Nov 20, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuesday of week 33 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Zechariah 2:14-17
In unity with Eastern Christianity and commemorating the dedication in 543 of the New Basilica of Saint Mary, built next to the Temple at Jerusalem, this feast celebrates Mary’s “dedication” of herself to God from her infancy, inspired by the Holy Spirit, whose grace had filled her ever since her immaculate conception. As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in apocryphal literature. In what is recognized as an unhistorical account, the Protoevangelium of James tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was 3 years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless. The first reading announces how God is preparing for incarnation, “Sing, rejoice, daughter of Zion; for I am coming to dwell in the middle of you”. He incarnates and dwells among us. And He comes from His holy dwelling which is Mother Mary. Let’s reflect: Do I recognize the holiness of Mother Mary?
Nov 20, 2023 | NEWS
A new General Board was elected at the XXI General Chapter in Berlin. The Board is composed of:
M.M. Sybilla Koltan – Superior General
S.M. Petra Ladig – Vicar General.
S.M. Róża Mueller – General Councilor.
S.M. Franciszka Jarnot – General Councilor.
S.M. Tadea Mlwilo – General Councilor
The Board in this composition will serve the congregation until 2029.
Nov 20, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 33 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 1 Maccabees 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-64
“Then the king issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs”. Each one of us is created with a unique plan. In this reading we see the plan of the king to wipe out all the plans for each person and he wants to create a plan for all persons equal. He wanted to wipe out all the plan of God for each person and wanted to create a one plan for all others. This is a plan to wipe out all the uniqueness of each person. This is against the will of God. The Will of God permits the uniqueness of each person and his or her custom. Let’s reflect: Am I accepting the uniqueness of each person, or I prefer uniformity?
Nov 18, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading – Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31
The Word of God is picturing the image of a perfect wife. This passage refers to the bride of Christ, the Church. The Church is the spouse in whom Christ has confidence. The Church brings all the days of her existence, what the bride needs. The Church is always busy doing the mission entrusted to her by the bridegroom. The mission of evangelization. She works with her own hands. Church is not an organization which exploits but Church works a wife who does her work with eager hands, uses the resources at her disposal, with the opportunities available to her. And her main concern is the poor. She opens her arms to the needy. She does not go behind the vanity of beauty as she is wise. Let’s reflect: How much I admire the wisdom of Church, the bride of Christ?
Nov 18, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of week 32 in Ordinary Time
Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First reading – Wisdom 18:14-16,19:6-9
The passage gives us the picture to meditate about incarnation of the Word of God. In the peaceful silence down from the heavens, from the royal throne, “leapt your all-powerful Word”. The Word of God incarnated in the silence of Nazareth. Not with pomp or as a spectacle. The Word of God carried the divine Will like a sharp sword and the revelation of God is not ambiguous anymore. It is so clear. He touched the sky yet trod the earth. He was both God and man. He fashioned the whole creation in a new way. The Red Sea became an unimpeded way. The way to Salvation became a clear unimpeded way by incarnation. The entire creation praises the Lord, the deliverer. Let’s reflect: Do I praise the Almighty for the incarnation of the Word of God?
