Jan 6, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
The Epiphany of the Lord – Mass of the Day
First reading – Isaiah 60:1-6
“Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord is rising on you, though night still covers the earth and darkness the peoples”. The feast of the Epiphany is a profound celebration, centering on the revelation of Christ as the Light of the world and the manifestation of God’s glory to all nations. The first reading from Isaiah 60:1-6 beautifully sets the tone for this solemnity, calling us to “arise” and recognize the light that has come into the world. The prophet Isaiah’s words are a poetic invitation to witness the transformative power of God’s presence. Jerusalem is called to “shine out”, not because of its own merit, but because “the glory of the Lord is rising” upon it. This passage reflects the profound truth of the Epiphany: in Jesus, the light of God’s glory breaks through the darkness that covers the earth and the shadows that cloud human hearts. This light is not just for one people but for all nations. Isaiah envisions a time when the Gentiles will come to this light, symbolized by kings and nations bringing gifts, prefiguring the visit of the Magi in the Gospel. The Epiphany reveals the universal nature of Christ’s mission: He is the Savior for all, breaking down barriers of division and extending the invitation of salvation to every corner of the world. In Jesus, the fullness of God’s glory is revealed. As the light shines in the darkness, it brings clarity, hope, and the promise of God’s love. Through Him, we encounter the face of the Father—His mercy, justice, and infinite compassion. This is a call to allow His light to transform us so that we, too, may reflect His glory to the world. Let’s reflect: Like the Magi, are we willing to journey, sometimes through difficult and unfamiliar paths, to encounter Him?
Don Giorgio
Jan 5, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
2nd Sunday of Christmas
First reading – Ecclesiasticus 24:1-2,8-12
The passage from Ecclesiasticus 24:1-2, 8-12 beautifully highlights the eternal nature of wisdom and its connection to God’s divine plan. In the context of the Second Sunday of Christmas, it invites us to reflect on how God’s wisdom is intricately woven into the story of salvation, encompassing not only humanity as a whole but also each individual person. The reading proclaims that wisdom was created by God from eternity, dwelling among His people. This eternal wisdom is not distant or abstract but rather deeply personal and accessible. It reveals God’s intimate involvement in the world and His desire to guide us through His perfect plan. When considering God’s plan for salvation, we can recognize that it isn’t just a broad, overarching narrative—it is deeply personal. Each of us has a unique role in this plan. God’s wisdom ensures that His guidance, love, and purpose are tailored to our individual lives, no matter how small or insignificant we may feel at times. On this Second Sunday of Christmas, as we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom, let us ponder: What does it mean that God has a plan for me?
Don Giorgio
Jan 4, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
First Saturday: Let us entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
First reading – 1 John 3:7-10
John is identifying the characteristics of the children of God. To be born from God in faith, to live like the only Son of God, Jesus Christ, and to love others. The new birth is not merely a symbolic gesture but a spiritual reality that reorients our entire being. Through faith, we become partakers in the divine nature, no longer living for ourselves but for the God who calls us into His family. This birth brings us into a relationship with God marked by trust, surrender, and the assurance of being His children. Living as a child of God means modelling our lives after Jesus, the perfect image of the Father. Jesus’ life was one of complete obedience to God’s will, marked by humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to truth and love. John underlines love as the ultimate hallmark of God’s children. Just as Jesus demonstrated sacrificial love, we are called to embody this love in our relationships. Let’s reflect: How does my life reflect the reality of being a child of God in faith, obedience, and love, and where is God inviting me to grow more deeply in these areas?
Don Giorgio
Jan 3, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
The Most Holy Name of Jesus
First Friday: Let us entrust ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
First reading 1 John 2:29-3:6
“Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are”. This is because of the Most Holy Name of Jesus as He incarnated to be like us and to take that name. This divine identity is not a distant reality but a present truth, made possible through Jesus Christ, who took on human form and shared in our humanity. His name, the Most Holy Name of Jesus, carries the weight of this incarnation, salvation, and our hope. And by His name, we must purify our hope. We sin when we shift our hope from the name of Jesus to something else. When we shift our hope away from Jesus, we fall into sin because we place our trust in things that cannot save, fulfil, or sanctify. The invitation of today’s reading is a call to purify our hope—to anchor it solely in Jesus, whose name is above every other name (Philippians 2:9-11). In His name, in His person we find fullness to become who we are meant to be: children of God. Let’s reflect: In what areas of my life have I shifted my hope away from Jesus, and how can I consciously re-anchor my trust in His Most Holy Name, allowing Him to purify my hope?
Don Giorgio
Jan 1, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops, Doctors
First reading – 1 John 2:22-28
In this passage, John is writing to a community that needs reassurance and clarity about who Jesus truly is. He begins by affirming that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Father—the very foundation of our faith. To acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God is not just an intellectual agreement; rather, it shapes our entire way of living. John encourages us to “stay in Him” or “remain in Christ.” This phrase suggests a close, ongoing, and transformative relationship with Jesus. Abiding in Christ means: Holding Fast to the Truth that Jesus is the Son of God the Father, that we find eternal life in Him, that we can be with Him now too. The message emphasizes the profound importance of abiding in Christ as the Son of God. By remaining connected to Him, believers not only affirm their faith but also partake in the gift of eternal life. This passage serves as a reminder to trust in the truth of Christ, rejecting any deception that denies His divinity. The invitation to “stay in Him” is both an encouragement and a call to action—it asks us to cultivate an ongoing relationship with Christ through prayer, obedience, and faithfulness. This abiding is not passive; it is an active living out of our faith, rooted in the understanding that Christ is the one who leads us to eternal life with the Father. Let’s reflect: How actively am I living out my faith by “remaining in Christ,” and in what ways can I deepen this transformative relationship through faithfulness in the truth of Christ?
Don Giorgio
