Jun 11, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Wednesday of week 10 in Ordinary Time
First reading Acts 11:21-26,13:1-3
Saint Barnabas offers us a compelling example of what it means to live a life wholly surrendered to God. The Scriptures describe him as “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith,” and from this interior disposition flowed an outward fruitfulness that brought many to the Lord. Barnabas was not driven by personal ambition or prestige; rather, he possessed a generous and discerning heart that recognized the workings of grace, even when others could not. He stood by Saul, later Paul, when the early Christian community doubted him, choosing to believe in the power of God’s mercy and transformation. In Antioch, he nurtured a young Church, teaching and guiding with patience and zeal, and when the Spirit called him and Paul to mission, he responded without hesitation. His life challenges us to be encouragers in our own time: to see the good in others, to foster communion instead of division, and to build up the Body of Christ with gentleness and courage. The witness of Saint Barnabas reminds us that true apostolic fruitfulness does not come from our own plans or strength, but from being filled with the Spirit and walking in faith—a path that continues to bear fruit wherever hearts are open to God.
Don Giorgio
Jun 10, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 10 in Ordinary Time
First reading 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
On this Tuesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time, Saint Paul reminds us with unwavering clarity that in Jesus Christ there is no ambiguity, no hesitation, no shifting shadow. All of God’s promises find their “Yes” in Him. In a world often marked by uncertainty and fleeting truths, today’s reading invites us to rediscover the unshakable foundation of our faith: Christ alone. He is not merely part of our life—He is its very center, the definitive “Amen” to every longing of the human heart. Anchoring ourselves in Him means allowing our gaze, our decisions, our hope, and our mission to revolve around His presence. Let’s reflect: When Christ is the axis of our existence, everything else finds its rightful place, and our lives bear the seal of the Spirit, marked by fidelity, purpose, and peace.
Don Giorgio
Jun 9, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Mary, Mother of the Church
on Monday of week 10 in Ordinary Time
First reading Genesis 3:9-15,20
On this memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, we contemplate the mystery of a new beginning: where Eve once stood at the dawn of creation, Mary now stands at the threshold of redemption. In the first reading, Eve’s disobedience opens the door to sin; yet through Mary’s obedient “yes,” a new path is forged, giving birth to the Church—the Body of Christ. She is not merely a passive figure but the living icon of faithful discipleship, the one who gathers the scattered children of God beneath her mantle. In Mary, the Church recognizes its origin in grace, its mission in love, and its destiny in communion. As the new Eve, she not only bears the Savior but continues to nurture His mystical body, guiding the Church with maternal care along the path of faith and unity. Let’s reflect: Mary, as Mother of the Church, stands as the new Eve whose faithful obedience and maternal intercession continue to nourish and unify the People of God, making her the tender heart of Marian devotion and the model of the Church’s own response to Christ.
Don Giorgio
Jun 8, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Pentecost
First reading Acts 2:1-11
Pentecost is the feast of the Spirit who opens hearts and loosens tongues, the moment when the Church is born not through strategy or structure, but through the divine gift of communication. In the first reading from Acts, we see that the miracle of Pentecost is not simply about speaking in different languages — it is about the disciples being able to proclaim “the marvels of God” in a way that each listener, no matter their background or nation, can understand. This is the true miracle: that the Spirit bridges the gap between people, not by erasing their differences, but by sanctifying them, allowing the Good News to be heard in every language and culture. Pentecost is thus the reversal of Babel — where confusion once scattered humanity, now understanding and unity gather them anew in the Church. It teaches us that authentic evangelization does not begin with the will to convert others, but with the readiness to listen, to enter into the experience of the other, and to find the words that can speak to their hearts. Let’s reflect: To be a Pentecost people is to be ever attentive to the Spirit’s movement, ready to cross boundaries, to speak with clarity and compassion, and to let every language become an instrument of God’s marvelous works.
Don Giorgio
Jun 7, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of the 7th week of Eastertide
First reading Acts 28:16-20,30-31
As the Church nears the end of the waiting time between Ascension and Pentecost, the witness of Paul in Acts 28:16–20,30–31 offers a powerful image of Spirit-filled perseverance and unwavering mission. Though physically confined, Paul remains spiritually free, welcoming all who come to him and proclaiming the kingdom of God with boldness and joy. His circumstances did not dictate his fruitfulness; even in chains, he lived out his vocation with complete freedom, because the Holy Spirit—whom we now await—cannot be bound. This time of waiting is not meant to paralyze us, but to prepare us for a freedom rooted not in external conditions, but in interior surrender to the Spirit. Paul’s example challenges us to remain faithful and generous wherever we are, trusting that the Spirit will work through us when we open our hearts to proclaim Christ without fear. Let’s reflect: As Pentecost draws near, may we be ready to receive the Spirit who liberates us from all that hinders love, so that we too may witness to the Gospel with boldness and joy, no matter the circumstances.
Don Giorgio
