Jul 13, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Mark 6:7-13
“Take nothing with you”. This is the life of a disciple. Total submission and total confidence in Jesus whom he or she is following. This is a phrase we often forget when we complaint of the poor infrastructures and poor conditions of work. Our mission is a mission of total confidence in the Lord. Often our complaints are about the inadequacy of the things we have. But we must remember that the Lord has commanded to take nothing. This teaching is a profound lesson in total reliance on God’s provision, emphasizing the importance of simplicity, trust, and adaptability in our journey as disciples. By traveling light and depending on Jesus, we are encouraged to focus on our mission without being burdened by material concerns, fostering a deeper faith and a more profound connection with our purpose. To internalize this call of Jesus, we can engage in practices that build trust in God’s provision, such as relying on others, declutter our physical and mental spaces, and regularly reflecting on and expressing gratitude for the ways God provides for us. We are worried about the needs when what we need is only a real relationship with Jesus. Let’s reflect: How much am I worried about my needs in my discipleship to Jesus?
Jul 12, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Saint Henry
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel – Matthew 10:24-33
In this passage of the Gospel we can find out that the greatest obstacle for testimony is fear. We have fear everywhere. We live by fear. We are full of fear. But what Jesus wanted to tell us is, “Do not be afraid”. In all His teachings He added that. Who can add such a phrase if He is not in control of the whole situation? That’s truth. Jesus is in control of our whole situation. “Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So, there is no need to be afraid”. This is a situation in which God the Father has full control of the situation. God the Father is in full control of the situation. He knows the worth of each person and each situation. So, what we must do is to profession our faith in the person who has the full control of the situation. That’s Jesus Christ. He is the Lord. Whatever happens, we must believe that He is the Lord. Our difficulties, our challenges, our tasks, everything disappears when we are all united in doing good. Let’s reflect: How much am I committed in loving when my position is threatened?
Jul 11, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Matthew 10:16-23
“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you”. There is always this worry, how to give witness. And that happens especially in the hard circumstances what Jesus is narrating. “Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name”. It’s in those moments, we are worried how to react. It’s in those moments, we can go wrong in our witness. That is why Jesus is saying, “Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves”. So, what we must do? As Jesus says, “Don’t worry”, please become an instrument of the Spirit of the Father. Often our mistake lies in trying to show our strength or our capacities, instead of being an instrument of the Holy Spirit. Witness is not about out capacities but it’s about our being an instrument of the Holy Spirit. Let’s reflect: Is my witness to Jesus Christ, my being an instrument of the Holy Spirit or my show of my capacities?
Jul 10, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Benedict, Abbot, Co-Patron of Europe
Gospel – Matthew 19:27-29
“And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life”. This is precisely the joy of Christian life. It’s not something exclusively about the eternal life. It also deals with the life here on earth at this present moment. The following of Jesus is not strictly related to the life after death. But it’s also related to the life here and now. What you left something for Jesus Christ, you will find it over hundred times now. Your leaving behind is not a matter of mourning but a matter of 100 times more joy. Your separation from certain things which gave your happiness will be transformed with Jesus Christ, reason to be happy 100 times more. So, following Christ is to be happy now and then also to inherit eternal life. This we can see in the life of real monks and consecrated people who left behind everything, but they are really happy and joyful. Let’s reflect: Do I recognize that following Christ is a reason to be happy here and now?
Jul 9, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Gospel Matthew 10:1-7
“And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand”. This is the message of Jesus that must be preached. Inorder to preach this message, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness. The authority which comes from Jesus is to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. Often, we forget the reason why we are given authority in the Church. But in the passage, we can clearly seen that the authority was given to only one end, “As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand”. This proclamation needs to be attested by making the presence of God visible. The presence of God gives the assurance that kingdom of heaven is near. This can be done only when we with our authority make others feel the love of God and the hope in the Lord. Let’s reflect: Am I using the authority given to me to make present the love of God to others?
