Nov 12, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading – Wisdom 6:12-16
The first reading of today is about Wisdom. This can be a very good reflection on the action of Holy Spirit in our life. How we must be related to Holy Spirit? The answer can be seen in these lines. “By those who love her she is readily seen and found by those who look for her”. We must love the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is readily seen and when we look for the Holy Spirit, we can immediately find the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit will be waiting for us in our gates. We must just let the Holy Spirit in our life. The Holy Spirit accompanies us in the way we go and in every thought we have. This relationship is that we must have with the third person of the Holy Trinity. This is the relationship we must have with the gift of Pentecost. This is the relationship we must have with the Helper which Father sent for us through the sacraments. Let’s reflect: Am I welcoming the Holy Spirit to my life with a constant desire?
Nov 10, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
Saturday of week 31 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Isaiah 61:1-3
Saint Martin of Tours is known mostly for his act of charity, of sharing his cloak with the beggar in Amiens. But he was great hermit and good shepherd. He founded other monasteries, educated the clergy, and preached the Gospel to the poor. This is what happens when we live the life of our baptism and our confirmation. We received the life of Christ in baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation. So, the spirit of the Lord is with us. And we are also sent to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken. We also have the duty to comfort all those who mourn. This mission is inherent in what we have received in our sacraments. Let’s reflect. Am I aware of my mission inherent in the baptism to comfort all those who mourn?
Nov 9, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Leo the Great, Pope, Doctor
Friday of week 31 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Ecclesiasticus 39:6-10
In this reading we find how a person who has a good relationship with the will of God acts. When you align yourselves with the will of God, you will be filled with the spirit of understanding. Then there will be always words of wisdom at the lips of this person. When you are following the Word of God, it will be shown in your behavior. It will be shown in what you are thinking and what you are doing. And the pride of the one who is pondering in the hidden mysteries will in the Law of the Lord’s covenant which is love. Let’s reflect: How much am I aligned to the law of the Lord’s covenant, Love?
Nov 8, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
First reading – Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12
“Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live.” Today is the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica. This is about the feast of Church where the grace flows. Church is where the sacrifice of Christ is continued. Where the grace of the Cross is being continued in the sacraments. This grace from the Cross is that gives the divine life to everyone. And along the bank of this river of grace, every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither will grow. The grace from the Cross gives life for all kinds of fruits. And this grace is for always. “…fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.” Not only that there will be always fruits, but the fruits are also good and leaves are medicinal. Be on the riverside of the grace and we are supplied with abundant grace. Let’s reflect: Am I in the flow of grace to be always fruitful?
Nov 7, 2023 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of week 31 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Romans 13:8-10
“All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself”. This is the single command that we should follow. St. Paul explains this command of loving by an interesting concept. The concept of being in debt. He says, “Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love”. Get into the debt of mutual love means you love each other always more than the other. So that both are always in debt to each other. And how do you pay off your debts. Again the word of God says, “If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations”. You clear off your debts by loving. So, loving each other becomes an unending cycle of acts of love. And this is always good. St. Paul says, “Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour”. Therefore, keep loving. Let’s reflect: Am I loving enough to be in the debt of mutual love?
