom I should be obedient and submissive. Whenever I have the temptation to do the opposite, I should remember the history. Being a missionary is nothing other than overcoming to fear to go to anyone to spread the message of Gospel. Let’s reflect: Am I ready to accept the one God, to whom everyone has placed his submission?
Oct 20, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of week 28 in Ordinary Time
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First reading – Romans 4:13,16-18
“That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us”. This is a very important message of the Word of God. The promise of God depends on faith. It depends on faith because it can be a gratuitous gift to all. A gift given to all without considering the worthiness of the anyone receiving that gift. In faith the promise is fulfilled, and it’s fulfilled without any demands or conditions. Just by faith. And this promise is accessible to all. Not only to those who belong to Abraham by Law but to all those who follow the faith of Abraham. All those who have faith like Abraham. All those who surrender themselves to the Lord like Abraham. The promise of the Lord is gratuitous and it is available to all of us, just by faith like Abraham. Let’s reflect: Am I aware of the gratuitous and universal availability of the promises of the Lord?
Oct 19, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 28 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Romans 4:1-8
“Abraham put his faith in God, and this faith was considered as justifying him”. The faith of Abraham in God is a complete surrender. When the faith in God is above all what we have and we are, faith is taken to a different sphere. It is not anymore, a faith as a sentiment, it is a faith as a relation. A faith in the Lord who called him. A faith in God who want to enter into a relationship with him. A faith in the Lord who justifies him. This faith is what we needed. It is not about what we do or what our deeds are. But it is about our relationship with God. It is about the faith in the Lord who forgives our sins and makes us sinless. This faith is the justifying faith. Let’s reflect: Do I believe in the faith which justifies me?
Oct 19, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 28 in Ordinary Time
Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and their Companions, Martyrs
Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest
First reading – Romans 3:21-30
The justice of God always existed but with the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the same justice is made know to everyone. It is the same justice of God that comes through faith to everyone without distinction. Each person must be made just because each one sins. Each one is under the justice of God. The justice of God is executed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the only son of God. God wanted that in Jesus Christ, each person comes to reconciliation with Him. This reconciliation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. “He justifies everyone who believes in Jesus”. This process is through faith and not by doing something the law tells us to do. This process is open to all without any distinction. In Jesus Christ we are reconciled to God after being washed away our sins in the blood of Jesus. Let’s reflect: Am I grateful for the reconciliation available for me by faith in Jesus Christ?
Oct 17, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Luke, Evangelist – Feast
First reading – 2 Timothy 4:10-17
“But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear”. Today we are celebrating the feast of St. Luke who testified the life of Christ and the early Church in a unique way. In the words of St. Paul, we can understand the reason for that. In the missionary journey of St. Paul, only Luke remained with him. In the difficulties of the missionary journey, Paul found comfort in the presence of the Lord and this also Luke experienced. Paul felt that the Lord stood with him and gave him power so that Paul become an instrument for the spreading the gospel. In the same way Luke also became an instrument in spreading the gospel. So, in the moments of difficulties in our life, when we feel the presence of the Lord at our side and when we feel that the Lord gives us power, we become the instruments of proclamation of gospel. Let’s reflect: Do I feel the Lord at my side in my difficulties so that I can become an instrument of His message?
