Sep 1, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 22 in Ordinary Time
First reading 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,9-11
Saint Paul reminds us of our identity as “sons of light and sons of the day.” To belong to the light means living with clarity, truth, and vigilance, not allowing the darkness of sin, fear, or indifference to define us. As children of the day, we are called to stay awake and alert, walking in a way that reflects the presence of Christ who is our light. This identity is not lived in isolation but in communion: “give encouragement to each other and keep strengthening one another.” Faith grows stronger when shared, and hope deepens when nurtured within community. Light is meant to be reflected, and each word of encouragement or act of kindness becomes a spark that helps another persevere. Today’s reading calls us to examine not only how we live in the light personally, but also how we help others walk in it, so that together we remain awake, strengthened, and ready for the Lord’s coming. Let’s reflect: Am I living each day as a true child of the light, encouraging, strengthening, and guiding others in faith, so that together we remain awake and ready for the Lord?
Don Giorgio
Sep 1, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 22 in Ordinary Time
First reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Saint Paul consoles the Thessalonians with a truth that transcends sorrow: “Do not grieve about those who have died in Jesus.” Our faith teaches us that death is not an end but a passage into the fullness of life with Christ, for those who have died in Him now live in Him. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of this hope; just as He rose, so too will all who belong to Him. This transforms the way we approach loss—not with despair, but with a hope that is stronger than death. Grief is natural, but Christian grief is always pierced by light, because the life of Christ continues in those who have gone before us. Each funeral, each prayer for the dead, is an act of trust that God’s promise is true: the dead in Christ will rise, and we shall be with Him forever. This hope does not erase our pain, but it gives it meaning, anchoring it in the love of the One who has conquered death. Let’s reflect: When I face the grief of losing someone I love, do I allow my sorrow to be transformed by the hope of Christ’s resurrection, trusting that their life is now hidden in Him?
Don Giorgio
